Operation: Healing Angel
Page 39
Shepherd wrapped his arms around her and drew her in close. As he embraced her, he gently caressed where his hands held. “Don’t worry about any of that right now.”
“How much will the rent be on an office this big?” Diana asked.
“I’m sure we can make an arrangement that will work for you. I will waive the rent until you are up and running, and then you pay what you can afford to, after all of your other business obligations are met.”
“I can’t accept that kind of generosity from you. I know what rental prices are in this city,” Diana argued. “That’s too much.”
“Consider it a wedding gift,” Shepherd said softly. He felt her go rigid in his arms.
Did she just hear what she thought she heard? She pulled away from him enough to look him in the eyes. “What did you just say?” His lips were curved into a small grin. His dark eyes were warm and sparkled with life and the incredible personality that she knew resided there.
“Marry me, Diana. I’m in love with you.” He paused and chuckled. “I should be down on one knee.”
“Don’t you dare. Your body isn’t ready for that yet,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I love you too, Sam.”
“Is that a yes?”
Her smile spread wide, Happy tears dripped from her eyes. “Yes.”
Shepherd took her in a powerful embrace and kissed her like it was the last kiss they’d ever share. When he spoke again, his voice was emotional. “I almost lost you. I don’t ever want to feel that helpless again.” All the feelings he had for her wrapped around his heart. She was his life. He loved her and wanted to do everything he could to help heal her soul as surely as she had healed his body.
“You, Colonel Sam Shepherd, are the furthest from helpless that a man can get. You led Special Forces Operators to rescue me.” She paused and laughed and shook her head. “Who can do that? No one who is helpless, that’s for sure. I love how you take care of me. I love how you protect me. I love you.”
She initiated a kiss that continued until it was interrupted by his cell phone ringing. He pulled his lips from hers and gazed at the display. It was Ops. “I have to get this,” he whispered. He hit the accept button. “Shepherd.”
“You wanted to be notified when the job at Bull Shoals was complete,” Yvette said. “Echo Team just boarded the Lear.”
“Thank you, Yvette. I’ll be about fifteen minutes. Have them standby. The pilot does know that he is bringing the team back to HQ, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does, hasn’t told BT or the team yet as you requested.”
“We can go. I don’t need to see more of the suite. It’ll be perfect, way more space than I need,” Diana said.
“I’m pushing the meeting, so we have time to go down to the jewelry store on the first floor. I’m buying you an engagement ring today. They do in-house sizing and guaranteed me they can have it ready before they close this evening. You said yes. The ring is going on your finger tonight. I’m not letting you off the hook now.”
Diana laughed, feeling lighter than she had before they’d come to look at the office space. Thanks to Sam, she had a new office that could see a few patients beginning tomorrow with minimal equipment. It may take a few weeks to get it completely functionable, but they were not fully out of commission. She’d have an office space immediately, without going through a lengthy search process or having to worry about any financial constraints.
She wrapped her arms around his strong form. She held him and enjoyed the feelings that surrounded her with his arms. Love, safety, acceptance, comfort, and friendship filled her along with hope for a phenomenal future. He supported her in all ways, personally, professionally, and educationally. She didn’t think she had time to be in a relationship. She always thought that a man would demand more from her than she could give. Her goals were not something she would bargain away to figure out how someone could fit into her life. And with Sam, she didn’t have to. He fit and made no demands on her. He gave selflessly, he took nothing.
“And one more thing,” Shepherd said. “I already have your mom rescheduling your staff and patients to come here starting tomorrow. My people will move some of our workout equipment into this space later this afternoon. They are all due here in a few hours to get something basic set up for you. It won’t be pretty, will be barebones, but it should be minimally functional for you. You’ll be down to the one table from my workout room for physical therapy and massages until you can get your hands on another. They’ll bring down the parallel bars too. And we’ll bring up several pieces of cardio equipment from the gym and the hand weights. It’s good all your records are in the cloud. My tech guys will set up a few folding tables with some loaner computers for you to use. And I have two lifts I don’t need any longer. They’re yours now if you want them.”
Diana kissed him again, her heart melting in her chest from his efforts and generosity.
“And after we get that ring and I have my meeting, then we are going to go to Angel and Jackson’s house and meet that baby. I can’t imagine anything else to bring peace like holding a precious new life.”
Diana kissed him again with every emotion she had for him coming through in the exchange. She couldn’t wait to see him hold that newborn. This man deserved nothing but happiness, and to celebrate love, friendship, and family. With all new life, there was a promise for a future. That was what this precious new baby brought to his family, the Shepherd Security family, a family she was now a part of.
The End
The Shepherd Security Series
Book 1: Operation Protected Angel
Book 2: Operation Recruited Angel
Book 3: Operation Dark Angel
Book 4: Operation Fallen Angel
Book 5: Operation Departed Angel
Book 6: Operation Bayou Angel
Book 7: Operation Unknown Angel
Book 8: Operation Beach Angel
Book 9: Operation Healing Angel
Book 10: Operation Trusted Angel
Michaela’s Story and the full completion of Lambchop’s Story
Book 11: Operation Spirit Angel
Book 12: Operation Blood Angel
More books to follow. I have 20 planned in the series.
