Long Gone Girl

By Amy Rose Bennett

The girl Ginny Williams used to be is long gone...
After returning home from the Korean War a widow, former MASH surgical nurse, Ginny Williams, heads to the Jersey Shore for a weekend of much needed R&R. But her plans to do nothing more than relax on the beach go seriously awry when the boy who broke her heart on prom night nine years ago—the now hotter-than-hot ‘fly-boy’ Jett Kelly—shows up on her patch of sand. To make matters worse, Captain Kelly seems to be on a mission to win her trust, and maybe even her heart again. But the last thing Ginny wants is a man—especially one like Jett—in her life. She’s a career nurse, and that’s that. If only he wasn’t so damned charming and attractive...
US air force pilot, Captain Jefferson ‘Jett’ Kelly Junior is blown away to have stumbled across the beautiful yet shy and bookish girl he used to have a huge crush on in high school—especially now that Ginny is all grown up and sexy as hell. Problem is, she’s also not backward in coming forward when letting him know she hasn’t forgiven him for the prom-kiss-gone-wrong incident. Even though Jett knows he’ll have his work cut out for him to get a second chance with her, he’s certainly going to give it his best shot...
Despite Ginny’s determination to keep her head—she’s not the naïve girl she used to be—when Jett starts to unashamedly woo her, she soon realizes that maybe her heart didn’t get the memo...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Rose Bennett
• Release date: Jun 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994335319

Amy Rose Bennett

Amy Rose Bennett is an Australian author who has a passion for penning emotion-packed historical romances. Of course, her strong-willed heroines and rakish heroes always find their happily ever after. A former speech pathologist, Amy is happily married to her very own romantic hero and has two lovely, very accomplished adult daughters. When she’s not creating stories, Amy loves to cook up a storm in the kitchen, lose herself in a good book or a witty rom-com, and when she can afford it, travel to all the places she writes about.

Book preview

Chapter One

Ridgewood, New Jersey, September 1953

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Virginia Rose O’Hara, don’t you even think about leaving, young lady.

Ginny blew out a frustrated sigh, trying to harness her inner calm as she wrestled with the strong urge to slam the front porch door in her mother’s perfectly made-up face. She’d been through worse than this. An irate mother was something she could definitely handle.

She was just irked that she had to. It’s Virginia Rose Williams, Mother, and I’m not seventeen anymore, she countered, using her best I’ll-brook-no-nonsense nurse’s voice. She stepped back into the front hall and put her valise down on the polished wooden floor. "I’m a twenty-six year old woman. And I am going to the Jersey Shore for the weekend." She deserved a break. No, she needed a break.

Her mother had the good grace to look slightly contrite. I’m sorry about…Charlie. But it’s difficult remembering that you were married…I mean it was all so sudden and short-lived. Why, we never even met the fellow.

Another reproach. Not an expression of condolence at all. Even though her marriage to Charlie had been brief—a mere two months—and he’d been killed over a year and a half ago, Ginny dug her fingernails into her palms, willing herself not to tear up. There’d been enough tears. Well, there was a war going on at the time, Mother. And Charlie and I… She swallowed past the hard lump in her throat and hardened her voice. It’s not like Charlie and I could have invited you over to Korea for the nuptials.

Her mother frowned, her eyes narrowing. You’re not being fair, Virginia, she accused, crossing her arms over the perfectly tailored bodice of her Suzy Perette day dress. We would have if it had been at all possible. But you never even gave us the chance. You’re always rushing into things —she gestured at Ginny’s valise— or rushing off. You’ve only been home a few months. What about your responsibilities here?

Ginny almost gnashed her teeth in frustration. That old chestnut. Would her family ever forgive her for signing up to serve her country? What, you mean baby-sitting for my sisters’ children again while Kathleen and Moira go shopping and do lunch with you in Manhattan? Or looking after Grandma because you all couldn’t be bothered? I’ve been working double shifts at the hospital, Mother. I need some time out. Away…

God, she so needed to get away.

Ginny dug into her purse to retrieve her car-keys then picked up her valise again. I’ll see you late Monday. Give Grandma and my nieces and nephews a kiss for me.

I hope you’re not meeting up with some man, Virginia, called her mother after her, before the door slammed.

Ginny rolled her eyes as she marched down the porch stairs toward the curb where her new, mint-green Ford Anglia was parked. You mean, don’t run off with someone again.

But that wasn’t likely to happen any time soon as far as she was concerned. If ever.

