“I saw Ryne this morning” Brit sighed
“Really”
“Yep and he looks good in uniform”
“He was working?” I looked at her
‘He was on the gate when I came on base this morning”
‘Well I guess we have to have someone up there”
“You know he’s a good guy you should quit being a pain in the ass and go to dinner with him”
“He put you up to this?” I pinched the bridge of my nose
“No he asked how you were” she shook her head “Look what happened with Justin shouldn’t stop you having fun and if that fun happens to involve an incredibly hot marine then hell go for it”
“It’s not just the Justin stuff I’ve had the worst start to the summer ever you know that and the whole Justin thing made the walls go up higher and with razor wire on the top” I put my head in my hands
“Have you worked out what you want?”
“I know no matter what I have Marine blood in me and that makes us a different breed to most” she smiled at me “Oh I’m confused I want Ryder to hurry up and get here and then I’m worrying about Jack and Dad and for somereason Ryne came in and has constantly given me crap”
“I think it’s because he like you.. He’s in LURVE” she giggled “He wants to hug you… he wants to kiss you… he wants to…”
“Brittany” Mom looked at her with scolding eyes but a half smile on her lips
“Oh Come on Aunt B you have to make stubborn daughter see sense” Mom walked over
“Sense about what?”
“Nothing” I groaned
“She has a Marine that’s been chasing here for almost two weeks now” Mom looked at me I rolled my eyes “He’s cute, he’s got a sweet ass and he’s got a tattoo… Oooo and he’s over there talking to the Col” she pulled a face Mom and I looked round Ryne was talking to the Col with a bunch of paperwork in his hand.
“So he’s been asking you out?” Mom grinned
“He’s been driving me crazy” I sighed hiding behind her “I put him a choke hold for annoying me”
“They play fight” Brit giggled “It’s cute really”
“I’ll put you in one in a minute” I Gibbs slapped her as I looked back to Ryne. He did look exceptionally hot… er… good in his uniform the sleeves on his shirt rolled up giving more definition to his tanned arms. His hand resting on top of his side arm as he listened to the Col. My mind wandered back to him on the beach at the weekend stripped to the waist. My stomach was flipping and churning… I should have had breakfast. Ryne Saluted the Col and turned on his heel and stopped when he saw Brit.
“He’s walking this way” Brit laughed at me “Hey Marine?”
“Hi” he smiled “Hey Aly”
“Hi” I looked at him and my stomach did the strange flippy thing his cap half covering his eyes only made them look more intense
“Ma’am” He nodded at Mom.
“So I take it my daughter’s been giving you a hard time Marine” Oh way to go Mom.
“Just a little Ma’am” he chuckled “I’m trying to wear her down”
“Okay I’m wanting the world to swallow me” I groaned
“All I’m asking for is dinner” he held out his hands… okay so no pressure asking me right in front of my Mom.
“Er. Aunt B… Al” Brit choked a little and tugged my arm and pointed as the door opened and some guys walked in. My hand went to my mouth as the second guy through was Ryder on crutches his leg strapped from top to bottom. Mom moved quickly. I gripped on to Brit as Ryne moved and stood back I felt a hand rub the small of my back as Ryder balanced on his crutches and put an arm round Mom as she sobbed into his shirt He looked up at me and Brit and winked.
“Go see him” Brit murmured I moved away from her and the warm hand as Mom stepped away. I stopped in front of Ryder and swatted him
“Ow what was that for” he pulled a face
“Getting shot you ass” I sniffed before bursting into tears he laughed and pulled me to him with his free arm and hugged me kissing my head “I love you”
“Love you too Sis” I felt a wave of relief to have him here again even if he was injured “Now I have to get the all clear from the doc so I can get home” he let go of me and kissed Brit on the cheek “Who was the Marine?” He nodded to where Ryne had been… his retreating back just about to go out of the hanger.
“Someone that likes Aly” Brit grinned as Ryder started to head to the waiting Med staff
“Jeez well he needs his head reading” He poked his tongue out at me
“Oh thanks” I smiled “I can kick those crutches from under you”
“No don’t that’ll hurt… but you can take me out for some food later I’m dying for a decent burger” He chuckled “and you can fill me in on the douche cowboy and the Marine”
Chapter 36
R & R
Ryder was being well and truly fussed over by Mom and the phone hadn’t stopped ringing since Mom texted the entire world and then some that he was home. My phone buzzed as I was packing a bag ready for the weekend. Ipicked it up
***New Message***Ryder***YOU HAVE TO SAVE ME S.O.S NOW***
I started to laugh and walked out of my room and across the hall
“Hey mom… I think Ryder needs to get some sea air and the doc did say it was okay” I leant on his door frame
“I’m getting too much aren’t I?” she sat on his bed
“A little Mom but I want to talk to Aly for a while” he looked at me “I need to find out about that Justin guy” I knew Mom would let us have time without being interrupted because she knows what things were like for her and Flynn while he was away.
