Free Back From Hell (Marine For You Book 2) (Contemporary Military Veteran Romance) by Marissa Dobson Page A

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.

9
    Chapter Nine
    K yle stepped back into the room after depositing the room service tray in the hallway for the staff to collect. Dinner had been okay but the company had seemed to have something on her mind and he was about to get to the bottom of it. It seemed more than just worry about her mother, or the crap Colin had said. Was she still upset about the ranch? He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and checked the screen. Nothing.