Marrying the Marine-epub (2 page)

Her cheeks flushed. “I love working with Royce. He’s very special to me.”

His eyes lowered to the pecans inside the bowl, then back up to her brown, succulent lips. “Grandma Willa tells me you’re a great cook. From what she says, everyone loves the caramel pecan pies you bake. Is that what the pecans are for?”

She nodded. “Yes. I make them daily and sell them to the local bakeries, restaurants, and a few hair salons.” Her tongue darted over her bottom lips before she sucked it back in.

A naughty vision of him thrashing his tongue with hers entered his mind. He grinned.
I can’t wait to sample your pie
, he thought, thinking the sweet pie between her legs was probably just as sweet as the pies she baked.

A discerning look developed in her caramel pupils. “What pie are you talking about?” her tone was accusatory.

My eyes must’ve said it all. Please don’t let her think I’m a jerk, or a pervert.
Braylon took pride in honoring and respecting women. After all he had a sister and wouldn’t want any man making her feel uncomfortable. In hopes of making the awkwardness stabbing the air vanish, he sought the right words to say. “I’m sorry if I—”

She sighed. “Please don’t take this the wrong way,” she touched her chest in an endearing manner, “while I appreciate everything the men and women in the service have done for this country, I have a hard time befriending Marines. So if I ever seem abrupt, please don’t take it personally,” she said.

Well, damn.
Her brutal honesty stunned him, made his heart clench.
Her ex-boyfriend must’ve been a Marine and broken her heart.
“Why’s that?” 

Shaking her head, the sadness in her eyes grew deeper by the second. Her gaze fell to the ground, then lifted. “I’d rather not talk about it at the moment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go prepare Royce’s lunch.” She reached for Royce’s hand, and helped him to stand. Walking hand in hand, they slowly made their way across the lawn back toward the main house.

“I hope you’ll tell me all about it, someday.” He called after her.

With the hem of her dress blowing around her knees, she glanced back over her shoulder, and gave him a serious stare. Strands of silky black hair brushed against her lips. She turned away.

Braylon ’s curiosity deepened as he watched her step inside the house and disappear.
I don’t know why you feel the way you do about Marines, Sandella. But come hell or high water, I’m going to find out.  I’m going to prove to you that not all the Marines here are complete assholes.

Just as he took a step forward, his grandparents, Drake and Willa, burst through the back door onto the porch. A big smile turned up his grandmother’s lips. “You’re here!” she shouted, waving. “Come a give your grandma a hug!”

ON MONDAY MORNING
, Sandella stood in the doorway of the Wexlers’ mansion waving goodbye to Drake and Willa as they drove off in their silver Bentley, heading for work. Once they were out of sight, she closed the door and headed for the kitchen to make Royce’s breakfast.

She pulled open the refrigerator and grabbed a carton of eggs. She then hefted a pint of milk, a bag of sharp cheddar cheese, and a deep dish pastry shell.
Royce loves my ham, egg, and cheese quiche. Maybe I can offer some to Bray—
As soon as the fine specimen Braylon entered her mind, she tried hard to force the extremely gorgeous man right on out. The last thing she needed was to get involved with some man, especially him, a Marine. What did she care anyway? A man like him would never be interested in a plain, inexperienced virgin like her anyhow.

While whisking the ingredients for the quiche together in a green ceramic bowl, her mind traveled back to her first meeting with Braylon on Friday. Regretting how she’d probably made him feel, she released a soft breath. Why had she been so short with him?

All weekend long she’d beaten herself up for opening up and practically admitting to him that she didn’t trust the Marines in this area. She’d been a fool, and wrong to say such a thing. Quite honestly, as a whole, she thought very highly of the brave strong men and the courageous women, too.

The whisk stilled inside the bowl.
I made such a fool of myself. Braylon probably thinks I’m discriminatory.
Her problem wasn’t with
all
the Marines, just
one
in particular—her mother’s rapist and killer. She along with her brothers and father had good reason to believe a Marine had murdered her mother. Unfortunately, till this day, her mother’s killer had never been captured. For all she knew, that horrible man might still live in the area, or be working on that darn base. Maybe someday, once he was brought to justice, she’d be able to put the past behind her.

