Broken Surrender (13 page)

“If you can help me in to the couch, I just
need to sit and let the muscles relax. I have some medication in my
purse that will help. This happens sometimes when I move wrong,”
she explained.

Claudia moved to her other side, and between
the two of them, they helped her up the steps and into the house
with minimal discomfort. Once she was situated on the sofa, Claudia
got her a glass of tea and sat down next to her with a sigh of
relief.

“That was exciting,” she commented, and
Sarah laughed.

“If you find that exciting, you really need
to get out more.”

Shrugging, Claudia smiled. “Hey, I’m at home
all day with an infant. My only source of entertainment is my
husbands. Occasionally, it’s nice to have something out of the
ordinary.”

“Well I’m glad I could help out.”

Ryker peered at her curiously. “How long has
your back been like that?”

“Since the surgeon pulled a bullet and a
kidney out,” she joked. When no one laughed, she sighed, “It’s
getting better. I’ve been pushing it a bit in the last couple of
weeks. I just need to rest it.”

“I’m going to guess the White brothers have
had a hand in your recent increase in activity level,” Mack
observed. She felt her face flush, and she looked away. “Does Silas
know you’re having trouble?”

“I’m not having trouble, I swear. This was
just a one-time thing. I twisted wrong as I got out of the car
because my hands were full.” She groaned. “Damn it. The donuts are
still on top of the car.”

“Donuts?” Ryker asked, perking up and
glancing at the front door. “I’ll go get them.”

“You brought donuts?” Mack smiled at his
brother’s abrupt exit. He reached down and turned on the vibrating
chair that Denver occupied. “One time or not, you still need to
tell Si.”

“Yes, I brought donuts, and I’m not going to
worry him over nothing, but thank you for being concerned. I’m
feeling better just sitting here.”

Mack seemed to consider pushing her, but
then thought better of it. Rising, he kissed his wife on the
forehead. “Okay, if you need me, I’ll be at the workshop. I’m going
to snag myself a donut before Ryker eats them all. See you later,
sweetheart.”

Reappearing in the doorway a moment later
with the box of donuts and powdered sugar smile, Ryker thanked her
for the treat and kissed his wife goodbye, leaving them alone to
talk.

“So you’re officially dating Silas and
Jeremy, huh?” Claudia asked point blank.

Feeling uncomfortable about discussing her
personal life with her boss, she just nodded.

“You know I’m married to two men, right? I
mean, if you’re worried about being judged, you shouldn’t be.”

Sarah gave her a small smile, “We just
haven’t exactly put a label on what we have. I’m not sure what’s
going to happen.”

“But you are seeing them both?”

“Yeah.”

Claudia’s face bloomed into a smile,
“Awesome. You’re perfect for them.”

“I am?”

“Absolutely! You’ve got fire in your veins
and a strong spirit. Those two need a woman who can keep them in
line.”

Snorting, Sarah shook her head. “I don’t
know about that. Lately, my blood has been more water and less
fire.”

“That’s just because you’ve been feeling
sorry for yourself,” Claudia said thoughtfully. “You know what I
see when I look at you?”

Sarah gave her a wary glance. “What?”

“A bitch.” Claudia laughed when Sarah’s
mouth fell open. “I mean that in the nicest possible way.”

“How can being a bitch be a good thing?”

“You seem like a tough girl, like you’d do
anything to prove you’re as strong and as badass as the men around
you.” Claudia paused, and Sarah nodded. “You probably had to fight
for respect your whole life because you moved with your family so
much. Then, when you got in the military, you had to prove
yourself. I can only imagine how hard it is to be a woman in the
military.”

“It wasn’t all bad,” Sarah said
noncommittally. She could see where Claudia was going with her
train of thought, but she wasn’t quite ready to accept the term
bitch yet.

“In my mind, a woman who has to harden her
exterior to protect her heart has put on the persona of a bitch. I
don’t truly think you are that person inside, but on the outside,
you come across as defensive, and—” Claudia broke off, and looked
away suddenly.

“Don’t stop there; tell me how you really
feel,” Sarah snarked.

