Broken Hero

I grin at him. “I know your game, buddy. No, we’re not going to the horses, or the tractors, or the cars. We’re going to see your mother.”

His squeal is energetic, his little legs pedaling in the air. “Go, go!”

“We’re going, buddy.” I hoist him up in a tighter grip. “Patience is a virtue.”

He pushes back his blond tresses in frustration, clearly unfamiliar with the concept of virtues. We better get on that, I suppose. He’s falling behind his toddler education. “We need to cut your hair, too. Maybe Mom can do it.”

Theo sighs and goes limp in my arms, in the way only a three-year old can. A few months ago, I would have asked him if he was tired. But I’m an experienced man now. I know that asking that question inevitably leads to determined denials of the very fact.

I pull him closer, my left hand gripping his thigh. A ray of sunshine hits the wedding band on my finger. Lucy accepted my proposal four months before she graduated and received her physical therapy license.

I give Theo a little bounce in my arms. “And just in the nick of time, too, buddy?”

He doesn’t respond, the rascal, the child I never knew I needed in my life. Now I can’t imagine our lives without him. Lucy has helped me with that, of course, like she helped me with everything. She’d taken to motherhood like a pro-not that I’d been surprised. Then, somehow, she’d managed to handle my fears too.

Theo gives a great sigh and I press a kiss to his forehead. “Did you have fun with your cousin Nora earlier?”

He nods, but he looks thoughtful. I recognize the pout.

“Did she say no to letting you ride again?”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Yes. It’s not fair.”

“You’ll get to ride when you’re older, buddy. I’ll teach you.” It’s an answer he’s heard before, and it clearly doesn’t impress him, because he sighs again.

“We’re almost there,” I tell him. The spa has grown considerably in the past few months. It’s been a long renovation process, but it’s all been worth it. We added another yoga studio and two more treatment rooms. It has all the space and equipment necessary for a functioning wellness center. Lucy doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve put in an order for a chiropractic table. I know she’s hoping to hire someone.

But the crowning achievement… well, that’s the meeting room and the recreational area outside that Logan and I had a hand in designing. Mandy, now his wife, had helped us photograph it all for the website and our brochures.

It’s all about to be put to the test.

Loud, cheery music greets us from the double-doors. A faint voice is singing along, slightly off-key.

Theo squeals and I put him down on the path. He races ahead on chubby little legs, climbing the stairs with practiced ease.

Lucy’s preparing welcome bags, a scarf tying her long hair back. There’s a permanent tan on her features now from the long weeks in the sun. Faint freckles paint a pattern down her nose and shoulders, disappearing underneath her shirt. I know they continue much further than that, though, because I regularly use them as a roadmap.

Lucy’s face shines up when she sees Theo. “Hi, sweetie. Have you come to help Mommy?”

She swings him up onto her hip, smiling at his laughter. Her smile grows warmer when she sees me. “Hey.”

“Hi, baby.” I lean across our son and press a kiss to her lips. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous. Excited. When will Logan be here?”

“He should be here within the hour. He’s driving Dr. Green, actually.”

She nods again. “Perfect. I’m so looking forward to meeting him.”

I know I’ll get a share of the credit, but the whole thing was actually her idea, whispered to me one night in bed nearly two years ago.

What if we open this place up to veterans?

It had taken time.

Time to get the network in place, time to register with the Texas Veteran’s Association. I’d spent a lot of time getting involved in the existing networks and re-establishing contact with my old team. Logan had been a huge help.

It had taken a lot of sessions with the therapist and a lot of work to get where I am now. Nightmares are infrequent, and when they happen, I know how to handle them. My mood is more stable. I still don’t like small talk, but at least I don’t scare people away anymore.

If I can help others get to where I am, it’ll all have been worth it.

“It’s going to go great,” she murmurs. “Are you nervous?”

Truth be told, I am. It’s the good kind, though. The kind of nervous you are before you’re about to take the plunge, to embark on a new journey.

The kind of nervous you are when you know that what you’re doing matters.

I smooth a thumb over her cheek. “I am. But I have you, and I have my family. I’m not lost anymore.”

Her eyes soften. “You never were.”

“Yes, I was.” I kiss Theo’s forehead. “And that’s okay. But I’m not anymore. And maybe, just maybe, we can help these guys find their way too.”

Theo starts to squirm and Lucy sets him down. He immediately ambles towards the perfectly stacked yoga mats, colorful and pretty.

“He’s going to destroy that,” I warn.

“I know. That’s okay.” She wraps her arms around my neck, the way she does sometimes when she’s about to tell me that she loves me. It’s one of my favorite things.

“Hi,” I murmur.”I’m so proud of you.”

“Hmm?”

Her eyes twinkle. “The only way to stop the past from haunting you is to deal with it. You helped teach me that. I know you’ll help others learn the very same lesson.”

“Have I ever told you I love you?”

“Once or twice,” she says, smiling. “I’m not really sure.”

“No? Well, let me remind you, then.” I kiss her soundly, murmuring it against her lips. “I love you.”

Lucy’s hands slide into my hair as she deepens the kiss. I’m a goner. I always was, around her, and there’s nothing that could tear me away from her. The world around us might as well not even exist. There’s nothing at all-

There’s a crash.

Lucy and I break apart and turn in unison towards our son.

Theo has played domino with the yoga mats, sending them out in a tumble across the floor. He blinks up at us, an uncertain smile on his face. “Whoops?”

“That’s okay, buddy. We’ll stack them up again,” I say. “Here, let me help you.”

***

Thank you so much for reading Broken Hero!

I hope you enjoyed Oliver and Lucy’s story.

Read on for a special sneak peek of Arrogant Boss, an office romance between a strong-willed heroine and her persistent, billionaire boss…

Julian Hunt might be my favorite hero to date!