Healing Hope (Helping Hands, Healing Hearts Book 3)

by J. M. Madden

“What time is your flight?”

  “Ten a.m.,” she murmured.

  He sighed into her hair. “We’d better get busy, then. We have a lot of loving to do.”

  Incredibly, she laughed.

  Paul made love to her several times that night. He seemed determined to imprint upon her what she would lose when she walked away. And Jess was okay with him trying.

  She lost track of the orgasms and even the positions, but she remembered every time he told her he loved her. And in the predawn morning, when she finally returned an, “I love you, too’, he had already slipped into sleep. Beyond sated, she let herself fall into sleep.

  Paul, Hope and Sophie stood at the front of the Jeep as she loaded her bags. Jess was doing her best not to cry as Hope wept. Her face was red and splotchy, and Jess worried that she would have a headache. She told her as much, but Hope just shook her head.

  Then it was time to go. She’d procrastinated as long as she could. As it was, she was going to have to rush to get to the airport, and her flight.

  Hope looked up at her as she came to kneel before her. “Will you call me, or text me on Dad’s phone?”

  “I will,” Jess promised. “You take care of Sophie. Have your dad make an appointment for her hair cut before she starts looking like a mop.”

  Hope smiled, but didn’t laugh. “I love you, Ms. Jess.”

  “I love you too, baby.”

  Then Paul was there, big and handsome. Jess ran her fingers down his beard and leaned up to kiss him. She was going to miss this man terribly… Her throat was tight, and she had to fight to keep the tears back. “You take care of her and fight for her, no matter what.”

  “You know I will. I love you, Jess.”

  Then he kissed her again, and she knew it was the last time. Turning, she walked to her Jeep. She couldn’t resist a last glance as she pulled away. They were holding each other, the tiny little family.

  What the hell was she doing driving away…

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  The symphony was amazing. The theater audience was packed to the rafters, and gave them ovation after ovation. It was so wonderful to see the pride in Jordan’s beaming expression down on that little stage.

  Jess shifted on her feet, the heels too high for her liking as she continued to clap. She preferred beach wear and sandals, but occasionally the need arose to dress up. This was one of those times. She wore a pale green silk layered dress that had cost way too much. To accommodate the expensive dress, she’d hired people to come to the hotel and do her makeup. She didn’t care. It was for a good cause.

  “Wasn’t he amazing?” her mother breathed beside her.

  “He was,” Jess agreed.

  The crowd began to disburse, but they had an invitation to the after party, so they decided to wait in their seats until they could navigate through the throngs of excited people.

  It had been a pleasant surprise seeing her mother. She and Dad were stationed in Alaska right now, so Jess knew it had been a trek to get here. They’d hugged and made small talk while they waited for the symphony to start, but her mother had been giving her looks. Those probing looks that moms had.

  “So, what’s got you in the dumps so bad?” she said finally, as the theater emptied.

  Jess sighed. She’d known it had only been a matter of time. “I met a little girl, and a man…”

  “Ah…” her mother said, smiling. “That explains a lot. So, tell me about this little girl and man. Her father, I assume?”

  “Yes. Carolina brought me in last minute because of staffing issues. This little girl barely talked when I met her. She’d been in the car crash that killed her mother a few months ago.”

  “Oh, no,” her mother breathed, hand going to her chest. “Is she okay?”

  “Yes. Physically, anyway. Emotionally, she still has some issues. She’s getting counseling, of course, and I should have known not to go into the situation and not expect attachment issues. Her father has custody of her now, and he’s doing an incredible job with her, but it’s been an adjustment.”

  “Okay,” her mother said hesitantly. “So, did the daughter develop attachment to you? Or is it the other way around?”

  Jess barked out a laugh that crumpled into a sob she choked back. “Funny you should say that. I love you guys, but you know I never planned to settle down with a family. I never felt like I wanted to be relied upon again like that. For so many years I watched the family, and I didn’t want to have to do it again.”

  “Which is why I never understood why you kept taking these jobs for Carolina,” her mother huffed. “You’re doing exactly the same thing. And not getting paid for the trouble.”

  Jess sighed at the familiar argument. “I don’t need the money, Mom. You know that. Carolina always manages to find a use for the donation.”

  Her mother shook her head. “Still, you’re doing what you don’t want to do, care for a family.”

  “Yes,” Jess argued, “but there’s a finite end date to these jobs. That’s why I can take them.”

  “But this time is different,” her mother guessed.

  “Yes,” she sighed.

  Jess told her everything about the situation, and everything about Paul. “He’s the first man that has made me think about settling down.”

  Her mother smiled, and ran a finger down her cheek. “I knew there would come a time when you would have to reevaluate your stance. Do you love him?”

  “I do,” she breathed.

