Mending Hearts (The American Soldier Collection 11)

“What did you do in Scrantonville when you lived there?” Geno asked.

“I worked for a law office and also the local restaurant and bar during the holidays and weekends.”

“So you lived all alone?” Jeb asked her.

“Yes. I got used to it, especially once Gabe left. I had my job and, of course, the fundraisers. Like the one Gabe’s parents and the locals in town started when he didn’t return from his tours.” Alana shot a look at Gabe. He sat forward.

“What?”

“Oh, yeah, in an attempt to not let your sacrifice to our country be forgotten, your parents and I, along with the others in town who loved you and thought so much of you, started a scholarship organization. A fundraising program to assist returning soldiers with finding jobs and having their own homes and any extra support they might need as they transitioned into civilian life. Every year we would meet for a memorial in honor of your life and your sacrifice. Loads of people came. People I never had even seen or met before. It’s helped a lot of people.”

He slammed his fist down on the table and stood up. “I never asked for that. I never expected anything from anyone,” he shouted.

Alana held his gaze. “Well, people thought a lot of you, Gabe. They respected you and your sacrifice. They hoped that you would return and set roots there or nearby. Your parents hoped so too.”

“They shouldn’t have done that. I’m not important enough for something like that. Why couldn’t they just leave it alone and let me be dead to them so I can deal with this alone?” he asked in anger.

She stood up and placed her hands on the table as she leaned forward and held his gaze.

“Because, you stupid bastard, we all loved you with all our hearts, and still do. But you’re so self absorbed in your goddamn injury, your scars, or whatever has you limping around feeling sorry for yourself that you couldn’t face the

best power, the greatest medicine for anything you have. It’s called love, you moron. You have an entire town filled with it, and instead of taking advantage, you wuss out and pretend to be dead. I cried my eyes out every goddamn night over you, Gabe. I prayed for your safe return. I would have given my life for yours. I asked God to take me and bring you back.” She slammed her hand down and jumped up to walk away.

She heard the banging against the table, chairs scraped against the hardwood floors, and as she turned, she saw Gabe heading toward her. He paused just a few feet in front of her. The others took protective positions around them.

“Gabe?” Jaxon whispered his name, and Gabe shook his head.

She could see the tears in Gabe’s eyes and the full force of the anger she’d brought out in him as she stared up into his eyes.

“You deserve better than me and what I can give you.”

“Bullshit!” she exclaimed.

His eyes widened.

“I’m not like your father, Alana. He went through all those years kicking ass, gaining medal after medal, and came home to you and your mom whole and perfect. I’m not whole, and I’m not perfect.”

“You were perfect for me. I would have taken you back, no matter what. And for the record, my dad wasn’t perfect. My dad suffered every damn night when he would wake up in a cold sweat, sometimes straddling my mom, lost in the war in his head. She was there to comfort him and calm him down and to let him know that he was safe and okay. He accepted that. I would have done that for you because, like my mother loved my father, with her heart and soul, I loved you. I’ll always love you, Gabe, but you don’t love me.” She lowered her eyes and felt the tears fill them.

“What? No, Alana, that’s not true.” He grabbed her upper arm and stepped closer.

“Sure it’s true, Gabe. If you loved me the way I love you, then your scars, your limp, your handicaps, and your fears that everyone would think you were a failure wouldn’t matter because they wouldn’t hold water to the power of our love. But you stopped believing.”

“No. No, I didn’t stop believing. I wanted what was best for you.”

She snorted. “Well, guess what, you dumb-ass jarhead. You were wrong. You don’t know what’s best for me because, if you did, then you would have figured it out that it’s you.”

His eyes widened, and he looked at the others, and then he looked her over.

“Ah fuck it.” He gripped a handful of her blouse, pulled her toward him, and kissed her.

* * * *

Gabe felt the tears in his eyes, and he didn’t even care if he cried in front of his brothers. He loved this woman with all his heart. He wished he had done things differently and allowed her the opportunity to support him. But he was scared, just as he still was now for when she would see his scars, his injuries, and the pain he was constantly in.

But right now, all he could do was enjoy everything she was willing to give to him so freely still. Starting with the taste of her kisses, the feel of her sexy body in his arms and against his body. They were moaning and thrusting their hips against one another when he realized he had already dropped the cane and had Alana pressed up against the wall in the kitchen. He ran his hands under her skirt to her ass and squeezed and kneaded her flesh. He devoured her moans and pressed her snugger against the wall as he removed one hand from her ass and cupped her breast. He pulled from her lips.

“God, baby, I missed this body. I missed these breasts and the smell of your shampoo. You were right about everything. I fucked up. Tell me what to do to make it up to you. Tell me how to fix it.”