The Battlefield Series 4: Just a Good Old-Fashioned Love Story (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  The Battlefield Series 4: Just a Good Old-Fashioned Love Story

  A year after newlyweds Amber and Gabe have a daughter, Gabe is killed serving his country. The tragedy affects Amber so deeply she has no choice but to leave her family and a small town that constantly reminds her of the loss she battles every day.

  Winding up in Repose, Texas could be a blessing, but being surrounded by men who remind her of Gabe and all the things she lost makes the constant pain continue. Despite this, she makes some good friends and begins feeling an attraction to men she should stay clear of. Thing is, she's always had a big heart, so her friendly ways and helpful attitude, despite her struggling financially to make ends meet as a single mom, snag their attention and make sparks fly.

  When her family asks her to return home and her dead husband's best friend comes looking for trouble, will the four men she has been trying to push away prove to her that this attraction is real and that love has a way of healing all battle wounds?

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Romantic Suspense

  Length: 54,571 words

  THE BATTLEFIELD SERIES 4: JUST A GOOD

  OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY

  Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  MENAGE EVERLASTING

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

  THE BATTLEFIELD SERIES 4: JUST A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY

  Copyright © 2016 by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-68295-426-3

  First E-book Publication: July 2016

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2016 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of The Battlefield Series 4: Just a Good Old-Fashioned Love Story by Dixie Lynn Dwyer from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Dixie Lynn Dwyer’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Dixie Lynn Dwyer’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  Dear readers,

  Thank you for purchasing this latest edition to the Battlefield series. A Good Old-Fashioned Love Story was created with the idea that true love comes in many forms. No matter who is involved, or what problems, incidents, barriers, or people stand in the way of true love, the strongest get through that battle. Why is that any different than boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl get married?

  Life is a battlefield, and even in the midst of sorrow, scars, bad experiences, or trust issues, anything can happen. Especially, in the town of Repose. So may you enjoy a good old-fashioned love story, “Dixie Style.”

  Happy reading.

  Hugs.

  ~Dixie~

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  THE BATTLEFIELD SERIES 4: JUST A GOOD

  OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY

  DIXIE LYNN DWYER

  Copyright © 2016

  Prologue

  “I can’t get over how big Ella has gotten,” Amber’s mom said to her and smiled. Ella was sitting on the floor in her mom’s living room playing with some blocks and other toys her parents had purchased for her. Amber smiled.

  “I can’t believe she’s going to turn two in a week,” Amber replied as she watched her baby girl and thought how much she looked like her daddy.

  She felt her mom’s hand cover hers.

  “We miss both of you. Everyone does.”

  “I know, Mom. I miss you all, too, and I miss living in Cambridge, but it’s just the way it has to be.”

  “Why, baby? Why can’t you move back here? We have the room, and can renovate the loft above the garage if you don’t want to live here in the house with us.”

  Amber exhaled. She thought she wouldn’t have to keep defending the move, the need to be away from all the things that reminded her of Gage on a daily basis. It was easier this way, and she was healing just fine on her own.

  “Mama, come on now. We talked about this.”

  Her mom exhaled and looked down at Ella who yawned. Amber smiled. It was just about nap time for her. She thought about her new home in Repose and the friends she’d made. It would be so difficult to leave there. Cambridge just wasn’t her home anymore, and she couldn’t see herself trying to live around here again with people feeling sorry for her and some even trying to direct her life. She was doing just fine in Repose, for now.

  She walked over to Ella and knelt down on the rug. “You tired, little angel? Want a botsie and a nap?” Amber asked and Ella reached up for her to pick her up. Amber smiled, pulled Ella up into her arms, and Ella immediately laid her head on Amber’s shoulder.

  “She’s sweet as can be. You’re a great mama, Amber,” her mom said to her. Amber smiled, feeling tears reach her eyes. As much as Amber liked to feel lik e she was so independent and needed to handle everything on her own, it was still nice, and appreciated, to hear her mom’s compliment. She started heading toward the kitchen to make a bottle before laying Ella down for a nap when she heard the front door open. She glanced toward the front door as she walked into the large, open kitchen. Her dad walked into the house, apparently with company as several other voices accompanied him. Amber turned around to see two men. One was dressed in a sheriff’s uniform, and the other was wearing blue jeans, a blue button-down shirt, and wearing a Stetson down low, hiding his face.

