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She lifted the spoon to her mouth and held his gaze as best she could.

“Make me,” she said.

Gator chuckled, and then everyone at the table erupted in laughter. She stared at Jaxon, and Jaxon stood up and slammed his fist down on the table.

“I failed you once. I don’t intend on failing you again.”

Alana placed her spoon down and sat there, staring at him. Everyone at the table went silent.

“Come here, Jaxon,” she whispered.

He lowered his head and shook it, and she wondered if he would deny her.

“Am I so ugly now that you no longer want to be close to me?”

“What? No, Alana. No.” He stood up and walked over to her.

He knelt down on one knee and placed a hand on the back of her chair then looked down at her hand.

She placed her fingers under his chin and tilted his face toward her.

“You did not fail me. Just as Gabe did not fail me, and neither did his parents or the friends and family in Scrantonville. You did everything you could to find me and rescue me. We’re a family. I love you, but I need you, Jaxon. I need all of you, and not to feel sorry for me and avoid looking at me, but to love me, even all banged up and looking like some hideous beast.”

“Stop that,” Gabe told her.

She glanced at him with a pissed off attitude then looked back at Jaxon.

“Can you love me, Jaxon? Can you stay with me and not look away because you think you failed me and this family?”

He reached up and gently ran his thumb and pointer over her chin where she wasn’t bruised.

“I can, doll. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”

“That’s okay. Once I’m feeling better, it will be you who gets the spanking.”

The others chuckled.

“I’d like to see you try,” he challenged.

“You won’t even see it coming,” she said, and he leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss against her swollen lips.

“Now eat up. We need to get you back in tiptop shape. There’s only so long I can go without making love to my woman. And I’m getting older. Starting a family needs to start now.” He stood up, looking all cocky and in charge.

Alana reached out and slapped his ass.

“Gotcha!” she said, and the men started roaring as laughter filled the air and they teased Jaxon relentlessly.

Alana smiled softly, and her heart lifted with joy and contentedness, for she was in love with her five American soldiers, her Marines, her lovers, her family for life.

THE END