Back From Hell (Marine For You Book 2) (Contemporary Military Veteran Romance) (5 page)

T
he phone call
came a few hours before dawn, drawing Staci from Kyle’s warm embrace. It had taken her a few moments to realize where they were and what had happened but the minute she had, it all rushed back to her. The phone call had only brought worst news. Her mother had suffered a second heart attack and surgery would happen within the hour.

Not bothering to go into the bathroom, she slipped off her shorts and into a pair of jeans. She had to get to the hospital to see her mother before they took her in for surgery. Grabbing a sweater and bra from the bag, she headed for the bathroom. While she might have felt comfortable enough to change her bottoms, since everything was hidden behind her bright pink bikini panties, she wasn’t going to pull off her tank top and show him her breasts.
Not yet at least.

She had just pulled up her hair into a ponytail when Kyle’s voice came from the other side of the bathroom door. “Fresh coffee is waiting.”

She pulled her sweater over her head and pulled the door open to find him standing there enjoying his own cup of coffee. He was dressed in jeans and a blue button down shirt. “You didn’t have to get up.”

“I’m not going to have you sitting around the hospital for hours by yourself.” He sat his mug aside and picked up a second one to hold out to her.

“Colin will be there,” she reasoned, taking the coffee from him.

“But he’s not me.” A smirk spread across his face before a trace of doubt crept into his eyes. “Unless you’d rather I didn’t…”

“Don’t be silly.” She took a sip and it helped to wake her up the rest of the way. “I just meant you have to be tired. We barely got any sleep and I don’t know how long I’ll be there.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve come here to be with you, not stay in some hotel room. I’d rather be sleep deprived and with you than here wondering what was happening.” He took another long drink of his brew, finishing it, before setting it on the kitchenette counter. “I’m ready if you are.”

She took a few more quick gulps and sat hers aside as well. “Let me just grab my bag.”

Fifteen minutes later, they were walking down the hospital corridors to her mother’s room. From her volunteer work, she had grown used to hospitals but this time was different. She was there not to visit someone she barely knew, but for her mother. That thought iced her veins and made her stomach want to revolt.

“Staci…” Colin’s words died off as he noticed Kyle. “Who’s he?”

“Colin, meet Kyle. Kyle, this is my mother’s friend, Colin.” She did the introductions quickly so she could get to the real reason they were there. “How is she?”

“It’s serious, but she has one of the best heart surgeons in Tennessee.”

“Sir.” A nurse stepped out of the room directly behind Colin. “You can go in now.”

“Come on, they’re taking her for surgery soon.” Colin turned on his heels.

When she tried to follow, the nurse stopped her. “Excuse me, only family is permitted in there at this time.”

“I’m her daughter.” When the nurse looked to Kyle, she added, “My fiancé and if he’s not allowed in there, then Colin shouldn’t be either considering he’s not family by any means.” She knew she sounded snippy and as her mother would say, she’d have caught more bees with honey than vinegar, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with this. She wanted Kyle with her and she’d go to whatever lengths necessary, even pissing off her mother and Colin.

“Very well, but don’t upset her.”

As the nurse moved away, he leaned in close. “Fiancé? Wow, how things have progressed.”

“Keep quiet or I’ll have security boot you to the curb,” she teased.

As much as she thought she was, she hadn’t been prepared to step into her mother’s room. To find the strong woman she knew in the hospital bed, her pale face drawn and all the wires, proved almost too much.
She’s going to be okay,
she tried to reminder herself, but panic rose within her. Kyle wrapped his arm around her waist, his fingers pressed tight against her hip as if to cement her in the moment instead of being carried off with fear.

“Daughter, it’s nice that my heart attack brought you home after months of being away.”

Staci ground her teeth and refused to be bated. “Mother, you know with college, work, and everything else, things have been busy. I promised to visit once I finished.”

“I see you brought a man home with you. Unscrupulous timing though. You can send him away now.”

“Mother.” She was embarrassed by her behavior. After everything Kyle had done for her, to have her mother treat him like that was beyond rude. “Kyle was nice enough to come here and support me. I won’t have you being disrespectful. Now, Mom, why don’t you tell me what the doctor said?”

