Always Mine (Wounded Heroes: The Redemption #1)

Chapter 3

Annie and Seth sat in the bleachers for an after-school basketball game with the students and a few of the teachers. The games were held every week and could be counted as Physical Education that day. The warm weather made the gym stuffy at this time of day, but Annie ignored it.

“Go Timmy,” she yelled when the young boy got the ball. He dribbled down to the end of the court and at the last minute tossed it to the gym teacher, who sunk the shot.

“Way to be a team player, Tim!”

Seth pulled on her shirt. “Sit down, honey.”

She hadn’t realized she was standing. And yelling.

Dropping back down next to him, she giggled. “My excitement takes over, I guess.”

Timmy had been the star forward on his town’s basketball team when he went out on a joyride with the older players, who were carrying drugs. By default, he was implicated, too.

“I love that about you.” Seth’s tone was sappy.

He took her hand but she snatched it back. “No PDAs in school.”

“I can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” He leaned in close. “It’s been a pretty long time.”

Oh, dear God. “I…I guess. I’ve been…busy.”

Busy seeing Diego twice. Thinking about him more.

What does that tell you, girl?

Nothing. It told her nothing.

Thankfully, Diego had left the hospital today and went to his parents’ house to recuperate. She vowed not to visit there.

“Annie? You got a terrible expression on your face.”

She looked into Seth’s light blue eyes. They were so kind. At Pathways, he was considered the nicest guy on staff. Just what she wanted.

The strident blare of a whistle on the court distracted him from the question. Annie popped up, as did most of the crowd to get a better view of what was happening on the gym floor. Oh, no. “It’s Bryce Lincoln.”

Bryce came from money, and his parents pulled strings to get the charges dropped the first three times he’d been picked up by the police. But on offense number four, they’d drawn the line. Bryce had gotten a DUI when he took their car and drove drunk. He’d hit somebody and the guy was gravely injured.

“Man, basketball is a good outlet for him.” Seth had taken an interest in Bryce. “I’m going down.”

She watched him descend the bleachers and walk over to Bryce. After a bit, he and the coach lifted the boy up under his arms. He couldn’t walk alone.

The incident put a damper on the rest of the game. Damn it. These kids needed everything they could get to turn their lives around. And exercise helped them cope.

Seth and Annie decided to eat dinner at Perry’s Pizza. “I’m bummed about Bryce,” Seth said after they were seated and ordered.

“Yeah, me too. At least it’s only a moderate sprain. He won’t be out of the game too long.”

He grasped her hands across the table. When she tugged them back, he frowned. “No worries, there’s no kids here. And that table full of teachers know we’re seeing each other.”

She gave him the best smile she could. “You’re right. I guess I just feel bad about Bryce, too.”

“Let’s eat and go back to my place. We’ll make each other feel good at least for tonight.”

She wanted so badly to want to have sex with him. He was a kind and sensitive lover. Maybe that would help her stop thinking about Diego. “Okay, I’d like that.”

* * *

“Well, look who the cat dragged in.” Diego said the words when Will Kirkland came into the den at the Rodriguez house. Diego had ordered a hospital bed so he could maneuver better. And there was a TV in here and a bathroom off the space. But he felt cooped up. At least there were windows open to let in fresh air.

Will grinned. A Secret Service Agent, he was working his way up to Presidential Detail, his lifelong goal. Because they’d been best friends and kept in touch, Diego’s sister had called Will when Diego was shot. Will wanted to come home, but he was in South America with a senatorial protectee ferreting out a transplanted American cult. Since Will had furlough coming, he flew here as soon as he got back to the states. He gestured to the space. “This is just like old times.”

He and Will spent a lot of time in this room as kids so they could have some privacy from Diego’s sisters. And, unlike most guys, they talked about everything: parents, teachers, girls, college, and then Annie. Will had pulled him from his funk over their split at her graduation from college.

“Lots of good memories. Sit.” He took a chair with the grace of the athlete he was. He and Diego played football together.

“I want to hear about what happened. Your shoulder. Losing your guys.”

Diego bit the inside of his jaw and barely got out, “It’s the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

“I bet.”

“Everything’s over now.”

Will’s brows furrowed. He was tall with blond hair and blue eyes, the opposite in looks of Diego. “That kind of resignation isn’t like you.”

“This is serious, Will.”

“I realize that. But you gotta have faith that you’ll beat the injury. The helplessness.”

“I have no faith.”

“Then tell me what happened that night and we’ll hash it out.”

“I can’t talk about it.”

“Yes, you can. You have to let your feelings out.”

“Don’t push me, Will. I can’t do it. Can’t , buddy.”

