Her Steadfast HERO (Black Dawn Book 1)
Page 9
Sarah smiled. Her heart felt lighter.
She got up from the bed, and went to the bathroom and cleaned up. When she came back to the bed, she could breathe again, and she grabbed David’s pillow and sucked in his smell, reveling in his scent. The man she loved. The man she was going to love all of her life.
* * *
For the next two weeks, the island of Las Flores slowly emerged from its devastation. Day after day more prisoners were captured as Gray and his teams worked. Aiden and David worked primarily with Carys and Sarah, but occasionally with other aid workers who went out on the Outreach program to bring in the injured. David was relieved none of the other visits had been as bad as that first. There had been a couple of nights when Sarah would wake up crying, and he would rock her back to sleep.
He talked to his commander. They were down to the last eleven prisoners, so he would soon be going home. Gray had a similar talk with his superiors. He figured they had maybe another week on the island.
Trudging back to the hotel, he looked at Sarah. She smiled back at him. This had been one of the good house calls. A woman had given birth. It had been a breech birth, and Sarah had said that they couldn’t take her in the jeep to the hospital. She also said it was complicated. He knew that breech was bad, but it had turned out well—after thirty hours.
God, he was tired, but Sarah looked like she was ready to go dancing.
“Did you see him, he looked like a linebacker. I should say a football player. I mean a soccer player type of football player.” She was babbling. He stopped her, and right there in the lobby he kissed her. Hard. She grabbed him and grinned into the kiss. It was a happy and passionate kiss. What a great fucking flavor.
“Get a room!” He tucked her under his arm and turned to glower at Carmen.
“What are you doing at the hotel? I thought your home had been repaired.”
“Bernardo wanted me to talk to the hotel about arranging a party for all of you. You’ll be leaving soon, and he wants to thank you. I even tracked down Lola and her family for Bobby Harrison.” David smiled. “Don’t tell him, though, it’s a secret.” He was really going to miss Carmen.
He looked at Sarah. She had tightened up at Carmen’s words.
He tugged Sarah toward the stairs. Even after all this time he still didn’t feel good about the elevators. Let’s face it, even though the electrical grid was fine, he wouldn’t be taking elevators until he was back in the states.
As soon as they got into the room, she turned to him, grabbed at his T-shirt, and tugged it over his head. His bandage was gone, and so were the stitches. She traced the healing flesh.
“Are you feeling better now, Honey?”
“What?”
“Are you feeling safer? Are you beginning to trust that I won’t leave you?” Her pretty gray eyes turned misty. She nodded.
“I’m sorry I was so scared.”
“There’s nothing to feel sorry about. You had perfectly valid reasons to be scared. But this was an extraordinary set of circumstances. I told you, I lead a very boring life.”
“There is nothing boring about you, David Sloane.”
“What about you? Are you planning on living a boring life, Sarah Kyle?”
“Yep, I already told Carys that when this is all over, I’m going back to the US.” He thought his face might split in half with how big his grin was. “I don’t want us to break up.” She looked up at him. “We are in a relationship, right?”
“Make no mistake. This is a relationship. As soon as we get back to the states, and I get to a jewelry store, this is going to get as permanent as possible. I want you in my life permanently, Sarah. I know what it’s like without you, and I don’t want that ever again.”
He held his breath. She searched his face.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
Screwed that up, didn’t you, Sloane?
“Sarah Marie Kyle, will you marry me?”
“Do you love me?”
“Oh honey, I love you so much it hurts. I’m sorry, I should have said that first. See, I’m a dumbass. I love your beautiful heart that wants to help heal the world. I love your first class brain that runs circles around mine. I love your body that knocks me off my axis. Do you love me? Will you marry me?”
“I love you. I’ve probably been in love with you since Fort Lewis. I’ve just been afraid. Marrying you would make all my dreams come true.”
Finally. Four years, six months and four days. That’s how long it had taken for his dreams to come true.
Epilogue
Aiden O’Malley did his best to relax in the small straight back chair that barely contained his frame with little Oscar perched on his lap. The boy’s mother wasn’t at the wedding, but according to the little boy’s aunt and uncle she was improving.
Looking around, it seemed like she was the only one who wasn’t here. Meanwhile almost the entire population of Las Flores had shown up for Bobby Riggs and Lola Hernandez’s wedding. But he’d bet his left nut that it was really to see David Sloane. That man was their hero.
The little boy whimpered and Aiden repositioned the child’s leg so he would be more comfortable in his sleep. Oscar sighed and snuggled closer. Aiden picked up his beer from beside the chair and settled back as best he could and perused the activities.
