Heart of a Marine (The Wounded Warrior Series Book 1) by Patty Campbell Read Free Book Online

and retrieved the ice-green bottle. “That’s what I told them. Rosie likes it that I built the house. I think that’s what sealed the deal for them.”
    Marla reached for the juice glass he held. “I owe you one.”
    He speculated on various ways he’d enjoy collecting his debt. None of which he could say out loud because there was a child in the house. But that didn’t stop him from imagining how Marla would look if he ever managed to get her naked. He cleared his throat and turned toward the sink. “Have a seat. I’ll grab the salad and get the bread from the warming oven.”
    “Isn’t this the old Crocker house? I vaguely remember attending a Fourth of July party here one summer when I was a kid.”
    “Yes. I swapped it for a vacation cabin I built in Montana. Old man Crocker decided he wanted to go fishing as much as possible after he retired. They have a small condo in San Diego to escape the winters. I palled around with their son, Ryan. Do you remember him?”
    “Ryan! Oh, my gosh, yes. We were in the same class at Spring Grove High. He got married last year. I think he manages the Ace Hardware store Simi Valley.”
    “He owns it. I give him a lot of business.”
    Dwayne set a bowl of salad in the center of the table and put three different bottles of dressing next to it. Amber skipped into the kitchen with Marla’s mouse in her wake.
    “Sit down, sweetheart. Do you want milk or lemonade?”
    “Milk.” She turned her gaze to Marla. “Can Skipper have some?”
    “Afraid not, honey. I’ll give him his regular food and put a spoonful of macaroni on top. That way he’ll think he’s getting the same thing we are. Dwayne, do you have a small bowl or saucer I can put some kibble in?”
    He took a sauce dish from the cupboard. “Here you go.”
    Marla dumped the contents of a plastic snack bag in the bowl. When Dwayne set the steaming casserole on the table he dropped a spoonful on top the kibble.
    “Better let it cool a minute.”
    Marla took a deep, appreciative sniff of the macaroni. “No kidding. It smells so good he’d wolf it right down the minute I set it on the floor.”
    The minute he sat, Amber said, “I get to say grace.”
    “Hey, it’s my turn.”
    “You can have two turns in a row.”
    “Promise?”
    She clasped her hands and bowed her head. “Thank you for Daddy’s good macaroni and cheese, God, and please tell him to get me a new mom and especially a dog. Amen.”
    Dwayne and Marla eyed each other and smiled. He winked and ruffled Amber’s hair. “You’ll have a dog one of these days. I promise. Soon as you’re old enough to take responsibility.”
    Amber dropped her cheeks to her fists. “You always say that.”
    “Elbows off the table, miss.” Dwayne dished up a portion of the macaroni for her and added a spoonful of salad. “Eat all your salad and I’ll let you have ice cream for dessert.”
    She pulled a long face and stuck out her tongue. “Yucky. It’s green.”
    He turned to Marla. “As you may have guessed, Amber has taken a dislike to anything green.”
    “Charlene’s the same way. Except for greenbacks.”
    He loved her quick retorts. She laced her comments with a tinge of sarcasm, but they never smacked of meanness. Maybe one of these days they could have a real conversation. She just needed to relax.
    He’d ease off on the teasing. He hadn’t understood before Friday night how she had misinterpreted his remarks. While he’d been clumsy but sincere, she’d thought he was poking fun at her. That would stop as of now.
    He extended a warning hand. “Amber, that’s hot. You’d better blow on it first.” Dwayne blew on his macaroni.
     
     
     
    Marla blew on hers. Then she blew on the dog’s dish and tested the noodles with her finger. “Oh boy, Skip. You’re in for a treat.” She set the dish on the floor between her and Amber. “Watch how fast this disappears.”
    Amber giggled when the treat was gone the instant Marla set it down. “He’s a