Free If I Return by Sawyer Bennett, The 12 NAs of Christmas Page A

their Bachelor party.
    Glancing around The Great Hall, I look at Audrey standing among the group of bridesmaids. They are all trashed and I know they’re going to be sporting vicious hangovers.
    I want to see Jack, but I’m terrified to see Jack.
    Will he acknowledge me, or will he brush me off? I’m afraid it’s the latter and I don’t know if my fragile ego can take it.
    I’ve just made up my mind to head back to the room when the Inn doors burst open and the guys all walk in. They are loud and boisterous, and several of the other guests in The Hall look at them with amusement, a few with disdain.
    My eyes search hungrily for Jack and I spot him. He stands out like a shining beacon to me. He’s wearing a pair of black slacks, a charcoal gray sweater, and a black leather jacket. If he was standing closer to me, I’m betting his eyes would be the color of slate. His cheeks are red from the cold, and he has his arm companionably slung around Carson.
    His eyes do a quick scan of the room and stop the minute they land on me. He leans over to say something to Carson, who glances my way and nods.
    Then Jack is walking toward me.
    My breath catches over the way he’s looking at me. He’s a man that looks like he’s starving and he runs his eyes up and down my body. When he reaches me, he puts his hands on my face and pulls me to him for a kiss.
    It’s warm but demanding, and I provide no resistance when his tongue seeks mine. He tastes of beer and spearmint gum. It’s only when someone yells, “Get a room,” that we break apart. My eyes search his for some clue as to what he’s feeling, but he only treats me with a lazy smile.
    Rubbing his thumb along my bottom lip, he murmurs, “That’s a great idea... let’s go to my room.”
    He doesn’t wait for me to answer but takes my hand and starts leading me to the elevators. I pull back slightly, confused over his abrupt turnaround.
    “Wait,” I say.
    He turns to look at me, impatiently. “What?”
    “I just... I didn’t really think you wanted to see me today?”
    His eyes soften a bit and he pulls me in his arms. Kissing my temple, he says, “Hope... don’t be that way. I’m here now, right?”
    Pushing back on his chest, I glare at him. “Are you drunk or something?”
    “Now why would you ask that?” The smirk on his face leads me to believe he’s a little drunk.
    Crossing my arms over my chest, I look at him levelly. “Because this morning you gave me quite the brush off. I just assumed this... fling was over.”
    Jack steps toward me and brings his hand to my face. He cups it gently and his eyes are soft. “No it’s not over... at least not for me. I made a terrible mistake this morning, Hope, and it drove me nuts today not being near you. We have two more nights... please say you’ll spend them with me.”
    His words are soft but sure, and they convince me of two things. First, that he truly does feel like he made a mistake with me this morning, and for that I can forgive him.
    The second? He’s again reiterated there is still a limit on our time together. Nothing has changed in that respect.
    Do I follow him blindly, knowing that every minute I spend with him I’ll get entrenched deeper into my feelings for him? Or do I walk away, knowing it will be a bit easier today than two days from now?
    “Why did you act that way this morning?”
    He rubs his hand along his jaw, considering the question. “I don’t know. When you asked me about going to Afghanistan... I just realized that our time is fleeting, and maybe it was a mistake to have even started this. But today... I realized I can’t be here... knowing you’re so close, and not be with you. I need to be with you.”
    I study his face and it’s filled with confusion. He doesn’t even understand the feelings he has. Jack reaches over and takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth. He kisses it lightly and then brings it to hold against his heart, which I can feel thumping beneath his