“I’ll go get changed and we’ll go out” I turned away from them and walked back to my room. Ryder was waiting down stairs for me with Mom talking on the phone as I picked up my keys.
“Don’t be too late guys” she called after us as I opened the door and waited for Ryder to limp his ass out to my truck
“Mom we’ll be fine” I smiled closing the door. You need some help getting in there” I laughed as he opened the door on the truck.
“You could hold my crutches while I get in” he winced making me feel for him as he slid carefully in to the truck I put the crutches in the bed of the truck and got in myself.
“So where do you want to go?” I pulled out of the drive
“Pool halls fine the foods good and we can talk” he looked at me “you look tired”
“I’ve been worrying about your sorry ass” I smiled as I handed over my I.D. at the gate half hoping to get another glimpse of Ryne but he wasn’t there. “so far this summer sucks with you and Jack and Dad being away and then the shit at the ranch trying to keep Brit in place because I swear to god she’d be at the Island humping her Marine right now if not”
“Her Marine?”
“Yeah she’s got this recruit that she meet down there and they somehow managed to do the nasty without getting caught” I shrugged
“Ew TMI about my baby cousin” he shuddered
“Tell me about it she got yet more metal when I got these” I held up my wrists as I stopped at a stop sign Ryder smiled
“Nice… about those and she got here ears done again?
“Oh if only you really don’t want to know where”
“Ew okay that’s wrong” he pulled a face “so when’s this recruit graduate?”
“This weekend we’re leaving her the day after tomorrow to go down there… I get to give him shit”
“I’ll come as well” he rubbed his hands together
“Yeah you think you’ll be allowed in the state you’re in right now”
“I’ll talk to the doc” he shrugged “I just hate being stuck here while the rest of my platoon is out there” he chewed the inside of his cheek as I pulled into the parking lot.
‘Yeah well that’ll teach you to not get shot” I teased getting out and grabbing the crutches for him
“
Like I planned it” he grumbled “it hurts like a bitch”
“You’ll be using the scars to hook girls I know you Ryder Tanner” I pushed my hands into my pockets as we walked to the pool hall. We went inside and everyone that knew us was coming over to talk to us to make sure Ryder was doing okay. Doug brought over the food and people drifted away.
“So Uncle Flynn and Mom went after the cowboy?”
“Yep Mom almost broke his neck and Flynn had a rifle I think it scared the shit out of Justin” I shrugged “I don’t know Rydr I thought things would be different better I hoped and…”
“the sone of a bitch raped you” I hung my head “I’m sorry but I wouldn’t have hesitated I would have pulled the trigger and took him down” I reached over the table and put my hand over his
“I know you would same as Dad that’s why I’m glad you weren’t here” I pulled my hand back
“So did you decided what was better?”
“I’m getting there” I smiled
“So I now need to know about the Marine rubbing your back today” I looked at him
“Nothing to know apart from he was the one that had the costume party and he’s really bugging me”
“You need me to talk to him”
“Hell no I can handle it he’s a Marine I know what makes you guys tick” I laughed
“Yeah she knows what drives us all mad especially when she’s a pirate” I jumped at the sound of Ryne’s voice I watched Ryder straighten and cock his head
“And you say I’m stalking you” I looked at him oh hell he was still in uniform. Ryne ignored me and looked at Ryder.
“How you doing?”
“Been better but I’ll be out again” Oh great Marine talk “Ryder Tanner” Ryder held out his hand
“I’m Ryne… Ryne Stockwell… I have to ask is your sister always a stubborn prickly pain in the ass?’
“Oh yeah and has been since birth” Ryder laughed “Al scoot your ass up let the Marine sit”
“He can there’s plenty of seats” I sighed but still moved up. Ryne slid in next to me.
“Oh stop being a shit Alyssa”
‘Oh I forgot” I suddenly looked up “the douche got ink”
“Don’t tell my your face on his ass” Ryder laughed
“No he thought my name but had it spelled A.L.I.C.I.A.”