  “Then what’s the problem? Obviously you love this little girl, Hope. Obviously you love this man. I can tell you even like the dog.”

  Jess couldn’t help but smile when she thought of badass little Sophie. “Yes.”

  “And most of the raising is done. She’s potty trained, right?”

  “Yes, Mom,” she sighed. “That stuff doesn’t bother me.”

  “I guess I don’t understand why you can’t be with them?”

  Jess blinked, thinking. Why couldn’t she be with them? Yes, she didn’t want to be relied upon because she didn’t want the responsibility of possibly letting them down, but she was already doing that. If she went to the family and tried, and committed, wouldn’t it be better than walking away? As for the traveling, if Paul and Hope could go with her occasionally, it would be perfect.

  “I just need to think,” she said eventually. Her mother nodded and leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “You think out here and I’ll go schmooze with the Italians. Don’t stay out here too long.”

  “Okay, Mom. Thanks for letting me vent.”

  Her mother waved a hand as she stood, smoothing her dress down her hips. “No worries, dear. I need a female grandchild to balance out the Christmas list.”

  Jess laughed, shaking her head. To her mother, it was a done deal.

  And she supposed it could be.

  No, she hadn’t planned on being a mother, but plans changed, and she was smart enough to roll with those changes, right?

  She missed Hope. And she missed Paul with a desperation she’d never felt before for any other human being. His smile, his strong left arm, his body. Most importantly, she missed his heart. The man knew what to say and do to make her heart yearn for him.

  Impulsively, she grabbed her phone and started looking for flights back to California.

  Paul rolled out of bed ready to fight. What the hell was that racket? Grabbing up the baseball bat he’d started keeping in his room since the home invasion, he padded into the hallway. He didn’t turn on lights because he didn’t want to give away his position.

  Wait, it was coming from the front door.

  Padding down the hallway and through the living room, he peered out the window beside the door.

  And his heart stopped.

  Setting the bat aside, he swung open the door. And about had a heart attack.

  Jessamy stood on the other side, looking ethereal in a sea foam green dress. He wasn’t sure what the fabric was, but it seemed to fl
oat on the air. Her hair was curled and clipped up, and she wore more makeup than he’d ever seen on her face. Long diamond earrings dangled from her ears.

  She looked like an heiress, or a Royal. Crossed with an angel.

  “You look amazing,” he breathed. “What are you doing here?”

  She blinked and glanced away, embarrassed. “I’m sorry I woke you. I just… came to a decision and I thought you should be the first to know.”

  Paul tried to blink the sleep from his eyes and concentrate.

  Then she glanced at a car passing on the street, and he realized he hadn’t invited her in. He stepped back and waved her in. Smiling slightly, she stepped inside. He had to do a double-take. She was several inches taller than when she’d left.

  “Heels,” she explained, showing him her feet. Hell, even her shoes had diamonds on them. If Hope were up now, she would think Jess was a princess.

  “So, tell me about this decision,” he said, watching her carefully.

  Jess sank down onto the edge of the couch, her legs pressed together and to the side. Now that he was more awake, he could see the signs of tiredness on her face. “Did you come here straight from the symphony?”

  “Yes, I did. Jordan did fantastic. It was a packed theater and the crowds kept giving them ovation after ovation. It was really something to see. But I realized something.”

  “What was that?” he said, sinking into the cushion beside her.

  “That it would be a much more enjoyable experience if you were by my side. And Hope.”

  “I agree,” he said softly. “So, you got a flight home to tell me this?”

  “I actually had to charter a jet to get here. There were no flights available.”

  He stared at her, not sure what to make of the statement. That must have been expensive.

  “You told me I would always have a home here, but I want to make a counter-offer. You will always have a home with me wherever I am.”

  “Okay,” he said, trying to keep up.

  “I love your house and your child, and most especially I love you,” she said, voice breathy. Paul started to move, but she held up a hand. “If I don’t get this out, I never will.”

  Her hands twisted in her lap. “Settling down scares me, but if you’re patient with me, I would like to try.”

  Paul’s heart swelled in his chest, and he reached for Jess’s twisting hands. “You know I’ll be patient,” he said with a smile.

  “And I want you to be open to travel,” she continued.

  Paul nodded. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with Hope’s schoolwork, that should be fine. Money and schedule permitting.”

  Jess shook her head. “Don’t worry about that stuff. I’ll take care of it.”

  Paul laughed. “Did one of your rich boyfriends leave you a stack of cash?”

  “Even better,” she winked at him. “He taught me to play the stock market.”

  Paul laughed, but Jess didn’t. She was deadly serious. “Well, good then,” he said easily. “We can travel on your dime.”

  Jess grinned and nodded.

  “I would never try to clip your wings, Jess. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Paul. Do you have room in your roost for me?”

