Surrender: A Little Harmless Military Romance by Melissa Schroeder Read Free Book Online Page B

Just a little woo woo because of my meds. I think I’ll take a nap.”
    He nodded and gave her a kiss. “I’m going to hang out on the couch. Call if you need me.”
    She snuggled down in her bed. Thoughts that Mal would never be interested in someone like her would normally keep her awake, but she hadn’t been lying. The meds were strong, and she wasn’t accustomed to taking anything more than aspirin.
    The last though in her head before she fell asleep was that it would be much better with Mal in her bed with her.
     
    * * * *
     
    Friday, Mal was still playing catch up. It seemed that everything ran on a forty-eight hour cycle at the Pentagon, and the punishment for taking that one day resulted in a week of living hell. He still hadn’t caught up on his email over the last four days. He didn’t regret the decision, and he knew he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
    He glanced at the clock. By the time seven rolled around that evening, he had been at work for thirteen hours, and all he wanted was a break. He had fought his need to call more than once a day to check on Amanda. Taking care of a sick friend was one thing, being obsessed with her health was a little off the mark. Mal knew that her brother was already more than a little curious about his fixation on her. If he called more often, there was a good chance Dylan would figure it out.
    He was shutting down for the night when his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but it was a two one zero, which meant San Antonio, which could be anything since it was the headquarters for the Air Force.
    “Lieutenant Commander Dupree, how may I help you?”
    “Dupree, this is General Simmons, Mandy’s father. I understand you helped her this weekend?”
    For a second, he couldn’t think. Who was Mandy? Then it hit him.
    “Oh, Amanda. Yes, I was still on the roster to be called in case of an emergency.”
    “What is your interest in my daughter?”
    His brain stopped functioning. Mal was accustomed to being ordered to do things. From the time he entered Annapolis, he had thrived on it, but now…well, he was being asked about something he couldn’t figure out himself. And by the father of the woman he had been lusting after.
    He cleared his throat. “Excuse me, sir?”
    There was a pause. “I asked what your interest in my daughter was. Are you dating?”
    “No.”
    “Then why did she call you?”
    “Who are you talking to?” a faint voice said from the background.
    “I’m talking to this Dupree.”
    “Oh, for goodness sake. You know him. He was at Kyle’s funeral.”
    There was some noise of the phone being jostled around and then a soft, southern voice said, “Malachai, this is Francine, Amanda’s mother. How are you doing?”
    “I’m fine.”
    “I am very sorry for my husband. He seemed to have the wrong idea and wanted to call you on the carpet. He’s forgotten he isn’t in the military anymore, and no one has to listen to his orders.”
    He didn’t know what to say to that.
    “Dylan called and said Amanda was okay and you took good care of her. I want to thank you so much. She’s our baby, so we worry.”
    “She’s fine, Mrs. Simmons. She just needs a little rest, and Addy has ensured me that she was going to make sure she took it easy this week.”
    “Good. She doesn’t always rest like she should. I am so thankful you were there to take care of her. She won’t admit it, but she likes to be pampered every now and then. She doesn’t allow for it unless she’s really sick.”
    “I talked to Addy yesterday, and she assured me Amanda was fine.”
    “Yes, but I wanted to thank you personally. Frank and I come into town every now and then, so we would love to meet with you when we come there next month.”
    “Uh…”
    “That is if you aren’t called out to duty. I completely understand.”
    There was going to be no way out of it, he knew. She might speak softly, but he knew any military wife of twenty-five years was not to be