Her Sexy Marine Valentine (13 page)

15

I
N
THE
WEE
hours of the morning, a disheveled Mari ventured downstairs to find it dark. She pushed back the curtains to let in the early light.

The smoky smell was gone, and the place was immaculate. It was as if no one had ever been there. Brody must have cleaned up before he left.

What kind of guy did that after what she'd done? She'd been a complete jerk to him. Given him orders to get rid of her guests and then told him to get lost.

Yep. Mari the winner strikes again
.

But hadn't she done them both a favor? Sure they were hot for one another, but that would obviously peter out.

Look at her parents.

She remembered when she was a kid being embarrassed because they were always kissing and hugging.

All of her memories, especially of their family holidays, were of her parents making everything fun and wonderful. Their little loving family going on grand adventures. They'd provided her and her sister, Daisy, an idyllic life. And now she felt as if all of that was a fraud. She'd been unaware that her parents were only together for their girls.

So wrong.

She pulled one of the open bottles of wine from the fridge and then found a glass. After pouring herself half the bottle, she sat down on a stool. There was a piece of paper under the whimsical cookie jar she'd set on the counter.

Hey,

Sorry you had such a bad night. I had a chance to take the Harkers and the Smiths through the rest of the house. They loved it. They asked that you give them a call when you feel better.

You helped me find my heart again, and I'll be forever grateful to you. I know you're hurting, but I hope that some day you can find forgiveness for your parents. What they did was wrong, but you never know how much time you have with people. It's important to make the most of it. You taught me that as well.

You are an amazing human being. I wish you the best, Mari. You deserve it.

B

Oh, no. The tears began again.
What have I done?
After everything, he'd tried to save future jobs for her. Done his level best to see out the rest of her party the way she'd wanted it. He was so kind and generous, someone she could trust. And she'd thrown it all away—everything they'd been building for the last month with a few harsh words.

I wish you the best
.

It sounded so final. So
very
final.

As if it had been easy for him to walk away. Maybe she hadn't been so wrong after all.

Maybe she'd acted her worst, and he'd decided it wasn't such a bad idea to bail. Who could blame him? She should apologize. But then what?

“Hey.”

Mari screamed. She bolted from her seat and turned to find Daisy standing there in her pajamas. “Daisy, you scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here?”

Her sister shrugged. “Where are the glasses?”

Mari pointed to the cabinet. After choosing one and pouring herself some wine, Daisy sat on the bar stool next to her.

“What's wrong?” Daisy asked, but she had a feeling her sister knew the answer.

“Everything.”

“Sorry I showed up late. My flight was delayed. I...actually, I almost stayed home, but I knew they were coming and—”

“That they'd tell me something either they or you should have told me a while ago?” She wanted to be mad but she couldn't be.

“I've wanted to, so many times. I needed you, Mari. It's been the worst. We idolized them. Thought they...well, you know. It devastated me. Probably the same as you're feeling right now.”

“Impossible. I can't believe you really couldn't find the time to tell me.”

“It was tough. I picked up the phone a dozen times. And the one time I tried was the night you called and told me about Gary...” Daisy paused. “I couldn't put more grief on you. And you're always busy. Before that you were trying to keep your business going, and you and your ex were buying this house. Then you wouldn't answer your phone at all. I got the occasional text. You did the same thing to Mom and Dad. That's no excuse for what they did last night, but they did try to talk to you.”

She thought about how often she'd ignored the calls from her family. She sighed.

“I don't know up from down anymore,” Mari said. “If they can't make it, what hope do the rest of us have?”

“Yep. But these new people they're dating. They're really into them.”

Mari massaged her temples. “I can't get my head around it.”

“If it makes you feel better, I've known longer than you have and I still have a tough time with it.”

“No. That doesn't make me feel better.”

“So who was the hot guy who let me in before he left? Big, handsome absolutely to-die-for.”

Mari groaned. “Brody. Oh, Daisy. I really messed up.” She told her what happened with Brody.

“Wow. Just. Um. Do you think that was the right thing to do? I mean the guy was cleaning up your kitchen when I arrived. Are you sure you want to let that go? And if you do, can I have him?”

If looks could kill, her sister would be dead.

Daisy held up her hands in surrender. “Jeez. I'm kidding. Back down. But I mean, the guy helps you fix up your house. Mom texted me and said she and dad were really taken with him. And then when I got here, he told me he was really grateful. He asked me to look out for you. That doesn't sound like a guy who wants to break up.”

Mari shoved his letter toward her.

“Hmm.” Daisy set aside the piece of paper. “Hold on a minute.”

Her sister left and came back with a small wooden starfish and a card. On the back of the starfish were the words
Mari's floor
. He'd whittled her a sea creature from a piece of her wood flooring.

A lump formed in her throat. It was the most thoughtful gift ever.

“When he was leaving, he first ran across the street and returned with this. He put it in your office and then told me not to say anything. That you'd find it when you were ready.”

Why would the man do something so sweet when she'd basically told him to hit the road? It took everything she had, but she forced herself to open the card. It was for Valentine's Day. The outside said,
Thank you for teaching me what love is.

Mari's eyes blurred and her hands trembled as she tried twice to open the card.

Mari, while I haven't been able to say the words, I do feel them. You've taught me so much the last month. My heart is yours.

I love you,

Brody.

She sobbed. “I'm such an idiot.”

Her sister took the card from her hands and read it. “Yep. You're an idiot.”

* * *

“
L
IEUTENANT
,
THE
CO
wants to see you,” Ben said.