“Oh, no. We’re not going to gloss over your friend.” Her mother pressed the button on the bed to raise it. “Come a little closer so I can get a better look. What did you say his name was?”

“Kyle.” She tried to keep her patience but right now discussing Kyle was the least important thing. Her mother was about to have surgery and she wasn’t even sure of the full extent of things.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Pence.” Kyle forced them to step closer to the bed.

“My daughter always wants to fix everyone.” She shook her head. “But no matter how much you fix him you can’t help him regain his arm. You don’t even have the common sense you were born with. Stupid child.”

“Mother!” Tears welled in her eyes. Kyle went still beside her.

“I might agree that Staci’s timing to bring a man home is unfortunate but that was out of line.” Colin stepped close to the bed.

“I’m only pointing out the obvious. She must have picked him up at that dreadful hospital.”

“Ma’am, my injuries cost me more than I care to discuss, but they also brought an amazing woman into my life.” He glanced down at Staci. “I care for your daughter, and while you may say what you’d like about me, there’s no reason to disrespect her. She has traveled many hours to be here with you.”

“You bring a man home with you in an emergency and you didn’t even tell me you were seeing anyone. Or did you just pick up the first man you found in order to get me off your back?”

“Mom, this is not the time.”

“I think it is.” Her mother took a deep breath. “I’m about to go in for major open heart surgery, I think I’m entitled to know if my daughter is screwing…”

“That’s enough.” She decided to go with the same line she’d told the nurse, even though she’d have to build another lie later to cover up this one. “I didn’t tell you before but we’ve been seeing each other for some time now. He’s my fiancé. So have some respect.”

“A son-in-law who won’t even stand up for himself…that’s not what I pictured as a husband for you. What kind of work can he possibly do with one arm?”

“Ma’am, I can fight my own battles, but considering the circumstances, it would be unwise to upset you further.”

“Mrs. Pence, we’re ready for you in pre-op.” A gentleman in scrubs came into the room, followed by the nurse from before.

“Very well. It would seem that you’re saved by the medical staff, but don’t think this conversation is finished.”

“I wouldn’t think that for a moment.” She knew she should go to the bed and hug or kiss her mother one last time but anger stopped her. She was tired of all of it and her mother’s comments weren’t just flung at her but also at Kyle. “I’ll see you in recovery.”

“You better make it out of surgery just fine.” Colin leaned toward her mother and gave her a light kiss. “I love you, even when you’re a bitch to those around you.”

“Which is too often for my taste,” Staci mumbled as she and Kyle left the room. The three of them would make their way to the surgery waiting room, but before Colin joined them, she wanted a moment alone with Kyle. She needed to apologize for her mother’s actions.

Out in the hall, she led them away from that dreaded hospital room, and the path they’d take to get her mother to the operating room. With the hour, it wasn’t difficult to find a quiet spot. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t.” He leaned against the wall and brought her to stand in front of him. He wrapped his good arm around her waist while the one he’d partially lost touched her other side. “Her behavior isn’t something I haven’t encountered before and it won’t be the last time. I chose not to wear my arm prosthesis today and maybe that made her more uncomfortable about my condition, but it was my decision. One that, even with her comments, I don’t regret. I don’t care for the prosthetic arm and feel I get along fine without it. You don’t seem to mind it either, or I’d wear it. You also don’t shy away from my stumps.”

“I don’t care if you choose to go without it and there’s not one part of you that bothers me. You’re sweet and I care about you, but her behavior is inexcusable. I understand if you wish to go back to the hotel, or even back home.”

“I’m not leaving you.” He rubbed a hand along the curve of her back. “I will say that, with the comments about me being your fiancé, you owe me. I’ll wait to cash in until we’re alone, but don’t think I’ll forget.”

“Sorry about that, I just wasn’t sure what else to say. I didn’t want the nurse to force you to stay in the waiting room, and then when Mom started it also seemed for the best.”

“You’re apologizing for a lot of things out of your control. There’s no need. I told you everything is going to be fine, though I have a feeling your mother doesn’t like me very much.”

“Don’t worry, she doesn’t like me either.” She smirked. “I couldn’t get through this without you.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself. You could, but it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.” He laced his fingers through hers. “Come on,
fiancé.
I’ve a feeling Colin is waiting to question us some more on your mother’s behalf.”

