Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2) (24 page)

“I suppose you’re right. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”

“Santos can spend the night here now and then to give you some private time. It’s perfectly fine with Dwayne and me. After all, he’s our future son-in-law, right?”

They enjoyed a laugh then went to join the others.

* * *

Cluny met Santos’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “So, after Jamal showed up at your apartment and behaved so badly, I asked your mother if she’d consider moving to my house for a while. He doesn’t know me or where I live.”

“I don’t like Jamal. He scares me.”

Cluny hid a small smile when he saw the boy put his arm around Queen and move closer to her. The dog sniffed Santos’s ear and looked like she understood what he’d said.

“I’m going to bring my laptop to Cluny’s so I can e-mail my customers and let them know I’ll be closed for a while,” Graciella said. “We’ll stop at the studio and put a sign in the window before we leave Chatsworth.”

“Macfearsome?”

“Yeah?”

“What am I allowed to bring with me?”

“Anything you want. We’ve got the trunks and seats of two cars to fill up. Do you have a bike?”

“I know how to ride, but I don’t have one. Grandpa taught me on his. Mama says there’s too much traffic where we live to ride a bike.”

Cluny grinned. “Well, I’ve got two of them in my garage. There are plenty of quiet streets in my neighborhood and a nice long bike trail through the park next door.”

It took nearly two hours for Santos and Graciella to decide what to bring and to pack clothes for each of them. Cluny lugged the boxes and suitcases down to the cars. “Don’t worry about forgetting anything. It’s not that much of a trip to come back if you do.”

Santo’s eyelids grew heavier as the day wore on. He dozed off in Cluny’s car on the way to his house. Graciella’s backseat and passenger seat were stacked with boxes.

She pulled into his driveway and parked behind him. She went to open the back door of Cluny’s car. “Oh, Santos is asleep.”

“Let him sleep while we haul your stuff in, baby. I’ll inflate the air mattress, and you can make up his bed, then I’ll carry him in.” He stepped out of his green monster and embraced her for a brief kiss.

“I’m tired too.” Graciella yawned. “None of us got much sleep last night. It’ll be an early bedtime all around. I could whip up an omelet for dinner. Would that be enough for you, amor?”

“That’ll hit the spot, sweetheart. Now, let’s get the cars unloaded.”

He dragged the air mattress from a hallway cupboard and inflated it in one of the empty bedrooms. While Graciella made up the bed, Cluny made a few trips to the car and set Santos’s suitcase and a few boxes of his things next to the bedroom wall.

They returned to his car together. Cluny opened the back door and lifted Santos in his arms. “He probably won’t wake up for dinner. The poor kid is out like a light.”

They put Santos on the airbed, removed his shoes, and covered him with a sheet. He didn’t move a muscle. Queen lay on the floor next to him. “Don’t get any ideas about being a pampered pet, Queenie. You’re still on the job.” Cluny gave her a vigorous scratch between the ears and stood. “Let’s leave the door open in case he comes around while we’re eating.”

Graciella put her arm around his waist. “Yes, I wouldn’t want him to be scared when he wakes in a strange place. Come, I’ll make that omelet. I’m fading fast.”

After dinner, Cluny led her to the living room. He lay on his back on the big sofa, pulled her down on top of him, and put his arms around her. They slept through the night, and when they woke, Santos and Queen were snoozing on the carpeted floor in front of the couch.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Friday morning, Cluny’s house

Graciella raised her groggy head and remembered where she’d fallen asleep. Before she had a chance, Cluny pushed tangles of unruly hair from her eyes. He wore a broad grin on his unshaven face. She was surprised to spot a few gray bristles hiding among all the black ones.

“Good morning, babe. I slept great, how about you?”

She stared down at his chest. “Oh no, I drooled all over your shirt.” Heat flushed her cheeks.

“Yeah, I know. Gross.” He brushed his fingertips on her cheek.

“Why are you whispering?”

He put a finger under her chin, turned her head, and pointed to the floor. “We have company.”

Queen raised her head and gazed at them for a moment then lowered it between her paws next to the sleeping Santos.

Graciella smiled. “When did he come in here?”

“No idea.”

She shifted. “You’re poking me.”

“Happens every morning.” His grin grew broader. “Can’t be helped.”

