Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2) Read online

“Graciella, I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that. It popped out. I feel like a moron.”

  Santos came back, holding her bag out. “Here it is.”

  She took it and faced Cluny. “We have to leave now. The studio re-opens at two.”

  “Let me pick you up tomorrow. I’ll bring the van. There’s plenty of room for the four of us and anything we need to bring. Please.”

  “Oh, boy!” Santos’s innocent eyes widened. “That sounds like fun. What time should Macfearsome and Amber come tomorrow?”

  Clearly torn as to what her answer should be, Graciella shifted her feet and pushed the strap of her large cloth bag higher on her shoulder.

  Cluny jumped in. “How about ten thirty? I’ll bring lunch. Amber has an extra belly board Santos can use.” He put on a sincere face and pleaded with his eyes. Jesus, he prayed, please, I didn’t plan to spoil whatever this could be with a thoughtless comment.

  She gazed deep into his eyes. “All right. We’ll be ready at ten thirty. I’ll supply the beverages. We really do have to leave now.”

  Relief flowed through him for the bullet he’d managed to dodge. “Great. Good. Come, Queen.” He held the door of the studio for them and waited while she locked it. He murmured a soft, “Oh, ah, I left a dumb message on your home phone. Sorry.”

  “What’s Macfearsome sorry about now, Mama?” Santos’s childish question trailed behind them and hung in the suddenly suffocating air surrounding Cluny. He couldn’t make out her answer.

  * * *

  She shouldn’t have had such a silly knee-jerk reaction to Cluny’s playful comment. The ugliness of last night’s scene with Krystal slammed her full force. She was reaching an impasse with her sister-in-law. Krystal grew more strident in her racist comments every time they encountered her. She’d been avoiding Lillian and Earl for the past few weeks because she didn’t want to encounter Krystal. Her sister-in-law’s schedule was erratic, and Graciella was never sure when she’d be at her parent’s home. She’d call Lillian and invite them to have dinner with her and Santos.

  Santos’s happy talk about the planned trip to the beach didn’t end until he took his first bite of lunch. “Aren’t you eating, Mama?”

  “I’m not very hungry. I’ll have a piece of fruit and a glass of milk. That’ll hold me until dinner time.”

  Should she have agreed to go to Zuma tomorrow? Her heart told her Cluny McPherson was interested in more than a trip to the beach, and that was a dead end. She liked him. Liked him more than any man she’d met in years. Often, decent men she met would show an interest and invite her for dinner, but she always turned them down politely and with the unmistakable finality that she was unavailable. Some of those men she would have welcomed as friends, but true friendship between a man and a woman? A rare creature, a modern day fiction, to be sure. Why take the risk? She’d set Cluny straight tomorrow.

  “Mama, why was Auntie Krystal so mad last night when she saw Macfearsome at our house? She doesn’t even know him. I was sad when she was mean to him.”

  “I don’t know. I wish I understood her.” She finished her milk. “Time to get back to our samba school. Brush your teeth and see if you can find the CD you’re going to use for the kid’s class at the end of the week.”

  She waited until he ran off to the bathroom then picked up her cell phone and called Marvin’s parents. “Hello, Lillian? How are you, dear?”

  “We’re fine, Graciella. We haven’t heard from you and Santos for too long. Is everything all right?”

  “Yes. We’ve been busy since school let out for the summer. I’m taking Santos to the beach whenever I can get away from classes. Would you and Earl be free to come to dinner on Thursday evening?”

  “Let me take a look at Krystal’s shooting schedule this week. I’ll see if she’s available.”

  “No…um…Lillian. I’d prefer if you and Earl came alone. Krystal dominates the conversation, and I know Santos wants to visit with you and his grandfather. Tell you about his activities and plans for the summer.”

  Lillian didn’t answer for a couple of moments. “What should I tell Krystal?”

  “Is it necessary to say anything?” The way Krystal had bullied her parents unsettled Graciella. Lillian and Earl could make their own decisions.

  “She’ll wonder where we’re going for the evening. She worries about us driving after dark.”

