A Soldier's Gift

by Lynne St. James

  “Uhh, no, not really. We have some things to take care of with the Army. But we should be back by next weekend.”

  “That’s good.” What was he going to talk to them about? Deploying again? Tag said they wouldn’t deploy him with the plate in his head, but what about a desk job overseas. Dani’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  “What, bug?”

  “Moooommmm, I told you not to call me that anymore.”

  “Oh sorry. Yes, Dani, what can I do for you?”

  “We’re hungry, when can we make the hotdogs?”

  Mac and Tag laughed. “Well get right on that.” The cooking crew sprang into action and Julie and Beth got the rest of the food out for meal number one of the BBQ. But wasn’t it what they were all about, eating, laughing, drinking, and just relaxing?

  Tag got overheated and went inside so Beth helped Mac with the burgers and hotdogs. For the first time since before his surgery they were alone. While she was working up the courage to tell him how she felt, he interrupted her musings.

  “Babe, I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you this since we’ve first met. It’s been driving me crazy.”

  “What?”

  “Well, you know how you’re not supposed to find out who donated whatever organ you receive in a transplant? I did, I mean I figured it out. And I have Doug’s corneas. I know how you feel about him, and I’ve been worried you’ll tell me to walk away because part of him is now part of me…”

  She reached up and put her fingers over his lips, stopping his explanation. Smiling, she removed her fingers and got up on her tip-toes and kissed him. It wasn’t just a sweet kiss, she let all the passion she’d been holding onto while waiting for him. “I know about the corneas. Not since the beginning but while you were unconscious Dr. Andrews told me. He thought I already knew. And I’m not upset, I’m happy there’s a part of Doug that was able to help give you back your life.”

  “You really don’t mind?”

  “Nope not at all, and I’m sure Dani will be thrilled. But prepare yourself for a ton of questions.”

  He searched her face and for a moment she thought he was going to say something else. Instead he pulled her into his arms and continued the kiss she’d started. His hands slid up and down her back, and he pulled her body up against his so his hard cock rubbed against her. She wasn’t sure how long they stood like that, kissing, making love with their tongues, until the smell of burning hamburgers broke them apart.

  The rest of the day was mostly eating and small talk, until it got dark. Mac helped Beth drag out all the fireworks she’d purchased and they set up on the driveway out front, where there was a lot less grass. Beth wondered how Dani would react to the flames as they launched, and hoped it wouldn’t trigger memories of being caught in the burning car. It was the last thing she wanted to trigger.

  Tag and Julie set up the lawn chairs near the garage and Mac and Beth took care of the fireworks. They gave Julie a box of sparklers to light for the girls and they ran around the front yard with them while the adults finished setting up everything. So far the day had been as close to perfect as Beth could have wished—with the exception of wondering what Mac decided about his future.

  Finally it was dark enough and everyone was seated waiting for the fireworks show to begin. Mac pulled Beth close as they whispered about the plan for launch, then he kissed her again. Breathless, she pulled back and tried to see his eyes in the darkness. She wanted to tell him how she felt, and each time she got close to blurting it out something or someone would interrupt them. Would the right time ever come?

  “We’ll start with the ground spinners and finish with the roman candles, okay?”

  “Sounds good to me. No matter what I’m sure the kids will love it.”

  “And how about you? What do you love?”

  “Umm I love the fireworks too, I have since I was a kid.”

  “I wasn’t talking about fireworks.”

  “No.” Now the moment was here Beth didn’t know what to do. It was her chance to tell him everything. Instead she hesitated. He lit the first spinner and the kids screeched and cheered. While he prepped a couple more of the spinners he asked again.

  “Seriously. Beth, you are amazing and so is Dani.” He pulled her close and she thought he was going to tell her he loved her, but instead his mouth took hers in another mind-blowing kiss. He sure knew how to make her toes curl and to set her on fire.

  “Hey, guys, you’re slacking over there, stop making out and light the fireworks,” Tag yelled and Dani seconded.

