Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2)

by Patty Campbell

  She dropped the phone back in her bag. “How about some hot cocoa before we go to bed?”

  “Oh, boy! I thought you were going to make me go right back to my room.” He hurried to the kitchen and took two large mugs from the cupboard. “I’m not sleepy at all.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of.” She laughed and took milk from the refrigerator and poured it in a small pan. “I’ll make it with milk tonight. This will help us sleep. Did you have a good talk with your aunt?”

  “I guess so. Macfearsome stopped her when she tried to make me leave with her and Jamal, and she called him names. I told her I didn’t like it that she was mean to him. She embarrassed me.”

  A chill went through Graciella. “Why didn’t you tell me before now?” She faced Santos with her arms crossed.

  He stared down at the mugs. “I didn’t want to talk about it. Why was she here tonight?”

  Graciella brought the milk to a simmer and considered her answer. He was old enough to understand something of adult relationships. “Sometimes we get mixed up with the wrong people and begin to doubt our true values, and then don’t use good judgment. It’s always best to get to know somebody for a while before you form a friendship, one that might not be the best thing for you.”

  “Are you mixed up with Macfearsome?”

  She turned and gazed into his teasing smile. “Now, why did you ask me that?”

  “He kisses you every night. So maybe you are mixed up with him.” He wrinkled his brow. “Do you love him? I almost do.”

  “Love takes a long time, Santos.” Her chest felt fluttery. She could easily love Cluny. But not so soon.

  “You told me you fell in love with my dad the first night you met him.”

  She sighed. “I did say that, didn’t I? But I was so young. As you get older you become wiser, or at least you should.”

  “I guess that’s why I love Amber, because I’m so young. But I hope I still love her when I’m old.”

  “Santos, my beautiful son.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I often wonder what’s going through that curly head of yours.”

  “Lotsa stuff.”

  The next morning, they put the double boiler in the trunk of the car along with a grocery bag containing a few of her favorite utensils and drove across the Santa Susana Mountains to Cluny’s home in Spring Grove. Santos was excited to see him and Amber again, and she had to admit, she was too.

  The slender, talkative young girl with big amber brown eyes had an air of maturity about her and at the same time she was like any eight-year-old. Perhaps it was because she’d been raised by a single father until a couple of years ago.

  One day at the beach Amber had matter-of-factly told Santos she’d picked out her new mother and it was a lot of work to get her dad to take the big step into a second marriage. Cluny had grinned at his goddaughter’s chatter and rolled his eyes but hadn’t said anything. Later he’d told Graciella that Dwayne was a goner from the day he’d met Marla, and it had only been a matter of time.

  “We’re almost there.” Santos sat taller in his seat and grinned. “I brought my new mitt so Amber and me can play catch.”

  “Amber and I,” she corrected.

  “You’re going to play catch too?”

  “No, silly, I was correcting your English. It’s Amber and I, not Amber and me.”

  “Oh, yeah.” He pressed his lips together and nodded.

  “Maybe Queen likes to play catch.” She reached to tousle his hair, but he dodged her hand.

  “I bet she does. I can’t wait to see her again.” He pointed to the park. “We’re here!”

  Graciella experienced a twinge of hurt when he’d ducked away from her. She had to face the fact that he was getting older, and didn’t want her treating him like a baby, showing so much physical affection. She didn’t like it, but it was inevitable. She’d never stop hugging and kissing him, but she’d try to give him more space.

  Amber hopped off the porch and ran to their car as they came to a stop in Cluny’s long driveway. “Uncle Cluny,” she yelled, “they’re here!” Her long legs poked out beneath a pair of bright red shorts. She wore high-top tennis shoes and a pink T-shirt with a faded Cinderella cartoon on the front.

  Santos was out the door as soon as she brought the car to a full stop. Before Graciella was able to get out of the car, the two kids flew through the front door of the house.

  Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she opened the trunk and reached for her things. Cluny approached. “Wait.” He lifted the pan from her hand and set it back in the car. “Kiss me first.” He put his arms around her and pressed his smiling lips against hers.