Will seemed taken aback at his vehemence. “Okay for now. But you will talk before I go back to D.C.”

Time to change the subject. “How long you staying?”

“I could only get a week. I’m at my parents’ house and visiting my dad in assisted living. So, you had any visitors?”

“My family. My chief. Joe Romano.” He hesitated.

Will was a keenly trained observer. “Spill it, D.”

“Annie came to the hospital a few times.”

Now Will’s brows hitched up. “Annie Stefano? The Annie Stefano.”

“Don’t make too much of this. It was just a couple of visits.”

“Nothing about Annie has ever been simple.”

“She’s engaged. So don’t worry about anything happening between us.”

“You two are like moths to flames whenever you’re near each other. I wish she’d stayed in South Carolina.”

“Let it go, Will.”

“That too? What the hell can we talk about?”

“How about your love life!”

* * *

Annie stood by the open window, gazing down at the backyard. The cicadas were out in full force. She enjoyed the sound. But tonight, she felt her stomach pitch.

She’d done the unthinkable. She’d made love with someone she cared deeply about and thought about another man. She’d had to fake an orgasm because of that intrusion. She’d never done that before.

“Annie?” she heard from the bed. “What time is it?”

“3 a.m. I couldn’t sleep.”

“Come back and try.”

“I—” She took in a deep breath and let it out. “Okay.”

She climbed back onto the bed and under the sheet still in the robe she’d put on after they’d had sex. He fingered it. “Cold?”

“A bit.”

He pulled up covers.

She cuddled in. She put her head on his naked chest and could hear the thump of his heartbeat. Smell his woodsy scent. “I’m feeling off lately, Seth. Not sleeping well.”

“And not eating much.”

“My stomach’s been queasy.”

His whole body went on alert. “Could you be pregnant?” When she didn’t answer he added, “For the record, I’d be delighted.”

“I’m not. I had a physical last week. No baby on the way.”

“Then let’s get married and make one. We’re not getting any younger. It’ll set you straight.”

Oh, the irony. She’d been in bed with Diego when he asked her to marry him. Granted she and Seth were already engaged but hadn’t set a date. Still, this flirted with déjà vu.

“Not yet. I…just not yet.”

He tipped her chin. “Are you…Annie, are you having second thoughts?”

She sat up and moved against the headboard. “I don’t know. I’m confused I guess.”

He came up on his elbow, crooked it and put his head on his hand. “About us? After all this time? What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I know that guy from high school and college did a number on you. Are you just scared of commitment? Because if you are, I’d never hurt you like he did.”

She’d told him about Diego without identifying him when they were talking about past loves. “Maybe that’s it.”

He laid back onto the pillow. “Is there anything I can do about that?”

“Maybe just give me some time apart to think about things.”

“I don’t understand how that will help.”

Of course he didn’t. She was keeping the whole story from him.

She sighed, heavily.

“But all right. Stay tonight. Then you can have your break starting tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Seth. I appreciate it.”

“I’d do anything for you, honey. Now lay down and close your eyes.”

Annie was unworthy of him. Plain and simple.

* * *

Mary Martin, the nurse who came to help Diego with wound care and bathing was no nonsense, but pleasant. She’d just come out of the bathroom from washing her hands and set the bowl of water on the night table. She put on synthetic gloves. “I’m going to take the dressing off and clean the wound. You ready?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt as much as before.” Though she just used water, cleaning it had stung like hell. He hissed a couple of times. “That’s it.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m going to put a smaller dressing on it, too.”

“Oh, that’s great.”

“It’ll be easier to give you a sponge bath.”

He moaned. She laughed. “You feel better after them.”

“Yeah, I know. But somehow, they’re mortifying.”

“Don’t worry, I think you’ll be able to take a shower in a couple of days. And then I’ll teach your caregiver how to change the bandage. Your mom, right?”

“For now.”

After she finished, she said, “I’ve had fun tending to you, Diego.”

“Thanks. You’ve been great.”

“I’ll talk to your mother now. Goodbye until Thursday.”

Diego was starting to drift off when his mother came in. “I talked to Mary. She’s going to teach me to take care of the cleaning and bandaging.”

“It’s pretty simple.” He grasped her hand. “Gracias. I appreciate all your help.”

“You seem tired, hijo . Take a nap. It’s early in the day.”

“I think I will. Te amo , Mama.”

“ Te amo , son.”

* * *

“Look who I found parked out front.” Sofia was smiling as she led Annie into the den.

Diego perked up. “What a sight for sore eyes.”

Annie sighed. “I brought dinner over for your family. I thought they might like a break from cooking.”

“Thanks.” He gestured to the chair. “ Hermana , you can close the door on your way out.”

