The Preserver & Protector 2: Destiny Reclaimed

Jack banged down hard on his right knee. Emotions ripped through him. Three seconds ago, he was in the midst of a D-Day battle saving his father’s life and getting a sneak peek at his future son and the man he'd grown up to be. Pride swelled in him. Now, here he was on one knee with the love of his life staring down at him with hopeful, teary eyes. His heart was full as he stared into the gaze of the woman who’d mother his son.

He tightened his nervous fingers around the soft velvet box he held. Funny to think not long ago his fingers were gripped around the stick of an aircraft about to crash and shook less than they did now.

The only thing that could make this day any better would be if Gwennie said yes to the question he was about to ask. His love’s mesmerizing caramel gaze drifted from his to the side of his head. Her brows knit as she reached forward and softly brushed his earlobe before she moved her fingers back to his sightline.

A tinge of alarm emitted from her gaze. “What happened to your ear?” she asked as she studied the smear of blood on her fingertips.

Jack stood and touched his lobe. A small amount of sticky moisture clung to his fingers

“It’s nothing. An uneventful story, really. It’s all fine now.”

In the split second after those words left his mouth, he realized he’d just lied to the person he was about to pledge himself to. A lump rose in his throat. Was this telling of how their lives would be? A life filled with time travel and lies? The bulge in his esophagus doubled in size. He couldn’t breathe. Hiding the truth is as good a lying. How had his father kept this secret from his mother all these years? They seemed happy. Maybe she knew. No, she couldn’t. Of the very little his father had time to inform him about their roles as Preservers, secrecy was at the top of the list. With as dignified as his dad was there was no way he divulged the secret to anyone.

Gwennie turned at the waist and plucked a tissue from the box on the end table, wiped her fingers, then tended to his ear, brushing gently as she smiled warmly with those bow-shaped lips of hers. Since he’d been gone, she’d changed the shade of lipstick she wore from a soft pink to a reddish-brown. The color of a sweet potato. It added an aura of elegance to her.

As she brushed over his stitched earlobe again, he welcomed the authenticity of the reminder—the lasting memory created from the travel—the success of the travel—history preserved—his family’s heroism preserved. The soon-to-be scar on his ear would always be there to remind him of his father's heroism. His heart seized. Unfortunately, it would now also always be there to remind him his life with Gwennie would forever include lies.

Time travel.

Gwennie.

Selfishly, he wanted it all, and he’d do whatever it took to get it all.

For now, she seemed to accept the answer about his injury without further question and refocused her attention on the object in his hands.

Jack cleared his throat. "Sweetheart."

Flecks of green lit up in her soft caramel gaze as she lifted it to meet his. His heart rate ratcheted up a notch, making him have to work to tamp it down with hope not to sound like a bumbling fool when he asked his question.

He opened the box.

Gwennie’s eyes watered more as she stared at the solitaire diamond housed in a smooth platinum setting. This ring bore several meanings to him. A single solitaire indicating she was his one and only, and a platinum setting to denote the sheer durableness of their bond, and his commitment to her.

"Gwendoline Tebon, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

She flung herself toward him, giving him only enough time to open his arms as to not crush the box he held between their bodies.

“Yes! Yes!”

Adrenaline rushed his veins. After all this time, his love was finally going to be his. All through the war, she was what got him through. Mission after mission. Close call after close call. His every thought was about getting out of Vietnam and starting a life—family—with Gwennie. With a sneak peek into his future, he knew it would happen. He’d seen their son.

Gwen’s heart fluttered wildly as she clung to Jack. When she’d seen the small velvet box in his hands, she knew it could only be one thing, and she wanted it—him—more than anything. The entire time he was at war she prayed for his safe return and this day.

Jack eased back slightly. His dark gaze focused on hers as he lifted his hand with the velvet box, still open, resting on his palm bringing it to her sightline. He pulled the sparkling ring from the satin then reached for her hand. His movements were excruciatingly slow. She wanted the ring on her finger, now, as well as the band to go with it.

With her gaze glued to the diamond, she watched as he slid it onto her finger. Once on, he placed his fingertip under her chin and lifted it slightly. His sexy, dark gaze deepened. He tossed the velvet box onto the couch and lightly cupped her cheeks with his hands. The warmth from his palms seeped into her as her heart continued to race. She’d longed for his touch for two years and it was every bit as fulfilling as she’d hoped for and recalled from the past.

