Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2) (17 page)

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.”

“My goodness, what else does she do? You never said, but I had the impression she was a full-time mom.”

Cluny had to laugh. “Everything she does is full-time. When she met Dwayne she was selling real estate and had just embarked on her first property development project. She contracted with him to renovate an old apartment building into condos. Gunny got more than he bargained for, the lucky SOB.” He grinned at Santos. “Hey, you’re going to get in some batting practice today.”

“They have a yard big enough to play baseball in?”

“It’s a different kind of batting practice. Instead of baseballs we’re using water balloons.” He touched Graciella’s arm. “It’s the yellow house on the left, middle of the block. Pull in the driveway and park on the left side close to the garage door.”

“What if they have to get out?”

“The door rolls up, and Gunny parks his truck on the right side of the garage. I can always move my Green Monster if necessary. That’s it. Nice and tight.” He opened the door and went to the driver’s side to help her out. Again, she took his breath away. Every man at the barbecue would be wishing they were in his shoes.

He smiled. “You are beautiful, baby.” He kissed her cheek. “Smell good too. Please tell me you wore that just for me.”

Her smooth hand on his cheek, she said quietly, “I bought it just for you and I’m wearing it just for you.”

Cluny was afraid his heart would stop. How was he going to keep his hands off her all day? He drew her into a kiss, not caring who saw them.

“Come on, Macfearsome. You can kiss Mama later. Open the trunk and I’ll get the cooler with the candy and we can go to the party.”

He had a plan for later. If Graciella agreed, they’d be alone tonight at either her apartment or his house. The wait would be an eternity.

* * *

Excitement roared through Graciella. If there was a way to manage it, Cluny would make love to her tonight. She was still trying to think of a solution when they entered the house and a very pretty, petite, blond woman shouted, “Mac!” and flung herself into Cluny’s arms.

“Mis! You made it!” He planted a kiss on her cheek and lifted her off her feet. Setting her down, he took Graciella’s hand. “This is my old Marine buddy, Misty Beachy. She served in Iraq with me and Gunny. Mis, this is my special lady, Graciella Jefferson and her son Santos.”

This woman was a Marine? She’d served in Iraq? Graciella gathered her thoughts and smiled at the woman. “I’m happy to meet you. Should I call you Mis or Misty?”

The woman grabbed her hand in a firm grip. “Mac’s the only one on the planet who calls me Mis. The other guys always called me Beachy, or they said, ‘Yes ma’am, Master Sergeant Beachy, ma’am.’” She turned to Santos. “Hi there, Amber tells me your dad was a SEAL. I’m honored to meet you.”

Santos flushed a sweet shade of pink and stood taller. “Me too, thanks. Macfearsome met my dad once.”

“Macfearsome? Good name for my old buddy. Let’s go in, I was helping Marla rearrange the fridge so we could make room for your surprise dessert.” She put her hand on his shoulder and led him through a doorway on the right. Queen bounded ahead of them.

Graciella looked up into Cluny’s handsome face. “She was a Marine in Iraq? She’s very pretty. I would never have guessed she was a war veteran.” Determined to stifle the little twinge of jealousy she’d felt at their familiar and enthusiastic embrace, she asked, “Was she around the day you got ambushed?”

“Oh, yeah, she was right in the thick of it. The truck she was driving took a hit. She charged out the door with her M-16 blazing like a video game superhero. She was wounded and didn’t even know it until later. Mis is a lot tougher than she looks.”

“She was wounded?”

“Yeah, she took some shrapnel in the right shoulder, tiny fragments in the right eye and ear. Her hearing on that side was permanently damaged. That’s why she turns some to the left when she’s talking to you.”

Graciella couldn’t imagine this. She was ambivalent about women in the military and had no idea they took such dangerous combat roles. “Is she on disability now?”

“She’s eligible for ongoing medical services, but she works full time for Customs training sniffer dogs.” He put his arm around her waist. “Let’s go meet Dwayne and Marla so we’ll have time to talk to them before people start pouring in.”

The pretty, petite woman trained dogs. Graciella wondered about the other vets she’d meet today, what kind of businesses or jobs they were in. He led her to the kitchen where a burly, dark haired man with a prosthetic leg showing below his shorts was in the process of putting on some sort of contraption over his muscular shoulders.

