“I know why you didn’t. It’s true I have been putting it off.”
“Are you still afraid your family won’t accept you?” If she still felt like that he’d cancel the trip until she was ready. He didn’t want her stressing about seeing her family.
“No,” Hannah assured him. “I’m just not ready to leave you.” Tears pooled in her eyes.
Benreached out and swiped one as it trickled down her cheek. “There is nothing saying you can’t come back.”
Hanna looked at him as if he just handed her the moon. “You want me to come back?”
“Of course, I do. Hannah, I-”Benstopped himself before he said it. He had never said it to a woman before, and he didn’t know if it was the right time to tell her.
“I what?” She implored him with her eyes to finish.
Bentook a deep breath. “I love you.” There he said it and it wasn’t as hard as he thought it would be.
Hannah was quiet for a moment, and he feared he had said it too soon and she wasn’t ready to hear it yet. And then a smile broke across her face. “I love you too. I don’t want to ever leave you. We don’t even have to go to Portland.” She preferred if she didn’t. She would be happy to stay here with Ben and start a new life with him here.
Ben’s heart thumped wildly. She loved him. He felt he could take on the whole world now. Never had three little words affected him so much. “You’re still going to Portland. Your family must know your alive. We’ll come right back, afterward.”
Hannah sighed heavily. “Promise?” She worried her parents wouldn’t accept her relationship with Ben. They might still insist she becomesomepolitician’s wife. Not that she would ever let her parents influence her decisions again. She understood why Ben walked away all those years ago. He didn’t feel he was good enough for her family, but only her opinion mattered, and he saved her life, \ he was the only man she had ever loved. He was more than enough for her.
“Promise,”Bensealed it with a kiss.
Chapter Eleven
Benheld Hannah’s hand throughout the plane ride. They took a commercial flight instead of a military plane to remain inconspicuous. They landed far too quickly for her frame of mind. She was excited to finally see her parents, but she was so not ready to face them yet. Ben had promised her they would stay the night at a hotel and she could see them in the morning. Their childhood friend and Ben’s army buddy, Adam had told her parents she was on the way. Her brothers had been informed as well and were flying up to see her.
She could do this. She was going to finally see her family again. It felt so surreal.
“You okay?”Benasked for probably the hundredth time today. She loved him so much for that.
“I’m fine. As long as you don’t leave my side, I’m good.”
“Consider me stuck to you like glue.”
“That was so corny,” Hannah laughed.
“But it made you laugh, so it was well worth it.”
Adam was there to greet them when they got off the plane. He wore his uniform and aviator sunglasses. He waited for them by his car. The two men shared a handshake and a brief hug. “Adam, always good to see you.”
“You’re looking good, Ben. And Hannah, you look as beautiful as I remember.” Adam said and took her in his arms for a great big hug. Hannah forgot how much she missed Adam and how sweet he always was to her.
“Easy, Adam,” Ben pulled her close to his side. “Hannah is mygirlfriend.”
Wow, Hannah has never seen a pissing competition before, but she thought she just had. And she just got labeled girlfriend. It took everything inside of her not to giggle with glee.
“Finally tied this cowboy down, eh?” Adam laughed at Ben. “Took long enough.”
“I’m not complaining if the result is the same,” Hannah said leaning against Ben’s side.
“Either way, it’s good to see the two of you again. It’s been far too long. Shall we?” Adam waved them over to the car.
“Do we have to ride in the back?” Hannah saw there was only one free seat up front.
“Think of it as being chauffeured,” Adam said getting behind the wheel.
Benjust shrugged his shoulders and sat in the back with Hannah. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as she thought. It had fabric seats but lacked a door handle. She supposed one couldn’t make it too easy for criminals to get out.