  She had to do a double-take as her mom helped her.

  “Teddy?” she said, shocked that it was Gage’s old friend from high school. He smiled and walked closer. He ate her up with his eyes and it made her feel a twinge of insecurity at not having her husband around. She was shocked at the tears that hit her eyes, and she quickly forced them back. She was a different woman now. She had to be. She fought her own battles, made her own living, took care of Ella, and moved on to be independent and to survive. She straightened her shoulders and barely took in the sight of the good-looking deputy.

  “That’s right. See, I told you she would recognize you, Teddy,” her dad said, smiling wide.

  “Yeah, but she doesn’t recognize me,” the other guy said as Teddy walked closer and leaned down to give her a kiss. He then smiled at baby Ella.

  Amber couldn’t believe it. She hadn’t seen Teddy in years, and for good reason. He got drunk one night and kissed her. Gage knocked him on his ass and they hadn’t talked for months. They finally made up before Gage left for another tour, and he even attended their wedding.

  “I can’t believe you don’t recognize family,” the other guy said as he stepped closer, removing his Stetson. She realized who it was.

  “Casper?” she asked, feeling emotional at seeing him. He was Gage’s cousin, and in two years the man had changed so much. He was still filled with smiles as he stepped closer and pulled her and Ella into an embrace. He kissed her cheek and then pulled back.

  “You look good, Amber, maybe a little thin, but good,” he said and squinted at her as if reprimanding her for losing weight.

  “I’m good, Casper, and you’re looking great. What have you been up to?” she asked, stepping back and tilting baby Ella in her arms to feed her the bottle. She walked toward the living room to sit —Ella was pretty heavy.

  The men followed and her dad gave a smile as he stepped closer and caressed Ella’s blonde hair. Her baby looked up at him with bright blue eyes and smiled, making milk spill from her lips.

  Everyone chuckled. Amber wiped away the milk.

  “I got hired on as a deputy, too. It’s my day off.”

  “Seriously? You left the Marine Corps?” she asked.

  “Not soon after Gage passed,” he said to her and lowered his eyes, then bent down and smiled at Ella. He reached out and caressed her cheek. Ella looked at him before closing her eyes.

  “I can see Gage in her, but barely. She’s all you, Amber,” he said and then stood back up.

  “You think so?” she asked and looked at Ella. She often wondered what qualities her daughter would share with her and Gage. Amber knew she wanted her daughter to be strong and not weak. There were times in Amber’s life where she felt weak and unable to handle certain things without Gage. It would be important to be able to handle being alone, to rely only on herself when others failed or circumstances occurred. Amber felt at a loss when Gage died, and it was Ella and her existence that helped her to hold on and not spiral out of control in depression.

  “She sure does look like her mama. Gorgeous face, shiny blonde hair, and stunning blue eyes,” Teddy added, and when she looked up at him, he was staring at her, not at Ella.

  The bottle fell from Ella’s mouth and Amber could see she was sound asleep.

  “Want to bring her into the bedroom to nap?” her mom asked.

  “Yes, I’ll just set her down. Excuse me,” she said to Teddy and Casper.

  Just as she set Ella down into the crib by her bed, she stared at her a moment. She couldn’t help but feel extra emotional being home, thinking of Gage, and wishing he was still here. It wasn’t fair that he died so young, and without getting to enjoy Ella, never mind be a husband to Amber. She was twenty-four years old, yet felt so old.

  She heard the floor creak and looked back to see Teddy standing there.

  She took a deep breath and smoothed her hand down her bare thighs. She hadn’t expected company and wore a casual pair of jean shorts and a tank top that was a little big. It accentuated her large breasts, but bagged at the waist because she was thinner than when she first purchased it.

  She walked closer to Teddy, who stood there in uniform, leaning his hand on the butt of his gun and watching her with a small grin.

  He was way taller than her, especially as she stood there in flip-flops.

