The Damaged Heroes Collection [Box Set #1: The Damaged Heroes Collection] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream)

by James, Sandy

  “After I met Sarah, after I saw what she could do—”

  The Queen of Gossip interrupted, “What did you see?”

  “I watched as she embraced a woman who was close to dying of the same disease that claimed my wife. While Sarah held her, the woman’s face went from sickly pale to glowing pink. Her eyes went from dull to bright. I also found out her doctor now believes all evidence of the cancer is gone.”

  “And what happened to Sarah when she embraced the woman?”

  He hated even thinking about it. “She went white as a sheet and fainted. It was like she was absorbing Shelly’s pain. It was horrible to watch.”

  “Fainted?” Tanya asked. “Just fainted. Why, every woman— especially a dainty southern belle like me—swoons every now and again.”

  Damn, but the woman loved her melodrama. Probably why she got great ratings.

  Josh shook his head. “No, it was more than that, more like she fell into a coma. I couldn’t have woken her up for anything. I was so frightened. Her sister said Sarah always stayed like that for a good six hours after she healed someone, longer if the illness was really bad.”

  “And now you believe her?”

  “I’ve believed her since that day.”

  Tanya frowned at him. “Well, then we’re right back where we started. Why that horrible story, darlin’?”

  “Because after what I saw, I needed to work things out in my mind,” Josh replied. “I questioned everything I’d ever believed about God, about miracles. I didn’t want to trust what I’d seen with my own eyes. So I went home and wrote that story. I wrote it to purge the grief over losing my wife. I wrote it to force all the negative thoughts from my mind. I wrote it to finally let go of all that hurt and the pain.”

  Tanya took one of Sarah’s hands and gave it several pats. “Shame on you, Mr. Miller, for being so mean to this sweet lady. Did you intend to hurt her so much?”

  “No! Of course not!” None of this was working out at all the way he’d planned. The Queen of Gossip sure wasn’t making matters any better. He hoped there was a method to her madness.

  Tanya turned to address the audience. “Have any of y’all written a letter you didn’t mean to send? Or how about an email? They’re the worst, aren’t they? I always mean to hit delete, but I’ve been known to hit that li’l ole send button instead. Gets me in a whole peck of trouble.” The stage manager was nodding like a tousled bobble-head. “How many of y’all have done that too?” Several audience members held up their hands, and as the next few moments passed, more hands rose. “Then let me bring on the reason Josh’s story ended up in the papers when he didn’t want it to. Libby Miller, come on out, darlin’.”

  Libby came striding onto the set and planted herself directly behind Sarah, placing her hands on Sarah’s slender shoulders. Damn, but it was good to see his daughter out of her black clothing phase and dressed like any other teenager. Jeans full of holes and a purple t-shirt. Josh would have loved Sarah for bringing about that change alone. Yes, his Sarah was truly a healer in every sense of the word.

  “Hi, Tanya,” Libby said, her hands squeezing Sarah’s shoulders. Sarah turned to glance up at Libby. “Hi, Sarah. I missed you. A lot.”

  All Sarah did was nod. Not a single word fell from her lips, and Josh was growing more and more afraid this wasn’t going to end well. He wanted her to get her happily ever after, damn it. “Sarah?” he asked in a voice choked with emotion. “Are you listening, honey?”

  She just nodded again.

  “I’m the one who sent the story,” Libby said before she was even asked. “The editor called. He was acting like a big bully, and I was scared my dad would miss a deadline. Pop hadn’t written a story since Mom died. I was afraid no one would want him to write for them anymore if he couldn’t deliver on time. So when the editor called, I searched his laptop and found the story. Then I emailed it.”

  Tanya grinned. “Well, that explains it all, doesn’t it? Such a hubbub when the first story was all nothing more than a huge misunderstanding.” She turned back to Josh. “You went to Indianapolis, thinking you’d find a phony faith healer. What did you really find when you got there, Josh? What does your new story say?”

  “New story?” Sarah’s words were barely a whisper.

  “Yeah, honey. A new story. The real story.”

