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They’d stopped walking along the riverfront and had gone halfway down the bank between the walkway and the water.
In the moonlight and glow from the riverfront buildings Jack studied Taylor’s face, how her eyes sparkled, how her chin lifted in defiance of anyone who stood in her way.
She was beautiful.
And not saying things he was prepared to hear.
“If you need me, I’ll be there. You know that.”
“That’s what I thought you meant. What I hoped you meant,” she corrected, then met his gaze head on. “I need you, Jack.”
When words failed him, she continued. “I want to travel with you, Jack. To see the world with you.”
Was that what she’d meant?
Jack took a deep breath. “That may be a problem.”
Taylor’s face fell. “I... What kind of problem?”
A wry grin tugged at his lips. “I’ve recently made changes to my schedule and won’t be traveling nearly as much in the future.”
Uncertainty darkened her face. “What?”
“You once asked me if I ever thought of some place as home.” He smiled at the memory, at his recent realization. “I never had, but now, when Warrenville comes into my head, I get nostalgic.” He shrugged one shoulder. “You might say homesick.”
Her mouth opened. “Oh.”
Studying her, he said words he’d once not ever expected to say. “I’m coming home, Taylor.”
Eyes big, full of emotion, she asked, “When?”
“As soon as this competition is over.”
“You’ll be in Warrenville until you leave for Las Vegas?”
“Yes.” Telling her he was coming back to her felt good, felt liberating. “And I’ll be back as soon as Las Vegas is over.”
She swallowed. “You’re moving back to Warrenville? But...”
“Is my moving back a problem for you?”
“No, but...”
He might feel good, but Taylor looked torn as she said, “But, Jack, you’ll be miserable.”
Taken aback at her comment, he asked, “Why on earth would I be miserable if I moved to Warrenville?”
Then it hit him, threatened to knock the wind from his chest and buckle his knees. “You’re not going to be there, are you?” He could smack himself in the head. “All this to be with you and you’re going to be gone.”
Her lips parted, her expression brightened. “You’re moving to Warrenville to be with me?”
He nodded. “It’s not the town that made me homesick, Taylor. It’s not being with you.” He looked her straight in the eyes and told her what was in his heart. “You are what makes Warrenville home. You are home.”
* * *
Taylor could stand it no longer and closed the short distance between her and Jack, practically throwing herself into his arms.
“I’ve missed you so much.”
