“Easy, baby, don’t move. There’s no place to get to. Just rest.”
“I’ve been resting forever,” she snapped at him.
She felt another hand touch her thigh, and she jerked, scared by the unexpected touch. Alana then cringed, and Gabe cursed.
“Fuck, I’m sorry. I forgot,” he told her.
She tried to look at him and felt the tears, and the emotions hit her.
“Don’t cry, baby. It will only make the pain worse,” Gator said.
“I can’t take this. Please help me get up. I have to get out of bed. Help me.”
“You had a bath last night. We weren’t even supposed to do that. I don’t think trekking around in the cool temperatures is a smart idea,” Gabe told her.
“I don’t care. I’m going insane. Help me.”
It took some time and convincing, but finally Gabe and Gator helped her out of bed. They helped her brush her teeth as best they could and then get dressed. Gator lifted her up and carried her downstairs where Jaxon, Geno, and Jeb were preparing lunch.
“We almost have it ready. Did Alana wake up yet?” Jaxon asked as he was fixing the tray of food.
“Yes she did,” Alana said, and all three of them turned to look at her.
“What the fuck is she doing out of bed?” Jaxon yelled.
“Jesus. Gator, Gabe she’s not supposed to be moving around,” Jeb added, running over to her as Gator placed her down onto the chair. She cringed and moaned.
“See?” Geno yelled, raising his hand in the air.
“Just get a cushion or two from the sofa, and I’ll be fine,” she said.
Jaxon turned away from her and faced the counter. He ran his hand over his face, and she knew he was still so upset at the sight of her injuries.
“We made some chicken soup and grilled cheese. Do you think you can handle that?” Geno asked her as he took the seat next to her and placed his fingers under her chin. She forced a small smile, despite the pain.
“Of course I can. I’m starving,” she told him.
He smiled. “That’s a good thing.”
“Yes, a very good thing,” Jeb said and leaned down and kissed her cheek where she wasn’t bruised.
Geno walked toward the counter and carried a tray they had prepared to bring her in bed, as they had been doing every day for the past two weeks.
The others poured bowls of soup from the large pot and also plated some grilled cheese sandwiches Jaxon and Geno had made. They all gathered around her at the table, and Jaxon waited to join them.
“Jaxon?”
When she said his name, he stiffened, still looking away from her. She squinted and gulped.
“I can’t really see you too well. Are you hiding from me?” she asked. The others stared at their bowls of food and seemed to be pretending to eat.
“Not hiding from you, baby. Just wiping down the stove.”
“Well, come join us. I’ve missed not eating at the table with you guys.”
He walked over and sat down with his bowl of soup, way across at the other side.
“Well, that’s because you shouldn’t be down here yet.”
She took a sip from her spoon and let the hot liquid ease down her throat. It actually felt good.
“Says who?” she challenged.
Jaxon put his spoon down.
“Says me, and I’m the one in charge of this family and responsible for everyone’s well-being. So eat up, and then it’s back to bed.”
She lifted the spoon to her mouth and held his gaze as best she could.
“Make me,” she said.
Gator chuckled, and then everyone at the table erupted in laughter. She stared at Jaxon, and Jaxon stood up and slammed his fist down on the table.
“I failed you once. I don’t intend on failing you again.”
Alana placed her spoon down and sat there, staring at him. Everyone at the table went silent.
“Come here, Jaxon,” she whispered.
He lowered his head and shook it, and she wondered if he would deny her.
“Am I so ugly now that you no longer want to be close to me?”
“What? No, Alana. No.” He stood up and walked over to her.
He knelt down on one knee and placed a hand on the back of her chair then looked down at her hand.
She placed her fingers under his chin and tilted his face toward her.
“You did not fail me. Just as Gabe did not fail me, and neither did his parents or the friends and family in Scrantonville. You did everything you could to find me and rescue me. We’re a family. I love you, but I need you, Jaxon. I need all of you, and not to feel sorry for me and avoid looking at me, but to love me, even all banged up and looking like some hideous beast.”
“Stop that,” Gabe told her.
She glanced at him with a pissed off attitude then looked back at Jaxon.
“Can you love me, Jaxon? Can you stay with me and not look away because you think you failed me and this family?”
He reached up and gently ran his thumb and pointer over her chin where she wasn’t bruised.
“I can, doll. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”
“That’s okay. Once I’m feeling better, it will be you who gets the spanking.”
The others chuckled.
“I’d like to see you try,” he challenged.
“You won’t even see it coming,” she said, and he leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss against her swollen lips.
“Now eat up. We need to get you back in tiptop shape. There’s only so long I can go without making love to my woman. And I’m getting older. Starting a family needs to start now.” He stood up, looking all cocky and in charge.
Alana reached out and slapped his ass.
“Gotcha!” she said, and the men started roaring as laughter filled the air and they teased Jaxon relentlessly.
Alana smiled softly, and her heart lifted with joy and contentedness, for she was in love with her five American soldiers, her Marines, her lovers, her family for life.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
People seem to be more interested in my name than where I get my ideas for my stories from. So I might as well share the story behind my name with all my readers.
My momma was born and raised in New Orleans. At the age of twenty, she met and fell in love with an Irishman named Patrick Riley Dwyer. Needless to say, the family was a bit taken aback by this as they hoped she would marry a family friend. It was a modern day arranged marriage kind of thing and my momma downright refused.
Being that my momma’s families were descendants of the original English speaking Southerners, they wanted the family blood line to stay pure. They were wealthy and my father’s family was poor.
Despite attempts by my grandpapa to make Patrick leave and destroy the love between them, my parents married. They recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.
I am one of six children born to Patrick and Lynn Dwyer. I am a combination of both Irish and a true Southern belle. With a name like Dixie Lynn Dwyer it’s no wonder why people are curious about my name.
Just as my parents had a love story of their own, I grew up intrigued by the lifestyles of others. My imagination as well as my need to stray from the straight and narrow made me into the woman I am today.
Enjoy The American Soldier Collection 11: Mending Hearts and allow your imagination to soar freely.
For all titles by Dixie Lynn Dwyer, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/dixie-lynn-dwyer
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
The American Soldier Collection 11: Mending Hearts (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 18
