Ravaged River (Men of Mercy #6) (20 page)

“
T
his is nice
.” Hoyt pulled Hayden into his arm and dug his toes into the sand. The river rushed by, offering sweet relief from the heat of the hot August sun glaring overhead. “Real nice.”

“It’s perfect.” Hayden rolled over on her beach towel and placed her hand on his chest.

Hoyt locked eyes on the little purple bikini barely covering her body and groaned. “That’s it, let’s go home.”

Hayden purred and bent her knee, rubbing her thigh against his. Hoyt went hard instantly. “But we haven’t even got in the river yet.”

“Woman, if you don’t stop that, we won’t make it to the car.” Hoyt grabbed her and rolled on top of her.

Hayden locked her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her. “You promise?”

“Hey you two get a room.” Ranger ran past them with Amy slung over his shoulder, straight for the river, her long red hair swinging wildly back and forth as Ranger pounded across the sand.

“Put me down you idiot!” Amy’s voice rang with laughter that quickly died into a shriek when Ranger tossed her into the water.

Ranger stood just inside the water’s edge and crossed his arms, a huge grin on his lips. “How’s that?”

Amy came up sputtering.

Hoyt caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Hunter come running from behind. “I think Hunter is defending Amy.”

“Oh, this is going to be good. Finally, some payback for all those years he tortured me.” Hayden pushed at Hoyt to roll up enough for her to see the action.

Ranger glanced over his shoulder and tried to dodge and turn at the last minute, but Hunter was too fast. He ducked his shoulder into Ranger’s waist and then ran into the water, taking them both under.

Hoyt rolled to the side and allowed Hayden to jump to her feet. She did a fist pump and shouted, “Go, Hunter!”

Amy returned her cheer from the water as Ranger finally emerged with a roar.

Hoyt watched the scene, resisting the urge to rub his chest and the warm ache there. Hayden did this to him. She made him so happy he didn’t know how his body contained it.

He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and knew he’d do whatever was in his power to show her how much he loved her.

“Ranger is fixing to get him. Glad I get to see someone take him down. Our team leader could take a lesson in humiliation.” Hoyt craned his head to see Merc emerge from the trail off to his right.

“Why aren’t you in swimming trunks?” Hayden asked.

“Cause I’m leaving in a couple of hours. Got a new assignment.” Merc was headed to Afghanistan at 0500 tomorrow morning. Grey wanted the former black ops operative to insert alone because he could go places the Team couldn’t and possibly dig up new intel on Mr. J.

Grey had declared war on his former friend and liaison, committing the full force of TF-S to search and destroy the man that had betrayed them all. No one messed with the Team and got away unscathed.

“Be careful,” Hoyt said.

“Will do. Tell Hunter and Ranger I said bye. Gotta head out.” Merc turned and walked back through the trees lining the sandbar.

Hayden dropped to her knees beside him, her whole face lit up with a bright smile. “Wanna join in?”

She looked at him like he was her everything. She didn’t see the scars. She just saw him – like she always had. Only now he wasn’t too dumb and self-absorbed to see it.

Hoyt grabbed her hand and yanked her down beneath him, cradling her body so she didn’t hit the ground hard.

“What are you doing?” Hayden put her hands on his shoulders, but her smile remained in place.

“You are a good woman, you know that right?”

“I’m good with you.”

“I have some news. The bank called today, they want to help fund your new counseling center for veterans.”

“What? When?” Hayden threw her arms around him and yanked him down to her. She’d been stressing and worrying for weeks over this project. After Hoyt told her about his experience with the pill-pushers at rehab, she’d lost it. He’d had to keep her away from her phone for days just to keep her from calling to chew out his counselors.

Freedom Counseling was born out of her frustration.

“When you were outside. I thought I’d save the news until we were here. This is where we were that day last summer, the one you talked about out in your dad’s back field.” Hoyt paused and took a breath, each word building a burning in his throat. “That was the day I thought about over and over when my captors had me tied up in that shack. When everything was dark, you were my sun.” The tears he’d been trying to hold in filled his eyes.
Dammit, why the hell was he crying?

“Oh, Hoyt. I love you so much,” Hayden cupped his cheek and he leaned into her touch.

