Page 61 of Sloane

She sighed and laid her cheek directly on my chest while her arms went along my sides.

“It does, doesn’t it?”

Of course, my sense of duty would never really allow me to do that. But it was a nice daydream.

I tapped her butt so she would sit up with me. I wanted to look directly at her, so she knew I was serious when I said, “Tell you what. When I get back from this tour, I promise I’ll take you to Mexico, and we’ll stay at an all-inclusive place on the beach for a month.”

The corner of her mouth turned up.

“I don’t think I’ll have enough vacation time for a month.”

“Then for however long you can get away.”

She pecked my lips and replied, “It’s a date.”

I knew the thought of that date was going to get me through the hardest days I was sure to encounter soon.

Then my conscience reminded me where I was going.

“But I want you to promise me something.”

Her face was solemn when she said, “Okay…”

“Promise you won’t wait for me. If Mr. Right comes along, you’ll choose him. You aren’t tied to me. You don’t owe me anything. You’re not a bad person if you want to be with someone else.”

Even though I hated it, and my heart felt like it was fragmenting in my chest, it was the right thing to do.

“But what if Mr. Right has already come along, I’ve already chosen him, and I want to wait for him?”

“Baby girl…”

“I’m not going anywhere, Sloane.”

Her words were like balm to my hurting heart. But I still wanted to be fair to her.

I stroked her cheek as I gazed into her eyes.

“Just know that I will understand if you do. The only thing I ask is that you tell me.”

“Fair enough. But I’ll be right here waiting when you get back.” She winked at me with a grin. “And you’re taking me to Mexico.”

Chapter Eighteen

Ashley

As we pulled up to the guard gate at Miramar on Monday morning, I reached for his hand.

“Mexico is still on the table.”

“Ash, if there is anyone I’d be willing to go AWOL with, it’s you.”

I supplied what he’d left unspoken. “But your men are counting on you.”

He squeezed my hand with a sad smile before releasing it.

“But my men are counting on me.” He nudged me and continued, “Besides, I need to be able to pay for our Mexico trip when I get back.”

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood. It was like a dark cloud had been hanging over us since we woke up that morning.

---