“Colin owns a dozen or so horses that he races. It’s how he and Mom met. They’ve been together for years and he’s completely devoted to her. So there’s no doubt he’ll be getting whatever scoop he can find on us to report back to her.”

“I’ll let you take the lead and decide how much you want to give him.”

They were just a few doors from the waiting room when she whispered. “How childish would it be if I said nothing?” She gave a lighthearted laugh. “I’m just tired of the way she pries into my life and tries to control it.”

She wasn’t completely sure what was happening between them, but it was special and she didn’t want to share it with anyone. Let alone have it examined under a microscope by her mother until she could find additional fault in it.
Mom, I think I love him. If you knew that, you’d be happy for me.

She knew better than to let her mother know about her feelings toward Kyle. No one had been good enough to gain her mother’s permission. She hadn’t even liked any of Staci’s friends, the only one she tolerated was Heather, and that had been after years of their friendship. Heather had a way with people and people opened up to her. It’s what made her a good therapist.

Thoughts of Heather had Staci make a mental note to call her best friend later. She had come into town, almost especially to see Staci and then this happened. It wasn’t her fault, but she felt bad about the unfortunate timing. She’d have to make it up to Heather soon. Maybe a trip to see her was in order.

“I was wondering where you two disappeared to.” Colin stood outside of the waiting room, as if waiting for them.

“I needed some air.” She forced herself to smile even if she only mustered a halfhearted one. The issue wasn’t that she didn’t like Colin—because she did—but more the fact that everything she ever said to the man had been reported back to her mother. This wasn’t entirely his fault. She knew all too well how her mother was; the woman wouldn’t give in until she knew every dirty detail, no matter how small.

“Your mother isn’t happy about your companion.”

She advanced on him until Kyle touched her shoulder. “I love my mother, but my personal life is my own business.”

“You make it our business when you bring that
personal life
to a family emergency.”

“Mother’s training you well,” she spat. “You’re even getting her lethal tongue. But I’ll tell you this, he’s more family than she has ever been. I was never good enough for her. Nothing I ever did was what she wanted me to do, and once my father died, it only got worse. I love her, but I realized that my life is just that,
mine
. I need to live it on my terms. It’s the reason I moved away for college. It’s also the reason why, once I’m finished, I won’t be returning home.”

“Your mother and I are already aware of your plans to buy that filthy ranch in Kentucky.”

“For someone who owns and raced horses, you sure don’t get it.” She took in the man before her and realized one thing. In the last several years, he had changed. No longer was he wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat. Even at the late hour, he stood before her looking ready to head to a business meeting. His dress pants looked only slightly wrinkled, matched with a fresh, crisp shirt and the tie firmly in place. “Mom changed you into the man she wanted.”

“That was my business, not my passion. I did it for the money I made, and if I’ve changed, it’s been for the better.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Tired of having to defend her actions, she stepped past him and into the waiting room.

“Staci…” He waited until she turned to look at him, a nasty grin on his face. “That horrid ranch you love so much will be sold soon and you’ll lose your chance. The best thing is, I played a part in the old man’s decision to sell. Your mother will be so pleased once that idea is out of your head and you can finally grow up. Stop living a dead man’s dream.”

K
yle wrapped
his arm around Staci before she could do or say something she might regret. Colin had been trying to provoke her and the way her body vibrated with anger let him know he was about to succeed. Unlike with Mrs. Pence’s sharp tongue, he knew she’d lash out in a more personal way and right now wasn’t the time for it. “Come with me.”

“I need to stay here. What if the doctor comes back?”

“No, you need to come with me. We won’t be far and the doctor will find you. After all, you’re her next of kin. He won’t be able to give the news to
anyone
else.” He eyed the other man, making clear what he meant: that the doctor wouldn’t be able to give the surgery update to him without her there.

He kept his arm tight around her, leading her from the waiting room, and a little ways down the hall. When he came to a stop, she leaned against the wall and let out a growl. He wanted to hold her tight and ease the pain and stress that boiled within her. “Deep breaths.”

“Why do I let them get under my skin?” She wiped a tear that had rolled down her face. “It was stupid…I thought after all this time away maybe things had changed. That they’d accept me for the person I am rather than the one Mom wants me to be, but that’s never going to happen. Tonight proves it. They can’t even let it go in a situation like this.”

