Her Sexy Marine Valentine (12 page)

She held out her hand and shook his. “It's nice to meet you, I'm Mari.”

“Ah, so you're Mari. No wonder my son is so enamored. You're a looker.”

“Dad,” Brody interrupted. “Stop hitting on my girlfriend.” He put a protective arm around her.

His girlfriend. Nerves fluttered around her belly.

She'd waited weeks for him to mean that. But she wasn't sure he did now. It might still be an act. His CO was coming up the drive and Brody might have said it in case the other man heard.

After her parents' admission, she wasn't sure who she could trust anymore.

You only have to get through the next couple of hours
.
Hang in there
.

“Dad, I'd like you to meet Commander Gray, who runs the base I work on.” He motioned to the CO. The two men exchanged handshakes.

“Mari, you look so pretty, and this house has come a long way from the photos you showed me at my birthday party,” Gray said.

“Thanks. I couldn't have done any of it without Brody's help. He's a man who gets the job done fast.”

The CO nodded. “Yes, he is. One of the best I have on base.”

Mari glanced up to see Brody's eyebrows draw together. The CO just paid him a compliment, he should have been happy.

“Brody, can—” She'd started to ask him to take them to join the other guests when an alarm suddenly screeched.

They stared at each other for a second before they took off running for the kitchen. Smoke billowed out of the oven.

Brody grabbed the extinguisher from the pantry. “Get back,” he ordered as she tossed him the hot pads she pulled from the nearest drawer. He used one to open the oven door and then sprayed inside.

White foam flew all over the kitchen as the smoke continued to billow. She ran and opened the back door. “Everyone on the patio until the smoke clears,” she said to the guests. “Dad, do me a favor and start a fire in the pit in the backyard to keep people warm. Better a fire out there than in here,” she said, trying to joke about the situation. Mortified didn't begin to describe the sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.

“Tell me what I can do to help,” Commander Gray asked.

“Get a broom from the closet and use the handle to punch the reset button on the alarm, please,” Mari asked, barely keeping it together. “Mom, I need you to open all the windows.”

People rushed to do what she'd asked. Mari swallowed over the frog in her throat.

“Sorry, folks. Technical difficulties,” Brody said as he pulled the burned roast out of the oven. He started laughing. “I've had blackened fish and seafood, but never roast.”

And that was it. The last straw. It just hit her wrong. She couldn't take it anymore.

“How can you laugh?” Even though she was being foolish, she couldn't stop. This wasn't his fault. “I mean, really? Now you have to decide to be a jerk?” For someone who never yelled, she was doing a lot of it tonight. But there was no stopping her tirade. Anger roiled through her body. “Everything is ruined. I wanted one special night. One. This would have been the first time that Valentine's Day would have actually meant something to me. The first time I was going to share it with you. And then you laugh when you know how important this is to me.”

“Mari, I'm sorry.” Brody moved toward her, his face tense. She was a terrible person. “Tell me what else is wrong.”

For a moment she let his arms wrap around her and she leaned into him. Then she remembered his CO was still standing there. Was it an act? And how would she ever know? Were there no more honest people in the world?

Tonight was a complete and utter failure and it hadn't even begun.

She couldn't breathe and it had nothing to do with the smoke that had filled the room. Backing away, she shook her head. “I have to get out of here,” she said. When she turned, her parents stood there with worried looks.

“Leave. Go back to your lives, whoever you're spending them with. I can't believe this has happened”

“Mari, wait,” Brody called after her.

She sped through the house and threw open the front door only to slam into a wall of a man.

Chin lifted, she found herself in the arms of Brody's friend Ben, and he was with Carissa. “Of course it's you. Because what else could happen to make this nightmare worse than for
you
to show up right now.”

“What's that smell?” Carissa asked, making a face.

“Carissa,” Ben said, “it's obvious Mari's upset. Are you okay?”

Mari was about to lose it, although she'd done enough damage by being rude. “Please,” she said through gritted teeth. “Enjoy the appetizers. Everyone is out on the patio.”

She hurried past them and started walking down the block.

“Mari!” Brody's tone was sharp. “Stop. Where are you going?”

In a fraction of a second he'd caught up to her. “I need a minute, okay? I'm sorry I yelled. I know that doesn't make it right, but I am sorry. You can't fix what's wrong right now. If you care about me at all, you'll leave me alone. You'll go back in there and make sure people have fun and see the great work we did on the place, okay?”

“I'm sorry about the roast. I shouldn't have laughed.”

He thought this was because he'd laughed. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “I'm not mad at you, Brody. I swear. I had some upsetting news from my parents and I'm not dealing with it very well. It just... I don't know what I believe anymore. Who I trust. I don't know anything.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “It's funny, two hours ago I thought I finally had done something right. That's what I get for being cocky. I had you, the house in good shape. And the party was going to be my chance to show everyone that I finally had it together.

