“Aril?” Caden said her name, and she held on to the sink.
“Hey, baby, what are you doing out of bed?” He slid his arm around her waist. She wanted to resist the feel of him, but truth was, just a hug, a kiss, and their presence and she felt better. It was confusing.
“Come on. Maybe have something to eat and then take some painkillers. Simon and Aqua are making some lunch.”
She knew she should eat, so she let him walk with her out of the room. When she entered, sure enough, the guys were making sandwiches, and Aqua was chopping up chicken so she would be able to eat something soft because of her busted lip. The sunlight shone through, and she looked toward the ocean view and took a deep breath.
“Maybe have lunch outside today?” Caden suggested.”
“Maybe.”
She walked toward the counter, and Simon cupped her good cheek so he could look at her lip and the bad cheek.
“More ice later,” he said, and she nodded. “I made more chicken salad since that went down easier yesterday for you.”
“I appreciate this. You don’t need to do this. I can fend for myself. I usually do.”
She walked to the refrigerator, took out the pitcher of ice tea, and then placed it down. She felt weak. “Let me do that,” Simon said.
She exhaled.
“Things are different now, April. The past you had no one. We’re here now, and nothing has changed,” Caden said to her.
“Everything has changed. This won’t work. There’s no need for you to try and act like none of it bothers you. That you don’t look at me the same way anymore knowing my capabilities and about my real profession. I get it. That’s why no relationship could ever work. I closed off my heart years ago, so just leave it be and move on,” she said and then went to turn away, but Caden grabbed her. He lifted her up onto the island, and she straddled his hips. “Caden.
He cupped her good cheek and her hair with one hand and her shoulder with the other. “No. Everything you say is fucking bullshit. You’re scared. Scared to love us, to admit that to us, and to let us in, but we do love you. We want you and want to understand and to know who you are, what you really like and dislike. There’s no need to hide, to pretend anymore, baby. We know you’re a fucking spy, and we still love you and want you. Yes, it is going to be tough worrying about you, but fuck if I care. If we care. We never thought we would fall in love or find a woman to complete us, and you do, damn it. You do.” He pressed his lips to her forehead away from the bruising. His words shocked her, and then he hugged her to him. Simon and Aqua joined them. They caressed her back and her arm. She looked at them as tears fell.
“We aren’t going anywhere. We know about Evan, and if he lived, baby, he would be here loving you with us,” Aqua said. Her eyes widened.
“He was part of our team. He had been out on injury, and his first job back was with a different group because of his capabilities. He died, but you saved the rest of the team and Colonel Brothers. We were meant to find you, to love you, and to make you our woman,” Aqua told her.
“So suck it up, pull down those walls around that heart like we’re fucking doing being all vulnerable and shit, and let us love you, while you love us right back,” Simon stated.
The tears flowed, and she felt like maybe just maybe could do this with them. “I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to have to be tough and strong all the time”
“You don’t have to be with us. We’ll work it all out. We love you forever, baby. You’re it for us,” Caden said.
“I love you three, too. I do, and I’m scared, and I know I’m going to piss you off and push you away when I feel too vulnerable, but I do love you.”
“We’ll deal with it military style,” Simon said.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing a firm hand can’t resolve,” Aqua said and gave her a squeeze.
She chuckled. “I think we should eat outside.”
“Okay, but then back to bed to rest,” Aqua said as Caden slowly lowered her feet back onto the floor.
She looked over her shoulder as she headed toward the patio. “Not alone though. The three of you right there with me.”
“Hell yeah,” Simon said and winked.
“Finally,” Aqua said, and then they laughed.
“Be ready, baby. If you dish out orders, you better be ready to receive them,” Caden told her.
“Oh, I’m more than ready, Chief. More than ready,” she said.
They quickly made their lunch and gathered around her outside on the patio with a view of the ocean and thoughts of a future with these three Seals. She didn’t want to think about work, about what would be next when she healed, and she didn’t want to think about all the ways this could fail. She loved them, and they loved her. They spoke about the future, and Caden’s words stating that she was it for them always and forever made her heart soar and her spirits rise. Perhaps finding love, learning to love again, and being in love with these three Seals was the best mission of her life, and maybe even her last. No way. I love this job too much, Maybe just some little changes, and not so much danger. After all, she remembered her words to Pierre. I don’t pick the missions. The missions pick me.
THE END
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Healing Hearts 4: Mission to Love (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting) Page 14