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Daniel
tossed his cigarette butt down and ground it beneath his heel, taking
out his frustrations. He didn’t understand what went wrong. Things had
been going great at the park. Colleen seemed happy to be with him. Her
kisses told him that. Why the sudden change? Why did she run out like
that?
His train
wouldn’t leave for another twenty minutes, so she could still show up.
Yeah, right. And the Nazis won’t attack the next bomber formation over
Berlin. Well, one can only hope. Why else are you standing out here
like an idiot?
Because
I love her.
He decided
that was a good enough reason to stand out on the platform in the
infamous London drizzle. He loved her. It was as simple as that. She
gave him hope and peace of mind; brought laughter and happiness to his
life.
And she
wasn’t here.
She still
has time.
Daniel
looked at his watch. Seventeen minutes.
“Hey,
Danny.” Rick jogged over to him, the collar of his jacket pulled up
against the rain. “Why don’t you come inside?”
“No.”
Rick cocked
a brow and glanced at the clock.
“Danny—”
He refused
to acknowledge his wingman’s silent message. “No. She’ll be here.”
Rick leaned
against a post and whistled his “Victory” notes. “Da-da-da-daaaaaa.”
“Will you
stop that damned whistling?” Daniel ground out between clenched teeth.
The
annoying noise stopped.
“Does she
know which station?” Rick lit a cigarette and tossed the match.
“No.”
“Does she
know which train?” He blew a smoke ring in the air.
“No.”
Daniel ground his teeth, biting back the urge to deck his friend. Hope
was too precious a commodity in this war, and he wasn’t about to give up
what little he had in his grasp.
“Then why
do you think—”
“She’ll be
here, damn it!” Daniel wiped his hand down his face and sighed. “Sorry.”
Rick
shrugged and grinned. “I’m thick skinned.”
“More like
thick headed.”
“Damned if
that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black.”
“Yeah,
well. My mama always said I was the most stubborn of all seven of us
kids.”
Daniel
pulled out his case and lit another cigarette. Blowing a stream of smoke
into the twilight air, he turned to Rick. “Did you ask Vivian to see you
off?”
“Yeah. Told
her if she wanted to, she could. I left it up to her,” he said with a
shrug.
Daniel
shook his head. “Women.”
Rick
slapped him on the shoulder. “Yeah. But damned if they aren’t worth it!”
“Roger
that.” Daniel grinned. “I still say—”
“Rick!”
Both men
turned and saw Vivian running down the platform toward them.
”She could
be here, too,” Rick said before catching Vivian in his arms and twirling
her around.
Daniel
averted his gaze as they embraced and kissed. Jealousy and heartache
shot through him. At least Rick’s lucky in love. Apparently, mine’s run
out. He leaned against the post and inhaled a final, long drag from his
cigarette. Flicking it onto the tracks, he watched as it arched then
fizzled out as it hit the wet ground. Sorta like my love life lately.
With a shake of his head, he pushed himself away from the wooden column
and headed for the depot.
God, I need
a good stiff drink.
The crowd
parted to his right. Movement caught his attention. Turning, he halted
in his tracks and let the tide of people flow around him. He sucked in a
breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his heart stopped, then
raced out of control.
Colleen.
It wasn’t a
mirage. She stood at the end of the platform, watching him. A hesitant
smile graced her face, and Daniel wasn’t sure if it was the rain or
tears that trailed down her cheeks.
He took a
step forward.
The next
instant she was in his arms.
He held her
close, afraid to let her go; afraid she was only a figment of his
imagination. Leaning back, he cupped her face in his hands and tilted
her chin up. “It really is you.”
Daniel
brushed his fingers across the fullness of her mouth, the velvety
softness of her cheeks, then outlined the fine arch of her brows. His
eyes followed the movement of his hand, mesmerized by the feel of her,
the scent of her. He ran his fingers through her hair, amazed at its
silkiness. Twining his fingers in the thickness of mahogany curls, he
lowered his mouth to hers.
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