  More likely she didn’t want them out from under her thumb. Lillian and Earl were barely into their mid-sixties, both healthy and robust with all their faculties and abilities intact. Krystal had become more controlling every year since Earl had retired. Graciella sensed the stress in her mother-in-law’s voice.

  “Lillian, it’s only four miles. Earl is a good driver, but I’d be happy to pick you up if you’d like.”

  “I’m being silly, dear. Of course we’d like to share a meal with you and our grandson Thursday evening. Earl promised him a new fielder’s mitt. I’ll have him pick one up and bring it. We’ll get the men out of the house so you and I can have a gabfest.”

  “That sounds wonderful. Plan on coming at five. It doesn’t get dark until after seven, so that will give them plenty of outdoor time. You can keep me company while I finish dinner.”

  “All right, dear. We’ll see you on Thursday at five. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me too, Lillian.”

  Santos held the CD aloft. “I found it. It was in my room. Was that Grandma?”

  “Grandma and Grandpa are coming for dinner on Thursday.”

  “Grandpa promised to take me to a Dodger game this summer. He said it would be men only, no women allowed.”

  Graciella chuckled. “I suspect he doesn’t want me to see all the junk the two of you will be eating all afternoon.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Tuesday morning debuted with a typical June gloom overcast sky. Low-hanging clouds blocked out the sun, putting a chill in the air. Cluny shrugged. Doesn’t bode well for a day at the beach. He pulled up to the Dempsey house and waved at Amber waiting impatiently on the front porch.

  She waved and hopped off the porch when he parked the van. She ran to greet him. “DD made Declan laugh this morning.”

  “Nah. That microscopic mutt makes me laugh, but week-old babies don’t laugh.”

  “They do too. Come in and I’ll show you. Anyway, he’s not like a regler baby. He’s rill smart.” She tugged his hand. “Hurry up.”

  “You’re one bossy little girl.”

  Dwayne met them at the door with a steaming mug in his hand. “Doesn’t look like beach weather.”

  “What’re you doing hanging around the house so late? Still recovering from the birth of your son?” Cluny teased.

  Marla’s voice called from inside, “Come in, Cluny. He was just leaving. Do you have time for a cup of coffee with me?”

  He shouldered past Dwayne, giving him a little extra bump on the way inside. “I never pass up coffee with a beautiful woman.”

  Dwayne snorted.

  Declan reclined in his carrier on the floor next to Marla’s feet. She threw her mass of strawberry blond hair over her shoulder and held up the pot. “Amber, would you get Uncle Cluny a cup from the cupboard?”

  Cluny smiled at Dwayne’s wife. She wore faded yoga pants, bunny slippers, and an oversize sweatshirt without a smidgen of makeup on her face. He winked at the sour expression on his old buddy’s face and chuckled when she puckered for his kiss. “You can leave now, Gunny. I’ve got everything handled here.”

  Amber set the cup on the table. “I’m going to get DD and prove Declan can laugh.” She opened the kitchen door and called the tiny mutt.

  Dwayne grinned. “You gotta see this.”

  Amber went to the baby carrier and knelt. She placed DD between the baby’s legs, and Marla’s Yorkie commenced to lick Declan’s chin and hands. First a giggle, then genuine laughter poured from the kid’s mouth. His fat little body bounced, and his arms waved like a signalman on the deck of an aircraft carrie
r.

  Dwayne and Cluny exploded with laughter, startling the infant. He wailed pitifully, and Amber leaned in to him, cooing and snuggling until he stopped.

  “I told you, dint I?” Her pixie face screwed up with satisfaction.

  “I’ll be da…danged.” He corrected himself in time to avoid another language scolding from his goddaughter.

  Dwayne leaned in to kiss Marla. “Gotta run, honey. I’m only working until two today, so you relax and I’ll take care of dinner and the laundry tonight.”

  Cluny gagged. “You are so whipped, pal.”

  Dwayne grinned. “Your envy is showing, pal.” He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. “Walk me to the truck, Cluny. I need to ask you something.”

  What was this all about? Surely Dwayne couldn’t think he had any designs on Marla. He knew better than that. He took his cup and followed.

  When they got to the Big D truck, Dwayne turned. His brow wrinkled. “Did you ever meet Ollie Williams?”

