Corpsman and the Nerd (13 page)

“
Not at all. They didn’t
meet until she e-mailed about having his dog.”

“
Really? And they’re married
now?”

“
Yep. Once he came home, it
didn’t take them long to tie the knot. She’s pregnant already. And
they’re both so excited and happy the emotions and displays of love
are nearly sickening.”

“
I see,” Janine said, and KC
caught the speculative look she sent.

“
What?”

“
Wishing for that for
yourself?” A wistful tone KC recognized now mingled in Janine’s
voice.

“
I suppose, but I’d never
steal Lainy’s happiness. She’s a nerd, and waited a long time for
someone like Mitch to come along.”

“
A nerd?”

“
By her own
proclamation.”

“
What’s she do?”

“
She’s an electronics
expert.”

“
Oh? An
engineer?”

“
No. Well, yes, I think she
has a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and a few masters in
mathematics and physics, I think Max said.”

“
Is Max that
smart?”

“
Oh yeah. He’s got an MBA,
but I think he also holds a Ph.D. in business something or other.
He doesn’t use the title Doctor or anything, but I wouldn’t doubt
he’s earned it. He’s utterly brilliant too.”

Janine sent her another speculative
look, but before KC could ask her about it, they reached their
tent. KC was too eager to see what her package contained to wonder
what Janine was currently thinking.

She could worm the information out of
her friend later. After she discovered what Mitch and Lainy had
sent. Normally, she figured only Lainy would have a hand in the
package contents, but Mitch had been here, so she doubted he left
the job entirely up to Lainy.

Ripping off the tape was a satisfying
endeavor and she heard Janine do the same. They looked at each
other and laughed. KC had needed the satisfaction of ripping that
tape. And she figured Janine must have felt the same.

She delved into the Styrofoam peanuts
and came up with – a huge container of cookies. “Oh, yeah,” she
said with a sigh, and tore the lid off. The decadent scent of sugar
and frosting wafted up to her. Janine stopped tugging items out of
her package to come investigate the cookie container with
her.

“
Oh, KC, these are
wonderful.” Janine took another bite and breathed deeply. KC
followed her actions, loving the scent and taste of the cookie as
it nearly melted in her mouth.

“
I was hoping someone in the
Morrison family would send me these!”

“
I already love this
family,” Janine uttered, and closed her eyes as she savored the
next bite.

“
There are a lot of them to
love.” KC grinned. They each selected another of the
treats.

“
Big family?” Janine worked
on her second cookie.

KC nodded, since her mouth was full.
They ate in silence. KC enjoyed the quiet camaraderie she shared
with this woman who had so quickly become a close
friend.

Eventually they returned to
their packages. KC discovered a DVD entitled
Lainy Cooking
. Intrigued, she delved
further into the box and found a note.

Hello KC,

I won’t ask whether it’s
hot there, since I remember very well! Here’s a
DVD
, one of the Morrison Family
Treasures I received while in Kuwait. I really enjoyed this one and
thought you might too. The entire family is together
here.

I thought you might like
to relive how they act when they’re at the lake. Lainy included
some brownies, since this video will make you hungry for them. I’m
sorry in advance for that. And, you’ll want to have already eaten
before you watch. Otherwise...well, you’ll understand once you see
the video.

Hope things are going well
for you. I’m certainly not going to volunteer to return! I like
Hershey, Pennsylvania,
U.S.A
. Lainy wanted me to tell you
that Max and Ryan are doing fine together. They’re getting into
trouble and having a great time. I’m afraid I can’t explain that
any further, sorry.

Max is pretty good with
French fries and hot dogs. I was impressed. I don’t think your kid
will starve! Lainy’s had them over a few times, and I know they’ve
been making the rounds to other rellys for supper too. They’re
fine.

Thinking of you frying
over there with sympathy.

Mitch and Lainy

Grinning, KC turned the DVD over, but
it didn’t tell her anything more. She did bury a hand in the box
again and came up with another container. This one stuffed with the
brownies Mitch promised. Janine wandered back over for a brownie,
and KC set the DVD aside.

She discovered some toiletry
items, which she figured would come in handy. Next she extracted a
packet of pictures.
Lainy has outdone
herself
, KC thought as she flipped through
them. Some of the other women began to trail in from dinner and KC
offered the treats to them.

Janine looked at the pictures with
her, and the others stopped to take a look too. KC found it funny
that they were interested in seeing pictures of people they had
never met before. It was wonderful to see people in clothes not
issued by the United States Navy. She found a really clear shot of
Ryan and passed it around.

“
That’s my son.” KC wished
she could hug him.

“
What a cutie,” Tina said
when passed the picture.

“
He is a gorgeous little
man, KC,” Marie, another nurse, stated.

“
Even though he’s your
brother’s, he looks like you,” Janine remarked in her quiet way and
KC nodded. Ryan was a miniature of Greg though, but since KC and
Greg shared a gene pool and Janine hadn’t met Greg it was easier to
agree.

KC kept flipping through the pictures
and passed more around of Ryan and Spuds playing together, as well
as others of him and the herd. KC couldn’t stop the rush of love
that flooded her, thankful Ryan had been incorporated into the herd
so easily. He and Spuds appeared to be running with them
frequently.

When she turned to the next picture in
the stack, her mouth went dry. It was a picture of Ryan and Spuds,
but Max was in this one too. They were sleeping in a large bed,
probably Max’s. Ryan sprawled on one side of the sleeping man,
Spuds on the other, his little doggie head propped on Max’s
thigh.