  She sighed. He deepened the kiss and held her tight. The man knew how to kiss. She dug her fingers into his back and leaned into him, her knees threatening to give way. When she finally surfaced, she stared into his happy blue eyes and sexy smile. “Wow. Let me catch my breath.” She inhaled deeply then kissed him again.

  “Macfearsome! Come on, it takes a long time to cook the candy.”

  Cluny let his hand drift down to her bottom for just an instant then stepped back. “Hold your horses, cowboy. We’re going out to lunch first. Get Queen in the house and close her dog door.”

  “OK.” He disappeared inside.

  “One of these days I’ll have time to kiss you the way I really want to. Take my time and make it a good one.”

  Graciella tingled from head to toe, especially parts of her anatomy that had been unused for many years. “They’re all good ones, Cluny. Real knee-knockers.”

  “Yeah?” He grinned and planted a fast peck on her lips and reached for the bag and pot. “Let’s take these in. Maybe when the kids are busy this afternoon we can practice.”

  She followed him up the front walkway admiring his strong back and butt. He didn’t have a bit of fat on his lean body. She’d seen that for herself when she’d rubbed suntan lotion on him at the beach. The familiar melting sensation warmed her body in the deepest places. She couldn’t seem to exercise the will needed to keep her distance from him. Oh, please, she told herself, let him be the one.

  * * *

  Cluny joked with the kids as they finished up their hamburgers and fries at McDonalds. His hand found hers. He couldn’t resist touching her.

  Amber stopped chewing, ducked her head, and peeked under the table. “My uncle is holding hands with your mom again.”

  “You know what else?” Santos said. “He comes to our house every night to kiss Mama before we go to bed. He probably has to buy gas for his old car every single day.”

  Graciella slid her hand away from his, leaned her elbow on the table, and flushed a sexy shade of pink before she lowered her forehead to her fist. She slanted a glance at him from the corner of her eye and giggled. Catching her off guard, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

  “I do, sailor, but believe me, it’s worth it.” He rested his hand on her bare thigh. Her shorts and tank top had put his libido in an uproar when she’d stepped from the car. “Shall we go home and get started on that super-delicious Brazilian candy?” He’d find a way to be alone with her for more than a few torturing moments if it was the last thing he ever accomplished in this life.

  They arrived back at his house and the candy cooking began. Santos instructed him in the fine art of stirring slowly and deliberately, covering every part of the bottom of the pan with his special wooden, chocolate-stirring spoon.

  “This is not the official recipe you can find on the Internet,” Graciella said. “My mother always melted solid chocolate instead of using powder like the traditional way and added less sweetened condensed milk.”

  “More butter too, huh, Mama?”

  “Yes, more butter.” Instinctively she began to reach for her son then caught herself.

  “I thought this was different,” Cluny said. “I compared your ingredient list with a recipe I found on a website and I thought I wasn’t spelling it right.” He stirred chocolate and butter while it s
lowly melted in the top of the double boiler.

  “Hey, guess what, Macfearsome, I’m gonna be ten pretty soon. My birthday’s in August. Are we going to have a party, Mama? Let’s have a big party.”

  “My birthday’s in September,” Amber added. “I’ll be nine. We can have a rilly big party together.”

  Cluny grinned. “I have a great idea. We’ll have a birthday party at the beach. You can invite some friends, and we’ll build a big fire and roast marshmallows and make S’mores. The beach park in Ventura has nice grassy spots with picnic tables and fire pits.”

  The kids bounced up and down yelling, “Yippee!” and “Yay!” and “Cool!”

  Graciella laughed and poked a slender finger in his ribs. “Now look what you started, McPherson.”

  An hour later the triple batch of chocolate candy was cooked, formed into balls, rolled in coconut, nuts and colored sprinkles, and cooling on the granite countertop. The kids grabbed their baseballs and mitts and ran to the large back yard with Queen barking at their heels.