  He placed his hand on the doorframe, blocking her from passing him.

  She tightened up immediately, but lifted her chin up and raised one of her eyebrows up at him. He seemed surprised, but instead of backing off, he looked smug.

  “It’s real nice seeing you back home, Amber. The baby is getting so big,” he said to her.

  “I’m not back home, Teddy, just visiting.”

  She pushed past his arms and he didn’t stop her. She had the oddest sensation in her gut, and once again wished for Gage to be here. It put her on edge. When she got into the living room, her mom, dad, and Casper were talking.

  “So how long are you here for, Amber?” Casper asked, standing up and playing with his Stetson.

  “Just the week. I need to head back soon. I was only able to get partial coverage for work and don’t want to take advantage of my boss’s kindness.”

  “Waitressing, right? Thought you would put that business degree you got to good use,” Teddy said in a condescending way that made her feel like a failure.

  “Well, I’ve been taking my time adjusting to living on my own and caring for Ella.”

  “You could be living here. Mama and I could take care of our granddaughter, never mind Gage’s parents,” her father said to her.

  “We’ve been over this before. I’m not moving back. I’ve made some friends and other contacts, and the town is expanding. When I’m ready to start a business or whatever, then there’ll be great opportunities there.”

  “There are opportunities here, too,” Teddy told her. She saw his eyes take in the curves of her body.

  “You should come out with me tonight,” Casper said to her, apparently shocking Teddy, who swung his head to look at Gage’s cousin. She had to hide the smirk. Was Casper beating his buddy Teddy to the punch, or trying to protect her, knowing how much Teddy had pissed off Gage?

  “I don’t think so,” she said.

  “Don’t be silly. You could go out with Casper and meet up with all your old friends and Gage’s,” her mom said. Her father added similar comments, pushing her to go. Then her mom stood up and said she would care for Ella, and that they would get some much-needed grandparent time with the baby. She reminded her about visiting Gage’s parents shortly and that the next few days would be busy catching up with friends.

  This was another reason why she’d left Cambridge. She wanted to make her own decisions, not let her mother basically make them for her.

  Casper smiled when she said she would be ready for him to pick her up at seven tonight. Then the oddest thing happened and she thought of Ledger.

  * * * *

  “What’s the pissed-off look for? You still depressed about Amber taking the week off to visit her family in Cambridge?” Dominick asked Ledger. He drank down a cold glass of water and then set the glass down for Ledger to fill again.

  “What are you talking about? I’m not depressed, and why would I care if Amber was away?”

  Dominick chuckled.

  “It’s plain as day that you care about her.”

  “She didn’t want to go, but her parents hav e been pressuring her. I worry, that’s all. She lost her husband and left that town for a lot of reasons she didn’t explain. It makes me think there’s trouble there, so excuse me for caring about a friend.”

  Dominick raised one of his eyebrows at him.

  “A friend, huh? Keep lying to yourself. You want her and she’s sweet on you, too. She cares about you, even looks out for you when you’re in pain. That’s special.”

  “Whatever, it’s nothing but friendship,” Ledger said, but he knew it was a lie. He couldn’t stop thinking about her and Ella, worrying about them traveling by train and then the rest of the way by bus. Maybe his brother, Kye, would go with him to pick her up at the train station so she wouldn’t have to ride the bus another hour home.

  Just then his phone buzzed.

  “Who is that?” Dominick asked, obviously seeing the small smile that came on Ledger’s face as he read the text.

  “Amber is texting me.”

  “Oh, texting you while away, that’s interesting,” Dominick teased.

  “Friends, Dom, remember?” he replied and Dominick smiled.

  “What is she saying?” he asked.

  Ledger read the text.

  “She’s having an okay time, was forced into going out with some friends and family of Gabe’s that she’s not thrilled about.”

  “Hmmm, that sounds concerning. Make sure she’s safe.”

  Ledger smiled and raised both eyebrows up at Dominick.

  “Hey, she’s a sweet young woman, and I may be ten years older than her, but if you screw things up and don’t try to win her heart, then it’s no holds barred, man. I’m going to take a shot.”