by Grady, D. R.
“So, Sophy, why were you in the tree?” Rick asked his daughter when she looped her arms around his neck and nestled against him.
She shrugged and father and daughter moved off, Melly’s hand entwined in her husband’s.
KC smiled at them and then looked out over the yard until she located her son.
“He’s fine,” Max said in her ear. She glanced up at him.
“You’ve been watching him?”
“Yep. They’re having fun.”
“Max and KC.” They turned to see Lainy lope across the lawn. “How are you both?” They exchanged hugs and KC marveled again at Lainy’s glow. Oh if only...
“We’re fine,” Max answered. “Where’s Mitch?”
A frown crossed Lainy’s face as she turned to look behind her. “He was right behind me,” she muttered.
“Ah, he’s been spotted.” KC pointed. Ryan and some of the other boys were crowded around him. Uncle Mitch had hunkered down to their level and was laughing.
The sweetest smile spread across Lainy’s face and she turned from them with a wave and hurried across the yard to his side. He looked up at her and grinned. It looked like a secret grin of sorts, one of intimacy, and even though Lainy’s back was to them, KC figured she grinned from ear to ear. KC’s heart ached for a relationship like that. That’s exactly what she wanted, preferably with someone hot.
“You know, sometimes they’re sickening to watch,” Max commented blandly as they watched the couple.
“Agreed. Does your mom have any cookies out yet?” KC felt a decided ache in her abdomen. Maybe it was hunger.
“Good question. Let’s go see.”
They grinned at each other, in perfect accord, before making their way into the house to check out the cookie situation.
Chapter 9
Max was worried. After only five days of having KC and Ryan in his home, he wanted to keep them permanently. He had the care of Ryan for at least eight months, but he also wanted Ryan’s mom. KC was everything he wanted in a woman, and she was living under his roof.
All of her things filled his house, mingling with his belongings perfectly. Her dishes graced his china cabinet and her table graced his dining room. They used her sofa in the living room, and her everyday dishes uncannily matched his. Her baking things crammed the nooks in his kitchen. Her toiletries and bathroom essentials occupied the second bathroom and she and Ryan’s beds completed the last two bedrooms upstairs. Her car looked great in the second stall of his garage.
More than just those simple possessions, he especially enjoyed sitting across from her at the breakfast table. He loved how her eyes met his when Ryan said something funny. Now, more and more they were connecting optically and he treasured those intimate moments.
He loved coming home at night, with her, knowing she planned a meal for them. Ryan began to blossom too. Seemed he was at an age where he needed a male in his life. Filled with gratitude that Ryan had chosen him, Max Morrison, for that coveted role, Max savored the nearness with this little family who included him in their lives.
And he was a healthy man, so 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 going?”
Pursing his lips Max shook his head firmly. “I hate the idea of you possibly getting hurt or worse, but I’m also man enough to admit that.” He grinned wryly at her. “You’re also trained for this. So why shouldn’t you go? Just because I don’t like it?” He shook his head and tugged her closer.
He thought she must have felt him swallow because her arms tightened and she pushed her face into his neck. Max closed his eyes, memorizing it all, inhaling a little deeper to keep her scent in his brain. Wanting so much more, and knowing now wasn’t the time. Maybe never would be the time, but now definitely didn’t work.
“I’m sorry to be such a cry baby,” she mumbled against his ear and he heard her sniff. Leaning forward, but keeping a firm grip on her, he snagged some tissues and pressed them into her hand.
“Thanks.” He felt her fumbling around her face, her position on his lap making the angle awkward. But KC didn’t pull away from him. She stuffed the used tissues into her pocket and
wrapped her arm around him again.
“You’re welcome,” he said huskily and realized he had to get her off his lap. Soon. Her warm weight, scent, and the feel of her curves against him were engaging in a definite conversation with his man’s body. And while he liked the conversation, he didn’t think she would, so he eased her breasts away from his chest and tried to breathe shallowly.