“My instinct is to tell you that you should live for yourself. To make yourself happy, not someone else. If this ranch means so much to you, then continue on the path you’re on. Don’t let their comments sway you from your dreams.” He took her hand into his. “But maybe I’m not the one to listen to. What do I know about families?”

“Oh, Kyle…”

“I don’t want your pity,” he reminded her. “I only meant that maybe this is the normal interaction within families. I was never a part of one long enough to know. But what I do know is that life is precious, and you have to live every minute to the fullest. We never know when our ticket will be punched, so you have to follow your dreams.” For a moment, his thoughts returned to the day they deployed. Weber’s wife and son standing there to see him off. All of Weber’s dreams that would never get fulfilled now. He had to force those memories back and focus on the woman before him, who he could still help.

“It wasn’t like this until after Dad died. Before that, Mom and I might not have seen eye to eye but we didn’t fight every time we were in the same room with each other. Once Dad wasn’t there as a buffer between us it all went to Hell. I swear she hates me because I’m not like her. She doesn’t like that I’m different than her, or that I don’t value the same things. She sees me spreading my wings and believes I’m doing it in spite of her instead of because it’s what I want. You know, since I moved away to get my Master’s degree, I’ve been home once…in two years.”

“Going home can be hard. Everyone around you expects you to be who you were when you left but you come back a different person.” That was something he could relate to because he remembered the few days’ leave he’d had before they deployed. He’d wanted to see his hometown one last time in case he didn’t make it back. While he was there he ran into some people he knew, including his old case manager, who had placed him in countless foster care homes. They had expected him to be the goof off kid he had been when he left, but he had changed.

“Now, everything I’ve worked for might be gone.” She leaned forward and rested her head on his chest. “All I ever wanted was that ranch.”

“Maybe he’s just talking to upset you.”

She shook her head against his chest. “Mr. Cline has been talking about selling the place. It’s becoming too much for him. He knows I’ve always wanted to own it and was supposed to give me a call if he ever wanted to sell. Since my first job, I’ve been putting all my extra money aside in order to buy it, but there’s no way I have enough saved. Not yet.”

“If he was supposed to call you and you haven’t heard from him then maybe it’s just talk. Either way, we’ll find out.”

“Mr. Cline’s word is good, but if someone got to him with an offer he couldn’t refuse, that could explain why he didn’t let me know.”

Not knowing what else to do, he wrapped his arms around her and just held her. He’d find out the truth about the ranch but if there was already a contract signed like Colin implied, there’d be little he could do. Maybe there was another horse ranch she’d be happy with. Though he doubted this because for her it wasn’t just about owning a horse ranch. It was the memories made with her father at Cline’s ranch that made the place so special to her. The bond she’d had with her father had been transferred to the ranch when he died.

“It’s stupid to be standing in the hallway all upset about a piece of land when my mother is having surgery, but it feels like I’ve lost Dad all over again.”

“I know, sweetie.” He held her tighter and tried not to think that he had just called her sweetie. He didn’t want to contemplate what that meant. Rather, he focused on having her in his arms—something he had wanted to do for a while now. He’d have preferred this to happen under other circumstances but since he had denied himself her touch before, he’d take it how ever he could get it.

T
he surgery turned
out to be a success and now there was nothing to do but wait. Alone in the waiting room, Staci cuddled against Kyle. It had been a long, stressful twenty-four hours and all she wanted to do was go back to the hotel and sleep. One last visiting session of the night and she could do just that.

Colin had disappeared a little more than an hour before in search of dinner, but there was no doubt he’d be back for the visit. She wanted to deny him the right to see her mother, just out of spite because of his comments throughout the day. If he wasn’t making a comment about her or Kyle, it was the ranch, or how she disappointed her mother. It had gotten to be too much.

How long was she expected to stay in Tennessee? Too long, and she’d lose her mind. If Mom’s recovery went as planned, she’d be released in a few days, and Staci could return home. Yet, she wasn’t sure what going home would mean because suddenly, she felt lost. Everything she had worked for was gone. She’d taken this trip because her mother was sick and ended up grieving for her father and the ranch. It didn’t seem right but sometimes emotions weren’t something that could be changed.