The dance floor was jammed packed. The band was alternating between Latin and American music. He saw his lieutenant standing next to Luis and Carlos. They were probably talking about security. Shit, Gray needed to learn how to let his hair down, especially considering how many pretty girls were sending looks his way. He should take a page out of Dex’s book. Now that boy was doing just fine out there with the senoritas.
“Can I have your attention!” Carmen bellowed. Then she repeated her demand in English.
Dammit, Carmen better not wake up Oscar.
“I want to thank Bobby and Lola for letting us use their happy event to celebrate the resilience of Las Flores. Nothing will ever keep us down!”
A cheer went up.
Oscar cuddled closer but didn’t wake up. Aiden smiled.
“Bernardo, come up and talk to your people.” She gestured to the man in the flamboyant suit who looked years younger than he had the last time Aiden had seen him.
“Why?” the now Governor called from the dance floor. “Everyone knows you’re in charge.”
Everyone roared with laughter.
“David Sloane, you come up and talk!” Carmen commanded.
“No habla Español.” David shouted from his spot on the dance floor.
More laughter.
“Okay, I’ll speak,” Carmen said.
“Big surprise.” Bobby Riggs yelled out.
“We have had our time to mourn. Now is our time for joy. Once again we will enjoy our place under the sun, and it is because of the men and women here who are heroes.” Carmen’s voice broke. “So many of you risked your lives and I thank you. But the man I will always be grateful for is David Sloane.”
She raised her glass of champagne as thunderous applause broke out.
Still little Oscar remained asleep.
Thank God.
Bernardo helped Carmen off the stage, and pulled her into his arms for a dance, as the band began to play ‘Feeling Good’.
Aiden grinned as he saw Bernardo dip in for a kiss at the same time that David claimed one from Sarah.
The only thing missing was Carys Adams. She’d held it together magnificently until the end of her assignment. He’d tried to help her come to terms with her trauma, but he and Jack were the last people she wanted to see after leaving Las Flores. According to Sarah she was even keeping her distance from her. She’d immediately re-upped for a solitary assignment in the back of beyond.
He was damned if he was going to let that stand. She’d become a friend. She was one of the good ones. He didn’t know when, or how, but one day he would find a way to help her get her life back on track, and she would never know he had anything to d
o with it.
* * *
Out of the corner of his eye David saw Carmen and Bernardo embrace and he tipped his chin so that Sarah would look over.
“Oh,” she sighed. “That makes me happy.”
“I arranged it just for you, Mrs. Sloane. Keeping you happy is my job.” He smoothed back her hair, relishing the opportunity to touch her, caress her.
“You do it well.” She pressed closer, and he gloried in the feel of her body against him, their child nestled between them.
“David?” she whispered softly. It was like they were in their own little bubble. They might be surrounded by people, but only their family and their song existed.
“Hmmm?” God, he could lose himself, looking into those big gray eyes.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Making me whole again. Making my dreams come true.” She was serious. How could she be serious, when she was the one who had made him whole?
He did the only thing possible, he bent down and took a kiss. The feel of her, the taste of her, everything that was Sarah swept through him, making him complete.
It had been six months and eighteen days since she had agreed to be his wife. He would never forget the day she had made his dream come true.
The End.
Biography
Caitlyn O'Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America, is a dream come true. She hopes her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape she has found from some of her favorite authors.
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Books by Caitlyn O’Leary
The Found Series
Revealed, Book One
Forsaken, Book Two
Healed, Book Three
Beloved, Book Four (Spring 2017)
Midnight Delta Series
Her Vigilant SEAL, Book One
Her Loyal SEAL, Book Two
Her Adoring SEAL, Book Three
Sealed with a Kiss, A Midnight Delta Novella, Book Four
Her Daring SEAL, Book Five
Her Fierce SEAL, , Book Six
Protecting Hope, Book Seven
(Seal of Protection & Midnight Delta Crossover Novel
Susan Stoker KindleWorld)
A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart, Book Eight
Her Dominant SEAL, Book Nine (February 2017)
Black Dawn Series
Her Steadfast Hero, Book One
Shadow Alliance
Declan, Book One
Cooper’s Promise, Book Two
(Omega Team and Found Crossover Novel
Desiree Holt KindleWorld)
Fate Harbor Series Published by Siren/Bookstrand
Trusting Chance, Book One
Protecting Olivia, Book Two
Claiming Kara, Book Three
Isabella’s Submission, Book Four
Cherishing Brianna, Book Five