  Tanya reached for the two newspapers her twenty-something male assistant handed her. She passed Josh a copy before she held up the other folded paper so the camera could take a quick shot of it. Her assistant took the newspaper when Tanya handed it back, and then he left the stage. Josh leaned over to set his copy gently on Sarah’s lap. Her tears were almost more than he could take. He wanted to kiss them away, but this wasn’t the time or place.

  “What I found, Tanya,” Josh finally said, trying to put as much conviction in his voice as he could, “was more than I ever imagined. I found a woman who could heal anything or anyone, from children to adults to baby birds.”

  Although Sarah’s head was still bowed, her lips formed a small, nervous smile, and she wiped away some stray tears, giving him more confidence to keep saying what he knew needed to be said.

  “I found a woman who selflessly sacrificed her own health to save others—people she didn’t even know. I found a woman whose heart was bigger than the Montana sky. But I also found so much more than that.”

  The audience settled into an eerie quiet, obviously waiting for the big finish. He wouldn’t dream of disappointing them.

  “I found the love of my life.”

  Sarah’s head popped up, and her surprised gaze caught his, pulling the breath from his lungs. If she didn’t believe him...

  She blinked a few more times before dropping her chin again, obviously trying to focus on the story, at least on the headline. The ink was starting to bleed where her tears had hit the paper.

  Sarah’s trembling hand was suddenly covered by Tanya Brady’s. “Would you like me to read some of it, Sarah?”

  “Please,” was all Sarah could seem choke out.

  “Would ya’ll like to hear some of the story too?” Applause and cheers filled the studio. Tanya grinned, clearly pleased by their response. “Well, I guess you would. Let me take that li’l ole paper, darlin’.” She drew it from Sarah’s lap onto her own.

  Tanya cleared her throat to cue the audience to settle back into quiet. Then she began to read an excerpt. “It took me thirty-seven years before I learned to believe in miracles...”

  Josh easily tuned out the rest of the story. He had, after all, written it. Each word would forever be branded on his heart. What interested him was Sarah’s reaction.

  Keeping a close eye on her, he waited for her to do or say...anything. Her expression remained unreadable, as it had been since the moment she’d been dragged onto the stage. God, he was a fool. There had to have been a better way to do this, a way less public. But he’d made his choice, and Josh figured he had no option now but to see this to the very end.

  Tanya continued the story, her voice choked with emotion that made him proud his words could evoke that kind of passion. At least she was nearing the end.

  “I never meant to cause any hurt, especially to someone as kind and giving as Sarah Reid. And I hope one day, she can forgive me.” The Queen of Gossip wiped away a tear. Josh wondered if it was for effect. “Now, what do ya’ll think of that story? Better than that first one?”

  The audience members, many of whom were weeping openly, rose to their feet and applauded until the noise became deafening. Josh kept waiting for another commercial break so he could reach for Sarah, but the stage manager had his arm around a female techie who was sobbing like she’d just lost a loved one. He didn’t seem inclined to give them a time out. Josh gave up waiting, stood up, and did exactly what he’d been dying to do for far too long.

  Stepping around Cheryl, Josh pulled Sarah to her feet and into his embrace. She didn’t fight him, but calmly laid first her palms then her cheek against his chest. He�
��d forgotten how small, how fragile she felt in his arms. The noise from the audience rose a few more decibels when he planted a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

  Just when he was about to lead her away from all the noise and confusion so they could talk, Tanya Brady intervened. All the woman had to do was hold up a hand like she was a teacher with well-trained kindergarteners and quiet was quickly restored. “We’ll be back after this message from our sponsors.”

  “And...we’re out. Back in ninety,” the stage manager said before he had to wrap his arm around the crying techie again.

  Josh rubbed his chin on the top of Sarah’s head. “Are you okay, honey?”

  She nodded then hiccupped.

  “Do you forgive me?”

  She nodded again, followed by a sniffle.

  “And you know I believe you now?”

