Corpsman and the Nerd by D.R. Grady Read Free Book Online

comment to one of his brother’s backs.
    The next one to leave the house, a
brother-in-law, Greg, wrapped an arm around his neck and tried to
give him a noogie. Max broke the hold with ease and lightly punched
the offender.
    “ What was I thinking?” Mitch
shook his head and wandered out the door.
    “ You were thinking about how
cute my sister is,” Max yelled after him.
    Mitch turned with a huge grin. “That’s
right. It’s all coming back to me now. When I finally get finished
furnishing your house with KC’s things while she gets to go to
Kuwait,” and he shuddered, not a good sign, “I’ll go home to my
wife.” He started to whistle.
    KC frowned before turning to Max.
“That shudder in relation to Kuwait was alarming.”
    “ Yeah, but you’ll be home in
eight months,” Max said, and draped a casual, friendly arm over her
shoulders. It was reassuring to feel that familiar weight and she
leaned into him for a moment, savoring his warmth and familiar
scent.
    Then she pushed away and
returned to her car to unload more boxes. She was going to Kuwait,
and she would return. She had to. Too many were anticipating her safe
return. Plus, she had a son to raise.
    *****
    “ That’s the last box.” Will
peered around the doorway.
    “ Thanks,” Max replied as he
and Ben worked at maneuvering her grandmother’s table through the
door. Will hurried forward and adjusted the unyielding hunk of wood
and the three men worked together so they could place it in Max’s
empty dining room. They added boards so it fit the
space.
    “ Perfect,” Ben commented as
he surveyed the room.
    KC had to agree with him. The honey
oak table did look wonderful in the large, airy space with a
lighted ceiling fan and built-in cupboards she had painted a darker
green to match the pale sage walls. And it went perfectly with the
oak hutch Max had inherited from some family member. If she wasn’t
mistaken, the piece was a family heirloom, just as her table was.
Her grandmother’s table had always looked a little out of place in
her tiny eat-in kitchen. Here it finally graced a room worthy of
its magnificence.
    “ It does look good, and I
can’t believe my table matches your hutch so well.” Upon further
inspection she turned to Max. “A hutch which is decidedly empty,”
she murmured with an arched brow. It was the only piece of
furniture in the room since Max moved in months ago, until
now.
    “ Well, yeah. I have dishes
in the kitchen, but there didn’t seem to be much point in getting
fancy ones when I didn’t have a dining room table.” He shrugged and
set the last matching chair in place.
    “ Well, now you have a table
and dishes, if I’m not mistaken.” A woman’s voice wafted from
behind them.
    “ Lainy ,” KC exclaimed and rushed to hug her as Lainy plunked a small
box down on the table.
    Lainy returned the hug and when they
parted, KC stared at her friend, noticing her happy glow. Some came
from the pregnancy, she figured, but a good portion also came from
being a woman who loved and was loved in return.
    “ Hello, KC. I see my brother
has managed to utilize every one of your possessions.” Laugher rang
in Lainy’s voice.
    Her husband Mitch stood behind her,
and KC again felt that wisp of envy at the love in his eyes as he
looked at his wife. Max must have missed the moment because he
swept his sister into his arms for a tight, but gentle hug, and
then he ruined the effort by smacking her bottom.
    “ You know, brat, I don’t
remember inviting you.” His tone remained
conversational.
    “ I had to come and pick up
Mitch. He rode with Will and Ed early this morning.” Lainy looked
so happy she could get work as a light bulb. “I stopped by Will and
Rachel’s house. Since Treeny was there, I had to eat breakfast with
her and Rachel.”
    KC watched as Ben stilled. “Why didn’t
Treeny come?” KC asked so Ben wouldn’t be put on the
spot.
    Lainy darted a quick look at Ben
before smiling at KC. “She intended