Corpsman and the Nerd (38 page)

But she didn’t mind fate’s
trickster moves this time. Because she had been given exactly what
she wished for,
plus
. Now every one of her nights was spent cuddling with the man
she loved. Someone must be looking out for her.

Be careful what you wish
for, because you might just get it
. Oh how
true. Thank goodness.

Smiling, KC woke Max up for some
serious cuddling, and maybe more. His husbandly duties were to heat
up her cold, not-at-all-lonely nights, but perhaps he could do
something about this sunny, gorgeous September morning
too.

About the
Author

D.R. Grady lives with her husband near
Hershey, PA. She loves gadgets, books, plants, shoes and writing
stories that resonate with others. You can generally find her in
her “office”, a chair in the living room, hopefully writing, but
sometimes playing Angry Birds or reading.

Visit her website for more
information.

http://www.drgradybooks.com

Save
Me

By D.R. Grady

Prologue

Directly after a court
hearing

Kingdom of
Sandovia

“
Daddy, why did t’at man go
to pwison?”

Hugo Saltaire gazed down at the little
boy bouncing along beside him and couldn’t believe how blessed he
was. Somehow, fate had decreed that he not only wed a beautiful,
loving wife, but with her he’d been granted this wonderful, amazing
son and an incredible infant daughter.

He realized that with the privileges
granted him, so came responsibility. One day his new son would grow
to be a man. By the time that happened, Hugo was determined he
would have given his heir an unshakable foundation. Mallen would
also know the security of love and acceptance - just as Hugo’s
father had given him.

Mallen would someday want a wife and
children of his own. When this happened Hugo needed him to choose
wisely.

With a deep breath, he answered
Mallen’s question. “That man hurt his wife.”

“
Why did he do
t’at?”

“
Because he forgot women are
gifts from God and are to be treated as such.”

“
So he went to pwison
because he hurt his wife?”

“
That’s right, son. We deal
harshly with men who hurt women.”

“
Why?”

Hugo hunkered down to Mallen’s eye
level so the little guy would understand the importance of his
question, and the subsequent answer. “Because as men we are bigger
and stronger than women and children. Therefore we cherish and love
them, we do not hit, push, or in any other way hurt them. Women and
children are precious. We protect them, we do not abuse
them.”

“
So that man is in jail
because he didn’t chewish or wuv his wife?”

Hugo had to smile at the little
fellow’s pronunciation, but he was pleased Mallen understood the
concept. “That’s right.”

“
Daddy?”

“
Yes, Mallen?”

“
What’s chewish
mean?”

Chapter 1

Julia McNeal stepped away from the
mirror. She liked how the little black dress covered everything,
but still made her feel sexy. The garment boasted long poet sleeves
and skimmed lovingly over her curves. The hem stopped at her ankles
and split at the back to her knees, revealing her calves, but not
much more. She paired the dress with strappy black high heels. With
a few twists she upswept her curly dark hair into a sophisticated
updo, allowing a few tendrils of hair to escape. Julia sighed and
with the last flick of the brush, left the room.

When the knock came, she wondered why
she hesitated to open the door. There was nothing wrong, but
familiar tremors of unease sliced up her spine. Julia shook the
feeling off before answering the summons. She unlocked each
deadbolt, and swung the chain free.

George A. Chalmers III stood
impatiently on the other side. In his hand he clutched a beautiful
bouquet of expensive orchids. Perhaps he forgot the exotic blooms
always made her sneeze. The last time she mentioned this he claimed
the orchid’s beauty matched hers so she should have
them.

Julia accepted the flowers
from the tall, studious looking man, aware of his understated
handsomeness. He wore success like other men wore sport coats. His
golden eyeglasses flashed merrily in the subdued light from the one
lamp she had turned on. George got irritated with her when all the
lights blazed. Even though she paid her own expenses, he didn’t
like seeing her waste her hard earned money on
electricity. His black eyes were concealed behind the lenses,
but Julia thought she detected disdain before he stepped out of the
pool of light.

“
Julia, what are you
wearing?” he demanded in an exasperated tone as she entered the
kitchen to set the flowers in the sink. Mrs. Halbert across the
hall loved orchids and they didn’t make her sneeze.

“
What do you mean what am I
wearing?” She cocked an eyebrow at him when she reentered the
living room.

George used a hand to
encompass her body and said, “Your dress has nice material, but the
way it ...
clings
.”

“
I like this dress.”
Uncertainty now replaced her earlier pleasure with the
garment.

“
It clings in all the wrong
places. Go change, love,” George encouraged with a charming smile.
“You know I only tell you these things because I love
you.”

“
I don’t have another gown.”
Julia’s insides deflated. This one was comfortable and the material
wouldn’t wrinkle.

“
Next time take my mother
with you when you go shopping. She has exquisite taste.”

“
Of course.” Julia had never
had difficulty finding suitable clothes before. She wondered what
had changed. Something obviously had, because George didn’t think
her taste was very good if she had to take his mother. Mrs.
Chalmers did have refined tastes, but her clothing always seemed a
bit dated.

“
This dress will have to do
for tonight, even though I’d like to see your shoulders. Not your
best asset, but they’re nice enough to get by.” George pattered on
while Julia fought to squelch her reaction.