“But I don't. I never will. I don't even know if you're a real boyfriend or still the guy I just have sex with. How sad is that?”

“Mari, you know I care about you.”

“That's what I'm trying to explain to you. I don't know that. I know we have fantastic sex and we get along, but do you love me? I do love you. But even now, I can't be sure if you hugged me in there because you cared, or because your boss was watching.”

“Mari! How could you even think that?”

She let the tears flow. “I told you in the beginning I was a mess. Listen, if you care about me, if you ever did or do, please go back in and try and entertain them. Or just send them all home. I don't care anymore.”

Then she started walking again.

She had no idea where she was going, but she had to get away.

Far, far away.

14

I
T
TOOK
EVERYTHING
Brody had to leave her and return to the house. That's what she wanted, and that's what he'd do. But her words shredded him. He'd tried the last two weeks to show her how important she was to him. He'd shared his demons, and she'd made him whole.

And yet she still doubted if what they had was real. What was he supposed to do with that? What else could he do to prove to her that she made him think about them being more than temporary lovers.

Where the hell was she? The smoke was gone, and it had been a good thirty minutes with no sign of Mari. If she didn't come back soon, he'd go out and search for her.

Her mother had helped him get the rest of the appetizers heated in the microwave and they'd put the potatoes in the oven at his house. From Nikki's Italian Bistro, he ordered chicken marsala and a veggie pasta dish just in case someone didn't eat meat. The owner had become friends with Brody since he visited the cozy family restaurant at least once a week.

“Everything okay?” Mari's father asked. He'd been making sure they all had drinks. Brody nodded. After the initial excitement over the smoke, everyone had pretty much laughed it off. They were all talking, nibbling and mingling. It had become a proper party.

Except the hostess was MIA. What had happened with her parents? She'd been fine before that.

He glanced around. Things seemed to be under control for the moment.

Even his dad was behaving. He'd come without a date. There was a first time for everything.

There was something going on with his dad. Something in his eyes, sadness. Except for the two years right after Brody's mother died, his dad had always been the life of the party. But throughout the evening, Brody had seen him standing outside, staring up at the stars.

“I'm worried about her,” Mari's mother said quietly to her father. “You should go look for her. It's been a rough night.”

“I doubt she wants to talk to either one of us,” her father said. The man approached him. “Brody, would you mind seeing if you can find her? We, uh, probably aren't her favorite people right now.”

Brody set aside the salad he'd been preparing at the counter. That was one of the many things Mari had taught him in the last week. He could make a mean salad. “What were you all talking about? She has you two on a pedestal.”

“Not anymore,” her mother said. “I'm afraid we are well and truly knocked off that.”

“Permanently. We should have held off tonight,” he said. “She was right about that. It was stupid.”

“Tell her what?” Brody was confused. Was one of them not well? That would explain her stress.

“We got a divorce and didn't tell her.” Her father set his beer on the counter. “We've been trying to talk to her for the last three months, but she either wouldn't take our calls or she'd hang up before we could get to discuss it.”

Divorced?

That would have crushed her. She idolized their relationship. He really felt for her. No wonder she'd reacted the way she had.

“And you picked tonight?”

“Yes, in hindsight not our brightest move. But we've been trying to tell her—”

Brody took off, only pausing to stop by the family room. “Sir, can I talk to you for a minute?”

The CO followed him out to the hallway.

“What's up, Lieutenant?”

“I need a favor, sir. I've found out Mari's had some really bad personal news on top of the burned dinner. I need to go find her. I was wondering if you and Carissa could keep an ear out for the delivery man. And get everyone set up in the dining room.”

“Got it. Do what you have to, Marine. Let us know if we need to form a search party.”

Hell, he hadn't thought about that. What if she'd taken off and he couldn't find her. “Thank you, sir. Hopefully, we'll be back shortly.”

Just as he reached the foyer he saw Mari sneaking upstairs. Thankfully, she was okay. He never should have walked away from her earlier, despite what she'd said.

He followed her.

She went into the master bedroom and closed the door. She probably needed a minute to freshen up.

He waited on the top step, but when she didn't come out, he decided to go in.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands wrapped around her middle. “Hey,” he said, and sat down beside her.

“Hey,” she whispered.

“Been a challenge these last few hours.”

“You could say that. Are they gone?”

“I think you know they aren't. They're concerned for you. And no one is more worried about you than I am.” He started to put an arm around her, but she jumped up and moved across the room.

“Talk to me,” he said.

“I don't want to, Brody. I'm sorry. But I need you to go. I just need everyone to go away.”

“Mari, be reasonable.” He tried to reach for her, but she pulled away.

