Jack is a seventy-year-old retired Army vet. He doesn't work, but he does help me whenever I have something that I need a "man’s" help with. I want him to feel like he's still important, even if I can do it myself. He needs a friend, too.
I step out onto the curb, set my luggage up and check the status of my driver. He should be here any minute, in a red hatchback. Sure enough, a couple minutes later I see the vehicle rounding the corner. I'm not surprised when I see that there is someone in the backseat. I take a few steps back to give the person room to get out. I try not to watch him as he exits the car. A ball cap hides his face.
Then he stands up and looks at me. My mouth drops open, my eyes go wide and any words I could possibly conjure are stuck in my throat. Hazel eyes that I have missed desperately for so many weeks stare back at me.
"You…um. You're here." I say.
He walks towards me and puts his hand on the side of my face. I lean into the warmth onlyhishand,histouch brings.
"I couldn't stay away any longer," he says then he looks around me, at the luggage on either side.
"Were you leaving?" he asks.
"I was going to see you." I stare at him, still not believing he is standing in front of me.
He brings his other hand to my waist pulling me towards him, our lips meet and my world spins. I wrap my arms around his neck and run my fingers through his short hair.
"Uh, excuse me. Did you still need a ride? And sir, did you want your luggage?" the Uber driver asks us.
"Oh yes. I'll take that.” He turns and takes his bags from the man, "And no. She won't be needing a ride from you."
Troy looks back to me. He winks at me because he knows he's the only thing I'll be riding tonight.
The driver leaves, and we are left there, with each other. The world around fades away. After he sets his bags down, he comes to me, grabs the backs of my thighs, and lifts me to him. My legs wrap around his waist, my arms around his head, and I nuzzle into his neck. His scent fills my senses, making my core tingle with memories.
I lean back and look at him.
"But you texted me this morning,” I say.
"Right before the plane took off. I was glad you answered when you did because I was in the air for three hours. Didn't want you to think I was ignoring you."
"I would never think that."
I kiss him gently.
"But now what?" I ask him. "I was ready to leave. To be with you."
"I know how important your family is to you, so that's why I came here. I would love to meet them."
My smile grows even bigger, my cheeks start to ache.
"Really?"
"Of course. If they mean that much to you then they do to me, too."
I hug him again and he squeezes me tight.
"But first…" he says.
"But first what," I say in a breathy tone in his ear, then nip it lightly with my teeth. I feel his body shudder.
"I need a tour of your apartment. Most importantly, your bedroom."
I giggle He sets me down and we grab our stuff. When we get inside, I send a quick text to Sophia to abort apartment watching. Then I turn my phone off. It's going to drive her crazy, but I don't want any interruptions tonight.
Chapter twenty-one
Troy