“Mack, we’re having a baby,” she whimpered.
“I know, babe.” He kissed her wet face. “Since we slept together before we dated, and almost lived together at the hospital before we were a couple, I think it’s only right that we get engaged before we get back together.”
She looked up to his twinkling ice-blue eyes.
“Xanthe Davies, will you marry the hell out of me?”
Laughing, she remembered another conversation when she wanted him to commit to one date and shrugged.
“Xanthe, please, all you have to do is say ‘yes’, it’s a simple word and we can start planning our future.”
“Not so simple when it means a lifetime of commitment,” she let the words hang until he remembered.
“Then until you’re ready to say ‘yes’, can you commit to not being boring?”
Epilogue
Mack
He’d heard the national anthem played before, but never like this. The basketball stadium erupted after the final chord and the full house of cheering fans only fell silent when the Australian Wheelchair Rugby captain was called to the microphone.
Warrant Officer Dean Combs introduced the poem they all knew by heart. Hell, they lived it without knowing one word and now it had saved many of them. There was far more that united the teams on the court that divided them. Representing all sides of their respective armed forces.
“I’m not one of the smartest guys,” Combs started. “I guess if I was, I’d have been standing somewhere else when the bastards started bombing. Excuse my language, ladies. What I’m trying to say is that I’d never heard of William Ernest Henley or his poem, Invictus, before I got flattened and needed something to hold onto. Me and the guys here have all put it on the line for you, for our families and for our country. This poem pretty much sums up the way we feel, coming home. Our war may be over, but we come back undefeated as long as we come back to people like you.”
Mack felt the adrenalin pump. Xanthe and the other partners were sitting in the VIP seats behind them. Out of sight but definitely not out of mind.
Combs took a breath and looked across at both teams. “Lads, if you know it, help me out.”
Together they recited, in a thick baritone that filled the stadium as Mack visualized each of the words. Back on the field, the darkness that hid their work but also the enemy. After the blast that changed his life, the darkness that engulfed him physically and then emotionally. At times he had railed all gods and then pleaded with the one God in whom he always believed for the strength to fight harder and the faith to never give in.
Oh, but he had cried aloud and with such fury that his voice had gone horse. At the loss of lives and at his own changing life. At times forgetting what he still had in all that he had lost.
The voices grew to a crescendo for the final verse.
The answers that Mack found in the lonely hours in the hospital bed, and even more lonely hours in physical therapy. He had to be the author of his own life, and write the pages without a map or direction.
God would give him the strength, but only Mack could put in the hard work. While there was life, there was still hope and looking across at all the men ready to do battle on the court, Mack knew there was a hell of a lot of life left in all of them.
He blinked back the tears as the stadium erupted in vocal support for the teams. This wasn’t a time to get all mushy, there was a game to play!
The cheers were deafening and continued throughout the game. Australia narrowly winning 62-61 with the final goal scored on the final whistle.
He’d never been one for poetry either, but that William Ernest Henley knew the beating of a soldier’s heart.
Xanthe
“Are you nervous?” Xanthe asked Mack as they sat in the green room, waiting to become one of the faces of the Invictus Games. “One more interview and one more game before the closing ceremony.
“I’d rather be in the field under fire,” his big hands were sweaty. “I’m nobody’s hero and still that video of us and all of this is what sells tickets.”
“You dedicated your career to serve your country. You risked your life for those you serve …” Xanthe was cut off by the producer calling them to the stage. “To be continued,” she gave him one last squeeze before he raced ahead of her.
“Does he need a hand?” she hated the way people deferred to her instead of asking Mack directly. Something she could never get used to and tried not to resent.
“If he does, he has a voice.”
“Babe,” Mack swung around, in their well-worn routine of putting people politely in their place. “She means well but probably doesn’t want to embarrass me by admitting she’s never had to work around or with someone with mobility issues. Asking you is easier than talking to me.”
His smile that had removed a thousand panties melted the producer’s reserve. “As long as there’s no steps, I’m good. As long as I’ve got this woman by my side, I’m even better.”
The good thing was the short exchange had taken them to the edge of the stage where the crew was setting up for the next segment and the host was panicking without her guest.
“Hi, I’m Danielle, welcome. Take a seat – oh, I’m sorry … I didn’t mean …”
“Please call me Mack and it’s all good I’m a ‘bring your own seat’ kind of guy. This is my wonderful partner, Xanthe.”
“When you hear the Invictus poem, how does it make you feel?” Danielle started the interview after they watched the games trailer.
“It was overwhelming the first time I saw the clip. I mean, I know some of these veterans, and I’ve served with others.”
“And now you’re serving your country on the sporting field …”
“I like to think I’m serving not only my country, but that we are all serving together. I mean our bodies may be a bit messed up, some would say even broken. But we’ve never been defeated – either in spirit or in life. That’s what the Invictus Games means to me.”
