Read Online Hers for a While by Danica Chandler - Free Book Online Page B

needed, she was there. His body quivered against hers, and the warmth felt through the fabric of her shirt confirmed that he was crying.
    “It was like a damn warzone, Alice. Bottle rockets shooting off. Black Cats exploding like bombs. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    “I’m glad you’re okay.” The very thought of him in the middle of something like that made her crazy, but she wouldn’t admit that out loud. He already feared freaking her out. “I’m sorry those kids weren’t. You guys did what you could.”
    Releasing the hug, he looked up into her eyes. The moisture from his tears had smeared the soot. “Let’s take that vacation, Alice. The sooner, the better.”
    Alice nodded, looking deep into his eyes. “Whatever you want, Jack. As soon as school is out for summer, I’ve got nothing but time.”
    After a quick supper, Jack had fallen asleep on the couch. Realizing he wasn’t comfortable, Alice helped him to the bedroom. She wasn’t sure if he even woke up during the walk down the hallway, and with the way he fell into the bed with a low murmur, she was certain he hadn’t. She adjusted the covers around him, fluffed the pillows, and flicked the lamp on. She wasn’t tired yet, but she didn’t want to leave the room.
    Pulling a book out of the top drawer, she thumbed to where her bookmark was, but her mind wasn’t on the plot. Glancing at Jack, she let out a sigh. She was glad he was sleeping. Alice studied him. His jaw clenched and his eyebrows moved around – he wasn’t relaxed at all. Her heart hurt for him. It killed her just hearing about the bad calls. She couldn’t imagine witnessing what he had.
    Jack shifted his weight and turned over, now facing her. His eyes flickered open for a second, but slammed back shut as he said something that was hard to understand. She had learned that he was quite the sleep talker, especially when he was exhausted. At first, it was cute. Tonight it wasn’t amusing.
    Scooting in against him, she fanned her fingers through his soft hair. He shivered, and again, his eyelids parted, revealing his eyes for a split second. She nestled her face into his neck. They were safe, they were together, and he had made it out alive. There was no use in crossing a bridge they weren’t at. All that mattered was that moment. Jack was sleeping next to her and they were in love. Alice didn’t want to think of what could be. She didn’t want to freak out about the call.
    Closing her eyes, she took every sensation in. Jack’s one day old stubble, his smooth skin, his muscular chest that moved up and down as he breathed, and his strong arms that wrapped around her, pulling her so close to him that it was almost uncomfortable.
    “Thank you,” Jack whispered.
    Looking up, she saw that he was awake. Wrapping her legs around him, a small smile parted her lips. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Jack. Get some sleep. We’ve got a vacation to rest up for.”
     
    ***
     
    “You sure we’re just gonna be gone a week?” Jack pointed down at her suitcase, a playful grin on his face. “You act like we’re going away from all civilization.”
    Alice looked at her heaping luggage. She had always over packed. “I’ve gotta take options for clothes. You know, sometimes I may not be in the mood to wear something, so I need choices.”
    Shaking his head, Jack tossed a pair of jeans in his bag. “You women are crazy. Give a man a couple pairs of paints, a few shirts, and a toothbrush, and we’ll be fine.”
    “Don’t forget deodorant. We both know how…” Alice snapped her fingers as she tried to think up the appropriate word. “Ripe you can get whenever you get all sweaty.”
    “Now that’s just mean.” Jack edged across the room and hugged her from behind. “Are we really getting away for a few days or am I dreaming?”
    “Not dreaming, though it does feel like it, I agree.” Alice leaned into him. It had been a few weeks since the bad warehouse call, and