Page 66 of Forever Fickle

“It’s my address, my personal information, and my parents’ information. I also included my younger sister’s address. She moved out about three years ago, suddenly wanting to be independent,” he mocked, but there was a look of brotherly pride in his eyes.

Karen took a seat beside him – and Jace immediately leaned over to kiss her, taking a deep breath and sighing.

“You smell breathtaking.”

“Soap will do that for you,” she teased.

“No, it’s something else,” he countered softly, smiling at her. “You smell just like heaven, flowers, and Karen – all rolled into one. I could breathe that every morning for the rest of my life.”

“Paper…” she strangled out, reminding him, trying to keep strong and not make some retort about how he would be gone within hours. “Why do I have all of this information?”

“Because I emailed my parents to tell them about you and…”

“You did… what?” she balked, stunned.

His soft, leisurely smile and that gentle loving look was almost her undoing right there. He leaned forward, took another deep breath as if he was trying to breathe her in, and slowly kissed her, before backing away.

“I told my parents that I wanted them to meet my girlfriend at Thanksgiving – and sent them a photo of us,” he explained, his thumb caressing her jaw, tracing it. “I know this all scares you and the doubts are still there, but I’m serious about us.”

“For now…”

“For-ever…” he countered, grinning. “Get to know me, my family, and please don’t pull back when I’m gone. Let’s write, call, and continue to learn all the little things we can about each other.”

“You’re really serious about this,” she whispered.

“You aren’t my entertainment while I’m in town,” he replied, laughing softly as she froze.

That was exactly what she feared was happening!

His expression fell slightly as he looked at her in dawning disbelief.

“Do you really… you thought…” he began and then sighed heavily. “Karen, I don’t know how else to tell you or to say it – anymore than I have already. I’m serious about us and hurdling in my mind over the steps it will take to come back here, to be with you.”

He got quiet and took her hands in his, looking into her eyes.

“I need you to believe me, trust me,” he breathed. “Take this leap of faith with me, for us.”

“I’m not ready for you to leave,” she whispered tearfully, feeling her emotions open up at the love she saw in his gaze. His own eyes were shiny and bright with unshed tears as he smiled at her.

“I’m certainly not ready to leave you,” he said thickly. “But I’m coming home as fast as I can. That’s why I want you to meet my family, so they can get to know you and love you like I do.”

“You aren’t scared?”

“I’m terrified,” he admitted hesitantly. “I hate the idea of leaving, knowing you could get tired of waiting for me or find someone else…”

Karen leaned forward and kissed him before he could finish the sentence, feeling herself breakdown as she started to cry at the overwhelming emotions raging in her. She heard his own choked sob, as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss between them just before they separated.

Jace put his forehead against hers, taking several deep breaths she knew to steady himself. She followed suit.

“I know they sent you to pick me up at the airport,” he began, his voice trembling. “The next pilot coming to help is Handsy and…”

“He’s called… what?” she balked.

“He can fix a lot of things and is fantastic with the yoke of a plane – but if he gets handsy with you, with my girl?” Jace’s voice got dark and possessive as he let out a growl. “I’ll break his face, Karen.”

“I’m not letting anyone…” she started – only to have Jace cut her off.

“I’m serious. If he so much as looks at you the wrong way – tell me. Handsy is married, but on the ‘outs’ with his wife. You should be safe and that’s the only reason I didn’t throttle Alpo when he told me. I might ask him to send someone else though because…”

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