“We need to get back to business,” she said and brushed a hand through his hair. “Thanks for weathering that with me,” she whispered and wiggled off his lap.
“Any time,” he whispered back.
“Give me a moment, hmmm?”
“Sure.” Since he needed a moment too. He watched her hastily leave the room. She returned a little while later and he saw she must have splashed some water on her face. Droplets ensnared in her hair reflected the light and he caught his breath.
Even after a crying session, KC Gilmore was still the most beautiful woman he had ever met. And his arms felt empty when she settled into her own chair. He leaned forward, wanting to catch another whiff of her scent. Wanting to repeat that conversation their bodies had been enjoying earlier.
Even though that way led nowhere, he still didn’t mind torturing himself a bit longer.
*****
They managed to finalize most of their business arrangements by the end of the week. KC signed all the necessary papers to give him power of attorney and authority over her financial and work decisions, and most importantly, Max became Ryan’s legal guardian for the time she would be gone.
Especially in the event she didn’t return.
A thought neither spoke out loud. KC contained her emotions since her meltdown with him, and worked through everything, with an aplomb he admired. He hadn’t any additional reasons to pull her into his arms again, but there was a new warmth in her eyes, a sort of longing she developed whenever she looked at him.
He didn’t put much stock in the look though, because he caught the same expression whenever she watched Ryan or Spuds. Like she was making memories to take with her.
Max understood her reasoning, because he caught himself doing the same thing. He desperately needed to capture every scent, every look, every laugh, every precious smile. He wanted to feel her in his arms again. Even though her job wouldn’t place her on the front line of battle, it didn’t matter.
KC was still going to war.
And war always produced casualties. He had no guarantee KC Gilmore wouldn’t be counted among them. That thought kept him awake some nights. Or woke him up, panicked and sweaty, and sent him down the hall to anxiously peer into her room to make certain she was all right. But there was nothing he could do to stop her from going.
The woman he loved was going to leave him. Perhaps for good. And he couldn’t rouse the courage to tell her how he really felt about her. Much less stop her from going.
Chapter 10
KC turned and with a deep breath, stooped and hugged Ryan for at least the tenth time. During the time between now and when she received her orders, she had steadily been nudging herself into her Navy Corpsman persona. She had a job to do, and she’d do it. And she would leave with a smile. That didn’t mean there weren’t a few tears in her heart. She was still Ryan’s mom first and foremost.
“Mom,” he protested and wriggled, but he allowed the hug, barely.
“Bye, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Remember, I’m going to be gone for longer than two sleeps.” She refused to think about the possibility of never holding him again. So she squeezed just a little harder and wondered if she could release her antsy son.
“An’ I’m staying with Max. I know, Mom, you keep telling me,” he huffed and wriggled harder.
As soon as she set him free, he took off, spying something nearby that obviously required his attention.
She turned to Max and contained her welling emotions. Being Max, he simply opened his arms and she lunged into them. His arms closed around her, tightly, securely, and she wanted to stay there. There was safety here in his arms.
KC felt Max’s lips on her hair and held on tighter, thankful he appeared to share her thoughts. She swallowed when she heard her boarding call. He let her go, looking down at her, his eyes as serious as she had ever seen them.
“Good thing we finished everything early.”
She nodded. “I never suspected my deployment would get moved ahead like this.” So fast, she couldn’t seem to say goodbye.
“We had two weeks.” His voice was gruff sounding.
“Fortunately. Just think, your family packed and moved me, and we got all our business taken care of in that amount of time.”
“Yeah.”
“I thought I’d have more time than this,” she whispered.
“Me too. But this is what happens. They apparently need you.”
She nodded again, and thought of what awaited her in Kuwait. The problem was she didn’t know.
He raised his thumb and wiped away a tear she hadn’t managed to keep from falling and smiled. “Go. Enjoy the sand and heat, while we’re shoveling snow,” he joked, and she appreciated his effort. Hearing that tone of voice helped to keep the rest of her tears in check. She’d be okay once she got there. Right now she was thinking of all she would miss, and that’s what hurt.