“See, that’s what I mean. You can be a woman
and still be tough as nails. You can have friends, have lovers,
hell, you can even have a heart. You’ve been working for me for
three weeks, and I like to think—and I hope you think—that we’re
friends. I’m telling you as your friend, you need to work on
letting people in. Stop being such a stubborn ass, and let people
like you.”

“Wow.” Sarah stared into space for a moment,
digesting Claudia’s words. “All of that because I didn’t want to
tell Silas about my back.”

“No, I’ve been wanting to say it for a while
now, but I hadn’t found the right opportunity. I like you a lot
Sarah, and I really want us to be good friends. I think you’ve
found two men who will treat you like a queen if you’ll let them,
but you have to see yourself as worthy.”

“Worthy?”

“Yeah, stop thinking of yourself as not good
enough. Stop trying to prove something.”

“I don’t know if I can.” Sarah finally
admitted.

“No worries, I broke Ryker; I can surely
break you down,” Claudia teased with a wink. “Now, how is your
back?”

“Much better.”

“Good, let me grab my laptop and we’ll work
from here while Denver is napping. Later we can have a good
gossipfest about what the guys are like in bed.” She wiggled her
eyebrows and Sarah laughed.

“Amazing, of course,” she answered.

“Uh huh, but I want details, woman.”

By the time Sarah headed for home later that
afternoon, she was feeling great. She was overjoyed to realize she
truly did have a friend in Claudia. Sure, the woman was blunt, but
she was also honest, and Sarah appreciated that.

Most likely, she was right in her
assumptions, too. After decades of trying to prove herself worthy,
she’d been injured overseas and suddenly labeled disabled. That
damaged her mentally more than physically even. Somehow, she had to
move on and let it go.

Rushing around her apartment doing some last
minute cleaning before the guys arrived with take-out for an
evening in, she was startled by a soft knock on her door. A peek
out the window made her stomach flip-flop, and she hesitated.

“Sarah? I know you’re in there. I saw the
curtains move. Open the door, honey.”

Heart racing, she gripped the door knob and
considered her options. She could either ignore her mother’s plea,
or open the door and face her pity. Neither was a great option
because her mother was nothing if not tenacious. Sarah wouldn’t put
it past Olivia to call the authorities and ask them to bust down
the door and check on her. No, there was no way to avoid this
face-off, but she’d be damned if it would last long.

Flinging the door open, she frowned at her
mother. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hello, Sarah. I’m glad to see you up and
moving around. Have you been doing those exercises?” Olivia Bryant
shared her daughter’s curvy build, and it had been a point of
contention between the two of them for years. Sarah might be curvy,
but she was very healthy. The Army had seen to that. Olivia
preferred to enhance her curves with waist trainers and low carb
diets that made her narrow waist seem almost sickeningly thin.

“Yes, Mom, I’m doing just fine. In fact I’m
doing great. Is that all you came down here for?”

A flash of hurt in her mother’s eyes made
Sarah bite her tongue before she said anything more. Sarah might
not agree with everything her mother did, but there was no doubt
she loved her. Her parents were overprotective but they’d done
their best, and she was grateful for the life they’d given her.

“I’m sorry; I’m just in a hurry. I have
company coming over soon…”

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s
wonderful, honey. I’m so glad you’re making friends down here. I
was concerned when you moved. I mean, you’ve always been a bit more
introverted, but after you came home from the hospital, you just
seemed so shut off from everything.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not anymore. I have a job,
and I’m doing just fine. You and Daddy can quit worrying about me.”
She gestured to the apartment around her.

“That’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
You’re our child, Sarah. We’ll always worry about you.” The love on
her mother’s face warmed her heart, and she returned Olivia’s
smile.

“I know, Mom. I love you, too. So tell me,
what brought you all the way to Stone River? And where’s
Daddy?”

“Your father thought it best that he stay
home this time. He was very upset after your last conversation, and
you haven’t been answering my calls.” Olivia settled on the sofa
and patted the seat next to her. Sighing, Sarah joined her. “Honey,
I’m not sure why you’re so angry with us. We just want to
help.”

“No, you want to take care of me.”

“What’s so wrong with that?”

“I’m disabled, but I’m not an invalid,” she
snapped, huffing with frustration.