“Reasonable? Oh, that's exactly what I'm being. You don't get it. I know how this works out. What happened downstairs—that's how it ends. There are no fairy tales or happy endings. Not real ones. Love comes and goes. If my parents couldn't make it work, no one can. Especially not a damaged commitment-phobe and the hot mess that I am.”

His heart ached for her but he didn't know what to say. “Mari, you had a bad night. I can't even imagine what you're feeling right now.”

“You're correct on both counts,” she said.

“Tell me what you need.” He spoke the words and at the same time was afraid of what she might say.

“I need you to get those people downstairs out of my house, and then I need to be alone. Thank you. For everything. You went above and beyond these last few weeks, but you and I both know this was temporary between us. The house is done. Time for each of us to move on.”

A punch in the gut would have been easier to take. She'd made him consider a future for them. And now he couldn't see his future without her, but here she was ready to move on?

“Mari, think about what you're saying.”

She rubbed her tears away. “I am. It was all-consuming, this thing with you. I've never— It woke me up. You made me realize I never want to settle again.”

“And being with me is settling?”

“No. You're pretty much
everything
. But it will never work with us. You can't handle long-term. Do you honestly see yourself as the serious-commitment type? Look at your dad's track record. I'm giving you an out. Take it. Please. I'm begging you. I may not be strong enough to walk away if this goes on for much longer. I need you to go. I need us to leave on good terms. Otherwise, eventually you'll decide you can't handle it—and that will break me.”

No words came to him. He did think about a forever with Mari, but he couldn't predict the future. Maybe he was like his dad. He cared about Mari, never cared about anyone more, but could he promise they'd last?

Was she right? It didn't feel like it. Leaving her felt wrong. The worst idea ever. But maybe they both needed a little time.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I would do anything for you. You're upset right now. You need to cool down. I'm not going to ask them to leave right now. The ones who don't know what's going on are having a good time. And you have clients down there. Shoving them out the door won't look so great for your business. I'll tell them you have a headache. You stay up here.” He headed for the door.

“Brody?”

“Yeah.”

“I'm sorry. I'm grateful to you for everything, but I meant what I said. We promised to be honest with one another, right? This is me being honest. I need tonight to be it. I need you to be the strong one. I need you to walk away.”

The strong one? She'd cut him to pieces. Unable to speak, he nodded, turned and left.

Good thing that Marines didn't cry, at least as far as he knew.

Brody fixed a smile on his face and went downstairs.

He wasn't sure how he made it through the makeshift dinner. Or talked to her clients about how talented and wonderful she was. While on the inside, he was a mess. Once dinner was over, people started leaving.

He showed her potential clients the whole house, except for the master. Explained how she'd gone to great lengths to make sure the place was restored correctly and at the same time had incorporated modern amenities.

They'd been impressed. Two of the couples had asked that she call them when she was feeling better. He promised to pass along their messages.

He shut the door behind the last of them, and then sighed with relief, grateful he no longer had to pretend.

“Let us help you finish cleaning up,” Mari's mother said. He knew Mari wouldn't be happy about her parents still being in the house. They were the reason she'd spiraled out of control. Brody knew what that felt like, he was headed that way himself.

“No. I've got it,” he said, ushering them to the door. They left reluctantly. Only his own dad remained.

“Son, you've had a busy night.”

“Yep,” Brody said. He just wanted his dad to go.

“There's something we need to talk about, but it can wait until tomorrow.”

He remembered the sadness in his dad's eyes when he'd arrived. “Found a new lady tonight?” If his dad had something to say that was usually it.

His dad gave him a weak smile. “I deserve that. No, but like I said, it can wait.”

“Tell me now.”

“I have cancer.”

Well, hell. That he didn't see coming.

* * *

M
ORE
THAN
AN
hour later, he'd sent his dad to his house to get some rest.

Then Brody stood at the base of the stairs and folded his arms. It had been an unpredictable night for both of them. More than anything he wanted to talk to her about what had happened with his dad. She was the first person he'd thought of to speak to, to confide in.

But she'd been through a lot. He had to try and make her see that she was wrong about them. And she was. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that this was no temporary fling. His feelings for her were so strong.

He'd clean up and give her time to get herself together.

Then he'd tell her that she'd made a mistake.

But what if she wasn't wrong? He loaded the dishwasher and took out the trash. Her mom had cleared off the table and put most of the food away before she'd gone.

Her parents had the perfect relationship. She'd told him that over and over again. And yet, they were divorced. And they were already with other people after nearly thirty years of marriage.

Maybe she had a point.

Had he changed? Sure she made him think about tomorrow and the next day. But he'd never been that kind of guy before. What made him one now?

Would he eventually get bored and break her heart?

That didn't feel right. But then what did he know about feelings?

Walk away.

No, he needed to run, and then maybe punch something.