Corpsman and the Nerd (25 page)

Max paused at that section and frowned
at the computer. Was KC trying to say something there? Or was this
wishful thinking on his part? Did she realize the longing he got
from that one little paragraph?

“
Do you want to be married
and expecting your next child by this time next year, KC?” he
muttered, hearing the poignancy in his voice, knowing that’s
what
he
wanted.

He wanted to see a ring on her finger
matching his and her belly swollen with their next child. How he
longed for that. Ryan would be six, and he was well past the age
where he needed a sibling.

Max couldn’t imagine another man
raising Ryan. That little boy was his. Just as Ryan’s mother was
his. Sitting back in his chair, Max contemplated how he could
convince KC of that. From some of her emails, he wondered if she
felt the same way, because some of her notes came across like she
also believed they belonged together.

When he couldn’t summon answers, Max
picked up where he left off in her email.

Ben told me this is
probably only going to be an overnight trip for him. He expects to
meet up with his team tomorrow, and then they’ll be off again.
Which is sad, but the way of military life. At least I’ve got him
for today. I think he’s as happy to see me as I am to see
him.

I did speak with some of
the other doctors here, and Ben, and we’ve decided to risk using
our cell phones today. We’re going to leave the site and try. So
everyone who wants to can contact their families today. It’s
doubtful the signal will interfere with our equipment as far away
as we’re intending to go.

So, stick by the phone.
I’ve got your parent’s number programmed in my phone, compliments
of Lainy, so we’ll try calling once Ben wakes up. Although, we’ll
probably try calling your phone from Lainy first. (Please have it
turned on, but we’ll try your parent’s number if you don’t. I
intend to find you today!)


Ben’s enjoyed my newest
cookie supply as much as I have. And he got a kick out of the
brownies Lainy frosted specially for the holidays!

I miss and love
you!

KC (and Ben says to say
hi!)

We’ll call
later!

Leaning back in his chair, Max
contemplated this potential opportunity to speak with KC. He hoped
they wouldn’t have trouble sending the calls through, and was
thankful for the opportunity to talk to Ben too. There was an added
bonus in Ben being with KC. If they had technical difficulties,
well, a Navy SEAL shouldn’t have any trouble handling them. Max’s
heart lurched at the thought that he might speak to KC
today.

It had been a long time since he heard
her voice. He planned to savor the moment, because heaven only knew
when the next opportunity might arise. The holidays truly were a
time for making precious memories, but Max found he couldn’t wait
until they were over.

He was looking far more forward to the
time when he could hold KC in his arms again.

Chapter 32

“
Ben, I’d like you to meet
one of my roommates, Dr. Janine Morris. Janine, this is Max’s
cousin, Ben Morrison,” KC introduced them, and then cocked her
head.

Something was wrong. Not with Ben, he
seemed as laid back and natural as usual. But Janine was staring at
Ben with an odd expression. KC hoped her friend wasn’t about to
fall for him, because everyone knew Ben had feelings for Rachel’s
sister, Treeny.

Certainly, Ben would be gentle with
Janine’s heart, but her new friend falling for him didn’t seem
quite right, either. While she appeared startled, she didn’t have
that lustful look in her eyes the other women on base had
exhibited. KC continued to watch, still not able to pinpoint the
situation.

Janine had gone slightly pale, she
noticed. Alarm began building, and she stared between the two. She
finally noticed something. Janine reminded her of Max, yes, but
physically, she looked an awful lot like... Ben. Both were tall and
statuesque. Both were lean, with the same color skin, and KC
noticed in surprise, the same shaped eyes. Janine’s were amber,
while Ben’s were a darker brown, but the shape was
identical.

And Janine’s last name was Morris,
while Ben’s adopted name was Morrison. KC saw that Ben had begun to
pick up on their reactions. “Something wrong ladies?”

“
Ben, may I assume you were
adopted?” Janine’s musical island cadence came through clearly,
something KC noticed when Janine was tired or especially
emotional.

“
I am,” he answered, and
looked Janine over more thoroughly this time.

“
He’s very much a Morrison,”
KC felt compelled to add.

“
I’m sure he is. Perhaps
it’s coincidence I’ve been looking for my brother, who was adopted
at age four or five. I’ve been able to trace him as far as
Pennsylvania, and you’re from that state, right?”

KC couldn’t stop her gasp. No wonder
they looked alike. If Ben and Janine were siblings... This would
explain Janine’s odd reaction.

“
Now wait a minute,” Ben
said, looking at Janine a bit suspiciously. “You think I might be
your brother?”

“
Yes. I believe you
might
be my brother. If
so, you’re my only living relative.” Janine’s voice hadn’t risen,
but the silken cadence was strong. She sounded more intense than KC
had ever heard from her before and they’d endured some demanding
times here.

“
Why do you think I could be
your brother?” KC noted the suspicion sounded like it was leaking
out of Ben’s voice, while confusion appeared the most dominant
emotion now.

“
How old are you,
Ben?”

“
I’m
thirty-four.”

“
I’m thirty-three,” Janine
said and cocked her head. “We should be eleven months apart if
we’re siblings.”

“
My birthday is in
November,” he said.

“
And mine is in
October.”

That certainly indicated they were
eleven months apart, KC concluded to herself.

“
Were you born on the
tenth?” Janine asked, and her body exuded an intensity and power
that roiled off her in noticeable waves.

“
Yes,” Ben said dumbly. He
looked dazed, and KC reached out to squeeze his hand. He squeezed
back, but she didn’t know whether it was in thanks for her support
or simply an automatic reflex.

Janine nodded. “I’m not saying we’re
siblings, although it looks likely.”

Ben stared at her for a moment. “I
already have three sisters.”

