The American Soldier Collection 3: Amazing Grace (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (36 page)

Then she thought about Donald.

He had risked his life for Grace, for all of them and she nearly lost him, too. She wondered if he would even want anything to do with her now. After Eric tried to frame Donald for the murders. Why would he? She just wanted to stop by to see him. He meant so much to her and it was the right thing to do.

The tears welled up in her eyes as she walked closer to the bed.

He opened his eyes and she was grateful that he appeared surprised not angry.

“Sarah?” he whispered, his voice a little rough and groggy.

She moved beside the bed and placed her hand over his and used the other hand to clutch her purse to her chest for support.

“I’ll leave if you don’t want to see me.”

“What? No, stay. Why would you think that?” he asked then clasped his hand over hers and brought it closer to his chest.

She loved the feel of him touching her. His strength, his charismatic way.

“I thought you would hate me for what Eric did to you.”

“Baby, no way. No freaking way would I blame you for that sick bastard. God Sarah, all I thought about, all I ever think about is you. I care about you.”

She smiled softly then swallowed hard as she held his gaze.

“I care about you, too.”

They held one another’s gaze and then he whispered to her, “I’ve always cared for you, Sarah. Before Eric, during the years as the kids grew up around us. I should have told you then how I felt.”
She shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“I had no idea. I felt it, too. I cared for you, too, but thought, oh, I don’t know what I thought. I was stupid. So stupid.”

He pulled her hand up toward his lips as he shook his head.

“Not stupid. You’re a good woman. You see things through. Forget about the past. Forget about Eric.” He kissed her knuckles and she felt her heart leap with joy and perhaps hope that there was still something between the two of them they could save.

“I wish.”

“Shh,” he told her then pulled her closer.

“Come here, sweet Sarah.”

She slowly leaned toward him and his firm lips, his bruised face and felt his hand caress up her arm, to her shoulder then neck.

“I’ve always loved you, Sarah. It’s our time now. Our time.”

The tear rolled down her cheek as he pulled her closer and kissed her softly.

I love you, too, Donald.

The house was filled with family and friends. It was just what everyone needed. Grace watched as Donald sat on the rocking chair sipping some ice tea enjoying a friendly argument with Sarah about the better way to season steaks before cooking them on the grill. Frank was adding his comments, contributing fuel to the fire. Aunt Betsy was talking to Jamie and Tod about an old family heirloom she wanted them to have for their new home. They had sold their old place and moved to a newer, larger house a few blocks away. Jamie didn’t feel she could live in the same house where she was almost killed.

Grace couldn’t believe six months had passed. She held off on her photography career to help Sarah with her political campaign. Sarah was running for town mayor and had a really good shot at the position. The whole town agreed she would be perfect for the job.

She looked out across the open land and thought about her weekly visits to Clara’s gravesite. The first time was the most difficult, but as she made each trip there, it became easier. She was finally at peace knowing that Clara’s killer was not just identified, but dead. She had closure now, and felt that life could only get better from here on out.

Then she felt the twinge of regret and sadness in her heart.

Grace hadn’t heard from Sandman, Duke, or Big Jay in weeks. She knew that Sandman had been busy going over the aspects of the case as well as receiving another job. They spoke on the phone a few times and Sandman expressed his upset with her for leaving the way she did. He told her if a relationship was going to continue between them, then she needed to be less independent. He wanted to take care of her, share the responsibilities with her, or a relationship just wouldn’t work.

He explained that a ménage relationship was complicated enough and that he and his brothers wanted her to trust them equally and fully. By taking off the way she did and scaring the crap out of them, she betrayed that trust and the fear of losing her was too much. She knew he was angry, but then Duke and Big Jay called. They forgave her, but expressed similar concerns and wanted to give her time to think about how serious she was about a ménage relationship with the three of them. Duke explained that Sandman was stubborn and had really closed up his heart after experiencing some awful things in his life. She had made a difference and they felt that she completed them.

She knew they were right and she loved them for their honesty and for confronting her, challenging her to change, wanting her to need them. They were military men. They were strong-willed leaders, dominant and experienced men who wanted to protect their woman. She knew that was all they wanted. For her to need them to trust them and allow them to take care of her.

Everyone was laughing, enjoying one another’s company at the house, and her brother Frank walked by, giving her a kiss on the cheek and a huge smile. John, Sarah, Peter, the whole family acted the same around her, around each other, taking every opportunity to say “I love you” or just show some kind of affection. They would never take one another for granted. They knew that life was precious and time went by too quickly to have regrets.