  “Sure, but it’s been a few years, why? He must be retired by now. I know he did way more than twenty with the Navy.”

  “He came to me looking for a job yesterday. Said the wife was going to kill him if he didn’t get out of her hair.” A smile twisted Dwayne’s lips. “Can’t say I blame her, a little of Ollie goes a long way.”

  Cluny remembered the old Navy Chief with the foghorn bellow and gruff personality. “Doesn’t he live in San Diego? Why would he be looking around here for a job? How old is he?”

  “Can’t be more than sixty. He and his wife moved into half of a duplex his son owns in Thousand Oaks. They get free rent for managing the property and sitting with the grandkids after school. The old bastard can fix anything.”

  “You gonna hire him?”

  “I don’t need anybody, but aren’t you looking to take on a man for routine maintenance work?”

  “Yeah, I posted an ad for a plumber. I want to go after more new construction contracts. We can’t keep up with the little stuff. We work off customer referrals, and I can’t afford to jeopardize that loyalty by turning down too much work. But, Ollie? I don’t know, man. I might kill him myself.”

  “I know what you mean.” Dwayne chuckled and unlocked the truck. “Think about it. If you want his number let me know. I didn’t tell him you were looking, but I think he’d be interested.” He pointed up. “Fog’s burning off.”

  Cluny glanced at his watch. “Yep, it’s time to round up Amber and get going. I’ll think about Ollie and talk to you when we get back today. Am I invited to dinner?”

  “Always.” Dwayne fired up the engine and put the truck in reverse. “Later.”

  Back on the porch Cluny gathered up Amber’s belly boards and the stack of towels next to them. “Amber! Get a move on. Time to go.”

  She came to the door carrying Declan. “Just a minute, Mom’s on the phone.”

  He held out his arms. “Let me hold him.” He lifted the baby and grinned into his fat little face. “How’s it going, scrapper?” The kid looked just like Dwayne except for the red fuzz on his head. His eyes were darker than the day he was born, so maybe they wouldn’t stay as blue as his dad’s.

  Marla reached the door. “Here’s Mama.” She took him from Cluny and nuzzled his face.

  “We’re off then,” he said. “We’ll be back before dark.”

  “Have fun. Amber, did you remember the sunscreen?” Marla raised her brows. “Make sure she puts on more when she gets out of the water, Cluny. If she gets out of the water.”

  “Check.”

  * * *

  “They’re here.” Santos ran through the front door, holding his towels.

  “Oh, no you don’t!” Graciella said. “Take the cooler out to the van and come back for those. It’s too much for me to carry in one trip.”

  Cluny entered the apartment. “Tote goat reporting for duty, ma’am.” His happy grin and blue eyes melted any tension she’d felt about seeing him again after yesterday’s little upset. “I’ll carry the cooler.”

  “You’re right on time.” She returned his smile and handed over the big ice chest. “I’ll get the rest. The blanket and umbrella are still in the trunk of my car.” She retrieved her hat and large beach bag, locked the door to the apartment, and followed them.

  Santos scanned the parking area. “Where’s Amber?”

  “She took Queen to visit the vacant lot across the street.” He lifted his chin in the direction of the van. “There she is.” He turned to Graciella. “Everything OK?”

  “Yes. I’m glad you twisted my arm to do this.” This quiet, big man was good for her. Good for her son. “Santos has been up since the crack of dark.” She laughed. “I worry he might grow up to be a beach bum.”

  “What this world needs is more beach bums and fewer combat troops. He’s a good kid. He’ll choose his path. You’ve done a great job.” He loaded the chest into the van through the open back doors. “You kids be sure and fasten those seat belts. Amber, hook Queen’s harness to the ring or she’ll slide around on that slick upholstery.” To Graciella he said, “Sorry. This heap’s not very fancy, but it gets the job done.”

  “You have it for work, right?” Was he worried she’d think less of him because he drove a utility van? “Doesn’t need to be fancy, just reliable.” He opened the passenger door and held it while she climbed in. “Thank you, Cluny.” He’d avoided touching her. She was disappointed because even the brush of his hand warmed her in places she’d ignored for so long she’d forgotten the sensations. What happened to not wanting more than friendship from him?