  Sarah was kissing him before he even got the question out of his mouth. Not a simple peck but a kiss full of love and longing. Her arms slipped around his neck as her tongue pushed into his mouth. A growl escaped his throat when she pressed that tiny body hard against his. She hadn’t stopped loving him. Thank you, God. A rightness settled over his heart and his mind.

  Wrapping his arms around her, Josh lifted her against him until her feet dangled. Giving her no choice, he walked off the set, not caring that Tanya Brady, her stage manager, and the techie were shouting at them.

  No, he needed Sarah and he needed her right now.

  Chapter 23

  They didn’t even make it out of the studio, not that Sarah was surprised. She was on fire for him.

  Josh hurried to the dressing room corridor, mumbling about trying to find a place he and Sarah could be alone. She loved how it felt for him to carry her. Precious. Weightless. Wanted. She rained kisses against his neck and over his face. They’d been apart far too long. All she knew was that she needed him to make love to her, that she needed to feel him inside her again. She needed him to claim her, to make this all real. Then, when the storm passed, she could think rationally again. Then she’d be able to sort it all out.

  “God, Sarah. I want you.”

  His words reached her heart. “I want you too,” she replied. “Now.”

  One important fact was crystal clear—Josh hadn’t lied to her. He hadn’t used her for some ridiculous story. He’d believed her after all.

  Another notion hit her. Hard. Joshua loved her. As much as she loved him.

  Sarah’s logical mind had a difficult time accepting any of the surprising turn of events. Lucidity was simply beyond her. Her heart took the lead. And her heart wanted Josh. Desperately.

  Wrapping her legs around his waist, Sarah squeezed herself harder against him. If he didn’t find an unoccupied room soon, she was going to demand he take her right against the hallway wall, audience be damned.

  After he stumbled down the corridor, stopping twice to press her back against a wall and ravage her mouth, Josh finally kicked open a partially open door. Sarah caught a glance of the gold star with “Tanya Brady” emblazoned across it. The Gossip Queen would have a hissy fit if she found out they’d used her dressing room for their tryst. Sarah didn’t care. Obviously Josh didn’t either because he carried her still clinging body into the room.

  Letting Sarah slide down the length of him, he finally released her. Then he locked the door and turned to stare at her. With a smile so full of love that it penetrated all the way to her soul, he reached for her.

  She, in turn, gave him a naughty grin and reached for the waistband of his khakis.

  Josh was already unfastening the long line of buttons down the front of her dress. A couple popped off. Silly things. When his pants were finally unzipped, Sarah pushed them past his hips until they puddled around his ankles. Her dress followed suit with a small thud, weighted down by the microphone and small battery pack. He jerked his shirt over his head, along with the attached technology, and grinned at her.

  Standing there in her bra and panties, she figured she should be self-conscious. But the clear appreciation in his eyes took away her shyness. His gaze smoldered as he kicked off his shoes and cast aside his pants. Then his boxers hit the floor. Sarah had barely slid off her panties when he scooped her up into his arms again and laid her on the long couch. Settled over her, he unsnapped the front of the bra and dropped it next to the couch.

  His kisses were setting her on fire. It had been too long for either of them to go slow, and Sarah marveled at the passion Josh inspired. Heated lips covered her throat and settled against her breast. Weaving her fingers through his dark hair, she tugged, urging him back up to kiss her lips, not wanting to wait for any unnecessary seduction.

  “Now, Joshua. I need you inside me now.”

  His responding growl filled her senses as he settled between her thighs and filled her body.

  His pace was too slow, too maddeningly teasing. She forced her hips up hard against his, trying to show him gentle wasn’t going to please her this time. He picked up the pace, sending every nerve in her body tingling. The familiar and welcome heat knotted in her belly before she felt the release only Josh could give her. He smothered her shout with a kiss as his body gave hers a few more strokes. Then he shuddered with a groan and relaxed against her.

  Reality was slow to return. Sarah felt too right, too wonderful to give up these moments of bliss. Contentment like she’d never known flooded her thoughts. Joshua was the man she fell in love with. He wasn’t some reporter using her for a story. He really did love her. She suddenly needed to hear him say it again, to repeat the words he’d said back on the stage. Those words would make this all real and not some figment of her overactive imagination. “Tell me again, Joshua. Tell me what you found when you met me.”