“
And a million cousins,” KC
said dryly, trying to alleviate some of the tension hovering in the
air and his lips quirked.

He squeezed KC’s hand again. “And a
million cousins,” he repeated.

“
Do you have any records of
your birth family?” KC reached out and touched Janine’s arm. One
slender, elegant hand topped hers and squeezed and KC felt a sense
of awe at this newest discovery.

“
There’s very little
information, which is why it’s been so difficult locating my
brother.”

“
If you don’t have family,
who’s been sending you packages?” KC wondered.

“
Some of the women at the
hospital where I’ve worked since completing my residency. They’ve
adopted me of sorts.” Janine didn’t take her eyes off
Ben.

“
Oh.” KC blinked. After
being tugged into the Morrison family, she forgot what it was like
to not have family. “Wait until the Morrisons adopt you. You’ll
wonder how you ever got on in life.”

Ben chuckled. “I’m a Morrison, Janine.
I look just like my grandfather. Granted, my skin is much darker
than his, but he and I are nearly the same person.”

KC nodded vigorously. “They are the
same person, only one’s older than the other. It’s
scary!”

“
Is not,” Ben refuted and
she reached out to play punch him. He blocked the blow easily, and
clucked her under the chin. In a manner so similar to Max, she
nearly cried. The moment was already intense enough, so she blocked
the thought, because she wasn’t going to be the first to give into
the swirling emotions.

“
It’s very possible we are
Morrisons. Have you noticed that my last name is Morris? Isn’t that
odd?” Janine asked.

KC and Ben stared at her. That was
absolutely true. Mere coincidence or something more?

“
Let’s go call my mom,” Ben
finally said and the three of them looked at one another, before
they grabbed the equipment they needed and made for a military
vehicle.

KC thought longingly of Max and how
she would love to be able to call him first and tell him everything
they’d just discovered. But right now, this other Morrison family
needed contacting. KC didn’t doubt the outcome of the conversation,
though.

Even if Janine proved to have no blood
ties, she still would be melded into the Morrison family. She’d
still become a Morrison, regardless of her heritage. They would
feel for her orphan status, and yank her in, and she would probably
end up marrying a Morrison relative or consort. That’s the way this
family worked.

She thought again of Max and abruptly
halted those thoughts. Because she desperately wanted those same
things, but they currently dangled just out of her
grasp.

KC watched Ben’s face as he dialed his
parent’s number. He looked composed and perfectly normal. She
expected this of a Navy SEAL, but she also knew him well enough to
guess that his insides weren’t so calm. He didn’t shake when he
finished pressing in the numbers and hit the send
number.

“
Happy Christmas, Mom, this
is Ben,” he said before she heard excited chatter erupt over the
line.

Grinning, she raised her hand to cover
her mouth, but he caught her gesture and rolled his eyes. This
woman was so like Max’s mom, even though they were sisters-in-law,
not true sisters.

“
I’m with KC, you remember
Max’s partner? Yeah, I’m with her at a Field Site. She’s fine. Yes,
we took today off. No, we didn’t get a decent meal, but we’re fine.
The bakers came through and she has a huge batch of treats she
shared. So, we had an excellent dessert.”

He went silent and she heard the
chatter again. Turning to Janine, she had a hard time keeping a
straight face as she explained. “The Morrison women tend to be
excitable.”

“
Oh,” Janine answered in
what sounded like an automatic response. She looked far more shell
shocked than KC had ever seen on her before. KC wondered if she was
actually staring at Ben’s biological sister.

“
Mom, wait, I have a
question for you. It’s sort of a long story, so could you listen
for a minute?” Ben sounded exasperated, just like Max did during a
conversation with his mother. Ben’s voice also contained affection
and love. Exactly like Max’s. Why did her thoughts keep circling
around to Max?

Ben fell silent again, listening to
his mom, and KC grinned at him. He tried to put her in a head lock,
but she danced away from him. And managed to jab him with a finger.
He easily escaped her too.

“
Remember when you adopted
me? Good, where’d I come from? What? I know I’ve never asked you
this before. I know I’m a Morrison, and don’t care, but there’s a
woman here, a doctor, who thinks I might be her biological
brother.”

Silence on the other end of the line.
Janine bit her lip and looked more flustered than KC had ever seen
on her friend. KC’s stomach twisted for her. Ben raised his eyes
and looked at KC. She nodded to him, and then reached out to
squeeze his hand again. Janine put a hand on his arm and he closed
his eyes for a moment, probably to collect himself.

KC couldn’t hear what his mom said,
but Ben nodded. “I know Mom, I don’t care who my parents were,
because as far as I’m concerned, you’re my mom and you always have
been, and always will be. But this woman here, Janine Morris,
doesn’t have any family, and so—”

She heard his mom again, and grinning,
she raised a thumb to Janine who looked confused. “Brace yourself,”
KC warned.

Ben laughed. “Yeah, like I’m
gonna hand the phone over to Janine.
No
way!
Mom, you’ll overwhelm her and now that
she’s found me, we’ve got to go easy. Which means it would be good
if you could look up some facts on your end. I’ll have her email
you so you and the rest of the rellys don’t run her
over.”

He snorted then rolled his eyes again.
He looked at her. “KC, is the Morrison clan likely to blow Janine
over?”

“
Yes,” she stated
emphatically. While she would do anything to protect Ben, right now
Janine needed that protection more.

“
KC confirms, and she’d
know. Max eased her into the family, and that’s what we’re doing
with Janine. She’s innocent and doesn’t deserve to be—”

His mom cut him off again, apparently,
because he stopped talking.

Ben had a very nice laugh,
much like Max’s, KC noticed, and Ben bent over, still laughing.
“
No!
” He managed
to get the word out and then laughed again. Even Janine looked more
at ease. KC grinned at her.