Hopefully it wasn’t too late. Running from love was a mistake. This time she’d not run from love out of fear anymore. This time she’d wrap her arms around Jack, her best friend, and never let go.
The rest of the ride went slow, but she saw Jack’s blue eyes in the window reflected back at her. Near Orlando they ran into a lightning storm that made her hair stand on end. Jack might not forgive her or want to marry her now. She’d need to accept that she’d screwed up.
She couldn’t let fear guide her anymore. Running had been the opposite of what her heart wanted.
Finally the bus arrived at the Miami transit station.
The bus pulled into a spot where salsa dancers were on display and loud music she didn’t understand at all pounded from the speakers.
At first she just sat there, without a real clue what to do other than find a cheap phone to call Jack and locate an affordable hostel, maybe near a beach, but then she saw Jack’s face and him holding a bouquet flowers.
Were they for her?
Her heart beat faster. What was he doing here? Every cell in her body was awake—could she be dreaming? She pinched her wrist and it hurt. No.
She stood in the aisle. “Jack?”
Obviously he couldn’t hear her through the glass. Elaine shoved her slightly to move forward. “That’s your Jack?”
Charlotte turned and squeezed her new friend’s hand. She held her small bag though the passengers in front of them reached overhead to gather their belongings so she wasn’t moving much. “It’s him, Elaine.”
“Lucky girl.” Elaine scooted them forward another few feet. “So stop talking to me and run into his arms.”
A huge smile grew on her face as she made it to the front and passed the driver to step down. Hopefully this meant that Jack, who hadn’t shaved but still looked so handsome despite the scruff, had forgiven her. “I will.”
And finally she ran. His arms were open and she pushed past his flowers and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Jack, I’m sorry.”
He hugged her. “You’re with me now. We’ll work the rest out.”
She wanted to believe that maybe dreams could come true in real life and she had the best prince from any fairy tale already. Jack had always been her hero.
Chapter 18
Charlotte’s brown eyes sparkled and Jack was reluctant to let her go. For the past hour he’d paced the station, his shoulders tight when bus number 2732 finally pulled into its spot. He’d peered into the dusty windows till he’d locked gazes with her. She hadn't slept either, her hair was wild, but her smile sent shockwaves down his spine.
Even now that he’d held her Jack still didn't have the right words. He’d textedI love youbut the message hadn’t sent.
The love on her face gave him hope. Jack never once thought a bus station would be where he'd declare himself. He was on fire for her. Charlotte had once said he had two left feet which was why he’d taken that class to impress her. Now, Jack wrapped both arms around her as salsa played and he spun her in time with the music.
She clung to him, leaving no space between their bodies. In class he’d never been this close to a woman, but Charlotte made his heart rate take off like a rocket ship.
The song ended and the passengers on her bus dispersed into the terminal. The Morgan security guard backed away, but he fit the description Rafe gave. She loosened her grip on his arms a little and said, “Jack, I was so wrong to leave.”
He motioned with his head toward the terminal and the waiting limo outside it, not that she could see through the building to know his plan. “Let’s get out of the bus station.”
She held his arm to stay in place. “You don’t have to-”
“I want you, Charlotte.” Jack realized that there was a woman watching them. He didn’t care and held both of Charlotte’s hands. “I told you I loved you but I don’t think I proved it to you.”
“Prove?” Charlotte straightened. “Jack, are you kidding right now?”
The woman clapped and brushed a tear away. Charlotte turned around and blushed as the other woman said, “Wow, that was beautiful. I’m happy I saw this, Charlotte.”
They knew each other?
Charlotte shifted but kept his arm around her waist. “Wait. Elaine.” The woman fixed her backpack and held out her hand to shake as Charlotte said, “This is Jack. Jack, Elaine.” He shook her hand and then glanced at Charlotte as she explained, “Elaine sat next to me and lent me her phone. She made the ride tolerable.”
He smiled. “Thank you, Elaine.”