  Cluny put an arm around her and grinned. “Alone at last. What say we make some fresh coffee and carry it to the living room where we can put our feet up on the coffee table and relax?”

  She turned in his embrace and pecked a kiss on his chin. “Sounds relaxing. First, where’s the ladies room?”

  “Sorry, you’ll have to use one of the men’s rooms. No ladies live in this house.” He pointed down the hall. “Second door on the left.” He filled the coffee maker with water and dumped fresh ground beans into a white paper filter, got it going, and went to brush his teeth. He had work to do on his knee-knocker technique. He grinned all the way to the back of the big nearly empty house.

  Graciella had kicked off her sandals and waited on the big leather couch, long slender legs tucked beneath her. He let his imagination run wild with images of what it would be like the first time he made love to her, because he would make love to this woman. There was no question in his mind.

  He sat next to her and pulled her onto his lap. “We have some time to kill while the coffee brews.” His hand drifted down her bare leg.

  “Hmm, what should we do?” She caressed his cheek and smiled. “I love your eyes, Cluny. Maybe I’ll just sigh and gaze into your deep blue eyes.”

  “I have a better idea.” He pulled her into a blazing hot kiss, then another, barely giving her a chance to breathe in between. “Do you like my idea?”

  She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Very much. I’m glad I’m sitting down, but what if the kids come in and we don’t hear them?”

  “I didn’t WD-40 those screen door hinges for a very good reason.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Chatsworth, Wednesday, July 4th

  “Settle down, for goodness sake. Cluny’s not late. He said he’d pick us up at eleven-thirty and it’s only eleven-fifteen.” Graciella smacked Santos on the butt and turned him in the direction of his bedroom. “Brush your teeth and get your mitt.”

  “I already brushed my teeth after breakfast.”

  “Did you floss?”

  Instead of answering, he grumbled all the way down the hall to the bathroom.

  She was nearly as anxious for Cluny to arrive as Santos was, but for entirely different reasons. Sunday’s kisses still burned on her lips, even though he’d come to kiss her goodnight late Monday.

  She’d insisted he not come last night because he’d be picking them up this morning for the Independence Day barbecue at the Dempsey house. He’d acceded to her wishes, and she’d been sorely disappointed. She loved those late night knocks on the door and his sweet goodnight kisses that left her wanting more.

  “That was quick,” she remarked when Santos rejoined her, carrying his mitt and ball.

  “I didn’t eat anything since breakfast, so I didn’t have to take long to floss.”

  “Hmm.”

  They turned at the footsteps and knock at the door. Santos ran and she followed, her heart fluttered at the thought seeing her man.

  Santos flung it open. “Macfearsome, you’re…” He stepped back and bumped into his mother. “Jamal.”

  She put her arms around her son. “What do you want, Jamal?”

  He had a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Where’s Krystal?”

  Cluny came up behind the man. “Ready to go?”

  Graciella had told him about the incident on Sunday night. With Santos now behind her, she felt a wave of relief so strong it nearly did her in. “Yes, we’re ready.”

  “Can I do something for you, pal?” Cluny directed his blunt question to Jamal. “If you’ve finished your business here, we’re expected somewhere else.”

  Jamal snarled and appeared ready to say something. Instead he cast a warning glare at her, then at Santos, whirled around and stalked away.

  Cluny stepped forward and embraced both of them in a tight, long-armed hug. “OK?”

  “Yes.” Graciella stepped back, but Santos clung tight to Cluny’s waist. She patted his skinny shoulder. “We’re OK now, aren’t we, son?” Cluny was here and he would not let anything bad happen to them.

  He nodded into Cluny’s chest and said, “Uh huh.”

  Cluny squeezed him again. “Good. Shall we hit the road?” He glanced at her and caught his breath. “Oh, wow, wait a minute! I want to look at your mother.” His smile grew huge on his lips and in his eyes. He blew a loud wolf whistle.

  Santos turned and gazed at his mother. “My mama’s always pretty.”