“I love you, Gwennie. More than words can say.” The seriousness emitting from his gaze and the conviction in his tone was second to none.

“I love you, too.”

He lowered his lips to meet hers. She soaked up every ounce of his soft, sweet kiss and basked in the blissful sensations it created. The slow burn was almost too much to bear. She wanted more. As if he’d read her mind, he opened his mouth and ran his tongue over the seam of her lips. Without hesitation, she opened for him. Still moving cautiously slow, he dipped his warm tongue into her mouth and brushed it lightly against hers. His tantalizing, unique flavor, with a hint of coffee, seeped into her. She pressed herself firmly to his lean body. In response, his kiss turned hotter, wetter, and harder, as his hands lowered from her cheeks to her shoulders, down her sides, then clasped around her lower back.

“Ahem.”

Jack paused, and she followed suit, but she stood in place, hoping she hadn’t heard anything and could keep letting her husband-to-be kiss her senseless.

“Ahem.”

Reluctantly, she stepped out of her fiancé’s hold and scrutinized the source of the interruption.

Her parents stood in the archway staring at them awkwardly, but approving smiles stretched across their faces.

“So, I take it congratulations are in order?” her mom asked.

“Yes,” Gwen replied as she lifted her hand to display the gorgeous diamond ring on her finger.

Her mother scurried forward to get a better look, then embraced her. When she pulled back, she turned to Jack and hugged him as well.

Her normally impassive father pulled her into a strong embrace. He’d never been the hugging kind but had been more so since her brother was killed in action. His show of emotion was better late than never, Gwen figured. She always knew he loved her even though he didn’t express himself much.

Once he released her, he turned toward Jack and outstretched his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”

Her eyes watered at that endearment.

“So, we have a wedding to plan,” her mother exclaimed. “When are we thinking, spring?”

Gwen giggled. She appreciated her excitement. But, in the few minutes that passed since the proposal, she hadn’t given the ‘when’ any thought as she’d been too preoccupied with the kiss sealing the deal.

“Is tomorrow too soon?” Jack asked.

Thrill cracked through her at his eagerness and she would have laughed if not for the seriousness in his tone. They couldn’t possibly get married tomorrow. Could they?

Her mom turned to him and swatted his upper arm playfully. “Don’t be silly. We’re going to have a big, beautiful wedding for you two. A huge celebration to follow. Every bride wants that. Right, sweety?” her mother confirmed as she fixed her gaze on her.

A big wedding was something she’d always dreamed of—every girl did, right? Yet, big weddings took time to plan, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to waste any more time not being Jack’s wife.

“It doesn’t have to be huge, but a traditional wedding would be nice,” she replied as she shifted her gaze back to her fiancé to catch his reaction.

His warm smile reached his eyes. “Whatever you want, sweetheart. I’ll do whatever makes you happy.”

“Wonderful. It’s all set then. A big wedding,” her mom summed up. “All our family—” Her words cut off as her eyes flooded with tears.

Realization honed in, fiercely gripping her heart and transforming the happy moment, to sorrowful. Their immediate family was now four, not five. Marvin, her dear brother, and Jack’s best friend, would not be present during one of the most important moments of their lives.

As if sensing her thoughts, he reached over and wove his fingers among hers as he stretched out his other arm and placed a comforting hand on her mom’s shoulder. Previously, Gwen would have testified that she couldn’t love her fiancé anymore, but with that compassion from him, her heart overflowed.

Gwen caught her mother’s gaze. “Maybe a smaller, private wedding would be best,” she squeaked out around the lump in her throat, trying to be strong for her mom.

Her mom nodded, but Gwen wasn’t sure if it was in agreement or acknowledgment she’d spoken.

“No,” her dad choked out as he shook his head. “Your brother would want you to have what you want. He loved you. We need to do this for everyone. Him included.”

She kind of knew what her dad meant. With as painful as this was, a normal, traditional wedding plan was a step toward moving forward. A sense of relief sifted through her that her father had made this decision for her. Her mother’s relieved gaze said the same.

“Yes, a big wedding it is then, but soon,” Gwen affirmed. “I’ve waited long enough,” she added, drawing an agreeable smile from her soon-to-be husband.

The desire pouring from his gaze let her know he was as anxious for the nuptials to take place as she was. If the wedding were soon, they wouldn’t have to wait to consummate their commitment, would they?