  Laughing, Beth pulled away from Mac. “You heard ‘em. Get cracking.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m not done with this discussion.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  They set off the rest of the fireworks and ooh’d and ahh’d over the roman candles. The air reeked of sulphur and the smoke irritated Beth’s eyes. “Okay, everyone back in for cake and ice cream.”

  “Yay!”

  “I’ll clean this up later after the smoke clears.”

  “No problem. Usually I clean it up the next morning. Julie and I get a little tipsy after Dani goes to bed.”

  “Oh yeah? I see how it is. Are you planning on getting a little tipsy tonight?”

  “Umm, I dunno. Maybe. You got a problem with that?”

  “As long as you’re sober for our chat I’m cool.”

  “Awesome,” Beth replied as she elbowed him in the side. “Hurry up there, soldier man, we’ve got a crowd hollering for cake and ice cream, can’t you hear them?”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Cake and ice cream handed out, Beth put a small bowl of the vanilla ice cream on the floor for Bo who’d been cowering under the bed while they set off the fireworks. He was terrified of the loud noises but the ice cream always cheered him up.

  Mac came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Can I steal you for a minute or two?”

  “Uh sure.” He led her onto the patio and they sat on one of the benches. There was a light breeze and the lit Tiki torches bathed the area in a romantic glow.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much lately.”

  “It’s okay. I figured you had things to take care of.” This time it was Mac to put his fingers over her lips.

  “Shh, let me talk I don’t think I’ll get all of this out if you talk before I’m done. Okay?”

  She nodded but didn’t say anything. Her stomach churned and the margarita she’d had before the fireworks wasn’t sitting so well all of a sudden.

  “I was worried a lot about the corneas. I thought you’d resent me for having a part of Doug. Julie told me some of the shit he put you through and I understand he had PTSD but still.”

  Beth nodded but still stayed silent, although without realizing it she clenched her hands together.

  “When I was in the hospital I think I must have died for a minute or two I don’t know. Dr. Andrews said no but I know I saw a light. I know I did, and I heard a voice, a man’s voice. He told me I needed to live to go back to you. That you and Dani needed me. I think it was Doug. Do you think I’m crazy?”

  As she listened her eyes widened. She’d heard of stuff like this, seen it on TV but did she believe it? She wasn’t sure. After the experience with the necklace, she was more willing to think it might be true. But still, why would Doug send Mac back to them?

  “You can talk…”

  “A week ago I would have said you were crazy, but now I’m not sure. I think there might be things in this world we don’t understand but that doesn’t mean they’re not true. So maybe. But I don’t think you’re crazy.”

  “Good. Because I love you. I never thought I’d say those words to anyone. I always believed I’d die on foreign land and I was okay with that. It’s the life I chose, but then when I met you and Dani, you stole my heart, gave me something to live for.”

  Tears welled in Beth’s eyes. She tried to speak but words wouldn’t come. Was it true, he loved her? The words s
he’d dreamed of hearing were still hanging in the air and he waited for her answer. His heart was in his eyes, there was no mistaking his feelings.

  “I love you too. Oh my God. I told you every day while you were in the coma and I kicked myself for not telling you before that. Life is so short and I thought I lost my chance. Then when you got out of the hospital and didn’t want to see us…”

  “No that’s wrong. I was just taking care of things. I needed to have my life in order before I could see you.”

  “Are you leaving?”

  “Is that what you think?”

  Beth nodded, and blinked back the tears. She was not going to cry, nope she refused, and blinked harder. The words she’d kept bottled up with worry burst out of her. “You kept saying you wanted to go back on active duty. I know that routine, you go where they send you. Maybe not into battle anymore but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t send you away from us.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. I met with my commanding officer, I do want to go back on activity duty, but not like you think. I am staying active but stateside only, actually only here. Since I was wounded I guess I had a bit more pull about where I get stationed. I’ll be working with wounded Vets. Before I went into the service I got a degree in psychology. I just need to get my masters and I can work full time as a social worker and counsel Vets, help them.”

