Her Sexy Marine Valentine(28)

She remembered when she was a kid being embarrassed because they were always kissing and hugging.

All of her memories, especially of their family holidays, were of her  parents making everything fun and wonderful. Their little loving family  going on grand adventures. They'd provided her and her sister, Daisy, an  idyllic life. And now she felt as if all of that was a fraud. She'd  been unaware that her parents were only together for their girls.

So wrong.

She pulled one of the open bottles of wine from the fridge and then  found a glass. After pouring herself half the bottle, she sat down on a  stool. There was a piece of paper under the whimsical cookie jar she'd  set on the counter.

Hey,

Sorry you had such a bad night. I had a chance to take the Harkers and  the Smiths through the rest of the house. They loved it. They asked that  you give them a call when you feel better.

You helped me find my heart again, and I'll be forever grateful to you.  I know you're hurting, but I hope that some day you can find  forgiveness for your parents. What they did was wrong, but you never  know how much time you have with people. It's important to make the most  of it. You taught me that as well.

You are an amazing human being. I wish you the best, Mari. You deserve it.

B

Oh, no. The tears began again. What have I done? After everything, he'd  tried to save future jobs for her. Done his level best to see out the  rest of her party the way she'd wanted it. He was so kind and generous,  someone she could trust. And she'd thrown it all away-everything they'd  been building for the last month with a few harsh words.

I wish you the best.

It sounded so final. So very final.

As if it had been easy for him to walk away. Maybe she hadn't been so wrong after all.

Maybe she'd acted her worst, and he'd decided it wasn't such a bad idea  to bail. Who could blame him? She should apologize. But then what?

"Hey."

Mari screamed. She bolted from her seat and turned to find Daisy  standing there in her pajamas. "Daisy, you scared the crap out of me.  What are you doing here?"                       
       
           



       

Her sister shrugged. "Where are the glasses?"

Mari pointed to the cabinet. After choosing one and pouring herself some wine, Daisy sat on the bar stool next to her.

"What's wrong?" Daisy asked, but she had a feeling her sister knew the answer.

"Everything."

"Sorry I showed up late. My flight was delayed. I...actually, I almost stayed home, but I knew they were coming and-"

"That they'd tell me something either they or you should have told me a while ago?" She wanted to be mad but she couldn't be.

"I've wanted to, so many times. I needed you, Mari. It's been the  worst. We idolized them. Thought they...well, you know. It devastated  me. Probably the same as you're feeling right now."

"Impossible. I can't believe you really couldn't find the time to tell me."

"It was tough. I picked up the phone a dozen times. And the one time I  tried was the night you called and told me about Gary..." Daisy paused.  "I couldn't put more grief on you. And you're always busy. Before that  you were trying to keep your business going, and you and your ex were  buying this house. Then you wouldn't answer your phone at all. I got the  occasional text. You did the same thing to Mom and Dad. That's no  excuse for what they did last night, but they did try to talk to you."

She thought about how often she'd ignored the calls from her family. She sighed.

"I don't know up from down anymore," Mari said. "If they can't make it, what hope do the rest of us have?"

"Yep. But these new people they're dating. They're really into them."

Mari massaged her temples. "I can't get my head around it."

"If it makes you feel better, I've known longer than you have and I still have a tough time with it."

"No. That doesn't make me feel better."

"So who was the hot guy who let me in before he left? Big, handsome absolutely to-die-for."

Mari groaned. "Brody. Oh, Daisy. I really messed up." She told her what happened with Brody.

"Wow. Just. Um. Do you think that was the right thing to do? I mean the  guy was cleaning up your kitchen when I arrived. Are you sure you want  to let that go? And if you do, can I have him?"

If looks could kill, her sister would be dead.

Daisy held up her hands in surrender. "Jeez. I'm kidding. Back down.  But I mean, the guy helps you fix up your house. Mom texted me and said  she and dad were really taken with him. And then when I got here, he  told me he was really grateful. He asked me to look out for you. That  doesn't sound like a guy who wants to break up."

Mari shoved his letter toward her.

"Hmm." Daisy set aside the piece of paper. "Hold on a minute."

Her sister left and came back with a small wooden starfish and a card.  On the back of the starfish were the words Mari's floor. He'd whittled  her a sea creature from a piece of her wood flooring.

A lump formed in her throat. It was the most thoughtful gift ever.

"When he was leaving, he first ran across the street and returned with  this. He put it in your office and then told me not to say anything.  That you'd find it when you were ready."

Why would the man do something so sweet when she'd basically told him  to hit the road? It took everything she had, but she forced herself to  open the card. It was for Valentine's Day. The outside said, Thank you  for teaching me what love is.

Mari's eyes blurred and her hands trembled as she tried twice to open the card.

Mari, while I haven't been able to say the words, I do feel them. You've taught me so much the last month. My heart is yours.

I love you,

Brody.

She sobbed. "I'm such an idiot."

Her sister took the card from her hands and read it. "Yep. You're an idiot."

* * *

"LIEUTENANT, THE CO wants to see you," Ben said.

Brody slammed shut the manual he'd been referencing. He'd been working  on a new test for the grunts and had come in early to get everything  ready so that he could take some leave.

His dad needed him, and Brody wouldn't let him down. And his class was  doing better. Ever since the picnic, grades had picked up. The grunts  were studying harder. His new emphasis on communication seemed to be  paying off. Amazing what a barbecue could do. Perhaps there was  something to the CO's team-building initiative.                       
       
           



       

And then there was Mari. He thought if she read the card that she'd  realize how much he cared. Maybe she hadn't been in her office yet.  Maybe that's why she hadn't called. He was trying to give her some  space, but it was hard.

What did the CO want now? Brody wasn't even supposed to be in today. He  was only here to make sure whoever took over the class for the next  week had everything they'd need.

Brody contemplated asking for a transfer in the meeting, just in case  Mari was serious about the breakup. He wasn't sure he could stand  it-staring over at her house every day.

Though it might not be her house for long. He strode down the corridor  toward the CO's office. Early this morning he'd noticed the real estate  agent's sign in the front yard. It hadn't been there when he'd left her  house at midnight.

He knew she had to sell it, but it still irked him. She loved that  house. He'd watched her fall in love with it as they completed each  room. But she'd told him more than once that she had to get a return on  her investment or she'd be in trouble.

Wasn't his problem, she'd made that more than clear. Didn't keep him  from worrying about her. The thing with her parents, she shouldn't have  to face something like that alone. At least her sister was there.

What he couldn't face was Mari not wanting to have anything to do with  him. Maybe his card didn't say what she needed to hear. It had taken  everything in him not to go over there and set things straight. When he  told his dad what had happened, his father had given him some good  advice.

"I'm the last guy to listen to about relationships," his father had  said. "But I did get it right once. With your mother. She was the light  of my life. My anchor. I've been lost without her. Ever since she died,  I've tried to find someone who was my everything, but I'm worried she  was it for me."

"How did you know Mom was the one?"

"I couldn't imagine a world without her in it," his dad had said simply.

Wasn't that where he was with Mari? He couldn't imagine his life  without her now. But after what had occurred with her parents, how was  he supposed to convince her of that? And he'd done his best ever since  they'd met to let her know he wasn't the settling-down type.

She thought she was doing them both a favor, but she was wrong.

"I'll let him know you're here. And fair warning, he's in a mood," the CO's assistant said.