She returned his sexy smile and tongued his earlobe. “By either of us, I’m afraid. Do you know what time it is?”

“Does it matter?”

She lowered her chin to his chest again. “No, I guess not. How are we going to get up from here without waking him?”

Cluny’s big hand pressed down on her bottom, pushing her tight against his erection. “He found us like this, so why does it matter?”

“You better stop that, amor. Nothing can come of it.”

“Pure torture, isn’t it?” He pulled her head down and kissed her.

A sleepy boy’s voice drifted from the floor. “Torture?”

Cluny turned his head. “Morning, sailor. We were just speculating about how to get up from here without waking you, but that’s no longer a problem. How did you end up sleeping on the hard floor in here?”

Santos sat up and rubbed his eyes. “I woke up and Queen was gone. I looked in your bedrooms but couldn’t find anybody. I thought you left, and then I found you in here. So I snuggled up next to Queen because you were asleep.”

Graciella put her hand on his head. “Looks like we’re all awake now. Shall I fix breakfast?”

Santos lay back down next to Queen. “I’m so sleepy. It’s still dark out.”

“Yes, it is.” Graciella slid higher on Cluny’s body and kissed him softly. She raised her eyes and smiled. “Maybe you should go back to bed for a while, son.” She pushed off Cluny and stood. “Come on. Let’s get you to a more comfortable place to sleep. Nobody is going to leave you alone.” She tugged his arm.

He stumbled down the hall next to her as she led him back to his temporary bedroom and tucked him in.

“Did Queen come with us?” He said on a yawn.

“No, Cluny takes her for a run every morning before daylight. Go back to sleep. I’ll wake you after a while.” She kissed his cheek and pulled the blanket over his shoulders, left the room and closed the door.

Cluny was tying the laces on his running shoes when she got to the kitchen. “It’s still pretty early, baby. Why don’t you catch a few more winks? Queenie and I’ll be out for about an hour.”

“I’m awake now. If it’s OK, I’ll rummage around in here and find something to cook for breakfast.”

“Make yourself at home.” He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Sure you don’t want to catch a little more sleep. It’s only five.”

She placed her hands on his cheeks. “Are you going to work today?”

“Got to. We’re starting a big job on Monday, so I’ll work a long day today. Tomorrow morning too, but I’ll be back in plenty of time to get the kids organized for the first day of baseball tryouts at the park. I’ll let you in on a secret.”

“What secret?” She smiled at his teasing grin.

“Every kid makes the team even if they have two left feet. We’re in it for fun, not serious like Little League. I probably enjoy it the most. Wanna be the team mom?”

“That all depends.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and held tight so she could lean back and gaze into his long, noble face. “What do I have to do?”

“The usual mom stuff. Have plenty of Band-Aids for the boo-boos. Organize the Snack Patrol of other moms. Hugs when needed. Stuff like that.”

On tiptoe, she kissed his lips. “That I can manage. Now beat it, and I’ll rustle up some breakfast. I can’t have you going off to work inadequately nourished. It’s against my principles.”

Cluny lifted her off her feet and turned in a circle. “Careful, you might spoil me.”

“That I can manage too. Now, put me down so I can get to work. I need to shower first.”

He ogled her, waggling his eyebrows. “I’d rather stay and watch.”

Graciella held up a fist and squinted, pressing her lips tight to keep from laughing.

Cluny chuckled and backed off. Summoning Queen, he and the dog left from the kitchen door.

Graciella hugged herself and spun around in the large modern kitchen. She’d cooked in here last week when they’d made the chocolate candy for the party. It shouldn’t take long for her to locate everything she’d need to put together a hearty breakfast for Cluny and Santos. But first, she’d shower and change clothes.

She walked quietly down the hall to the bedroom where Cluny had carried her suitcase and a couple of cartons. “Now where did I put those things I pulled from the dryer?” She dug through a box looking for underwear and found a freshly a laundered bra and panties, and then decided to put the rest of them in a drawer of the large dresser across from the foot of the bed.

The top drawer wasn’t empty. The first thing she saw was a hairbrush, a tube of hand crème and a book. It had the feel of snooping, but she touched the brush and stared at the blond hair strands. All of a sudden the presence of Misty Beachy suffocated her. Graciella dropped the brush, slammed the drawer shut and backed away. When her knees bumped into the mattress, she sat on the bed, slumped forward and put her head in her hands. “Stop this, Graciella. Stop this right now.” But no matter how many times she repeated the phrase, the green-eyed monster refused taming.

