Ace in the Hole Read Online Free Page B

another, I buried it deep within me and decided to do this alone.”
    She ran her hand over her stomach, knowing she had to do this not only for herself but for her daughter. They couldn’t live in the same town together if he broke her heart again. “I can’t do this because I can’t risk you going off on your next training or mission or whatever the hell you want to call it and deciding what’s best for me.”
    “Wait.” With one arm, he held tight as she tried to wiggle out of his embrace. He reached behind him, grabbing his wallet. “Every day I’ve carried this with me.” He pulled out a creamy white ribbon with pink stitches along the edges. “It’s my lucky charm, always keeping me safe, no matter how dangerous things get. I never stopped loving you.”
    Seeing that ribbon sent her memories racing back to that night, only hours before he shipped off to boot camp. They’d sat on the beach, watching the waves crash onto the shore, his arm around her. Back then, it wasn’t supposed to be goodbye, only a short time apart until his training was over. Even knowing he was supposed to come back and they’d be together again, her heart broke.
    He untied her hair from the ribbon, letting it down to blow in the wind, and whispered sweet promises in her ear. Promising they’d be together forever, he tied the ribbon around his wrist and pushed her gently back onto the blanket, kissing her.
    “Do you remember what happened that night?”
    His words pulled her back from the memories. It was the first and only time they made love. She lost her virginity to a man she thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. One who ended up leaving without so much of an explanation.
    “I remember.” As much as it warmed her heart to know he had kept that with him, it didn’t change things. “I remember what happened that night, but what is more important is what happened after…”
    “Gwen.” He slid his hand down her thigh. “I made a mistake, but there’s no reason we should suffer from my stupidity any longer. We deserve a second chance.”
    “Ace.” She cupped his cheek, feeling the smooth skin under her fingertips, and gazed into his forest green eyes. “I can’t…it’s too much for me. I’m sorry, but I can’t risk you breaking my heart again when you leave. You said it yourself, you’re only home for three days, then you’ll leave again and the same thing will happen.”
    Unable to sit there any longer, she slipped from his embrace, putting distance between them. She needed to be alone, so she grabbed her coat from the hall closet before heading out the front door.
    It might not have been the smartest move, but it preserved her heart. Forcing away the tears, she thrust her hands into her pockets and tried to steady her breathing. Following her urges could land her back in the same position she’d been in all those years ago. There was no way she’d let that happen again.

 
    A ce stood there stunned beyond belief as he watched Gwen storm out of the house. It was unlike her to face a problem head on. Unwilling to screw this up again, he slipped his shoes on and decided to follow her. He understood where she was coming from, but damn he wanted her. Having her body pressed against his made everything come back. His job was dangerous and the commitment she needed was one he wasn’t sure he’d be able to give…no matter how much he wanted to. Even so, he had to make it clear how much he cared.
    Outside he looked both directions but couldn’t see her anywhere. How she had managed to disappear when he was only minutes behind her, he had no idea. Going with his gut he headed to the park, imagining it would give her a place to sit and think. Not wanting to lose her, he took off in a steady jog, scanning each side street as he past.
    Three blocks later, he entered a picturesque neighborhood, fall leaves scattered on the ground. It was quiet, deserted at that time of night. Headlights illuminated a few