“And Xanthe, I understand you knew Captain Mackenzie before his injury but you only started dating after you helped him in recovery.”
“I’d say we had a complicated relationship before his injury. I mean, this man could walk in and own a room. The first time I saw him, well, I’ve never felt that reaction.”
“It’s true, we had a sort of relationship and it was heading in the right direction. But this woman, wow. After I came back I was a complete tool, pushing everyone away, friends, my unit. Everyone.”
“You couldn’t push me away,” Xanthe laughed.
“Yeah, it was your job to be a pain in my ass – or at least make me work until I could feel the pain in my ass.”
“What can I say, it was and still is a great ass.”
“I don’t know if we can go much further down that line on breakfast tv,” Danielle interjected.
“I’m sorry,” Xanthe smiled as Mack kissed her hand. “I’ve worked with a lot of veterans, and they are all incredibly lucky to be alive and sometimes the burden of survival is a lot for them to accept. The fact that I knew Mack from before his injury made it easier and harder to work with him. I could push him in ways I couldn’t with other clients, but he could also push back.”
“Well, I’m sure Australia will embrace your love story, injured soldier has his body and heart healed by his occupational therapist.”
“Thanks,” Xanthe couldn’t wait for the interview to be over and she could feel Mack’s impatience at being in the same place for too long already had him stir crazy.
“What I’m sure a lot of viewers want to know,” Danielle threw her best fake smile. “What’s it like dating a man in a wheelchair? I’m sure there are a lot of limitations …” her voice trailed as the harshness of the words caused the studio audience to react.
Xanthe looked to Mack. It was a stupid, insulting and condescending question that needed to be handled carefully or it would be edited to backfire.
“Danielle, I didn’t walk into th
is relationship as an innocent,” she let Mack pull her onto his lap where she succumbed to more passion in a kiss than the breakfast viewers would have been expecting. She loved this man, adored the man and every ounce of her body and soul wanted to drown in him. It was about time the rest of the world understood about judging and loving the person and not the disability.
Looking into the ice-blue eyes that first captivated her from across a room, she knew the answer to the most important question of all, and it didn’t come from a TV host.
With a cool certainty, she looked right at the camera, “Like I said, Mack’s not my first, but I can tell you, he’ll be my last.”
“Babe, did you just tell me ‘yes’?” Mack pulled her face away from Danielle and the studio crew back to him. “Did you say, ‘yes’?”
“Danielle, you can tell your viewers that if they date based on an online profile, they’ll always be disappointed in the person. They’ll miss out on the personality and depth. The only way you know if you have chemistry is to see the sparkle in their eyes when they look at you, feel your knees go weak when you see them. The only way to know their character is to see how they treat others or watch them in a crisis or under stress.”
Still, Danielle didn’t get it, “Does Mack being in a wheelchair affect your relationship?”
“Believe me when I tell you, Mack’s more man than any man I’ve ever met.”
Xanthe didn’t hear the producer call “cut” or notice when Danielle left the set. Not when she was kissing her new fiancé.
THE END
Lest we forget
I’m so glad you finished Protect Her.
While you’re here, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or both! Many thanks, Kenna.
Wait, there’s more
Who is Kenna Shaw Reed?
How do I as an introvert introduce myself? I mean, what do you really want to know? I’ve been married to the love of my life for more years than we can count. Together we are surviving three teenagers, a dog, a cat and a bird. I wish I could say he was my first love, but there were a few false starts before he swept me off my feet.
I’ve always had the dream of writing “when I have time,” but when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it became obvious the future starts today.
My first book, The Uni Student was life changing. Bringing Ava to life, exploring the challenges of her finding herself through three different relationships with three amazing, sexy men. The “Choose Your Own Romance” series was born. Interesting characters become the hero (or heroine) for another book. Jade became The Intern while the Professor became Trusting His Heart.
Now, I write for you, bringing complex and flawed characters to you in a way that allows us all to believe in a happily ever after. Love is complicated, and the best love stories are never easy. I hope you join me – and keep in touch.
Follow me on Goodreads and Amazon.
Check out my latest works in progress on my blog, or Facebook
Keep reading and download one of my free books to join my newsletter and get all the inside goss and giveaways.
Choose Your Own Romance series
Too much romance for erotica, too many affairs for romance. Every tale in the Choose Your Own Romance series has multiple paths to a happily ever after. Read them as stand alone or as a series.
The Uni Student First love is supposed to last forever. Students are not supposed to fall for their Professors. Torn between two lovers, before Ava can find her true love she must first find herself.
The Intern Torn between her loving, safe boyfriend and the powerful charisma of her boss, Jade is playing a dangerous game. When the fireworks explode, and her secrets are uncovered, will Jade find her happily ever after?
