Her Sexy Marine Valentine(27)

"We got a divorce and didn't tell her." Her father set his beer on the  counter. "We've been trying to talk to her for the last three months,  but she either wouldn't take our calls or she'd hang up before we could  get to discuss it."

Divorced?

That would have crushed her. She idolized their relationship. He really felt for her. No wonder she'd reacted the way she had.

"And you picked tonight?"

"Yes, in hindsight not our brightest move. But we've been trying to tell her-"

Brody took off, only pausing to stop by the family room. "Sir, can I talk to you for a minute?"

The CO followed him out to the hallway.

"What's up, Lieutenant?"

"I need a favor, sir. I've found out Mari's had some really bad  personal news on top of the burned dinner. I need to go find her. I was  wondering if you and Carissa could keep an ear out for the delivery man.  And get everyone set up in the dining room."

"Got it. Do what you have to, Marine. Let us know if we need to form a search party."

Hell, he hadn't thought about that. What if she'd taken off and he  couldn't find her. "Thank you, sir. Hopefully, we'll be back shortly."

Just as he reached the foyer he saw Mari sneaking upstairs. Thankfully,  she was okay. He never should have walked away from her earlier,  despite what she'd said.

He followed her.

She went into the master bedroom and closed the door. She probably needed a minute to freshen up.

He waited on the top step, but when she didn't come out, he decided to go in.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands wrapped around her middle. "Hey," he said, and sat down beside her.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Been a challenge these last few hours."

"You could say that. Are they gone?"

"I think you know they aren't. They're concerned for you. And no one is  more worried about you than I am." He started to put an arm around her,  but she jumped up and moved across the room.

"Talk to me," he said.

"I don't want to, Brody. I'm sorry. But I need you to go. I just need everyone to go away."

"Mari, be reasonable." He tried to reach for her, but she pulled away.

"Reasonable? Oh, that's exactly what I'm being. You don't get it. I  know how this works out. What happened downstairs-that's how it ends.  There are no fairy tales or happy endings. Not real ones. Love comes and  goes. If my parents couldn't make it work, no one can. Especially not a  damaged commitment-phobe and the hot mess that I am."                       
       
           



       

His heart ached for her but he didn't know what to say. "Mari, you had a  bad night. I can't even imagine what you're feeling right now."

"You're correct on both counts," she said.

"Tell me what you need." He spoke the words and at the same time was afraid of what she might say.

"I need you to get those people downstairs out of my house, and then I  need to be alone. Thank you. For everything. You went above and beyond  these last few weeks, but you and I both know this was temporary between  us. The house is done. Time for each of us to move on."

A punch in the gut would have been easier to take. She'd made him  consider a future for them. And now he couldn't see his future without  her, but here she was ready to move on?

"Mari, think about what you're saying."

She rubbed her tears away. "I am. It was all-consuming, this thing with  you. I've never- It woke me up. You made me realize I never want to  settle again."

"And being with me is settling?"

"No. You're pretty much everything. But it will never work with us. You  can't handle long-term. Do you honestly see yourself as the  serious-commitment type? Look at your dad's track record. I'm giving you  an out. Take it. Please. I'm begging you. I may not be strong enough to  walk away if this goes on for much longer. I need you to go. I need us  to leave on good terms. Otherwise, eventually you'll decide you can't  handle it-and that will break me."

No words came to him. He did think about a forever with Mari, but he  couldn't predict the future. Maybe he was like his dad. He cared about  Mari, never cared about anyone more, but could he promise they'd last?

Was she right? It didn't feel like it. Leaving her felt wrong. The worst idea ever. But maybe they both needed a little time.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I would do anything for you.  You're upset right now. You need to cool down. I'm not going to ask them  to leave right now. The ones who don't know what's going on are having a  good time. And you have clients down there. Shoving them out the door  won't look so great for your business. I'll tell them you have a  headache. You stay up here." He headed for the door.

"Brody?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry. I'm grateful to you for everything, but I meant what I  said. We promised to be honest with one another, right? This is me being  honest. I need tonight to be it. I need you to be the strong one. I  need you to walk away."

The strong one? She'd cut him to pieces. Unable to speak, he nodded, turned and left.

Good thing that Marines didn't cry, at least as far as he knew.

Brody fixed a smile on his face and went downstairs.

He wasn't sure how he made it through the makeshift dinner. Or talked  to her clients about how talented and wonderful she was. While on the  inside, he was a mess. Once dinner was over, people started leaving.

He showed her potential clients the whole house, except for the master.  Explained how she'd gone to great lengths to make sure the place was  restored correctly and at the same time had incorporated modern  amenities.

They'd been impressed. Two of the couples had asked that she call them  when she was feeling better. He promised to pass along their messages.

He shut the door behind the last of them, and then sighed with relief, grateful he no longer had to pretend.

"Let us help you finish cleaning up," Mari's mother said. He knew Mari  wouldn't be happy about her parents still being in the house. They were  the reason she'd spiraled out of control. Brody knew what that felt  like, he was headed that way himself.

"No. I've got it," he said, ushering them to the door. They left reluctantly. Only his own dad remained.

"Son, you've had a busy night."

"Yep," Brody said. He just wanted his dad to go.

"There's something we need to talk about, but it can wait until tomorrow."

He remembered the sadness in his dad's eyes when he'd arrived. "Found a  new lady tonight?" If his dad had something to say that was usually it.                       
       
           



       

His dad gave him a weak smile. "I deserve that. No, but like I said, it can wait."

"Tell me now."

"I have cancer."

Well, hell. That he didn't see coming.

* * *

MORE THAN AN hour later, he'd sent his dad to his house to get some rest.

Then Brody stood at the base of the stairs and folded his arms. It had  been an unpredictable night for both of them. More than anything he  wanted to talk to her about what had happened with his dad. She was the  first person he'd thought of to speak to, to confide in.

But she'd been through a lot. He had to try and make her see that she  was wrong about them. And she was. The more he thought about it, the  more he realized that this was no temporary fling. His feelings for her  were so strong.

He'd clean up and give her time to get herself together.

Then he'd tell her that she'd made a mistake.

But what if she wasn't wrong? He loaded the dishwasher and took out the  trash. Her mom had cleared off the table and put most of the food away  before she'd gone.

Her parents had the perfect relationship. She'd told him that over and  over again. And yet, they were divorced. And they were already with  other people after nearly thirty years of marriage.

Maybe she had a point.

Had he changed? Sure she made him think about tomorrow and the next  day. But he'd never been that kind of guy before. What made him one now?

Would he eventually get bored and break her heart?

That didn't feel right. But then what did he know about feelings?

Walk away.

No, he needed to run, and then maybe punch something.





15

IN THE WEE hours of the morning, a disheveled Mari ventured downstairs  to find it dark. She pushed back the curtains to let in the early light.

The smoky smell was gone, and the place was immaculate. It was as if no  one had ever been there. Brody must have cleaned up before he left.

What kind of guy did that after what she'd done? She'd been a complete  jerk to him. Given him orders to get rid of her guests and then told him  to get lost.

Yep. Mari the winner strikes again.

But hadn't she done them both a favor? Sure they were hot for one another, but that would obviously peter out.

Look at her parents.