  He held a strong, callused hand out to her. “Give me your keys and I’ll get the blanket and umbrella from your car.”

  How would his hand feel on her bare skin? She blinked. “I’m glad you remembered. Between my front door and here I’d already forgotten about it.” She dug in her bag and found the keys.

  He winked and smiled, sending her heart racing. “Be right back.”

  She needed to tread carefully here, very carefully. “You kids all buckled up?”

  They nodded and grinned back at her. Both of them had a hand on Queen’s neck. She’d have sworn the dog smiled.

  Cluny tossed the blanket and umbrella in the back of the van. “All set? Did anybody forget anything? Last minute pit stop before we go?”

  “Get in, Uncle Cluny. We’re ready. We can pee in the ocean.”

  Graciella grinned at Amber’s comment. “Why not? The fish pee in there.”

  * * *

  Her lighthearted comment wasn’t missed by Cluny. Graciella’s mood was nothing like yesterday when she’d dismissed him so abruptly. He was curious about Krystal Jefferson and the tension between the two women, but for now he’d avoid the subject and leave her to tell him what she wanted him to know. He wouldn’t do anything to change her happy mood.

  Amber and Santos talked about baseball. Cluny had encouraged her to join the park league he coached during the summer. Both boys and girls were welcome on the city park teams, and the emphasis was on fun and teamwork. A natural athlete like her father, Amber took to most sports, but she’d been nagging Dwayne to pay for gymnastics camp.

  “I told my daddy I wanted to learn gymnastics. He told me it cost too much, but if I got mostly A’s in fifth grade he’d pay for gymnastics camp next summer.”

  “Don’t you get A’s now?” Santos wondered.

  “A’course. I get rill good report cards already. I heard him tell Mom having babies cost a lot of money. I bet that’s the rill reason.”

  Cluny glanced at Graciella. She smiled and pressed her lips together.

  He nodded to the distance. “What a sight!” The slopes in front of a hillside home up ahead flared with breathtaking amethyst of blooming ice plant.

  Graciella gasped. “When we drove this way a few days ago it had barely started blooming. It takes my breath away. Santos, look to the right. Isn’t that something?”

  “It’s the exact same color as your new bathrobe
, Mama.”

  Cluny’s heart raced at the thought of how she’d look in that robe with her smoky golden complexion and brown eyes. Chances were he wouldn’t have that pleasure anytime soon, if ever. He needed to get a handle on his attraction to her. The last thing he wanted to do was rush, scare her off before they had a chance to get comfortable with each other. He wasn’t sure how far he wanted this to go.

  Fifty minutes after they left her apartment, he turned into the large parking area at Zuma beach behind a lifeguard tower. “OK, troops, let’s figure out how to get all this stuff to a good spot without making two trips.”

  He put Queen’s service vest on her, and she sat patiently while they portioned out who would carry what. “Atten’hun, for’ard harch!” He took the lead and they followed like a squad of raw recruits until he stopped at a nice flat stretch of sand. “Halt!”

  Amber and Santos screamed with laughter, and Graciella shook her head. He snapped out the big blanket, spread it, and pointed. “Towels here, picnic basket there, cooler on the other side. Snap to, soldiers.”

  “You’re funny, Macfearsome.” Santos set a smaller blanket and towels in the spot Cluny’d indicated and lifted the folded umbrella. “Where should I put this, Captain?”

  “That’s Sergeant to you, jarhead. Troops are dismissed. Smear on some sunscreen and take Queen for a swim.”

  They peeled off their T-shirts and stood impatiently while Cluny and Graciella applied sunscreen to their backs and arms, then they grabbed the belly boards and ran to the water. Queen barked and galloped alongside them. To avoid a confrontation with the lifeguard, Cluny had waved, pointed to her vest, removed it, and gave her permission to go. You knew summer was finally here when the lifeguard towers were manned from early morning until dusk.

  Cluny opened the large umbrella and placed it to give maximum shade on the blanket. Graciella pulled her beach caftan over her head, and his heart nearly stopped at the sight of her in a bikini. Her long slender arms and legs were in precise proportion to her sleek dancer’s hips and torso.