  Her face burned with a pleased blush. He’d noticed her new dress and sandals and obviously liked what he saw. She did a shy pirouette. The saleswoman at The Rack had been right on the mark. Sincere appreciation shone from his breath-stealing blue eyes.

  He clutched his chest dramatically and grabbed the door frame for support. “Oh, man. You look sensational, Mrs. Jefferson.” He pulled Santos back against his chest. “Take a look at the most beautiful mom this side of heaven, sailor. I won’t be able to drive.” He leaned close to Santos’s ear. “Do you have your driver’s license yet?”

  She and Santos laughed. She kissed her son on top of his head and brushed a brief one on Cluny’s lips, thoroughly pleased with his reaction. “I’ll drive. I’ve wanted to try that vintage car of yours.”

  He handed her the keys. “It’s all yours.” He whispered in her ear, “So am I.”

  * * *

  Santos squealed, “Eeek!” Queen banged a big paw on the back of the driver’s seat to keep from flying to the floor, and Cluny winced as she ground the gears of his precious car. The Green Monster jerked to a halt. If he’d been paying attention and not staring at her chest, he’d have had time to caution her when they reached the stop sign on the corner.

  “Have you ever driven a stick?”

  Face blazing, she jammed the clutch. The engine stopped. “Not since I was a kid in Brazil. Did I hurt your car?” She gave him a pleading look. “I’m sorry.”

  Cluny turned off the key. “No, this baby can handle a little abuse. Take a deep breath and try again. It’ll all come back to you, sweetheart.” He put her hand on the key. “Keep your foot on the clutch, turn the key, and go easy.”

  “Maybe you’d better drive.”

  “Yeah, Mama, let Macfearsome drive.”

  Cluny turned and grinned at Santos. Queen’s big-eyes and perked ears made him chuckle. If a dog could look scared, she had it down pat. “Nah. She’s got it.”

  By the time she got on the freeway, she’d regained her confidence and was doing just fine. He told them they’d drop by his house for a few minutes to pick up the candy and put it in his cooler then head for Gunny’s house. “We’ll be a little early, but that will give me a chance to introduce you to Dwayne and Marla. They’ve been asking about you because of Amber’s ongoing reports.”

  Graciella glanced quickly at him. “Don’t make me nervous.”

  He brushed his fingers on the back of her bare shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. They’ll love you
. They’re a great couple.”

  Santos said, “Did she tell them about me?”

  “Yeah, she did. You’ll meet a lot of other kids too. Most of the guys coming today have families. There should be over a dozen kids there today.”

  “Are the parents all veterans?” Graciella asked. “Or are some relatives and friends?”

  “Veterans, even the relatives and friends. A few are still active duty and reserve. They’re a great bunch of guys and gals.”

  “Girl soldiers, Macfearsome?”

  “Oh, yeah. They’re the most feared kind. Nothing scares a bad guy more than a female with a gun.” He knew this first hand. Muslim men were especially terror-stricken by women in military uniform aiming automatic weapons at them.

  They made a quick stop at his house, and Cluny trotted inside. He was out with the cooler in a couple of minutes and loaded it in his trunk. He got back in the passenger seat. “You still good to drive?” She nodded and he kissed her cheek. “OK then.”

  Cluny leaned forward and pointed after they’d gone about a quarter mile. “Take the first left on Orange Street after the stop sign. Dwayne and Marla live right down the second block.”

  “Is Queen invited to the party too?” Santos asked.

  “Yep. She’ll play with their dog. DD weighs about three pounds and was Gunny’s make-up gift after he nearly blew it with Marla. The mutt was top dog in that house before Declan came along.”

  “How old is the baby now? I can’t imagine them hosting this big party so soon.” It had been almost ten years, but she remembered clearly how tired she was for so long after Santos was born. The fact that her husband had been killed in combat shortly before probably added to her fatigue and lethargy.

  “Marla’s a trooper. She was back on her feet in no time. It wouldn’t surprise me if she strapped the baby on her back and went to work. She’s already been to the Big D construction office to do payroll a couple of times.”