lit with what seemed a billion brilliant stars. Water gently lapping at the bank and frogs and crickets competing in a nighttime chorus were the only sounds. The night felt surreal and intense, as if they were the only two people on the planet.
Savannah snuggled against him and Zach wrapped his arm around her, holding her close. His face buried in the sexy mass of gorgeous hair, he inhaled deeply, taking in her fresh, unique fragrance, committing her scent to memory.
Her soft voice broke into the stillness. “Sometimes I think this is the most beautiful place on the planet, and then I think that it’s only that way because you’re here.”
Chest tight with emotions and feelings he could barely comprehend much less communicate, he whispered into her hair, “I feel the same way. You make everything more beautiful.”
“What am I going to do without you?”
Zach lifted his head and shifted around so he could look down at her. “It’s only going to be a few months before we see each other. We’ll call, text, or email daily. It’ll be like we’re still together … except for this.” His mouth lowered to hers, covering it gently, thoroughly, devouring the sweetness he dreamed about nightly. She groaned and opened to him, allowing him entrance into the most luscious mouth that had ever existed.
Before he knew it, they were lying on the blanket and the gentleness disappeared, replaced by a heated, all-consuming passion. Savannah wrapped a long silken leg around his hip. Zach was more than aware that all he had to do was move a couple of scraps of clothing and he could be inside her. His hands glided up her leg, glorying in the satin softness of her inner thigh. He froze and shut his eyes tight. Denying himself what he wanted more than anything at this moment was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
Breath shuddering, he rose up on his elbow and gently pushed her leg off him.
“What’s wrong?”
Unwilling to admit how tempted he’d been or how close he’d come to forgetting about his promise to protect her, he shook his head. “Nothing. Just want to look at you.”
Beneath the moonlight, her luminescent skin glowed ever brighter. “My hair’s probably a mess.”
Weaving his fingers in the wild tresses, he growled, “Your hair is sexy as hell.”
A brilliant smile was followed quickly by a nervous biting of her mouth. “Would it be terribly selfish of me to ask you to come to breakfast in the morning? We’ll make you something extra special.”
She had no idea how much he would love to say yes. Spending extra time with her was incredibly tempting. But he couldn’t. He had made a promise to his mother that he would have breakfast with her. And though he had issues with Francine, Zach prided himself on keeping his promises.
“I wish I could but I promised to have breakfast with my mother. I’ll still stop by on the way out of town. Okay?”
“I understand. I know she’s going to miss you.”
Zach nodded but stayed silent. Discussing his mother was taboo anyway. Talking about her tonight of all nights was impossible.
Reading his silence correctly, Savannah changed the subject. “I’ll fix you a lunch that you can take with you so you don’t have to eat at a fast-food place. Maybe you can find a roadside park on the way.”
He had to smile. Savannah was always trying to make sure he ate well. Zach searched for the right way to convey how much he appreciated that and what she meant to him. Words failed him but he trudged forward. “These last few weeks have been a lot of fun.” Bland and insipid words. As soon as they left his lips, he wanted to yank them back. They were an understatement of mammoth proportions. From the moment he’d met her, Savannah had treated him as if he was something special. And in all his years, he’d never laughed so hard or felt so good. Nor had he ever cared for anyone so much.
She tilted her head to look up at him, and her lips trembled for a second before she put on the smile he knew he’d dream about for the rest of his life. “I’m going to miss you so much but I’m so proud of you. I know your dad would be, too.”
Though they rarely talked family stuff, he’d explained to her why he had joined the army. About his dad, his service and sacrifice. And in