“We know that, but you’re dealing with very
serious injuries, Sarah. It’s not like you scraped your knee and we
wrapped you in cotton. For God’s sake, you nearly died!” Olivia’s
green eyes, so like her own, were filled with the sheen of tears,
and Sarah’s anger fizzled out of her. She could only imagine the
hell her parents went through when she was shot. Getting that phone
call was every family’s worst nightmare.

“I know, Mom. I just needed some space.” She
hugged her mom close. “And look at how good it’s been for me.”

She pulled back when Olivia stiffened in her
arms. “It looks to me like you’re having a much nicer time than I
thought. Hello, gentlemen.”

Sarah turned to see Silas and Jeremy
standing in the doorway, looking embarrassed to be there. Inwardly
groaning, she debated whether or not to introduce them, or ask them
to leave. She wasn’t sure she was ready to spill the beans about
her three-way relationship just yet.

“Uh, hi guys. Mom, this is Silas and Jeremy
White. Silas and I are old friends. We actually served together.”
Sarah said jumped to her feet and gave the guys a very pointed look
she hoped they understood.

“Mrs. Bryant, it’s nice to meet you,” Silas
said with a nod.

Jeremy—ever the easygoing one—grinned
cheerfully and took her mom in a bear hug. “I can see where Sarah
gets her good looks. Any chance that’s Miz Bryant instead of
Missus?”

Olivia giggled like a school girl and batted
his arms away. “Pfft. Last I checked, Mr. Bryant still called me
Missus.”

“Damn, guess I’ll have to keep charming your
pretty daughter then.” He winked at Sarah and then turned back to
Olivia.

Sarah frowned at her mother who smiled
widely, her eyes filling with joy. “Are you two dating then?”

“Uh, guys can I speak with you for just a
moment, outside?” Sarah said, emphasizing her words with a jerk of
her head.

The two men followed her out onto the
sidewalk, shutting her mother in her apartment and giving them a
tiny bit of privacy. The moment she heard the latch click she shook
her head at them, “We can’t tell her.”

Silas frowned, “Why not?”

“Because she won’t understand. My mom and
dad are from a different era. They’re very conservative. Besides,
they still think of me as their little girl. What do you think my
Dad will do when he finds out you two are boning his baby?”

“Boning.” Jeremy laughed, and hugged her.
“Man, I love you.”

Sarah instantly froze, all of the blood
draining to her toes as shock washed over her. “What?”

“I love you, baby,” he said, kissing her
lightly. “If you need more time before we tell your parents, it’s
no problem.”

“Yes, it is a problem. It’s lying by
omission,” Silas grumbled.

“It’s not lying. It’s just not filling them
in on all of the details,” Jeremy argued. “Besides, it’s not like
we’ll never tell them. Hell, they’ll figure it out when there are
two grooms at the altar.”

Sarah’s knees rocked underneath her, and if
not for Jeremy’s strong arms, she would have fallen to the ground.
When did they move from dating to planning a wedding? Her brain was
foggy, but she knew enough to send them home.

“Can I just call you guys later? I didn’t
know she was coming, and I’m not sure yet what she wants, but I
need to spend time with her. Okay?”

Jeremy kissed her forehead, and said, “Of
course, baby. Call us before you go to sleep. We can try out some
phone sex.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she laughed in spite of
her anxiety.

Silas finally nodded in agreement and hugged
her tight. “Promise me you’ll tell her the truth?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“And we’re going to talk more about this
later, sugar. I think the three of us need to get some things
straight,” he said, making her stomach twist even more. That was
the last thing she wanted to do. Talking meant admitting things
she’d yet to even acknowledge to herself. She wasn’t ready for
talking, but she nodded in order to get him to let her go.

She waited until both of them were in the
truck and backing out before she went back into the apartment to
face her mother.

Olivia was standing near the window with a
thoughtful expression on her face, and Sarah groaned loudly. “You
were spying on us, weren’t you?”

“Spying is such a harsh term.”

“Mom!”

“If you’re asking me whether or not I saw
you hugging and kissing on both of those handsome men, then the
answer is yes, but I must admit to being a bit confused by you
sending them away. Did you not want me to meet your boyfriends?”
Hurt was evident on Olivia’s face, but shock was all Sarah was
feeling.