The last dress she bought had shown
her shoulders, but George nearly had an apoplexy when he saw her
because of her bare shoulders. The dress hadn’t shown any cleavage,
but George had still been upset.

Julia sighed. She’d been looking
forward to this evening but now she wanted to throw on a pair of
fleece pants and a sweatshirt and eat a pint of chocolate ice
cream.

“
Of course,” Julia
responded, her shoulders,
not her best
feature
, curled into themselves. George was
older and very sophisticated. That a man like him would be
interested in her was amazing. He possessed superior tastes and
came from a well-respected and established family. Julia didn’t
have much experience dating, so that she had caught his attention
was a definite coup.

“
I’m sure you’ve done your
best. At least you managed to do something with your hair. It’s not
as unruly tonight.”

“
I like this dress. It’s
perfect for this evening. And my hair is curly, not
unruly
.”

“
We have to go. Otherwise
we’ll be late.” George grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the
door. Julia winced. Another reason she’d chosen this dress was
because the sleeves were long. Her limbs were covered in bruises
roughly the shape and size of George’s fingers. She knew he didn’t
realize he was being rough. He always brushed off her protests as
her being overly sensitive.

Julia gritted her teeth and allowed
him to escort her to his aging Mercedes. Her stomach churned in
queasy unsettledness. She put the nausea down to performance
jitters. They were attending a dinner party at the home of one of
George’s colleagues; a couple Julia had known most of her life. She
smiled. Both her brothers and their wives would be there. Her
parents wouldn’t attend because they were in Australia.

George ignored her the entire trip,
which he always did whenever he had something to think over. As
soon as they arrived George headed to the bar, without asking what
she wanted. Julia sighed and then decided to mingle.

She would have come alone if George
hadn’t told her to be ready on time. She located their host and
headed toward him. He was about her father’s age and had bounced
her on his knee, watched her graduate from high school and college
and still took an interest in her now.

“
Julia, my girl,” he greeted
as he took her hands and looked her over. “As elegant and put
together as usual.” He shook his head. “You’re every bit as
beautiful as your mother.”

“
Thank you, James. You’re
looking handsome, yourself. Where’s Nancy?” She made a quick sweep
for his wife.

“
She went to locate some
aspirin for me.”

“
What’s wrong?”

“
Just a
headache.”

“
Julia, sweetheart, how are
you?” Julia turned to see Nancy, James’ wife, glide forward with
her arms open. Julia hugged her with gusto. Nancy was slender with
beautiful silver hair, and an elegance Julia envied.

“
Nancy, you’re as lovely and
graceful as ever.”

Their hostess laughed as she handed
her husband pills. Julia lifted a glass of iced tea off a passing
tray and handed the tumbler to James.

“
Thank you, my
dear.”

They were separated soon after, and
Julia continued to mingle. She eventually bumped into her brother,
Jonathan, and he hugged her.

“
Hello, brat.” His greeting
brought his wife, Tanya, out of the crowd.

“
Hello.” Tanya also enfolded
Julia in a tight hug.

“
How are you?”

“
Fine. Beautiful dress.”
Tanya sounded sincere as she surveyed the lines of Julia’s
attire.

“
Thank you. George thinks it
clings in all the wrong places.”

Jonathan choked on the swallow he’d
just taken and Tanya’s visage darkened. They were saved from
comment by the arrival of her other brother, Jared and his wife,
Annie. More hugs and greetings before Tanya steered the
conversation back to George’s comments.

“
Now, about you looking fat,
Julia, it isn’t true.” A hand closed around her arm and Julia
winced as she recognized George’s grip.

“
They’re seating people for
supper.” He barely acknowledged her family. Julia’s stomach
churned.

As he led her away, they could hear
him say, “I saw you flirting with Kyle Landis. I don’t want you
speaking to him. The same goes for Vanessa Peterson. You know
they’re not socially acceptable.”

Annie’s eyes narrowed.

Jonathan, Tanya, and Jared all stared
at their departing backs in astonishment.

“
How dare he?” Tanya
hissed.

“
What a
pig
.” Annie contemplated flattening
the fathead on the spot.

Jared and Jonathan both wore frowns
and anger-darkened eyes. Their eyes met across their wives heads.
“I believe our interference has become necessary in Julia’s love
life.”

“
Absolutely.” Annie
recognized the hunter in Jared’s eyes. George A. Chalmers III was
in for a surprise.

*****

Julia sighed in relief as she finally
closed the door on George. She had to be at the lab early the next
morning and was quite in need of sleep. He protested, but she had
closed and locked the door on him with a firm hand. It caused him
to call her a few names and pound the door once, but Julia was too
tired to care. Undressing on her way, she trailed into the bathroom
and started the shower. She stepped under the pulsating spray and
collapsed against the shower stall for a few moments. Then she set
out to vigorously shampoo her hair and scrub her body.
Again.

Why she felt so ...
unclean
remained a
mystery. The bruises on her arms glowed with evil disdain, and
Julia turned away from them. She couldn’t face them right
now.

For more information on this book and
others by D.R. Grady please visit:

http://www.drgradybooks.com