  “Really? You’re not leaving?”

  “No, baby. I couldn’t, it would be like ripping my heart out and leaving it here.”

  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, she threw herself into his arms. Molding her lips to his, she kissed him for all she was worth. It would be okay. He was staying.

  “Does this mean you’re happy?”

  “Happy is an understatement. You’re my wish come true.”

  Epilogue

  It had been exactly a year since the last Fourth of July party at Beth and Dani’s house. A lot happened in the last year, and Mac prayed tonight would go off without a hitch. They’d spent as much time as possible together, but with the bookstore, Dani back in school, and his working at the VA Hospital during the day and taking classes at night, it had been difficult.

  Busy as they all were, every Friday night he’d take Dani and Beth out for a family date, and every Saturday he’d take Beth out for a romantic dinner. Sometimes they’d walk on the beach afterwards and other times they’d just come back to her house and replay their first date. Their Saturday nights were always followed by a sleepover and Dani would spend the night at Julie’s or with Hannah or one of her other friends.

  After the summer of homeschooling, hanging with Mac and Hannah, and continuing to meet with the therapist, Dani had healed both mentally and physically. She caught up and was able to start the school year with her classmates and everything went well. She was thriving and Mac knew Beth was as relieved as she was happy. Her friendship with Hannah healed and had grown, and probably helped her a lot at the beginning. She’d also met a boy and had her first crush. Beth wasn’t happy but Mac was trying to talk her into letting Dani go on group dates to the movies. He didn’t think it was too much since she was thirteen now.

  Tag was going through a lot and spent months away from Willow Haven. He was in touch with Mac but made him promise not to tell anyone else where he was, only that he was okay. It made it hard on Julie but he’d gotten back last week and agreed to come to the BBQ. It was a good thing too, Mac needed his help to carry out his plan.

  He’d been on pins and needles all day waiting for just the right time. He’d picked up the fireworks this year and Tag was going to set them off with Julie’s help. Hannah, Dani, and Jake, Dani’s boyfriend, were too cool for the sparklers this year and just hung out watching. As soon as the first Roman candle went off and all the cheering started, Mac pulled Beth out back to the patio.

  He sat her down on the bench where he first told her he loved her a year ago.

  “What’s going on? We’re going to miss the fireworks?”

  “I don’t think so.” He pulled her face to his and kissed her, gently trying to show all the love he had for her.

  “Mmm okay, we can stay here if you’re going to keep kissing me.” She smiled and the light from the Tiki torches bathed her in a soft glow. He got down on one knee and she gasped. Her eyes were wide but she didn’t say a word.

  “Beth Fraser, I love you with all my heart, you are my sunshine, my love. You and Dani have brought life back to me in more ways than I can ever explain. Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?” He pulled a small box out of his pocket, flipped it open, and pulled out the ring. It was a heart shaped ruby set in white gold and sounded by diamonds.

  He was getting worried. She sat there not saying a word. He was starting to think she’d turn him down. Then she reached for him while shaking her head no, and finally she said the words he’d longed to hear for months.

  “Oh yes, yes. I’ll marry you, Tom MacDonald.”

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her like he’d never kissed her before, and neither of them heard the last of the fireworks or the cheers.

  The End

  Books by Lynne St. James

  Beyond Valor

  A Soldier’s Gift

  Anamchara

  Embracing Her Desires

  Embracing Her Surrender

  Embracing Her Love

  Raining Chaos

  Taming Chaos

  Seducing Wrath

  Music Under the Mistletoe – A Raining Chaos Christmas

  Tempting Flame – Coming Soon

  With other Publishers:

  The Vampires of Eternity Series

  Twice Bitten Not Shy

  Twice Bitten to Paradise

  Twice Bitten and Bewitched

  I would love to hear from you!

