Bad Nerd Falling

by Grady, D. R.

  General Wellington - General Vladimir Wolfgang Wellington was not going down without a fight. Generals didn’t run from the battle. They planned a strategy, a battle plan, so they won.

  With so much at stake, he couldn’t afford to lose.

  Chapter 39

  His heart beat in rhythm to his quick footsteps as he hurried up the stairs. Outside her doorway, he took several deep breaths in an attempt to regain control of himself. He left Aleksi’s office and came here first. Like he could do anything else.

  He knocked and heard movement on the other side of the door before it opened. Helena stared up at him like he was everything before a ripple of pain erased that gorgeous expression. He sighed.

  “May I come in?” He kept his voice low so as not to startle her.

  She nodded and moved out of his way, then shut the door and locked it. It didn’t take a genius to realize she wasn’t quite certain what to do with him.

  To ease her, he took her hand and led her the few steps into her living room. Helena made a sound he couldn’t define, so he stopped and stared down at her. The urge to kiss her senseless spun through him in undulating waves. With the willpower that had kept him alive all these years, he resisted the overwhelming temptation.

  Instead he smiled and brushed some curls off her face. “Aleksi offered me a new job.”

  Her eyes widened and she looked relieved that he hadn’t delved immediately into their relationship status. “You have a new job?”

  He couldn’t help himself. He grinned, happy about this at least. “You’re looking at General Vladimir Wellington, Commander in Chief of the Rurikstan Military.”

  Helena’s mouth dropped open. “Commander in Chief of the entire military?”

  He couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off his face. “The entire military.”

  “Oh my goodness, Vlad. Oh my goodness,” she repeated, her eyes still wide, but glowing with awe and pride. “That’s huge.”

  “The thing is, I’m the only person in Rurikstan right now who can do this. Those long years of training, all over the world, with all the different branches means I have the knowledge of how each branch of the military works. With me leading each branch, I can also make certain they work together.”

  “What will you be doing exactly?”

  “Overhauling the entire military to turn us into top fighting machines so terrorists and such understand we are capable of defending our own.”

  “That’s a daunting task.”

  “Yes, but it’s also a job perfectly suited to my skills.”

  She stared at him with more awe. Then that same flash of pain crossed her face for a moment. “You’re going to be staying here, in Rurikstan?”

  “Yes. I’m sure there will be some traveling, and I’ll have to spend time on the various bases here and abroad, but yes, for the most part I’ll be living here in Rurikstan.” He paused. “It’s beyond nice to be home.”

  She stared numbly at him like she wasn’t quite certain what to say. Maybe she couldn’t.

  With a hand that shook a little, he caressed her beautiful cheek. “I would like if you shared the next fifty or sixty years with me.” In the back of his mind, he knew he was rushing her. She had concerns and fears.

  Helena swallowed, and it sounded painful. Tears didn’t quite well in those gorgeous green eyes before she turned away and padded to the closest chair where she abruptly sat. He couldn’t read her expression because her head was bowed and her long hair concealed her face.

  Because he couldn’t stand it, he scooped her out of the chair and headed to the couch. He dropped onto it, keeping her firmly on his lap, in his arms where she belonged. She didn’t resist so that had to be a good sign, right?

  “Why?” he finally asked in the silence.

  Her head was still bowed, but she brushed her hair out of her eyes before those glorious jewels lifted to stare into his. “You’re a superhero.”

  “I’m not. Like every other man on the planet, I’m just a man.”

  A bordering-on-bitter laugh escaped her. It also teetered on the verge of hysteria. “No, that’s one definition that will never describe you.”

  He tilted her chin so he could gaze into her eyes. “I’m human, I make mistakes, and often my mistakes are fatal for someone. I have to control my emotions or it will lead to someone’s death. My entire life has been learning how to stay alive.”

  He fell silent for a few moments before he dragged air into his lungs. “After a few years, a few months, that sort of lifestyle wears on you. I see the very worst of humankind. It’s not an easy place to live, Helena. I need warmth and beauty in my life. I need to come home to someone who loves me and who counters what I do every day.”

  For long moments she stared at him. “You’re going to grow bored with me.”

  That was so unlikely he laughed. “No.” He said it firmly and with utter conviction. “The fear is that I’ll grow addicted to you. I already am. But when I look around, at my brother and Sara, our parents, Emerson and Karis, Aleksi and Tia, I see that’s not a bad future.”

  He traced her lips. “In fact, I embrace it. I’m looking forward to my new job, but I need you in my life. I need you to be a part of my future or it holds no meaning.”

  “I’m so afraid you’re going to start to resent me because my life and my job aren’t exciting like yours. I’m an ordinary scientist and pretty boring.” She made it sound like that was bad.

  His lips curved upwards. “That’s one of the things I love about you.”

  Eyes wide again, hers met his. “You love me?”

  That made him stop. His mind raced as he thought on her words. All those long, lonely years without female company finally made sense. “Of course I do,” he said in wonder. “I was never attracted to other women because I’ve been in love with you since our teens.”

