Touched by Angels Page 0,60

toward the flagpole. A brass railing-like border ran the circumference of the island. Embossed in the polished metal were hundreds of names, a small representation of the thousands of immigrants who'd made their way to America between 1892 and 1924. The first time Jenny had visited, she'd walked around the entire island until she'd found what she was looking for.

"My great-grandfather's name is listed here," she told him excitedly. Her fingertips ran over the raised letters. Anton Hellmich. A sense of pride moved her to know that this man's blood ran through her veins. "You can't imagine how excited I was when I discovered this. I called my mother that very night." She doubted that Trey understood what a rare thing it was for her to phone home. With her finances so tight, Jenny usually wrote letters and made up excuses why it was difficult for her to phone. Talking to her mother, hearing her father's gruff, loving voice, increased her longing for home and her family all the more.

"Anton Hellmich," Trey repeated slowly. He placed his callused hand on top of hers and laced their fingers together. His skin was rough and hard from the long hours he worked his spread. Her skin was silky smooth.

Once again Trey ran the thick pad of his index finger over the raised letters with her. His touch, so warm and caring, so gentle, was like a healing balm to her wounded pride.

Barely realizing what she was doing, Jenny turned so that she faced him. Before another moment passed, before her heart could beat again, Trey's arms were clasped around her as he brought her into his arms.

She watched the transformation come over him, as if he were caught in some winless battle. The muscles in his jaw clenched. Then, moving slowly, as though hypnotized, he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips over hers, moist and warm, were as gentle as lambskin.

Jenny closed her eyes as tightly as she could, seeking to blot out the world and everything around them. Everything but Trey. For the first time since her arrival she didn't want to be subjected to the sights and sounds of the New York waterfront. She didn't want to hear the buzz of aircraft overhead. For this one moment she wanted to be as far away from other people as she could get.

Trey's kiss was everything Jenny had ever dreamed, everything she could have anticipated. She trembled in his arms, needing his strength, his comfort, more than she'd ever needed anything in her life. She clung to him, not wanting him to let her go. Not ever.

Snuggling closer, she stood on the tips of her toes. Her breasts nuzzled his chest, and a new brand of sensations shot through her. Trey recognized the difference, and his tongue went in search of hers as the kiss deepened. By the time they broke apart, Jenny's knees were weak. It didn't seem possible that anything would feel this wonderful.

Jenny had been kissed before, plenty of times. She wasn't a novice to the art, but with Trey all things became new. Everything changed.

When they broke apart, Jenny could feel the heat invade her cheeks. She was actually blushing, which was something that hadn't happened since she was in junior high.

"Trey?" she whispered, pleading with him to explain what was happening to them. She was at a loss to understand, let alone explain.

He answered by kissing her again, this time deeper and with such intensity that her senses spun out of control. When he'd finished, he held her close and whispered, but his words were low and filled with emotion.

"I've waited so long to hold you like this."

"Oh, Trey, I've missed you so much."

His fingers were in her hair, and he angled her head to kiss her again and again. His breathing was harsh with excitement and need.

"Come home, Jenny," he pleaded. "For the love of God, give up on this madness and come back home where you belong."

The pond near Cherry Hill fountain had always been one of Hannah's favorite spots in Central Park. Because she was late, she feared Joshua would have given up waiting for her. Barely taking time to look both ways, she raced across Fifty-ninth Street. Her heart pounded in her throat as she approached the pond. Excitement filled her when she spied Joshua standing along the edge of the water, feeding the goldfish. Hannah half ran to meet him.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," she said breathlessly when she joined him.