God, she felt so right. He knew he wasn’t fully back to normal yet, but with Hayden’s help, one day he would be. He wouldn’t allow her to slip away now. “I want to marry you.”

She stopped wiggling. “What?”

Sweat beaded on his neck and his arms trembled. What if it was too soon? What if she didn’t want that kind of relationship?
Then I don’t want to live.
Hoyt sucked in a breath. “Marry me.”

Hayden palmed his face, tears filling up her eyes and nodded. “Yes, Hoyt, yes.”

“I love you.”

Hayden rose up on her elbows and feathered butterfly kisses across his cheek and lips. “I love you more.”

Hoyt took her lips in a long, lingering kiss, savoring every sweet drop she offered. Unable to deny himself another second, Hoyt broke off the kiss and got to his feet. Then he pulled Hayden up and lifted her in his arms.

She molded to him naturally, her arms going around his neck as she laid her head against his shoulder. Neither of them spoke as he carried her off the beach toward his new Jeep parked on the other side of the grove of trees.

Evie passed them on the wide path to the sandbar, Hank Jr. propped on her hip in a baby blue hat and matching trunks. “Where are you two going?”

Hoyt kept walking.

Hayden lifted her head and looked over his shoulder. “Home.”

THE END

Want to read the whole story of the Men of Mercy? Start here:

Raylan: a Men of Mercy Novella

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Raylan: A Men of Mercy Novella

Raylan Wild lived up to his last name. He spent his youth sowing his oats and living life for the moment. Then he met Amber and after one incredible night, Raylan was ready to give up his wild ways. But then a call from his ex turned his world upside down. Raylan sacrificed his tender new feelings and left town to raise a son he’d never even known existed.

All the while, dreams of a beautiful brown haired girl haunted his dreams.

Amber Atkins had given everything to Raylan. Her virginity and her soul. Convinced she could tame the notorious bad boy, she was devastated when he left without a word.

Now six years later, Raylan has returned to Mercy to convince Amber that they can’t live without each other. But can Amber find the strength to trust again?

As a stalker grows bolder, Amber’s life is in danger and she’s forced to turn to one man for help – Raylan Wilde. In order to survive, she must trust the man that nearly destroyed her with her body and soul.

To connect with Lindsay Cross

• @lindsaycross101
  
• lindsay.cross.author
  

I
want
to give a huge thank you to Megan Mitcham for your daily motivation and for keeping it real. Your badass Base Branch Series rocks!!! I couldn’t have done it with out you!

Another big shout out to Kim Killion and Jennifer Jakes-without you and a bucket load of patience, the Men of Mercy would never have these truly awesome covers.

Thank you to my dad for giving me the love of reading and to my mom for dropping everything to read my books and catch those last minute mistakes. Thank you Donna for being my last minute baby sitter when I need to cram in an extra ten thousand words to meet deadline.

Thank you Nicole K and Kristi for helping to teach this poor technologically challenged author the ins and outs of social media.

My beautiful beta readers: Lauren-you’ve helped make the Men of Mercy shine.

And last, but most definitely not least, thank you to my true military hero-my husband. I love you all.

P
raise
for the Men of Mercy Series

“Lindsay Cross delivers high-powered action, alpha heroes and an exciting conclusion!”

-
ELLE JAMES

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"
T
his is
one of those books that the phrase sit down, shut up and hang on would be used because it’s a wild ride from page one to the end."

-
5 Star Goodreads Review
, Redemption River

"
T
his book was
wall to wall action. Once the danger hit, it never slowed down. I was late leaving my house because there was no way I could stop reading."

-
5 Star NetGalley Review
, Redemption River

R
esurrection River
: Men of Mercy Book 2

Reckless River: Men of Mercy Book 3

David: Men of Mercy Novella, Book 4

Raylan: Men of Mercy Novella, Book 5

Ravaged River: Men of Mercy Book 6

Coming in 2016:

Merc’s story- Men of Mercy

Ethan’s story - Men of Mercy, in Desiree Holt’s Team Omega Kindle Worlds

Sheriff Bo Lawson’s story - Men of Mercy

and another surprise Men of Mercy…