  Staring at him as if she had never seen him before, maybe because she hadn’t been looking at him through eyes of love either, Helena’s eyes did fill with tears this time. “That’s exactly how I feel. I wondered if I was in love with you. Now I know for certain that I am.”

  Judging it was okay to kiss her, he tugged her close and fastened his lips to hers. It had been far too long and he took his time. Savoring this woman because there were no guarantees.

  “So do you still want to break up?” He wove his hand through her hair because it was there and tempting him.

  “No. I didn’t want to the first time.” Her lips were glossy from their kiss and she had never looked so beautiful. Despite the dark circles under her eyes and the weary way she held herself. He hadn’t had much time to sleep, and it looked like she hadn’t been able to.

  “You broke up with me because you were afraid,” he stated, combing his fingers through her long curls.

  “Yes.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “You are a superman, you know. I’d hate for you to wake up one day and think, ‘You know, this nerd bores me out of my mind,’ because that would kill me.”

  “Even men, maybe that should be, especially men with my training need a woman like you in their lives. The flashy ones you probably think of as interesting are shallow and self-absorbed. They’re not exciting at all.” He lifted her lips to his again. “You are.”

  “I am what?”

  “You are exciting, smart, beautiful.” He swallowed. “So beautiful I could stare at you all day. You’re also sexy, funny, sweet—all those things I’ve ever wanted in a woman. Yet you’re even more than that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Brave. Ingenious, because I would have never thought to set a man on fire. But you and Mom kept your heads and used what was available as a weapon. Impressive, Helena.”

  Her lips drew down. “We were desperate.”

  Again he tilted her face to his. “Now you understand a little bit about my world.”

  That made her pause, her head cocked to the side as she stared at him. “It’s been that bad?”

  “More often than not. There
were some training exercises I didn’t think I’d live through. Much less some of our missions.”

  “Yet those are the experiences that forged you into the man you are today, General Vlad.”

  He grinned because he was pretty certain he would never grow tired of his new rank. “Yes, they did. Being forged in those kinds of fires aren’t all that pleasant though.”

  “Of course they aren’t. That’s why they’re called adversity.”

  Nodding, he tugged her into a tight hug, loving her warmth and understanding. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair. Fearful he would wake up and this would all be a dream.

  “I love you.” She held him just as fiercely.

  “Are you going to marry me, Helena?”

  “Yes.”

  That one little answer swelled his heart and made him feel like the superhero she deemed him. “Thank you,” he whispered vehemently.

  He felt her smile. “My pleasure.”

  Chapter 40

  A light breeze caressed her cheeks as she watched the proceedings with Tia. Seated side by side, she was amazed that she was here, in the royal box, watching this ceremony with one of her best friends. There was a rock that rivaled Tia’s on her finger, and like Tia’s it was also a blinder in the right light. Nestled beside her engagement ring, that she got to wear for the whole of a month and a half, was her equally stunning wedding band.

  It also rivaled Tia’s wedding band.

  She glanced at her rings for a moment before her gaze snapped back to the tall, protective man standing before Aleksi.

  “As the Prince of Rurikstan, it is my honor and privilege to appoint Vladimir Wolfgang Wellington as Commander in Chief of all militaries within the Rurikstani realm. He is Commander in Chief of all branches, both present and future. Do you accept this commission of highest military authority?”

  “I, Vladimir Wolfgang Wellington, accept the commission of Commander in Chief of the Rurikstani realm military.” Vlad’s voice rang through the huge stadium and on her other side, Maria shifted. She reached out her hand and Maria seized it. Beside her, Graham slipped his arm around his wife.

  Maks and Emerson stepped onto the platform. Both carried what looked like sofa pillows. Emerson stopped in front of Aleksi. He removed the medal and ribbon and formally handed the pin to Aleksi who added it to Vlad’s gorgeous Rurikstani uniform. He already wore so many medals she had been astonished he could stand upright. Aleksi then pinned several different medals to Vlad’s uniform.

  Emerson shook Vlad’s hand and then moved to stand behind Aleksi. Next, Maks stepped forward. He carried a military hat and beside that, the pins that denoted Vlad’s new rank as General. Vlad would add those pins later.

  Vlad removed the hat he currently wore and knelt as Aleksi accepted the hat from Maks and placed it precisely on Vlad’s head. Then, using the sword at his side, attached to his own military uniform, Aleksi touched each of Vlad’s shoulders and murmured the military words that meant something to the four men on the platform. Indeed, probably all the men in the crowd.

  Vlad rose, shook Maks’ hand, who took his old hat, then shook Aleksi’s hand.

  Prince Aleksi turned to face the box where they sat. “I present to you General Vladimir Wolfgang Wellington, the Commander in Chief of Rurikstani realm militaries in full.”

  Amid the resulting cheers and good will of the people of Rurikstan who attended the ceremony, she met Vlad’s eyes. He was glowing with pride but his smile was for her alone. She mouthed, “I love you.”

  He nodded and sent her the signal he had taught her on the four day long honeymoon they just returned from. “I love you.” He taught her little things like that while she taught him to cook. It was a good start to their marriage.