They’ll never reopen my mother’s case. Never.
The pain of her mother’s brutal assault threatened to make her cry as if it’d just happened yesterday. As she poured the egg mixture in the pie shell her heart squeezed. She lowered the hatch on the oven and slid the breakfast entree inside.

After pondering over what to do next, she headed to the library to select a heartwarming book to read. Perusing the cherry wood bookshelf inside the antique-filled room, she decided to give a book by Danielle Steel a try. She pulled the hardcover book from the shelf, crossed the room to a window, plopped down on the plush leather couch, and sat reading for nearly an hour.

At the sound of the kitchen buzzer, she lifted her head from the novel. Her eyes spied the clock on the wall.
It’s already been an hour
, she thought, heading for the kitchen to remove the breakfast pie from the oven. She’d been so caught up in the book time had flown by. 

The scent of the buttery pastry sailed into her nostrils as she placed the hot quiche on top of the stove.
Mmm, Braylon is going to love—

An image of Braylon’s gorgeous, olive-complexioned face and hazel brown eyes appeared in her mind’s eye. Her nipples pulled tight against the pink cotton shirt she wore. How could she have an immediate attraction to someone she’d just met? Worse...how could she let a Marine make her feel such a thing?
Dad would die if he knew of this. 

Her heart flopped as she thought about how her father, Kane, would react if he knew she’d allowed a Marine to make her hot just from merely thinking of him. Her father would kill Braylon if he knew she’d been lusting for him. While she might be leery of the military men surrounding the area, her father downright loathed them. 

All these emotions had her in dire need of a walk along the boat dock. She raised a finger to the intercom to call for Royce when, suddenly, he and Adam entered the kitchen.

“Good morning,” Adam said with a polite smile on his dark, salt-and-pepper bearded face.

“Good morning Adam. Good morning Royce.”

Royce nodded. His voice came out quick when he said, “Hi. Sandy.” He rushed over to the dinette table and plopped down in the chair. “Hungry. Eat. Now.” He lifted his fork then smiled at her.

“Breakfast is coming right up, Royce,” Sandella said.

Adam’s eyes landed on the quiche on top of the stove. “That breakfast you made sure looks tasty.”

She smiled. “Thanks. Please have some.”

“I will do just that. You know I loves your cooking, Sandella.”  He patted his round belly. “I’m good and hungry, too.”

She laughed. “Thanks, Adam. If all the men around town were easy to please like you, maybe I wouldn’t be single.” She placed a big slice of quiche on a plate for Royce, and then did the same for Adam. She then poured two glasses of freshly made orange juice and handed the drinks to each of them. 

Adam took a seat at the table across from Royce. “Well there’s a new man in town, a mighty good one if you ask me, and he’s been asking about you already.”

“Who?” she queried.

His brows hitched. “Why, Willa’s grandson, Braylon, that’s who. I’ve known him since he was a baby,” his deep voice came out groggy, “and he seems to have grown into a mighty fine young man.”

Sandella gave her head a light shake. “Oh no. I’m sure you’re misunderstanding. A man like him would never be interested in someone like me.”

He pinned her with the strangest look. “And what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m too bor—”

Adam’s hand flew up, stopping her from uttering another single word. “Stunning.” He waggled the fork at her. “Don’t say negative things about yourself, Sandella. Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you’re beautiful on the inside, too. Any man would be lucky to have someone like you.” He winked. “Any man.” Smiling, he forked the food into his mouth.

Flattered by his compliment, she flushed. “You’re too kind, Adam. Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me, it’s true. One day you’re going to make a mighty fine wife to some lucky man.”

She tilted her head. “Ahh. I don’t know about that, Adam. Do you mind watching Royce for me while I take a short walk?”

“Of course not.”

“Thanks. I won’t be long,” she said, heading for the dock.

THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER,
Sandella opened the back door to the kitchen. Her heart plummeted past her knees when she spotted Braylon sitting at the table enjoying the breakfast quiche she’d made.

When he looked up from his plate and met her gaze, his face split into a handsome grin. She just about melted. He picked up the napkin lying next to his plate, then swiped it over his handsome mouth. “Good morning.”