* * *

Cluny pounded down the street next to Queen. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so good, so full of energy. He sucked in a deep breath of cool morning air and laughed out loud. “I don’t know about you, Queenie, but I feel great.” He leaned down, smacked her rump, and sprinted ahead. She took off with a burst of speed and passed him easily, eager to play.

A patrol car appeared over the rise and approached him slowly. The deputy leaned out the window and grinned like a Cheshire cat. “You look like you just hit the lotto, McPherson.”

Cluny stopped and bent to catch his breath. “You’d look like this too if you had a beautiful woman in your kitchen cooking breakfast, pal.”

“Ah, it just so happens I do, and that’s where I’m headed right now.” He whacked the outside of the door with his hand. “Have a good day, my friend.”

Cluny put out his hand. “Hey! You bringing your kid for baseball tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it, coach.”

“Good. See ya.” He took off in a run. “Come on, Queen. It’s time for breakfast.” The last half mile went by in a flash. He passed the park and ran up his driveway, sat on the top porch step and pulled off his shirt. Growling, he played tug-of-war with an old knotted rag with her for a couple of minutes then stood. “Oops, gotta go round back, girl. This door is locked.” He hadn’t taken his wallet or keys when he left an hour ago.

The smell of coffee and bacon greeted him at the back screen door. Sniffing like a starved cur, he opened the door and strode into the kitchen. “It smells like heaven in here, baby.”

Santos sat at the table sipping a glass of orange juice and smiled a greeting. “Macfearsome, Mama’s making waffles.”

“Great!” Cluny patted the boy’s back. “You’re up early.” He embraced Graciella from behind. He sensed her stiffen and chalked it up to the fact he probably needed a shower. “I’ll be back in five, sweetheart. I’m starved.”

He walked down the hall toward his bedroom. When he passed the open door of the guest room, he noticed her suitcase and the still-packed boxes sitting on the bed. He shrugged off a hint of unease he couldn’t explain and hit the shower.

Showered and dressed in his blue work pants and shirt with
Veteran’s Plumbing
embroidered above the pocket, he sat at the table and lifted the steaming cup of coffee Graciella set in front of him, breathing deeply of the fragrant brew. “Sweetheart, you make the best coffee. Thanks for breakfast.”

Graciella smiled briefly and sat across from him.

Santos dug into his syrupy waffle with gusto and poked a large piece into his mouth.

The vague feeling of unease returned. Something had changed from the time he’d left for his run and now. “Is something wrong, baby?”

Her eyes opened wide and she answered too fast. “No! Why?”

“You seem awfully quiet.”

She shook her head. “I must have been preoccupied. Everything is fine. I, uh, was thinking of making a grocery list, so I could go to the store and pick up a few things, you know, for the park tomorrow.”

“Good idea. The best place to check is probably the Wal-Mart in Simi. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes, Santos and I have been there a couple of times. What should I buy?”

“The practice is after lunch and we don’t have anything organized yet, so maybe a couple of boxes of granola bars, some individual bags of trail mix, and a lot of bottled water. You and the other moms can talk about how you want to handle it for the rest of summer.” He put his hand on hers. “Look, baby, don’t go to a lot of trouble or worry that you’re getting the right snacks. It’s just a bunch of sweaty kids trying out for baseball.”

Santos grinned through a mouthful of food. “Mama worries about everything, Macfearsome.”

Cluny laughed. “I’m beginning to see that.”

“Oh, stop it, you two.” Graciella waved her hands. “I do not.”

They finished breakfast on a more cheery note. Cluny put down his napkin and carried his dish to the sink. “Walk out to the van with me, OK?”

She glanced at him with a tight smile and nodded. “Santos, I put some towels in the bathroom off the hall. When you finish, take a shower and put on clean clothes.”

“OK, Mama.”

Cluny grabbed his wallet, phone, and keys and took her hand. He led her out the front door and across the lawn to his company van and opened the driver’s door so Queen could jump inside. He smoothed his hands on her upper arms. “What’s bothering you? Something happened between the time I left for my run and when I got back.”