  Heavens, how she loved his chuckle. Warm and deep, the sound filled her heart. “After what we just did, you need to hear the words?”

  “You’re all about words. Remember? Tell me, Joshua. Please tell me again.”

  “Sarah Reid, you’re the love of my life.”

  She was amazed she didn’t burst into happy tears, but her body was too sated to feel anything but content. Her hands stroked his back. “I love you too.”

  The knock on the door froze them. “Pop? Sarah?”

  “Libby,” Sarah whispered as Josh broke their connection and stood up next to the sofa.

  “Yeah. We better get dressed.”

  Her face flamed in embarrassment. “She’ll know.” Then the enormity of the situation hit her. “They’ll all know.” But she didn’t care. Instead, Sarah laughed. She laughed because she was happy. She laughed because she didn’t care if the whole world knew what they were doing.

  She laughed because Josh had come back to her.

  Another knock. “Are you two in there?”

  “Yes, Miss Elizabeth. We’ll be out in a second,” he called to his daughter as he tugged his boxers and then his khakis and shirt back on. He slipped into his shoes without bothering to pick up the crumpled balls of socks.

  Sarah scrambled back into her clothes, letting another chuckle escape when she realized how many buttons were missing from the front of her dress. The microphone and battery pack were in a tangled mess on the floor. She picked them up and stared as the little red light suddenly blazed back to life.

  Another hesitant knock. “Um, Pop? We could hear you over the speakers.”

  “You could what?” His shout was so loud, Sarah figured all of Chicago could have heard him.

  “Just a little,” Libby mumbled through the door. “They...um...turned the sound off pretty quick when we figured out you guys were...um...kissing.” She knocked again. “You two coming out?”

  “Can they hear me now?” Sarah asked, giving her dress one last look and resigning to the fact the whole world knew what they’d been up to. The situation suddenly struck her as the funniest thing she’d ever known. She was assailed by a giggle fit, laughing long and loud, feeling a little giddy.

  “Um... Yeah,” Libby replied. “You’re
on the speakers again now. Is everything okay?”

  Josh just stared warily at Sarah. “You okay, honey?”

  Since he was the one who decided to inform the world all about their lives, she decided to return the favor. It was his turn to be on the hot seat. Squelching her giggles, she took a deep breath and a leap of faith. “I’m perfect. I’m absolutely perfect.” She put the microphone close to her lips. “This has been a day full of surprises. Right?” Josh nodded, but gave her a wary stare. “Well, listen up everyone, ‘cause I’ve got a big surprise for Joshua Miller.”

  He arched a skeptical eyebrow at her.

  “Come this winter, he’s going to be a father again. We’re gonna have a—”

  Libby’s squeal drowned out the last of Sarah’s words. The thunderous applause reached all the way to the dressing room.

  Josh didn’t even give her a chance to make it to the door. He scooped Sarah into his arms, fiddled with the door until it opened, and then carried her back to the stage with Libby following close behind.

  Tanya Brady was grinning from ear to ear, probably counting the extra money she could charge advertisers if her ratings went up because of this little spectacle of a show. Sarah didn’t honestly care. There were only three people who mattered, one was holding her in his arms and squeezing the air right out of her lungs, one was following them back to the stage, and the third rested silently in her womb.

  Turning to face the camera with its bright red light indicating they were indeed still on the air, Josh shouted, “Did you hear that world? Sarah’s going to have my baby!” Then he planted a long, hard kiss on her lips.

  Libby clapped along with the audience. A few tears, hopefully happy tears, rolled down her cheeks. Sarah felt some tears of her own against her still flushed face. Whatever bravado had possessed her to drop her little bomb on Josh evaporated as she realized just how public her life had become at that moment.

  The Queen of Gossip seemed to take it all in stride. Probably just another day at the office. “A big congratulations!” She slapped Josh on the back hard enough he almost dropped Sarah. “Do you think you’d like to get married on next week’s show?”