Page 31 of Bursting With Love
Savannah glanced at Jack sitting a foot away from her on the grass. His arms rested on his knees, and he was staring straight ahead, into the darkness. She had the urge to reach out and touch the curve of his back, but she knew that Jack had to maintain his professional appearance as their guide, even if she hadn’t been able to keep herself from kissing him earlier that morning. Luckily, as she’d thought, no one seemed to have seen them. At least no one was treating them any differently. They didn’t need to throw their relationship—or whatever it was—in anyone’s face. Savannah didn’t even know where they were heading, and now that she knew how worried Linda’s family was about him, she wondered if she had even more to worry about. Was Jack really too broken? Was she once again ignoring big red flags? Or was the feeling that she’d been brought to his camp for a reason real? She glanced at him again, hoping he’d want to see her even after they left the mountain. She knew she would not only want to continue seeing him, but she also knew she’d love to spend evenings with him by a campfire. Just the two of them.
“I THINK WE’RE going to turn in.” Elizabeth stood and reached for Lou’s hand. “Jack, today was amazing, and thanks for helping Aiden pack his survivor bag. He set it beside the tent, and when we put him to bed, he said he knew everything he needed to and that he was going to survive the wilderness.” She laughed. “I think you have an even bigger fan now.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Jack said. “Sleep well.”
“We’re turning in, too,” Pratt said. He pulled Josie close and kissed her forehead. “Jack and Lou, you gave me some stuff to think about today on the hike. Thank you.”
“Glad it helped,” Lou said with a wave. Then he climbed into his tent behind Elizabeth.
“You guys did great today,” Jack said. He’d felt Savannah’s presence near him all evening, and at first it had been torture to not be sitting close enough to put his leg against hers or touch her hand, but he’d also been mulling over what Lou had said about family, and that had given him something else to focus on. Arguing to prove your point won’t make it heard any louder.
He caught Savannah looking at him with a smile on her lips but worry in her eyes.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.”
“You all right?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Her smile faded. “You looked so deep in thought tonight. Are you okay?”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind, but yeah, I’m fine.” He moved closer to her. “There is one thing I’ve been dying to do all afternoon.” He put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her. Damn, just the taste of her lips and the smell of her fresh skin made his body react. He had planned on one light kiss, just enough to take the edge off from thinking about her so damn much, but as he deepened the kiss, he couldn’t pull away.
Savannah, however, could. She pulled back and whispered, “We’re in the middle of the camp.”
He blinked away the fog of desire. “Right.” Jesus, what was he doing? He leaned in closer. “I want to make out with you all night long.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “But I’d really like to talk and get to know you. So it’s probably better if we don’t go anywhere just yet. I can’t be trusted when I’m alone with you.”
She ran her index finger down his chest. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I’ll get a blanket, and we can hang out here by the fire.” When he returned, he spread the blanket, and Savannah joined him beneath the stars.
She snuggled against him. “I can’t believe tonight’s our last night together.”
“It’s our last night here, but it doesn’t have to be our last night together.” He took her face in his hands. “I can’t help it, Savannah,” he whispered. “I know we’re in the middle of the camp, but I have to kiss you again.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I’m not very good at small talk,” Jack admitted. Who am I kidding? I suck at small talk. Ever since Linda’s death, he’d been afraid of saying the wrong thing. He worried that his guilt and anger would seep into every conversation, and that was enough to drive him into silence. Luckily, Savannah filled the gap.
“I can talk for hours. My brothers roll their eyes at me, and I know it’s because I say what they think, and it’s not always the most appropriate thing to say aloud. We’re so close, it’s like we can read one another’s minds.” She shrugged. “I tend to call them on things they wish they could keep hidden.”
