Love Her Right by Christina Ow Page B

quietly cursed after. Looking away was her telltale sign when she didn’t want to share a secret.
    “Ouch!” She winced when he crushed her hand in his.
    “Sorry!” he apologized, quickly releasing her. Then he sat silent and rigid next to her for a long time, which worried her before he sighed loudly. “Everything inside me wants to demand what it was they did to you, but I don’t think I’ll be able to handle the guilt that will come after. And I don’t think I want my kids visiting me in prison, so don’t tell me.”
    That was a relief she wasn’t looking forward to sharing that embarrassment. “I promise I won’t.”
    He sighed loudly again. “So what happens now...with us?”
    Jolie looked down at their intertwined fingers. His were so large against hers, it made hers look childlike. “We take things slow...start with counseling on Monday?” she ventured.
    “I wish I could but...” He ran his hand over his face. “There is something I need to tell you.”
    Dread filled her, but she wasn’t going to jump to conclusions or let the dark cloud sink her again. “What is it?”
    He took her other hand in his. “I need to go back to the Middle East. Just for a couple of months. I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t serious. Especially after my last tour.”
    He shivered visibly and that frightened Jolie even more. She’d lived with the fear for years, forgotten about it for a few months and now it was back full force, especially with the far away wide-eyed look on his face. What happened during his last tour?
    “Why? I thought you were a civilian now! Why do you have to go back there?”
    Mac gave her a weary smile. “I never truly left the military, and you know I can’t tell you that.”
    She pulled away from him and pushed herself to her feet. “It’s not fair, Mac. Miles just got you and this baby—am I going to give birth alone, again ?”
    He wrapped her in a hug from behind with a content sigh. He kissed her temple and pressed his cheek against hers. It felt great being held like this. She’d missed his arms around her in comfort. It always made her think she could face anything whenever he did that but right now, it scared her because she wondered if it would be the last time. She’d watched the news, and things over there weren’t getting better, they were getting worse.
    God, was she going to get her wish?
    Scared, she turned in his arms and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Please don’t go!” she pleaded.
    “It’s not my choice, and I can’t in good conscious refuse to go, knowing that I’m needed.”
    “You’re needed here!”
    He chuckled above her, stroking her hair. “I’m glad you’re like this. It gives me hope for the future. I promise I’ll be back before the baby is born.” He pulled her back to look into her eyes and asked, “You called the baby her—” he chuckled shaking his head, “I’m still going crazy about having a daughter, Daddy’s little girl, but you called her your turning point, why?”
    “I’ll tell you when you get back.”
    He groaned with a laugh. “You know it’s going to drive me crazy, don’t you?”
    With a raised brow and a smug smile she said, “Of course I do. But I could be persuaded to tell you if you call me when you’re away.”
    He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, staring lovingly down at her. His sultry smile made her heart skip. She felt seventeen all over again, which wasn’t a very good thing. She couldn’t keep holding on to the past, there was too many bad vibes.
    “I’ll email and call as often as I can, but I have a feeling you won’t tell me even then.”
    She chuckled shaking her head. “No I won’t. That’s a face to face conversation.”
    “Minx!”
    She reached into his shirt and pulled out his chain. She’d expected to find his ring, but instead they were dog tags. Her heart lurched again and she looked up into his face. “You’re leaving today?”
    His face fell. “I’m sorry, but