Anxiety bloomed in her belly as she stepped inside. “Good morning.” She shut the door behind her.

“Adam told me it was okay if I helped myself to the quiche you made. I hope you don’t mind because it’s mighty delicious.” He lifted his glass to sip the freshly squeezed orange juice she’d prepared at the break of dawn.

Her body tingled all over. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Why don’t you join me?” he asked, pulling out the chair beside him for her to sit.

“Maybe some other time I’ll join you, but not right now. I need to go take care of Royce. He’s on a strict routine, and gets agitated easily when he gets off track.”

He leaned back in the chair. Starting with her eyes, his bright hazel gaze lingered down the length of her body. “You said something on Friday that bothered me the entire weekend.”

I made a complete idiot of myself.
“Please accept my apology for being so outspoken. I’m normally not like that.”

He eyed her speculatively. “No apology needed, Sandella. Things happen,” he said, his voice husky. “If you’re available later on today, I’d like to take you to lunch at a nice little seafood place on the ocean I heard about. Are you available?”

He’s so handsome. And masculine.
Braylon’s kind offer enticed her. Tempted to say yes, water filled her mouth, forcing her to swallow. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Thanks anyway.” Without uttering another word, she hastened out of the kitchen. Mounting the staircase, her hands glided along the black, iron railing.
There’s no need to start something you can’t finish
, she convinced herself, heading inside Royce’s bedroom
. 

BRAYLON HEARD
the loud drone of a vacuum cleaner coming from the direction of the library.
Why can’t you join me, Sandella?
Her refusal of his invitation disturbed him because it’d been the first time any woman had done such a thing. Jesus Christ. He hoped like hell he wasn’t losing his touch. He pushed back his chair, stood, and headed toward the humming noise. Just as he rounded the corner into the dim library with burgundy-painted walls, Adam turned off the vacuum cleaner.

“How’s it going this morning, Braylon?” Adam asked, wrapping the cord around the hook.

“My man...you finally stop calling me, sir. Glad it didn’t take you long.” Braylon held out a fist, and Adam bumped it. Because he wanted information on Sandella, he had to think how to approach the situation.

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Yes.” He shut the door to ensure some privacy. “I don’t know how to ask you this other than to just come out and ask. What’s wrong with Sandella?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Between you and me…she and I had a conversation on Friday that has disturbed me ever since. She said that she doesn’t befriend Marines. Was her last boyfriend in the military?” 
Why do I even care?

Adam, old enough to be his grandfather, shook his head. “No. it’s nothing like that. The poor girl has been through a lot. I would tell you, but Sandella and I are very close, and the subject has been off limits for many years.”

Braylon shrugged. “Something horrible must’ve happened.”

“If you stick around long enough, she just may confide in you. But for the time being, try to get better acquainted with Sandella. She’s a mighty fine woman to know.”

“Okay. I think I’ll do that,” Braylon said, admiring the obvious loyalty Adam had for his grandparents as well as Sandella.

With the handle of the vacuum cleaner in his grip, Adam disappeared out into the hallway.

Standing in the center of the library, Braylon’s eyes roved over the many rows of books stacked on the shelves. Willa had enough books to open up her own bookstore. His mother had always said that his grandma’s constant reading is what had made her so smart.

Sensual thoughts of a pretty Sandella flashed inside his brain. He walked over to the book shelf and pulled a white photo album off the hutch. He flipped to the first page to find a photo of his mother and father smiling on their wedding day.
Mom looks so young and beautiful in this picture. Dad looks buff, and happy.  
When he went to replace the album, he spotted a red velvet box to the rear.

Assuming the box held more photos, he grabbed it, then slid the album back on the shelf. He walked over to the chocolate leather couch by the tall bay windows that exposed a beautiful view of the sun shining down on the river. He fell back on the sofa, then kicked off his shoes. He removed the lid on the container, placing it in his lap.

Old newspaper clippings were folded inside the rectangular red box. He reached inside, pulled out a clipping, and unfolded it. His heart grappled at the name printed at the top of the obituary—Sugar Summers.