‘Idiot maybe shooting him would have been a good thing after all” Ryder shook his head Ryne looked a little confused “Okay I need to pee and it takes me 10 minutes to get anywhere right now so Aly be nice to the Marine… you know you want to” I turned beet red as Ryder got up Ryne helped him with his crutches before sitting down again.
“I’m sorry for butting in but I wanted to make sure you were doing okay” he played with the neck on his beer bottle “I know Deployment is hard but I’ve never had to watch injured Marines met their families”
“Thank you” I looked down
“What for?”
“The little touch of the back rub” I glanced at him
“Wow I should have recorded that you being nice to me” he chuckled
“I take it you had a problem with a guy”
“Eavesdropping again?”
“Now sitting right here and if your brother wanted to shoot the guy he must have been bad”
“Long story” I shrugged
“I’m not on duty till tomorrow”
Chapter 37
FIGHT NIGHT
Ryder came back over
I’m sorry I couldn’t stand any longer” he grinned
“You didn’t have to go anywhere” I looked at him
‘Yeah right I’m the one with all the game Sis you have to work at it” Ryne started to laugh
“Okay this jack ass actually told me he thought my tattoo of your name was a bad spelling of my talent” Ryder snorted soda down his nose “Oh thanks you’ve kicked ass for less”
“Yeah but that was a navy kid” He smiled
“I’m sorry but it was one of those classic opportunities I couldn’t pass up” Ryne held up his hands
“I paid for that one for her 18th and she paid for this for mine” he lifted his short showing my name on the right side of his chest.
“Nice” Ryne nodded “I definaltey got an eyeful of Aly’s tattoo’s the other night”
“The pirate outfit” Ryder groaned “We went round and round and I ended up with a black eye last Halloween over that damn costume and it was an on base party”
“Yeah but you know what horny Marines are like over a hot girl”
“Dude you’re putting me off my food Aly and hot aren’t in the same sentence”
“Hey I got you out from under Mom’s fussing and this is how you repay me”
“That blond now that’s an ass to watch for a while” Ryder laughed nodding in the direction of the bar Ryne looked round
“Ew… no” I started to laugh
“How’s it feel to have your sister ogled by a Marine” I pushed Ryne
“Your sister” Ryder turned beet red
“Hey Ana” I called over making her look round She walked over.
‘I’ve been calling you” she looked at Ryne. “Mom wants you to call her when you have five minutes”
“I will” Ryne groaned
“Ana this is my Marine” I smiled “Ryder the less annoying one in his family this is Ana… we like her” Ana started to laugh
“I heard about you getting shot”
“Yeah” Ryder nodded “I can show you the scar”
“Ryder Tanner” I kicked his good leg
“Ow god damn it” my phone started to ring
Me * hey Jordan
Jordan * how you doin’
Me * not to bad what’s wrong you sound a little stressed… oh you and Garret still okay
Jordan * yeah but I got a call today from Justin
Me * just wait a minute I can’t hear you properly
I got up and the others looked at me
“You okay?” Ryder looked concerned
“Yeah but I don’t think this is going to be a good call from Jordan” I walked out
Me * okay what were you saying about Justin
Jordan * he told me he’s still in love with you and he’s on his way to Lejeune to find you
Me * you have to be kidding right after what happened in the barn
Jordan * seriously I think he has some screw lose somewhere Aly, he knows you’re Dad and Ryder are still away well you know what I mean
Me * yeah
Jordan * Aly please watch your back okay and let every damn Marine know that he’s heading there
Me * this is all I need right now
Jordan* I have to go call me
Me * Yeah
I hung up and walked over to the seawall trying to catch my breath. I wasn’t scared of Justin I just didn’t want this crap brought to my door step.
‘Okay you’re brother has my sister giggling like a two year old… hey are you okay?” A hand was in the small of my back
“Yeah” I said shaking my head
Okay so that’s a contradiction” he laughed I looked at him “Okay right that face looks scared” he stepped closer to me.
“It’s nothing” I moved to walk round him he caught my arm
“Bull shit it’s nothing you want to go toe to toe again because I will”
“Don’t push it Marine I’m really not in the damn mood right now” I snatched my arm away “I’ll put you on your ass”
“Okay come on then you want to get out some of the pent up anger and aggression then come with me right now” He squared up to me “Don’t ask any questions just come with me”
You think we’re going to end up in bed together then you’re so off base…” I snapped
“I will put you over my shoulder if I have to and take you with me”
“Try it” I started to walk away from him
‘Oh I don’t believe you said that” He chased me down and hauled me over his s
houlder
Silent Ranks Page 14