Return to Glory (Hqn) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stopped all the delicious things he was doing and stared at her as if she’d morphed into a two-headed dog.
    “Betsy! I’m so sorry.” He scrambled away from her, his breathing ragged.
    “Don’t you dare be sorry!” Betsy straightened herself. “I have my own brain, which works just fine, and a mouth to say what I do and do not want.”
    “You’re only sixteen.”
    “I’m not a kid anymore, Jack. I may be a young woman, but I am a woman.”
    “I’m not talking about your body. I’m talking about your life. Your experiences.”
    “So give me some,” she blurted.
    He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. “You can’t say things like that. Someone will take advantage of you.”
    “Obviously not.” She eyed him expectantly and all of her bravado melted away as that tiny voice whispered doubts in her head. “Unless you don’t, you’re not...” She pursed her lips and shook her head, unable to finish asking if he wasn’t attracted to her.
    “You’re beautiful, sweet thing. Your letters during basic and BUDs kept me sane.” Jack paused. “I’ll admit I thought about you more than I should have. In ways I shouldn’t have. But, Betsy, you’re Caleb’s little sister and where I’m going, I can’t put that life on you.”
    Betsy accepted what he said, but it wasn’t surrender. Fate didn’t make mistakes. She grabbed his hand. “Then I’ll wait for you. Just promise you’ll always come home no matter what it takes.”
    He took off the tags from around his neck and pressed the warm metal into her hand. “I promise.”
    She knew there was nothing else to say then but goodbye.
    They drove to the station in silence, and when it was time for him to board, Betsy gave him a fierce hug.
    Rather than tell him she loved him again, she whispered in his ear, “Don’t forget your promise.”
    “I won’t.” He brushed his lips lightly over the crown of her head and boarded the bus without looking back.
    Betsy stood alone in the pale, sodium light of the station with his dog tags clutched in her fingers and kept her own promise. She didn’t cry until the bus was gone.
    * * *
    T HAT WAS THE last time she’d seen him, before todday.
    Now he was back and her stupid heart didn’t understand how much things had changed. How much he’d changed.
    Betsy knew the only way this could end was badly—that was one thing her heart did understand.
    And it didn’t care.

CHAPTER FOUR
    J ACK COULDN’T FACE HER after what had happened.
    He’d been so weak, so powerless, so broken. His failure had been splayed wide in front of her like an autopsy, but she hadn’t turned away from him, which was worse somehow. Maybe because it was obvious she thought he could be fixed.
    But some things, once broken, couldn’t be pieced back together—parts were missing.
    Like Jack. He wasn’t whole, and he never would be.
    Despite what had happened last night, he had to face her again, if only to make her take that check. Jack knew he owed her, and the money was the only thing he had to give.
    A small voice reminded him that wasn’t quite the truth. He had his wreck of a body, and if her kiss was any indication, she seemed to want it. She couldn’t look at his face, but she’d pressed herself up against him, her sweet, lush curves so inviting.
    He knew she was still in love with the idea of him, still wanted the golden boy he’d been when he left. Maybe that was what she needed—the ugly truth to crush the fantasy.
    So maybe she’d let him go. The fire in her eyes, the determination...
    Now he was lying to himself. He wanted Betsy, and as far as he’d fallen, if she’d have him, he wouldn’t be able to say no. Touching her was bittersweet because it was the only time he could feel anything more than pain.
    He eyed the whiskey bottle on the table, and when he would have reached for it, he stopped. Next to it was the envelope that held Betsy’s check, and it sat there like an accusation.
    Jack swore and picked up the envelope