  He laughed and pulled her into a kiss. “Of course I do. Although we may have to have Mrs. Brown stay in the fort.”

  “Hmm, okay…”

  Squealing shattered the predawn morning, and a hard little body landed on her. Jess grabbed at the sheets to keep her breasts covered, and she squinted up at Hope.

  “I knew you would be back,” the girl cried. “It was still my birthday week and I made one more wish, and here you are. I’m so glad you came back, Ms. Jess.”

  “Me too, baby,” she said as Hope smothered her in a hug.

  Sophie barked from the floor, until Paul sat up and lifted her to the mattress one-handed. The little dog wiggled between them, happy to be a part of the pack. Jess sat up as well, propping her back against the headboard. She tucked the sheet under her arms.

  Paul had loved her hard last night. Her expensive green dress was in a puddle on the floor right now, and she would have to wear one of his t-shirts until she could find some clothes. She’d carried nothing onto the charter jet other than her phone and small clutch bag.

  Hope’s eyes were shining with joy as she looked between the two of them. “So, we’re going to be a family now, right?”

  “Yes,” Paul said firmly. “We are. Are we’re going to teach Jess that it’s not so bad to have a home to come home to.”

  “And I’m going to teach you guys to love traveling,” Jess countered, laughing. “Because you guys are my home. Not a building. And we can go anywhere.”

  “Can we take Sophie,” Hope asked.

  “Of course,” Jess said easily.

  “Do you think,” Hope started, then stopped, looking unsure.

  “What, baby?”

  Hope swallowed before tipping up her chin. “Do you think you could be my mom some day?”

  Jess had to swallow hard. “There are a few details your dad and I have to iron out, but yes, I would love to be your mom.”

  Again, Hope wrapped her arms around Jess’s neck. “I love you, Ms. Jess.”

  “I love you too, baby. Go get a Go-gurt and I’ll make some breakfast in a bit.”

  Grinning, Hope grabbed Sophie and jumped off the bed, racing for the kitchen.

  “About those details…” Paul said.

  “Will you marry me?” Jess asked him, startling him into silence.

  Then he barked out a laugh, pulling her to him. Jess shifted and straddled his lap.

  “Yes, I will marry you,” he said. “As long as you come to me if you ever feel stifled. Or closed in. Or need an extra fuck. No more dates in New Guinea unless it’s with me.”

  Jess laughed, wrapping her arms around him. “That’s a deal.”

  “I love you, Jess.”

  “I love you, Paul.”

  They kissed for a few minutes, until something occurred to her. “Oh, no,” she murmured. “Carolina is going to kill me. I promised her I wouldn’t fall in love and that I would just sleep with you.”

  Paul snorted into her hair. “Crashed and burned on that one, huh?’

  “Yup,” she giggled, and tugged him in for another kiss.

  The End…

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  Also by JM Madden

  If you love dogs and would like to read about a concierge service helping military personnel out of difficult spots, check out the Helping Hands, Healing Hearts series!

  Healing Home- BB and Lincoln

  Wicked Healing- Erin and Luca

  Healing Hope- Jess and Paul

  If you would like to read about the ‘combat modified’ veterans of the Lost and Found Investigative Service, check out these books:

  The Embattled Road

  Duncan, John and Chad

  Embattled Hearts-Book 1

  John and Shannon

  Embattled Minds-Book 2

  Zeke and Ember

  Embattled Home-Book 3

  Chad and Lora

  Embattled SEAL- Book 4

  Harper and C
at

  Embattled Ever After- Book 5

  Duncan and Alex

  Her Forever Hero- Grif

  Grif and Kendall

  SEAL’s Lost Dream-Flynn

  Flynn and Willow

  SEAL’s Christmas Dream

  Flynn and Willow

  Unbreakable SEAL-

  Max and Lacey

  Embattled Christmas

  Reclaiming The Seal

  Gabe and Julie

  Loving Lilly

  Diego and Lilly

  Her Secret Wish

  Rachel and Dean

  Wish Upon a SEAL

  Drake and Izzy

  Mistletoe Mischief

  Cass and Roger

  Lost and Found Pieces

  Lost and Found Pieces 2

  There are two Lost and Found Spinoff series, the Lowells- western- and the Dogs of War, which heads in a bit of a paranormal direction.

  The Lowells of Honeywell, Texas Box Set

  Forget Me Not

  Untying his Not

  Naughty by Nature

  Trying the Knot

  The Dogs of War

  Genesis

  Chaos

  Destruction

  Retribution

  Catalyst

  If you would like to read a Navy SEAL book with more mature characters, check out…

  SEAL Hard

  Flat Line

  Other books by J.M. Madden

  A Touch of Fae

  Second Time Around

  A Needful Heart

  Wet Dream

  Love on the Line

  The Billionaire’s Secret Obsession