  Email: lynne@lynnestjames.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorLynneStJames

  Website: http://lynnestjames.com

  Excerpt from Embracing Her Desires

  Anamchara Book One

  By Lynne St. James

  “Where is this freakin’ town?” Hope sighed, and double checked the GPS in her rental car for at least the fifteenth time in the last twenty minutes. “Even the GPS doesn’t know where we are.” She’d looked at Google Maps before picking up the rental and it said the drive from her apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Anamchara, Virginia should take about five and a half hours. Instead she’d been driving for almost seven, the last half hour of it in a circle, all to claim, in person no less, a piece of property that three days ago she didn’t even know existed.

  She swore if the damn GPS said recalculating one more time she’d toss it out the window and gleefully run it over on her next pass. She was sure she’d been in this exact spot at least three times already. Pinks, purples, and splashes of orange painted the sky—the colors a warning that night approached. If she couldn’t find this turn soon she’d have to find a place to stay for the night. Secluded, dark, and alone were not words Hope wanted in the same sentence—too much like a horror movie waiting to happen.

  Frustrated, she gripped the steering wheel so tightly her hands cramped. The GPS indicated she should be turning left now, but all she could see were trees, trees, and more trees. “I’m in the middle of freakin’ nowhere. I should’ve had my head examined instead of making this drive by myself.”

  Reaching across the seat for her phone to call her BFF, Nicole, she glanced up in time to see a wolf standing in her path. Slamming on the brakes, the car screeched to a stop inches from the huge animal. It stood there—stock still—seemingly not afraid. Staring into large silvery gray eyes, it looked like it could be reading her thoughts. Then as suddenly as it appeared, it dipped its gray and black furred head and darted off into the trees.

  “Holy crap.” Hope leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes. “A wolf? Oh my God. I was face-to-face with a wolf. Shit. Maybe I did need extra rental car coverage for unexpected occurrences?” Draw
ing in a deep breath and trying to calm her shattered nerves, she counted to ten. Eventually her heart stopped trying to escape from her chest and she opened her eyes looking around to see if the wolf had returned. “Why was it in the middle of the road in the first place? Do they even have wolves in Virginia?” She giggled, of course they did. I almost hit one, didn’t I? Sighing, she shook her head and peered through the windshield searching for any other “unexpected occurrences.” That’s when she noticed it.

  In front of her and slightly off to the left side was the turn. “Seriously? I swear that road wasn’t there five minutes ago.” Partially hidden by the overgrown trees, the sign she’d spent the last half hour trying to find stood next to the road. Why didn’t I see it before? Shaking her head, she rolled down the window to get a better look at it in the fading light. I know it wasn’t here before. Am I being punked or something?

  She read aloud, “Welcome to Anamchara where true love comes to all who seek it.”

  Excerpt from Taming Chaos

  Raining Chaos Book One

  By Lynne St. James

  Yup now this is what I’d expected. Seeing all the skanky women pour into the dressing room was more than I wanted to deal with, or maybe I was just jealous? At least that’s what Michelle would say. She might be right, but hell, I’m not admitting it to anyone. Still, there was no way I was going to stand there while some hoe practically climbed into his pants.

  I doubt anyone noticed when I left anyway. My suitcase was still in Michelle’s car, so I figured I might as well get it now and head to the bus. Maybe I could get settled in before they all showed up with their sex partners for the night. Gross. Seriously, how could anyone have sex with random strangers just because they were rock stars? Okay, who was I kidding, I wanted Chaos, would I give in to that—hell no. It’d be totally wrong. Isn’t that what I hated most about my father? He was all about loving them and leaving them, at least as far as mom was concerned.

  Grabbing the suitcase from the car I shoved her spare key in the hideaway box under the front wheel well. Thank God I’d remembered it was there because I sure as hell hadn’t remembered to get the keys from her before I left the party. She’d been all over Flame. I knew she liked Raining Chaos but I hadn’t realized she had the hots for him until the drive over. All she did the whole time was ask about him. It was funny. Too bad this wasn’t her job for the next two weeks, she would have enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than I will.