She also had no idea how things would stand between her and Kyle when they returned home. Something between them had changed since they arrived. It felt right to be in his embrace, to be cuddled against him, and not just because she claimed they were engaged.
Engaged.
She’d have some serious explaining to deal with later, but the announcement had made this trip easier. The next trip would be hellish, but that would be the price she’d pay.

“I see the two of you are exactly where I left you.” Colin strolled toward them.

She couldn’t keep the moan from escaping. “Colin, we never had this much of an issue last time I visited, so do you want to tell me what changed? Why do you suddenly seem to hate me?”

“We were never close, so it’s not that big of a change.” He sank down into a chair across from them, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared at her.

“True but you didn’t despise me. Unlike my mother, I can’t see you having a fit like this because I brought my fiancé home for a family emergency. So what’s the issue? Because as of right now I’ve had it.”

“Your father might have bought that innocent act but I don’t and neither does your mother.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Stac—” Kyle started.

“No, it’s okay. I want to hear whatever issue he has with me.”

“Your mother cares for you more than you know. She finally told me why she won’t marry me.” The heat in his gaze was directed at her as if she was supposed to know.

“What the hell are you talking about? Why would her reasoning be my fault?”

“She won’t marry me because of you.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands in front of him. “Marrying me would drive the two of you further apart than you already are. You’re so devoted to your father’s memory that you’d see our marriage as a betrayal to him. She told me you warned her that if we marry you’ll cease all contact with her.”

She sat there, her mouth agape, unable to believe him. She couldn’t decide if she was more upset at her mother for telling such lies or at Colin for believing them.
Boy, these two idiots were made for each other.
Lies had always been a part of her mother getting her own way, but this was taking things to an extreme. Lies between lovers doomed a relationship but for some reason she didn’t suspect Colin of going anywhere. He seemed completely devoted to her mother.

“Man, you actually believe that?” Kyle spoke before she could even wrap her thoughts around everything Colin said.

“Stay out of this. It’s a family issue.”

“No, he’s right. I can’t believe you swallowed that line. Mom has twisted things to meet her own needs before, but I’ve never had a problem with you. Dad died years ago and it was barely a year after his death that she started dating you. All these years she’s controlled things when it came to both of us. I moved away to escape and what? She sank her claws deeper into you? So much that you actually believed
I
was the reason she wouldn’t marry you.”

“Are you telling me that’s not true?” Colin stood and walked around to the back of his chair.

“Damn right I am. Mom deserves to be happy and last time I was home it seemed that you made her happy.” Her mother had given her a reason why she didn’t want to marry Colin but now that she heard what
he
was told, what could the truth be? Maybe none of it was true. Whatever her rationale, Colin needed to be the one to find out. Their relationship didn’t concern her.

“Whatever the reason is, it’s not Staci’s fault,” Kyle pointed out.

She glanced at him and then back to her mother’s man. “I think you need to talk to her. I’ve known for years you’ve wanted to marry her and I have no issues with that. Actually, I wish you all the best. You’ve got more courage and strength than I have to deal with her every day.”

“We all have our faults.” He squeezed the back of the chair. “I love her.”

“I think we’ll go back to the hotel.” She slipped from Kyle’s embrace and stood.

“What about the last visiting time?”

“I think you and Mom need to talk. I’ll see her in the morning and if anything happens, you and the nurses have my number.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m exhausted, but I’ll be back in the morning to speak with the doctors.”

“I’m not leaving, so if there’s any change, I’ll call you.”

Admiring the love he had for her mother and how he wore it on his sleeve, she smiled at him. She truly hoped the two of them would work things out.

“The chairs in here aren’t very comfortable but I hope you’re able to get some sleep. Tomorrow she should be out of the ICU and in a private room so at least you won’t have to be stuck in a waiting room.”

She didn’t wait for him to comment. She grabbed her bag and headed to the door, Kyle next to her. She needed to get to the hotel and recharge. The private room might be a benefit to Colin and his sleep, but it would do little for them all being together. The doctors had warned that Mom was not to be stressed. Tomorrow, it was going to prove difficult to accomplish that. Tonight, however, she needed to explore something different…

Kyle.