The Question Is Loving both of them broke all rules. Leaving either would break her heart. If the question is love, who is the answer? An LGBT romance.
The Politician’s Wife The politician’s wife is not always the good wife. Especially when her husband is a lying, cheating … Can revenge be best served in a new lover’s bed?
The Unfaithful Wife Nina was always the understanding wife – until her husband’s latest affair. Now she must decide whether her future can be based on her own affairs of the heart
The (Un)Forgiving Wife After the trauma of childbirth, Juliette never expected her husband to be faithful. But when she discovers his latest affair, she must decide whether to forgive, or move on and embrace other forms of love.
Bad Boys and Good Men series
Meet the bad boys you can’t resist and the good men you’ve already fallen in love with from the Choose Your Own Romance series. One man per short novel with one last chance at love. All levels of steam.
Trusting his Heart For ten years he grieved the loss of his wife, never wanting or needing anyone until Bec came into his life. Now, Geoffrey loves Bec enough to set her free. She loves him enough to stay. Will he face the fight of his life alone or with the woman he loves?
A Billion Reasons Why Under a billion stars they fell in love. A million times he could have told her the truth. She could forgive him for almost anything. Except lying about who he is. With trust gone, can she ever love him again?
Never Second Best His wife left Seth to raise their three children and fight for his foster son alone. Lucy has loved Seth for years knowing she would never be more than a friend. How can she ever believe his words of love are meant for her?
Who is Erebus? Once you meet him in The Intern you will want answers to Who is Erebus! Cue the cold shower. More steam than a sauna. You’re welcome.
Aussie Military Romance series
We met Darby Greenwood as the foster child in The Question Is. He came back in Never Second Best as Captain Greenwood in the Australian Army. It’s only right that he is the sexy hero that starts a series all about our military men. After all they do to protect and serve, don’t they deserve a happily ever after?
Avenge Her Captain Darby Greenwood wasn’t there to protect Maddie, but he could use all his training to avenge her. Can Maddie understand he’d do anything for the woman he loves?
Protect Her Mack left a trail of broken but satisfied hearts, until he met a woman who had his measure. Now, feeling less than a man, he pushes Xanthe away to protect her from his future. Xanthe sees the man, not the wheelchair. In finding a new way to serve his country, can Mack prove to himself he is still man enough to be loved.
Save Her Doug knew the life of an Army wife wasn’t easy, but never expected his wife to leave. Elisha thought the darkness was all his, never thinking they needed to heal together. Now, Doug’s got one chance to save her, and save their marriage.
Before there was a choice, there was a love story
Professed Love - You can't choose who to love - or deny love when it happens. Can you?
Short prequel to The Uni Student and The Intern.
Absolutely free.
Once Upon a Love Story – He never believed in love, until he met the woman who believed in him. To understand their future, you need to understand that once upon a time, theirs was a love story.
Short prequel to The Unfaithful Wife and The Intern.
Absolutely free.
Sneak Peak – Avenge Her
These military heroes don’t fall in love easily, but when they give their heart, they’ll do anything for the woman who has it. I wrote Avenge Her for the 1 in six women who understand that you might not remember the date, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It is for every woman who wanted someone to protect her, and will cheer on Darby as he avenges Maddie. Here’s a sneak peak with my love to you. K
Chapter 1 - What the?
Darby
How on earth did he wind up in the back seat of an SUV with a sleeping baby holding onto his finger for dear life? The last twenty-four hours should have ended up with Captain Darby Greenwood pool side at some beach resort, a beer in one hand and a gorgeous woman trying to convince him to buy her a drink, or ten. Or, he should be camping in the n
ational park, away from civilization and technology. He could have even dropped in on his adopted dad and taken the kids out fishing or to kick a football around.
Instead, he was nursing a swollen fist, listening to Captain Doug Whitehead and his wife chatter about family and friends. He had no problems with going south to Rockhampton for his leave pass, he just didn’t expect to be playing third wheel in the back seat of a car.
Then again, after last night, he was in no mood to knock back his mate’s offer of a soft bed and home cooking.
It wasn’t as if his unit intended to get into trouble. One night on the town, local bar with cold beer and hot food. A pool table ready to take their money and a well stocked karaoke machine ready to turn any drunken Army guy into a lead singer.
With his cropped dirty blonde hair and fit body, Darby didn’t have to work hard to attract the ladies. Hell, he had two of them actively vying for his attention, only he wanted more substance than silicone. If only one of them had the brains or personality to hold his attention, he’d be pool side or at a camp site by now with memories of a night with no sleep.
His guys were all having a great time, but at the expense of some of the locals who always struggled to compete with the Defence boys when they hit the town. Despite having a couple of beers, Darby sensed the trouble before it happened. He expected it to be blows between some of the guys, not at all expecting that he’d be the one starting something because of a girl.
Protect Her (Aussie Military Romance Book 2) Page 15