But what sucked the moisture out of
her mouth was the firm, masculine, very yummy bare chest of Max
Morrison. One large arm wrapped securely around her son. The other
spread out above his head and was curled in a way that made his
biceps bulge. KC swallowed the extra saliva now flooding her
mouth.

Who knew her nerd possessed a body
like that? He always wore such loose clothing she never noticed
before, but Max was definitely all male.

A scrumptious male, in fact. KC stared
at the picture until it was snatched out of her hand. “Hey!” she
yelped and tried to grab the precious photo back.

“
Who’s the lip-smacking man,
KC? You been holding out on us, girl?” Monique asked, hands on
hips. A very full-figured, amazing, much sought out woman. KC
tamped down on the jealousy rising. She had never acted this way
before.

Since Tina and Marie had been
successful at stealing the picture from Monique and were
practically drooling all over her photo, KC decided retrieving it
was more important than answering the question. Fortunately, Janine
didn’t have any qualms, because she said, “I’d say that’s Max, KC’s
partner and the man caring for her son?” And one perfect eyebrow
rose in silent question.

KC nodded, afraid she might drool all
over the picture she managed to snag while the other girls were
acting like women who had been away from their menfolk a little too
long. There was no way she was sharing Max with them. They’d eat
him raw.

Not that she wasn’t weaving a few
fantasies about him herself, however. She sneakily tucked that
photo under her pillow and continued through the stack. More of Max
and Ryan and Spuds. In some they were laughing, in others, Lainy
had managed to catch Max watching Ryan, his face attentive, alert,
and loving as he traded insults and sports scores with the guys.
Like she had any doubts about Max being the perfect candidate for
having custody of Ryan.

Lainy, genius that she was, had
managed to put into those pictures what words couldn’t express. Had
offered her a much needed feeling of security.

Max had been holding out on her,
though. Never would she have imagined such a buff body on such a
brainac. She had expected him to be lean, but not quite so
muscular. How had she missed his amazing physique?

While the other women finally settled
into their evening activities, KC pondered those times Max’s
strength had been evident. She reflected back to the time he
scooped her out of her chair in the conference room. They had both
been seated, and he had simply leaned over, scooped her up and
plopped her onto his lap. Without breaking a sweat.

Then, when they rescued Sophy from the
tree, Max swung her, KC, up above his head, also without effort and
again no sweat. And KC knew that while she was of average height,
she was also a military woman. She packed some muscle of her own.
No one could accuse her of being a lightweight.

How had she missed Max’s sex
appeal?

A memory of their first morning
together flowed through her mind and she remembered how his beard
stubble had caused unfamiliar flutters to her nervous system. She
hadn’t ever encountered his eyes so lazy or sleepy before. So
sexy.

Why in the world had this new
awareness happened now?

Was she thinking these thoughts
because she longed for a father for Ryan? And Max, by default, had
the qualifications? Or was her new responsiveness solely because
she never truly saw the real Max Morrison before?

Another thought rose like a
striking cobra. What if she suddenly did have these weird feelings
for Max and he didn’t or couldn’t share them? What if she wanted
him, but he didn’t want her?
They were
only business partners, and friends
, a
little voice reminded her. Max Morrison was her best friend. Could
she risk ruining their relationship? A life without Max filled her
with terror.

She could and did tell him everything.
They knew practically all there was to know about each other. Or so
she assumed. Because she certainly had never known of that firm,
muscle packed chest. And being a woman who was quite attracted to
men with gorgeous chests and big arms, she was pretty much a
goner.

Max
would not
appreciate her slobbering
all over him. Then again, this was Max. He probably wouldn’t
notice. KC had to laugh at her own stupid musings. If he did
notice, he’d delight in teasing her. He wouldn’t be awkward or
embarrass either of them. Then he’d make her laugh.

Chalk up another of Max’s best
characteristics. He made her laugh, and he was the smartest man she
knew. He loved her son and had a huge family he willingly shared
with her. Now she discovered he was hot.

Max Morrison, a hunk in hiding.
Hmmm.

It would have been nice to know this
before several thousand miles, multiple time zones, and numerous
countries separated them.

Chapter 17

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Subject: Glad you’re
feeling better!

Hello KC,

I was relieved to read
your latest e-mail. I’ll admit to being a little concerned about
your state of mind, so the newest note eased me. You did have me
worried. Since becoming a “parent”, I find I worry now. I’m NOT
thankful for this, in case you were wondering!

But, I’m tough, so I’ll
just bear it. As usual.... ahem.

Lainy said she mailed you
a package? I hope you got it. Mitch has mentioned often about how
receiving a big box in the mail made his week. Maybe he’s just more
mercenary than you. Who knows?

Ryan is adjusting well. He
did ask me why you hadn’t come home yet. (That was a tough
question, since I’ve been fighting with that myself.)

How in the world do you
explain to a five-year-old that his mommy is fighting a
war?

I, of course, called the
source of all information. She invited us to dinner. I love my mom!
She’s the best. After she fed us, (did I mention she’s wonderful?)
she and Granpy took Ryan aside and explained to him where you
are.

I didn’t listen in on the
conversation. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I was
somehow roped into doing dishes. Before I knew it, Mitch and I were
tied into aprons, (try to picture Mitch in a frilly yellow apron,
it was funny!) and up to our elbows in suds. Not a pretty picture,
but we did initiate a quick water fight. (Might as well have fun if
you’re going to work.) I won, by the way.