Brody slammed shut the manual he'd been referencing. He'd been working on a new test for the grunts and had come in early to get everything ready so that he could take some leave.

His dad needed him, and Brody wouldn't let him down. And his class was doing better. Ever since the picnic, grades had picked up. The grunts were studying harder. His new emphasis on communication seemed to be paying off. Amazing what a barbecue could do. Perhaps there was something to the CO's team-building initiative.

And then there was Mari. He thought if she read the card that she'd realize how much he cared. Maybe she hadn't been in her office yet. Maybe that's why she hadn't called. He was trying to give her some space, but it was hard.

What did the CO want now? Brody wasn't even supposed to be in today. He was only here to make sure whoever took over the class for the next week had everything they'd need.

Brody contemplated asking for a transfer in the meeting, just in case Mari was serious about the breakup. He wasn't sure he could stand it—staring over at her house every day.

Though it might not be her house for long. He strode down the corridor toward the CO's office. Early this morning he'd noticed the real estate agent's sign in the front yard. It hadn't been there when he'd left her house at midnight.

He knew she had to sell it, but it still irked him. She loved that house. He'd watched her fall in love with it as they completed each room. But she'd told him more than once that she had to get a return on her investment or she'd be in trouble.

Wasn't his problem, she'd made that more than clear. Didn't keep him from worrying about her. The thing with her parents, she shouldn't have to face something like that alone. At least her sister was there.

What he couldn't face was Mari not wanting to have anything to do with him. Maybe his card didn't say what she needed to hear. It had taken everything in him not to go over there and set things straight. When he told his dad what had happened, his father had given him some good advice.

“I'm the last guy to listen to about relationships,” his father had said. “But I did get it right once. With your mother. She was the light of my life. My anchor. I've been lost without her. Ever since she died, I've tried to find someone who was my everything, but I'm worried she was it for me.”

“How did you know Mom was the one?”

“I couldn't imagine a world without her in it,” his dad had said simply.

Wasn't that where he was with Mari? He couldn't imagine his life without her now. But after what had occurred with her parents, how was he supposed to convince her of that? And he'd done his best ever since they'd met to let her know he wasn't the settling-down type.

She thought she was doing them both a favor, but she was wrong.

“I'll let him know you're here. And fair warning, he's in a mood,” the CO's assistant said.

Great. “When is he not?”

The guy smiled as he picked up the phone and pushed the intercom. “Sir, the lieutenant's here.”

“Send him,” the CO grunted.

Keep it together.

“Sir?” He stood at attention.

“At ease,” the CO said and leaned back in his chair. “Take a seat.”

He'd prefer to stand, especially if he was going to get his butt handed to him on a platter.

“How is Mari? Is she feeling better?”

Brody stared at his shoes. “I guess she's doing okay,” he said. How was he supposed to know?

“You
guess
? Eyes up, Marine. Tell me what's going on.”

What was he, some kind of psychologist now? It was none of his business.

“Well?”

“She hasn't talked to me since the party,” Brody replied.

“But I thought she was simply embarrassed about the roast, which no one cared about. That food you ordered was very good.”

Brody cleared his throat. “Sir, it's a personal matter. Other stuff happened with her family last night and she...uh.”

“Yes?” The CO shifted forward. Wow. This was never going to end.

“She decided that it might be best to sever ties with me.” Sever ties?

“She broke up with you because of something that happened with her family? You didn't do anything?”

“I existed.” It was true. He really hadn't done anything but try to care for her. More than he'd ever cared about anyone.

“This
stuff
she went through. Did you offer to help her?”

“Look, sir. She told me to get lost. I didn't think it was a good idea, but I didn't have much choice. She doesn't want me around, so I shoved off. I'm giving her space.”

“Brody...” Odd. The CO had never used his name before. “What you've relayed was probably true at first, but like anything you really want, you have to fight for it with everything you've got. And in my book, you have a tremendous amount. I know I've been rough on you, but I believe in you. So should you.”

Brody was stunned. “But she won't talk to me.”

“Do you care about her?”

“Sir, you don't seem the type to...put your nose in other people's business. This doesn't affect how I'm doing my job, so I don't understand why you feel it's important to—” He wasn't sure how he was going to finish that sentence. He was going to get demoted. Served him right.

The CO shoved a finger toward him. “Marine, I'm not meddling. I'm trying to figure out why one of the best men on my post is requesting a week's leave just as we're coming to the end of grunt training?”

“Sir, my reasons for the leave have to do with my dad.”

The CO stared at him.

Brody sighed. “He has cancer. He needs me to go to Houston with him so they can run more tests. It's a bad situation, sir. And I don't want to go, but my dad—” His voice caught. His dad was scared. He'd realized that during one of their many conversations over the last twenty-four hours. “It's the first time he's asked me for anything.” Well, other than to babysit his stepsiblings. But this was different.

“Well, certainly I'll approve the leave and if you require more time, let me know. Make sure Corporal Petersen has everything he needs to give the final test.”

“Yes, sir, already on it.”

“One more thing, Brody. When you were with Mari, you really buckled down. You became a leader. Your students worked effectively as a team. She is what you needed to become a better man. So figure out how to make Mari feel better because women like that don't come around often. You let her slip through your fingers and I guarantee you'll regret it. I made that mistake once, and if I could go back and change it I would.”

The man wasn't wrong, but what could he do about it?

“Marine, we never leave a man behind. Never. When she needed you the most, you let a few harsh words drive you away. What kind of man does that make you? Not the man I was thinking about promoting.”

No. “Sir, bringing my private life onto the base isn't fair. I'm good at what I do.”