Page 27 of Destiny Reclaimed
Her heart beat wildly and she slid over, pressing her side to his, and positioned their hands on her lap. It was a bit uncomfortable having to kick her legs out to the side a bit because of the manual shifter, but the slight ache in her hip was worth it—the reward of touching Jack.
Gwen turned her head to look at him. His gaze was focused on the road, but after a couple of beats, he risked a glance in her direction.
"How about Eddy's Drive-In?" she suggested. "That way we can just talk, the two of us." The last thing she wanted was to run into anyone they knew inside a restaurant. Selfishly, she wanted him to herself.
Jack slowed the vehicle, released her hand, downshifted, and then took the next right. After upshifting, he snatched her hand back again.
Within five minutes, he’d pulled into a parking spot at the drive-in. It was a bit cold to be eating in the car, but as long as people wanted that service, Eddy provided it.
Janet Lindsey came out to the car and took their order. The teenager was bundled up in a wool coat that hung longer and hid the standard pink waitress uniform. The girl still sported a pair of pink sneakers and the usual banana-shaped hat. Any colder and she'd probably swap those out for boots and a stocking cap.
Janet leaned toward the open window. "Welcome to Eddy's. Are you ready to order?" she asked with a bright smile.
Jack turned his head from the waitress to her and nodded, indicating she should order first.
"Hi, Janet. I'll have a plain cheeseburger, fries, and a cola."
"And you, sir?"
"The same."
Janet flitted away.
Jack rolled up the window but let the car run to keep the heat flowing. He turned at the waist to face her and lifted their hands to his mouth.
His warm breath washed over the back of her hand, then he pressed his lips ever so softly to it. Heat surged through her at the gentle touch.
He focused on the diamond ring he'd given her for a brief moment before returning his gaze to hers. "I can't even begin to tell you how much I missed you and longed for this moment." His dark eyes didn't waiver. "You are what got me through every day." His gaze bounced back to the ring, then realigned with hers. "I cannot wait for you to become my wife."
Her heart nearly exploded. If he said any more sweetness, it surely would.
"I prayed every day for your safe return," she replied as she leaned in for his kiss.
His lips were soft, sweet, controlled. So was Jack, always disciplined—well-ordered. If it were up to her...well, let's just say they wouldn't be sharing this type of restrained kiss. Not that she wasn't enjoying it, because she was. But, she wanted more. Two years' worth of desire had built up and was hard to tamp down now that he was finally with her again.
Her fiancé’s large, warm hands cupped her cheeks. Slipping his tongue through her slightly part lips, he deepened his kiss. Still slow and sweet, but deepening nonetheless. Desiring privacy for more intimacy, she wished they weren’t in this car at the drive-in, exposed to anyone who walked or drove by. Not that what they did was uncommon in a car at the drive-in, but having waited so long for him to return home and pick up where they'd let off, she wanted to take things further.
A knock on the driver's side window startled them apart. A faint image of the waitress’ smile shone through the foggy glass. Jack rolled the window halfway down so the teenager could hook the food tray onto it.
He paid her, then reached over and pulled one of the thin cardboard containers holding cheeseburger and fries inside and handed it to her before snagging his own off the tray.
She watched him as he ate. Jack seemed to savor every bite, chewing slowly with a complete look of satisfaction.Taste of home,she supposed.
He did look a little thin. His cheeks sunk in a bit above his square jaw. Though lean, his frame was wide at the shoulders and narrowed at the waist, but his torso was a bit thinner than she remembered.
He set his half-eaten burger in the cardboard tray and turned slightly to face her. A soft smile rose on his lips. “I forgot how good these are.”
“Yeah, Eddy knows how to make a butter burger, that’s for sure. Of course, everything is better with butter,” she replied, then took a bite of her tasty sandwich.
“I suppose it is.”
He took another bite then gazed at her warmly. “So, tell me about you. What have you been up to? I want to know everything. Every little detail. It feels like a lifetime has passed.”
Though his comment was a matter of fact, it broke her heart. While they all lived their lives at home as normal as they could, men like him were off fighting a war—doing everything they could just to survive.
Her chest tightened at the thought of Marvin, who didn’t. It constricted even more at the thought of Gary, who still fought. Every day, she prayed he’d make it home in one piece.
A tear slid down her cheek. Instantaneously, Jack reached over and swiped it away with his fingers.
