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
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 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
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
About the Author
The American Soldier Collection 3: Amazing Grace (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 27