“Right. I’ll miss all the snow this year. That can’t be a bad thing,” she agreed and tried a smile too. It didn’t fit very well.
Max gave a long suffering sigh. “Ryan and I’ll be working our tails off while you’ll be—”
“Roasting in the heat, trying to avoid sand, and working my tail off,” she finished for him.
“Right.” He sent her that devastating grin again. “Enjoy.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” There was so much more she wanted to say. She still had to clear security so she had to go. KC stared at these two precious males, hating that she was leaving them. Ryan trailed up to stand beside Max and they waved in unison as she hurried away.
Even though he teased her, Max’s eyes never lost their sadness. But he tried to make the best of the situation, for her. So she could do no less.
After she found her seat, KC bowed her head and thanked whoever was responsible for Max Morrison’s presence in her life.
*****
“Max?” Ryan asked on their way back to the car.
“Yes?” he answered, batting down the urge to storm the plane, physically remove KC, and bring her home with them. It wasn’t right that she was leaving. That she’d be so far away from them.
“Whewe’s Mommy going again?” The little guy bobbed along beside him, feinting left and right, as though he were a superhero. Only a superhero could save K.C now. Since Max’s powers hadn’t ever developed, much to his childhood disappointment, Max knew it couldn’t be him. If KC even wanted saved, which he doubted.
“She’s going to Kuwait.”
“Whewe’s that?” Ryan kicked out at something only he could see.
“It’s a long way from here, buddy.” Too far. Too long.
“She has to be on an aiwplane to go thewe?” Another enemy must have jumped Ryan because he punched out and kicked, making all the necessary fighting noises.
“Yes.” Even though they told him repeatedly, Max wondered if Ryan really understood. Now that KC had left them, he seemed to understand this was more serious than her weekend leaves.
“When is she coming home?”
“Not for eight months,” Max said, aching and empty and a little depressed. Ryan finally seemed to grasp that eight months was a long time. But when Max looked at KC’s son, he realized at least he had Ryan. She was facing these months without him. The ache expanded.
“How long is that? How many sleeps?”
Max hunkered down and gazed into Ryan’s eyes. The little guy had stopped being a superhero and now just looked confused. “It’s a lot of sleeps, buddy,” he answered heavily.
“More than thwee?”
“More than three.”
“But she is coming home,
wight? Back to ouw house?” Ryan looked so upset Max nearly lost it. He tugged the little boy into his arms.
“I hope so, Ryan. I hope so.”
Chapter 11
Two days later
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: I’m here!
Dear Max and Ryan,
I’m here! And missing you both so much. How is Ryan? Has he finally understood that I’m not going to come home right away? I hope so. He’s pretty adaptable and since he’s with you, Max, I think he’ll be fine.
I arrived safe and fairly sound. I slept some on the plane, but I’m still tired, and hungry and totally out of sorts. I have a cot, though and plan to make use of it shortly.
I did spend some time in Norfolk, VA and we mobilized from there. I’m at a Fleet Hospital on the Navy side, since I am a surgeon. Probably be doing much of what you’d see in M*A*S*H. (Even though M*A*S*H is Army, my unit will be similar, and of course more modern.)
Max decided to buy the entire M*A*S*H boxset. He planned to watch the movie and the TV program, so he would have an inkling of what KC experienced. Anything to feel closer to her. He returned to her email.
I’m in a tent with nine other women. All of us of the medical persuasion. I’m the only trained lab person, although I’m going to be working as a surgeon/doctor, apparently. (Of course, I haven’t done that type of work in a while, but I’m sure (hoping!) it’ll come back to me.) I’m a bit nervous by the practical end of doctoring, since I’ve been using the text book end recently, but anyway, this should be interesting...
Max read through the lines and decided she was a nervous wreck. He doubted she would have any trouble, but KC was likely to worry herself to nausea over this. For her sake and everyone else on the base, he hoped she got comfortable with her skills quickly.