A special thank you for Kirby J. the model for this cover.
Says Kirby, who appears on this cover: Fitness to me is a key ingredient in my life simply for the fact of the stress relief it provides. I think of nothing but finishing the set I start and going until failure. It’s great for the body as well as the mind. Not only does it improve your health but also aids in having more self-confidence. It’s a great addiction. I am proud to be a part of helping promote these books. This was my first time doing something like this and I will always be happy I did.
Also, a big thank you to the real Dr. Diana, my chiropractor, for her input into the medical portions of this book. I brought her a tall order – Shepherd has been confined to a wheelchair since being shot five years earlier. How do we heal him? She delivered, big time!
From Dr. Diana: When the author approached me with the idea of being an inspiration in one of her books, I was beyond ecstatic and yet nervous to have gotten this amazing opportunity from such an inspirational person herself. The author is one of my most beloved patients and if she does not mind me saying so, dearest friend who makes me smile every time I get to see her. Many may not know, but the author herself has just recently been through a severe health hardship. When many would have complained or shut down, she shocked me, and took on what life handed her with the warmest and most confident, bold, brave smile. I can sincerely say, I have learned so much from her outlook on life and am so grateful to have had our lives cross paths. Much like Shepard who was given an uphill battle, he found a path where his body overcame the obstacle in front of him, all with a little help of chiropractic. That is what chiropractors are for, helping your body heal itself and giving your body its fullest potential to do so. I am honored that ironically the author and Shepp
ard were BOTH being treated by “me” at the same time. Hopefully this book opens up some other peoples paths to chiropractic and restoring faith in the capabilities of your body healing itself when given its full nervous system potential.
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” — Thomas Edison
One of society’s biggest flaws in healthcare, is that we have lost faith in the capabilities of the human body. — Unknown
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Acknowledgements
I truly say thank you, to you, the reader, for choosing this book. If you enjoyed it, would you please leave a review, so others might find this book to enjoy, as well? As an Independent Author, without a publishing house to help advertise my work, I rely on reviews from readers such as you and followers on social media to promote me. Thank you! I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you to my sisters, RK Cary and Charlie Roberts, who are writing their own Romance books. RK has finished up her Destined & Redeemed series and has several other Science Fiction/Fantasy stories in the works. Charlie is working on a contemporary romance series, the Stevens Street Gym Series. Both have been wonderful friends with the honesty and encouragement that only a sister can give. Check out their work on Amazon! Links directly to all our books on Amazon can be found on our website. The link is below.
Thank you to my wonderful and supportive husband for his patience and love while I spend hours upon hours to research and write this story. Also, for advising me on any parts of this story requiring knowledge of the military or weapons that I did not have.
Thank you to my mother who shared with me her love of books. As a child, the wonderful example my mother set for me as an avid reader led my sisters and me to write our stories. She has encouraged me to publish and I thank her for her support.
My friend, photographer, and graphic artist, Harry R., shot all the covers for this series. Thank you, Harry!
A big thank you to my girlfriends who have encouraged me and made me feel that I could do this at the times I felt insecure in my ability to accomplish this. You know who you are ladies! You hold a special place in my heart.
Thank you to my editors, a special callout to Evelin, who gave of her time selflessly to help me with the grammar, not my strongpoint.
About the Author
Hello! I am Margaret Kay. They say being a Military wife is the toughest job in the Armed Forces even though there is no MOS for the position. As the veteran of more than a few deployments, I have to agree. My husband proudly served eight years in the United States Navy in the 80s. That was before cell phones and the internet.
For anyone who’s never had a loved one who’s served, being associated with the military is being part of a special community of people who support each other, who understand what the day to day is like when your loved one is deployed half-way around the world.
Saying goodbye to your loved one as they leave on a lengthy deployment is unlike saying goodbye to someone for any other reason. It’s not like dropping a son or daughter at college or hugging an aging parent after a visit. Your military member is being deployed, part of a mission. You cannot go visit when you miss them too much. You know it’s different. You plan for it differently. They may be getting deployed into harm’s way. And even if they are not, you know what their purpose is and that they could be in harm’s way at any time.
The emotions you feel when you stand with other families, when the unit, boat, or flight returns after many months of separation cannot be described in words that bring adequate justice to it, but I will try. There is a level of excitement equaled only by a child’s wonder on Christmas morning. A pride in your country, in the unit, and in your loved one that surges through your vein’s as you, your children, and all around you hold American flags and signs welcoming them home, waiting all together sometimes for hours before they appear and make their way towards you. As a spouse, you’re hungering for your partner’s touch, for their lips to meet yours, and for the reunion that will occur later, when you’re alone. With that excitement also comes nervousness because it has been so long since you’ve been together as a couple, sharing your bed.
My husband honorably separated from the Navy and easily transitioned to civilian life, but I never forgot what it was like while he served. Many of our returning servicemen and women have not had it so easy. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they recover from physical and emotional injuries. Many struggle to find employment. If you have the ability in your work to encourage the hiring of a Vet, please do.
Our military members are special! I honor all past, present, and future members of our military with my stories. Salute the flag, stand for the national anthem, and thank a Vet for their service. Freedom is not free, a lot of people sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy.
Don’t ever forget!
Margaret