Losing love hurt too much. But as for running off…she was working on it.

She tucked her valise into the neat boot of her car then slid behind the wheel, savoring the new car smell that still lingered, even though the Anglia was already a month old. The rich scent of leather mingled with the distinctive odors of metallic things and oil. She suddenly fancied that this was how freedom smelled. Freedom to go wherever she wanted. To be whomever she wanted and leave behind the shy, always-does-as-she’s-told, never-put-a-foot-wrong Virginia O’Hara that her family still wanted her to be.

Well, that girl was long gone.

Smiling, she slipped on her sunglasses then cranked over the motor. Point Pleasant Beach, here I come.

The sound of another motor gunning—a deep powerful rumble—caught her attention as she released the parking brake and began to ease out the clutch. Glancing in her rear-view mirror, she caught sight of an unfamiliar red Chevrolet Corvette, swooping out of the driveway of number 7 Elmwood Place, the Kelly residence.

Holy Mary, Mother of God. Her breath hitched and her heart froze.

The very epitome of her worst high school memory from senior year—Jefferson ‘Jett’ Kelly Junior—was back in town. Lord above, just thinking about the last time she’d seen him still made her feel ill.

Before she could even suck in another breath, he roared past her faster than a red-hot comet. Despite the churning in her stomach, Ginny’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. Apparently some things around Ridgewood had stayed the same, even if she’d changed. Jett Kelly was still fast—in every sense of the word she suspected—and from the brief flash she’d seen of him, still blindingly good looking with his black hair and rugged Irish features.

But hadn’t he left home years ago like she had? Dropped out of law school then had become a pilot or something equally as fearless and adventurous? That was it—he’d served as a fighter pilot with the air force in Korea. Her wily, match-making grandmother had told her with a wink soon after Ginny had arrived home. But in the three months since she’d been back, this was the first time she’d seen Jett though. Hopefully he’d only been visiting his parents so it was unlikely that she’d run into him. Dear Lord, how she prayed that was true. How could a brief glimpse of him make her feel like the naïve, insecure seventeen year old she’d only just denied being?

She thunked her head forward onto the steering wheel that she was still holding in a white-knuckled grip. Get a grip, Ginny Williams. You’ve survived being widowed and a war. Surely she could survive an accidental encounter with Jett Kelly—if that ever even happened.

With any luck, come Monday afternoon, she’d be planning a move to New York anyway.

Then she could say farewell to Ridgewood for good.

Lifting her head and squaring her shoulders, she eased her car out from the curb and motored down the street. It was a beautiful, fine September day—not a cloud in the sky and nary a breeze. And she had several days to herself to read and swim and generally sloth about to her heart’s content. She was going to put the past behind her and make the most of it.

Chapter Two

Ginny O’Hara? God, is that really you?

Ginny cracked open an eyelid and squinted up at the dark shadow—enormous, dark, male shadow—looming over her. What the hell?

Heart in her mouth, she pushed herself up to a sitting position on her beach towel then tipped down her sunglasses so she could peer over the top—only to be confronted with her worst nightmare. Jett Kelly was at the Shore. And she was wearing nothing but sunglasses, a bathing suit and now a bright red blush.

Oh no, no, no. How unlucky could she be? Of all the places in the state of New Jersey that Jett Kelly could have gone, why had he shown up exactly here? While she was sun bathing. Vulnerable didn’t even begin to describe the way she felt—she may as well have been sitting on the beach stark naked.

And to make matters worse, he was only wearing bathing trunks as well. Do not look down. Do not look down. Just look at his face.

She swallowed, then somehow scraped together a voice that was passably clear if not confident. Yes, but it’s Williams. Ginny Williams now… Keep it together, Ginny. You’ve seen thousands of men wearing a lot less. She thrust out her hand. It’s nice to see you again, Jett. Well, that was a big fat lame lie. And he knew it.

He smiled slowly, and even though he was wearing aviator sunglasses, she knew the smile mustn’t have reached his bluer-than-the-sky eyes. But he took her hand and shook it anyway. Same.

Dear God, what an idiot she must look, shaking hands with Adonis personified at the beach. She pulled her hand from his firm grasp, desperately trying to ignore the searing heat that had shot from her fingers straight to the apex of her thighs, making her want to squirm.

Stop it, Williams. You’re all grown up now, remember? A hardened field-surgical nurse.

Jett’s grin broadened, as if he was reading her mind. You’re looking well. Even though she couldn’t see