Worth The Battle (Heaven Hill Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

guess I’ll be set.” She smiled brightly, though they both knew it didn’t meet her eyes.
    “Great, I gotta go take a shower before I head in for my shift. I’ll see ya sometime tonight.”
    With those words he was gone, and she felt more alone than she ever had in her life. What had seemed like such a good idea before now seemed like it was the worst idea ever. She knew that was partly her fault. She wanted more than she’d ever told him and it was obvious it was more than he was able to give.
    “Harden that heart, girl,” she told herself as she watched him walk away, but she couldn’t help but remember the boy he used to be.
    Jessica looked out along the cars that were waiting in line at Jackson-Hartsfield Airport. She was never sure which one Layne would be driving. It always depended on who he could sweet-talk to give up their vehicle for a day or two. There was always someone willing to help him. He was well-liked in his unit, and they all thought it was awesome that a Hollywood actress hung out with them for a few days every couple of months.
    Using her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, she stepped further out onto the sidewalk, her gaze running up and down the cars, looking for something that would tell her which one Layne was in. Finally she saw it, a sticker that granted access onto the post at Fort Benning. It was a truck, a huge truck.
    “Layne!” she waved.
    He stuck his hand out the window, waving back at her.
    “I can’t get out, you’re gonna have to come over here,” he yelled.
    In this place, she wasn’t afraid that someone would see her and call the paparazzi, she could be herself for 48 hours with him. Knowing that, she did what any other young woman would do who was coming to see her soldier for a weekend and high-tailed it down the line, running as she got closer. The truck had a lift kit, and she reached up, grabbing the door handle. Once she swung it open, she threw her bag inside and then grasped the sides of the door frame, lifting herself into the passenger seat. Once there, she giggled as she struggled to shut the beast of a door.
    “Damn,” she laughed, situating herself in the seat.
    “That was cute,” he grinned at her. “Kind of hot too, the way you just boosted yourself on up.”
    His smile was contagious, and she couldn’t help but grin back. These days were her favorite, and she knew that with his deployment coming in a few months she would have to hold these dear to her. “Glad you enjoyed it.”
    “I most certainly did, Ms. Shea,” he mumbled as he leaned over, capturing her lips with his.
    The way her heart pounded when he did that told her more than anything just how much she cared about him, just how much she was willing to do anything he asked her to do. It was scary and amazing all at the same time. She leaned back as his hand came around and cupped the back of her head, forcing their lips to mesh even closer together. A loud honk from behind them made them break apart, both laughing as they did.
    “Guess we should get goin’, huh?” He grinned, licking his lips.
    “We definitely should,” she agreed.

    Every time Jessica made her way down south, Layne always had to wonder if this time would be the last. Would she finally figure out he was nothing special? Would she finally understand that all he would ever be was a grunt in the Army? Hell, who knew if he would even come home once he deployed. Lots of people from the other unit on his base had not and probably would not. That’s what made it so important for him to cherish this time with her. He reached over and grabbed her hand in his, bringing the back of her hand up to his lips.
    “I’m glad you were able to get away,” he said softly as they made their way off of airport property.
    “I am too.”
    They never stayed too far from the airport—that would cut into their time together—and it was always either one of two motels. Thankfully, no one had caught onto them yet, and hopefully they