“ Sí .”

He faced Annie again. She looked sad. At one time, he would have done anything not to make her unhappy or to cheer her up. “Annie, you okay?”

“I was sitting outside, telling myself not to come in.”

“Why?”

She shook her head. “You know why. You almost destroyed me.”

“ I destroyed you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You refused to marry me. It just about killed me. I—” He glanced away, right back there again in bed with her. Disbelief had ambushed him then and the pain was nearly unbearable.

“You pressured me. I just wanted a bit of freedom.”

“That didn’t include me.”

“Yes, it did.”

He took hold of her left hand. Linked their fingers. “That was a long time ago. Have you had enough freedom?”

“Diego, it’s been eight years.”

He sighed. “I know. I got over you. But seeing you again…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t stay away when you got hurt.”

“I’ve been hurt before.”

“Not like this.” Her eyes were full of concern.

He blew out a heavy breath. “I don’t know why I started this, querida. I’ve been thinking about you. About us.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re back in my life. Can we just go forward now?”

“I—”

“Don’t deny how you feel, Annette.”

She said, “I never could lie to you.”

His gaze dropped to her left hand. “Does your fiancé know that you’re seeing me? And why aren’t you wearing his ring?”

Her shoulders tensed and she looked away. “He doesn’t know I’ve visited you. I just told him I needed some time alone. He let me have it, unlike you did.”

That pissed him off. “I’m sure he’s a great guy.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

She bolted up. “I shouldn’t have come.”

He reached out to stop her and moved… “Arrgh!” Pain splintered through him.

Annie dropped down on the side of the bed. “What’s wrong?”

“The movement pulled on my bad shoulder.”

“Are you taking pain meds?”

“I’m weaning myself off.”

She spied the bottle on the dresser. Got up, walked over. He closed his eyes to banish the pain. “There’s a schedule here. You haven’t had any since last night.” After reading the bottle, she shook two out pills and returned to him. “Here, take these.”

“Just one. I’ll take just one.”

“You are still so pig-headed.”

“You dissin’ somebody in the throes of pain, girl?” He took one pill. “It’ll make me sleepy. Stay until I wake up. Please.”

* * *

Annie stayed, watching him sleep. After a while, she started to nod off herself. Since taking a break from Seth, she’d gotten little sleep. Before she could stop herself, she kicked off her shoes and sidled in beside him. His spicy scent calmed her. It was the first time she felt content in days. Ever since he got hurt.

Her eyes closed.

The thrashing woke her. His whole body bucked on the bed and his face twitched. “Watch out, don’t go in…oh God, the ambush…Arrgh. No, No…”

“Diego, wake up.”

He didn’t. His head jerked, just like the last time. “You had a bad dream, Diego. Wake up.”

After two more shakes, he awoke. Sweat beaded on his skin and his face was white. He’d done this in the hospital.

“You had another flashback.”

“I was right there in it again. The screams. The moans. My face was in the dirt…” He stopped. Took in a breath.

“Please talk to me about it.”

A knock on the door and his mother walked in. “Oh, Dio mio , I didn’t know Annie was still here. There was shouting. I became worried.”

Annie blushed, horribly. His mother caught her in bed with him.

Diego’s voice was hoarse when he said, “I had a bad dream, Madre .”

Annie said, “It was—”

“Hush. Just a bad dream.”

“Okay. Dinner is ready, hijo, but it can wait.”

Annie tried to get out of bed but he held her back. “I should go.”

“Stay, querida . You should eat, too.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out.

“Why don’t you bring dinner in here when it’s ready, Mama.”

Angelica smiled. “Sí.”

They were alone again. The feel of his body made hers tighten so she broke his hold on her and slid out of bed. She stood and folded her arms around her waist—poor armor against him—she knew. “I’ll eat with you then I’m leaving.”

He grabbed her hand. “It’s better when you’re here.”

“You had a flashback. So that isn’t even true.”

“I meant when I was awake.”

“This is the second dream I’ve seen you have. I’m sure you’ve had more. You need to talk about what happened to you. To a professional.”

Just then, his mother returned and set the tray on a hospital table he must have rented.

Annie said, “Thanks, Mama.”

“ Gracias .”

The sweet scent of chicken, broccoli and cheese wafted into the air. She pulled the table over in front of him and slid the single chair up on the other side.

Diego picked up a fork. Dug in. “This is wonderful.”

“It always was your favorite.”

“Hmm. Could you butter some bread for me? It’s hard to do with one hand.”

She did. “Are you feeling any better?” she asked, in between bites.

