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

he
certainly enjoyed KC walking around in the tiny clothes she
considered exercise wear. She also wore such clothing to bed, and
twice now, she forgot to throw a T-shirt over the halter top and
little shorts she wore. He ended up drooling all during breakfast
both times. And hoped she figured it was because he really enjoyed
the delicious food she prepared.
    He enjoyed excellent conversation with
a woman he admired and respected. A little boy who was wondrous and
had long ago pierced his heart. Max finally saw the merits of
marriage for himself. If only...
    “ Hello , Max,” KC said and waved a hand in front of his
face.
    He blinked and looked at her, hoping
the lust he just encountered hadn’t shown in his eyes.
    “ Yes?”
    “ Did you hear anything I
just said?” Exasperation rang with stark evidence in her
voice.
    “ Nope,” he said cheerfully
and ducked to avoid her swing. He laughed too because that was
something else she made him do. Laugh. A sense of humor was
vital.
    “ Well, pay attention.” She
sent him that you’d-better-listen-now look she had perfected long
ago.
    Max’s lips twitched as he tilted his
head to the side, widening his eyes. “Of course, your highness, I’m
all ears,” he said solemnly, enjoying how the left side of her lip
rose in disgust. She glared at him in dislike and he upped his
grin. Like she could stay mad at him.
    “ I hate you,” she said, but
with little heat.
    “ I know,” he answered,
complacent in the fact she didn’t. “But since you have my undivided
attention now...” and he cleared his throat.
    She glared at him for a few more
moments, but he kept his smile in place, something she hated,
before she returned to their discussion. “About the Alverson
contract, don’t let them ship you any more of those substandard
needles. That’s why we lost that one you found on the carpet. Ask
for this stock number,” she highlighted a number at the bottom of
the page, “and make certain QC checks those numbers after each
shipment.”
    “ It was substandard junk
that caused those needles to fall out?” This news fully engaged Max
in the conversation.
    “ Yes. Watch them
carefully.”
    “ Why don’t we just drop them
as a supplier and pick up someone else?”
    “ That’s the next item on my
agenda. Sara in Quality Control is looking for someone else to
supply our needles and syringes, and once she’s found some
promising leads, she’ll perform the necessary testing,” KC paused
and looked at him. “Give her whatever support she needs on this.
Normally I’d do that, but since I won’t be here,” she trailed off
and her lips turned down.
    He placed a couple of fingers under
her chin, hating to see her looking so sad. “KC, you know this is
only for eight months. You’ll be back before you know it,” he
declared, wanting to reassure her. Wanting to hold her. Wanting to
kiss her.
    But then, those were all normal
desires.
    “ I know. I just hate
everything I’m piling on everyone, especially you.” Tears welled up
in her gorgeous aqua eyes.
    Not able to withstand those glistening
gems, he leaned over, plucked her off her chair, and placed her in
his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he felt her hot
tears against that place where his neck and shoulder joined. He
wrapped her tighter against him and just held on until the storm
passed.
    He tried to memorize her warm weight
on his lap. He couldn’t remember ever holding her like this before,
but he didn’t want to miss any part of the moment. The time he had
to savor and memorize experiences like this one were dwindling
fast.
    Another thought beckoned. He liked
having her right where she was. Just as he suspected, KC fit
perfectly.
    Smoothing her hair from her face, he
whispered into her ear, “KC, I want to do this. You know that. I
don’t like the idea of you going, but I do understand why you have
to.”
    She hiccupped and pulled away to look
into his eyes. “You don’t like that I’m