“Hey, McPherson, help me with this damn thing.”

“What the hell is it?” Cluny took her hand and led her to the man that had to be Dwayne Dempsey.

He looked exactly like she expected. She smiled and put out her hand. “You’re Dwayne, Amber’s father. I’m Graciella Jefferson.”

He grinned and took her hand and at the same time gave her a bold, appraising once- over. “McPherson should have told me you were so gorgeous. I’d have dressed better.” He dipped his head. “Dwayne Dempsey at your service, ma’am.” His grip was firm and his eyes danced above his big smile. She was pleased and shy by the handsome guy’s unveiled admiration.

She returned his grin. “I see the problem. You’ve got it upside down.” She reached up and pulled the papoose carrier off his shoulders, flipped it around and held it for the two men to see. “It goes this way. Otherwise the baby would fall out.”

A striking redhead strolled in from the dining room. “You’d be toast if that happened, Dempsey.” She stopped in front of Graciella. “I’m Marla, and you are Santos’s mother. Amber talks about the two of you constantly. I’m so happy to meet you. If this big galumpff,” she pointed to Cluny, “gives you any trouble, let me know.”

Graciella liked her instantly. “I think I can handle him, but now I know where to go if he misbehaves. What can I do to help? I’m anxious to meet that baby of yours.”

“Come right this way. Beachy’s trying to dress the little squirm worm.”

“You call her Beachy? Not Misty?”

“The
guys
usually call each other by their last names. Misty Beachy is one of the guys.” Screams and laughter drifted in from outside as Santos and Amber played with Queen and DD. “That will have them worn out before the party even starts.” She led Graciella down the hall.

Misty exited a doorway holding a lively, kicking baby in her arms. “He already kicked off his socks. I think he’s a born nudist.”

“Takes after Dwayne.” Marla lifted the baby, nuzzled him, then handed him to Graciella. “It’s nice and warm today. He won’t miss his socks.”

Graciella sighed. “My word, except for the hair, he looks just like his daddy. I can’t believe he’s barely a month old. I haven’t held a baby in years. Umm, the wonderful baby smell and velvety skin. Oh, Marla, he’s so precious, and so
big
.”

“I expect he’ll be walking by next week. We just put him in the jumper for the first time yesterday. Had to prop him up with pillows all around, but he got the hang of kicking his feet in no time.”

“Gosh, babies seem to be so much stronger these days. Santos couldn’t hold his head up until he was almost two weeks old.”

“Declan could lift his head within a day after we brought him home from the hospital. Do you mind taking him out to his daddy?”

“Not at all. Shall I put him in the backpack?”

“Yes. Soon as Dwayne moves around he’ll fall asleep. We discovered early on that it worked better than the rocking chair. I think he likes the sound of his daddy’s voice too.”

Graciella carried the precious baby out to the patio. She arrived in time see Santos shake hands with Dwayne and say, “I’m going to marry Amber when she grows up. Is that all right with you?”

Dwayne and Cluny, to their credit, didn’t laugh. They nodded thoughtfully, then Dwayne said, “It’s fine with me, son. What does she think about it?”

“I didn’t tell her yet,” Santos answered, deadly serious. “She’s too young. I’ll wait for a while.”

Dwayne nodded. “Good plan. Shall we seal the deal with a beer?”

Wide-eyed, Santos said, “I don’t drink beer.”

“Good answer.” Dwayne placed a hand on the slender boy’s shoulder and smiled. “You just passed the first prospective son-in-law test.”

Graciella decided she really liked Gunny Dempsey.

“In the meantime, sailor,” Cluny said, “how’d you like to meet your future brother-in-law, Declan?”

Graciella held the baby in front of Santos. “Look at this cuddly bundle. It seems to me it wasn’t so long ago I was holding you at this age.”

“Will he really be my brother-in-law, Macfearsome?” He touched the infant’s wispy red hair and grinned.

“He’s Amber’s brother, so that would be a yes.”

Graciella straightened and pointed her chin to the carrier on Dwayne’s back. “I have orders from his mother to deposit him in the backpack.”