“Yeah. A bit better. I saw the PT before I left the hospital. Home visits start this week.” He stared at her. “I can’t talk about the other thing, sweetheart. When I’m awake, the only time I can forget what happened…” he swallowed hard “…is when you’re with me.”

Resigned, Annie ate too. She knew he was manipulating her but she let it go. When they finished eating, she put all the remnants on the tray and walked out of the room.

His mother was in the kitchen. The brick fireplace, the high ceiling, the dark wood molding were still the same as years ago and it made her smile. The room was filled with the scents of Spanish food and bread dough. She brought the tray to the sink where his mother stood. “Here you go.”

“ Gracias , hija, for bringing the meal.” She watched Annie with eyes still as dark as Diego’s.

“I can’t explain why I’m here, Angelica, because I don’t know why.”

“You will figure it out.”

Bending over Annie kissed her cheek; her skin was papery, reminding her that his mother was getting older. “I’ll be going after I say goodbye to Diego.”

“ Hasta pronto .”

She shouldn’t come back soon. She just shouldn’t. Feeling horrible, she walked back to the den, closed the door again and sat on the chair.

Diego’s color was back after having eaten. His dark eyes focused on her. “Annie, seriously, what’s this all about? Why do you need time away from Sanders?”

“Because when I saw you again…I…I’m not sure how to explain it.”

“Try.”

Frustrated, she blurted out, “Everything resurfaced. I stayed away from Westwood for years so I could move on from you. From what happened. And I was okay when I got back. Pathways is very distracting. And so was Seth.”

“Do you love him?”

“Of course I do.”

He arched a black brow. “Not like you loved me, though.”

“I never loved another guy like I loved you. Purposely. I couldn’t risk it.”

“I’m so sorry I hurt you that much.”

“I know I hurt you just as much.”

They were both quiet. Then he said, “If all our feelings are back, what are we gonna do?”

“I know we have to stop seeing each other. But every time I do, I come back to you.”

“If I could, I’d chase you all over town.”

She laughed. Then she sobered. “I owe Seth.” She looked down at her hand.

He tracked her gaze. “You took it off.”

“It seemed obscene to visit you with it on.”

“Are you gonna leave it off?”

“No, if I saw him at school and I wasn’t wearing it, he’d notice and be hurt.”

“What if I’m hurt that you wear it?”

“We don’t owe each other anything.”

“How can you say that querida ?”

“Like I said, I fought hard to get myself under control when we split.”

“So did I.”

“Ha! Every time I saw you, you had a different girl on your arm.”

“I had superficial relationships.”

“Even with Suzy Suffolks?”

He got a devilish look in his eye.

“You went straight to her every time we broke up.”

“Only three times.”

“She was always crushing on you.”

“Why are we talking about all this? Let’s discuss the future. For now, keep coming over. See what happens. After all, that’s why you’re not seeing Sanders.”

“The break is only temporary.”

He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. This kiss was soft but she felt it all the way to her toes.

“What’s the alternative, sweetheart?”

“I don’t know.”

“What about me? Like I said, you keep the demons at bay.”

“Which isn’t good, like I said. You shouldn’t stuff your feelings.”

She’d never seen such an awful expression on his face. “I-I can’t talk about it. Not yet anyway. But please keep coming over. Seeing you gets me through until the next time.”

She had to make a decision. “Maybe a few more times. Then I’ll reevaluate.”

“I’ll take that.”

“But we have to talk about other things than our feelings.”

“All right. Anything to see you. Now sit on this bed and give me a kiss.”

Her heart clutched, so she bolted up. “No, no. I can’t.”

“I won’t force you. But I’m hankerin’ to taste you, darlin’.”

The willpower drained from her body and she did what she wanted to do. Still standing, she bent over and touched her mouth to his. He responded. Oh, God she’d forgotten the taste of him. Like nothing else. And his lips. They pressed into her. Then he teased open her mouth and explored her. She explored him.

Diego thought the top of his head was going to come off. This was Annie, his Annie, kissing him again. He tried to hold back, didn’t touch her nor she him, but their mouths met in the sexiest of dances.

They lost themselves in each other.

* * *

Annie took to the streets alone. She’d neglected her exercise long enough. Running would clear her head, blank her mind. Her steps were heavy as she headed to the end of the block and turned onto a path behind her house.

One foot in front of the other. Just put one foot in front of the other. Soon she felt the high. Thank God. She ran two miles then headed to the side of the path and sat on a bench the city provided.

Okay, Annie. You cannot live like this. Either get it together or break up with Seth.

Her heart started to beat fast again. If she did, and went to Diego, he could hurt her badly. Why risk it?

Because you can’t live like this. You’re not a liar or a cheater.

You have to pick one of them!