  As people swarmed around him, she was engulfed by her family, Beau, and the numerous SEALs who attended the ceremony. On Tia’s other side stood her uncle, Admiral O’Riley and his wife, Emma.

  Helena laughed and spoke with everyone for a few minutes then made tracks toward her impressive husband. This man wanted her. She had no doubts now because he had already shown her, multiple times, that he needed her. And it worked both ways. Her life was so much more complete now that she had him in it.

  When she reached his side, he slipped an arm around her and not caring who saw, kissed her.

  They proved that a nerd and soldier could be perfectly happy together.

  About the Author

  D.R. Grady lives with her husband near Hershey, PA. She adores chocolate, laughing, collecting bags, books, and shoes, and adores writing stories that resonate with others.

  Please visit her website for more information.

  http://www.drgradybooks.com

  Other works by D.R. Grady

  The Morrison Family Series:

  The Nerd and the Marine

  The Corpsman and the Nerd

  The Nerd and the SEAL

  The Nerd’s Pocket Pets

  Shadows and Spice

  Macy’s Parade

  Bad Nerd Rising

  Free Short Story: Math Nerds and Mechanics

  The Me Series:

  Treasure Me

  Save Me

  Trust Me

  Heal Me

  Love Me

  Please visit my website for updates on these series.

  http://www.drgradybooks.com

  Coming Soon!

  The Morrison Family Series - Book 9

  Nerds on Fire

  By D.R. Grady

  Chapter 1

  Her heart beat far too fast. As a nurse practitioner Beatrix “Trixi” Duvall knew that was a bad thing. But she had never encountered such masculinity before. Nothing in her life had prepared her for the perfection of Mark de Vosse.

  Dr. Mark de Vosse, that snide voice in her head added.

  “How are you, Miss Duvall?” he asked, as he shook her hand. As per any unattainable man, his voice was deep, masculine, and quite enticing. Why, oh why, did she have a weakness for men like this? Like all the others, he won’t ever recognize you’re an eligible female… that knowing voice scoffed.

  Katy Greene, her best friend, pointed out nice men all the time, but Trixi continued to ignore her advice and hold out for something she couldn’t define. Until now.

  Mark’s eyes were a blue-green much like his younger brother’s. It was obvious the two men shared a gene pool. Mark wasn’t quite as tall as Leo, but he made up for that in width. Not that Leo wasn’t wide as well, because the man had probably played football in high school and college and done very well, but Mark could have been the entire line himself. Her girly side sighed in perpetual wonder.

  “I’m fine, and happy to finally meet you.” Trixi struggled to keep her professional smile intact. It was far harder than it should have been.

  His dark hair was shorter and darker than Leo’s, whose hair always looked a little windblown. Trixi noticed Leo ran his hands through it a lot. If Mark did the same thing, it would slide right back into place because his was shorter.

  His jaw, like Leo’s, was square and his lips were firm but kissable.

  She all but groaned this time. Where had that stupid thought come from?

  He’s a neurosurgeon. They don’t notice peons, she barked at her girly self who was in an utter tizzy over this man. Of course she was—he was gorgeous, successful, and that was warmth in his eyes.

  They smiled at her now. “I feel like I already know you,” he murmured as he released her hand. She hadn’t noticed they held the handshake far longer than usual.

  And she totally missed it because of the caustic comments her nastier, but more realistic, side kept uttering.

  “Leo talks about you a lot. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she answered. One bonus from her uncomfortable, awkward early-adult years was they had created a gracious polish that now carried her through even the most excruciating social situation.

  “You might not think that once you get to know him,” Leo piped up as he clapped Mark on the back
. She appreciated the affection and respect between the brothers.

  Their sibling closeness somehow reassured her.

  A thought occurred to her and she turned to Leo. “Did you nag him into coming here?”

  Leo, in typical fashion, tweaked her nose. “Of course.”

  Beside them, Mark laughed, and like the rest of him, it was perfect. “He kept telling me how much nicer it is to be home.” Mark glanced around the cafeteria where they were gathered to eat lunch. He had started several weeks ago, but she was filling in so her schedule was erratic, which was why they were only just meeting now.

  “I’m right,” Leo stated as he dug into his sandwich.

  “I reserve the right to decide that for myself,” Mark countered.

  “I’m right.” Leo stole some carrot out of her salad.

  “Stop eyeing my chocolate bar,” she warned Leo.

  “You could share it, you know,” he cajoled.

  She cocked an eyebrow at him. “I did, yesterday.”

  “You know, Duvall, you’re a little scary sometimes.”

  She choked on her swallow of tea. Mark leaned over and patted her on the back with the perfect amount of pressure. He also eyed her chocolate bar.

  “Not both of you,” she muttered and tucked the bar back into her lunch bag. It wasn’t that big but was necessary for the health of those around her.

  The two shared a conspirator’s look.

  “You could share it with both of us,” Leo further wheedled.

  She pointed to the boxes by the cash register. “They sell a nice selection right there.”

  “It’s not as much fun that way.” Mark smiled.

  “I know. That’s why I stand firm.” She wrinkled her nose at Leo.

  He grinned. “You’re so tough, Duvall.”