"Right now?"
"Sure. No time like the present. We should probably go inside, so we don't trip in the dark. We'll keep the music quiet, so we won't disturb your mom."
"Okay." Giddy laughter bubbled out of Grace. She loved that Damon wanted to make the most of their final hours together.
They pushed back the sofa and selected music, then Damon walked her through the basic steps, repeatedly pushing her out and pulling her back in until she'd mastered them. Then he introduced a few more moves. And a few more. Once again, they laughed as they enjoyed each other's company, dancing to song after song.
Eventually, they drifted into slow dancing again like they did at the wedding, arms wrapped around each other. They shared several lingering kisses; each one a little more intense as the clock ticked closer to one thirty.
"Mmm..." Damon broke off their final kiss but kept his arms wrapped around her. "I really need to leave now, beautiful." He continued to hold her.
"I know." She kept her face pressed to his chest. "I wish you didn't have to go." She forced down the lump that clogged her throat and squeezed her eyes shut against the tears.
"Me too." He pulled away. "I'll call or text you as soon as I can. Now get some sleep." He pressed his lips to her forehead then opened the door.
“Oh, wait.” She stepped away. “I have something for you.” She hurried down the hall then returned with the care package she’d assembled for him.
“It’s not much. Just some snacks.”
He peeked inside. A grin spread across his face when he spotted the treats they’d shared in the elevator. “Chocolate truffles and licorice?”
“Plus, jerky and nuts and some little puzzle books.”
He pulled her into his arms again, hugging her so tightly she could hardly breathe. He tucked his face against her neck and let out a heavy sigh. "Goodbye, sweetheart."
"Bye." Grace caught the sheen of tears in his eyes as he pulled open the door and stepped out into the night.
Her heart thudded slow and heavy in her chest as she pushed it closed behind him. She pressed her forehead to the door, locked it, and uttered a short prayer. "Please, Lord, bring him back to me safe and sound."
She watched out the window as Damon's taillights disappeared, then she turned off the porch light, followed by the living room light. She plodded down the hall to her dark bedroom. Not bothering to turn on a light or brush her teeth, she climbed into her bed, hugged her pillow to her chest, and sobbed.
CHAPTER 14
The humid heat of North Carolina hit Damon like a brick wall as he stepped out of the airport to catch the bus that would take him to base.
It's September, why is it still so blasted hot?
Washington was hot, but not this hot. Humid heat was more oppressive than dry heat.
Damon knew he should enjoy the ninety-degree temperature, because in seventy-two hours, he'd be in Kuwait complaining about the dry-your-mouth-out heat.
As soon as he was seated on the bus, he pulled his phone from his pocket. He'd drafted several texts to Grace between cat naps on his flight, but he'd deleted them all, because he sounded like a sappy, lovesick teenager in each of them.
Just because he felt like one, didn't mean he needed to act like it.
Damon:I finally made it to N.C. I didn't sleep much on the flight, because I couldn't stop thinking about you.
Nope. Too sappy.
He deleted that last sentence and tried again.
Damon:I enjoyed spending the day with you yesterday. I hope you were able to finally get some rest.
He paused for a moment then added: Miss you already.
Instead of waiting for Grace to respond, he opened his email. There were several things he needed to take care of before deploying and he had ignored them to spend time with Grace.
Walking onto base after Block Leave always felt a little like coming home. Home away from home, at least. Not anymore. Home was with Grace.