She smiled as she enjoyed watching her family looking so happy as more relatives arrived. It was a Thompson celebration and the backyard was filling up with family. The children were playing tag and Frank was trying to gather them together for a picture. Grace walked around to the side of the house. She leaned against the porch railing absorbing all the wonderful sounds of laughter, joy, and happiness from her family. They were all smiling, celebrating, and enjoying the party. Grace reached up and touched the flowering pink-and-purple potted planter that hung from one of the high porch beams. Sarah had the wraparound porch decorated with the hanging planters. It was so country, so pretty to look at.

Suddenly she felt someone behind her, a strong arm instantly around her waist then a bouquet of wild flowers appear in front of her. She knew instantly it was Duke, as she absorbed his cologne. She inhaled deeply as she leaned back against his chest. Once again one of her men snuck up on her without her knowing.

“How do you do that?” she asked, sounding a little annoyed yet smiling.

“It involves special training. If you’re good maybe I’ll teach you,” he teased her as he turned her toward him.

Duke touched her cheek then took her face between his hands. She spotted Big Jay standing next to him, arms crossed and appearing angry.

“I’ve missed you.” Duke whispered to her as he stared into her beautiful hazel-green eyes.

“I missed you, too,” she replied and he kissed her softly on the lips. She heard Big Jay clear his throat and Duke released her lips then touched foreheads with her. “I love you, baby, and I want you back.”

She smiled at him then hugged him tight. When Duke released her, Big Jay pulled her into his arms and lifted her up so that she straddled his hips. He pressed her against the side of the house and held her tight. She could hardly catch her breath. One look into the intense blue eyes and she smiled at him.

“I take it you missed me as much as I missed you.”

“More,” he replied then kissed her. It was a long, sexual kiss, filled with promises of more to come. She was aroused, felt needy and as he pulled away, she moved forward trying to get more of his delicious kisses.

“We have things to discuss and confirm,” he stated seriously.

“Like what?” she replied.

“Like, what we expect in a wife and what our wife can expect from us.”

She gasped as she turned toward the voice and saw Sandman approaching. He looked so good and his facial expression mimicked his brothers’ when they first approached.

“What did you say?” she asked. Her heart was pounding inside of her chest.

In a flash he placed his hands against her cheeks then stared down into her eyes.

“We can’t live without you, Grace. I can’t live without you. But this stubborn, ‘I can take care of myself’ attitude has to stop. We’re your protectors. We’re the ones who will protect you and take care of you and if you can’t accept that and trust us—”

Grace grabbed his hands that were against her cheeks and kissed him hard on the mouth. She made love to his mouth, absorbing his counter kisses until they were breathless. When she pulled back she smiled at him. “Okay,” she whispered.

“Okay?” Duke and Big Jay replied in sync.

She nodded her head and Big Jay lowered her feet to the wooden plank flooring.

“We love you,” Sandman said.

“I love the three of you, too.”

All three men smiled then each got down on one knee. They all held her one hand and she gasped in shock.

“Grace Thompson, will you marry us?”

“Yes,” she replied immediately as Sandman pulled out a gorgeous three-karat ring and placed it onto her finger. They kissed her fingers and she was filled with joy.

“What in the world?”

All four of them turned to see Frank standing there in shock.

“Did they just propose to you?” She nodded her head and Frank hooted and hollered then ran to tell the family.

“You three better hurry up and kiss me. You have no idea how bombarded with relatives we are going to be in about five seconds.”

All three men stood up. Sandman kissed her first, then Big Jay and then Duke just as loads of relatives came piling around both sides of the house.

The cheers and congratulations exploded around them and Grace was filled with more joy and happiness than she could ever imagine experiencing.

She smiled at her men as relatives they hadn’t even met hugged them, welcomed them to the family and instantly accepted them as part of the Thompson family.

She loved her family and she loved her Sandman, Duke and Big Jay with all her heart.

Aunt Betsy grabbed her arm and asked rather loudly, “How the heck did you snag three sexy, good-looking soldiers like these three?”

Duke came up behind them and kissed first Aunt Betsy on the cheek and then Grace.

“Because she’s amazing,” he whispered.

“That she is,” Sandman said.

“Our amazing Grace.” Big Jay added and Grace smiled with joy. Her men loved her and she loved them. What more could a woman ask for?

THE END

WWW.DIXIELYNNDWYER.COM

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 descendents 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.

For all titles by Dixie Lynn Dwyer, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/dixie-lynn-dwyer