Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2) (40 page)

“Let’s go inside, baby.” He urged her up the driveway to the front walk, luxuriating in the feel of her arm around his waist, her hand clamping his side. The thought of being without this woman was like being without air. He couldn’t live without either. Whatever it took, he’d fix it with her. Leading her inside, he closed the door, leaned back against it and pulled her to his chest. “Graciella. Mis and I…”

Her fingers against his lips stopped the words. “No, amor, no. You don’t need to explain. I trust you. It was me. All me. I’ve never been so sorry in my life. I was afraid of being hurt by you, of Santos being hurt by you, and so I hurt you instead. I know you aren’t like
him
. It was my fear, not you, never you. Please believe me.”

His heart reared like a Wyoming mustang. A sob racked his chest. There were no words. By way of answer, he lowered his mouth to hers, brushed his lips across her mouth, then deepened the kiss. He’d swear he could sense their bodies melting into one. He raised his face from hers and pressed her head against his chest in an effort to breathe. They stood like that for a full minute, not moving, holding tight.

Graciella placed her hands on his chest and put an inch between them. She raised her gaze to his. Cluny let his hands loosen on her back and slide down to her hips, holding her firmly in place. The whisper of a smile flitted on her luscious mouth. Unable to resist, he lowered his head for another kiss, a soft kiss this time, a sweet kiss.

“Cluny,” she breathed against his mouth, “I want you to make love to me, but I have to ask you something first.”

“Anything.” He barely got the words out of his mouth because of the surge of blood draining south from his brain. “Ask me, baby.”

“If you don’t want to answer, I’ll leave to give you time to think it over.”

Over my dead body
. Leave? No way in hell was she leaving. “Ask me.”

“Will you marry me?” She gazed shyly through her thick fringe of eyelashes, her cheeks flushing bright pink, hand trembling on his chest.

“Marry you? I was afraid you were going to ask me a hard question.” He grinned and pressed her pelvis against his. “Come with me. I have something for you.” When she hesitated slightly, he added, “And, by the way, my answer is yes.”

Taking her hand, he tugged her in the direction of the couch and sat her down. “Stay right there.” He had to force himself not to run to his bedroom. He yanked open his dresser drawer and rooted through his socks and shorts. Snatched the package he was looking for and returned to the living room.

“Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Not a good way to start. Close your eyes.”

She twisted her fingers. “OK, they’re closed.”

He gently lifted her fist. “Open your hand.” When her fingers uncurled, he placed a small brown paper envelope there. “OK, look.”

Eyes full of trepidation; she stared at the battered envelope. “What is it?”

“Open it. It won’t bite you.” He knelt before her. “Go ahead.”

Graciella turned the package over and lifted the flap. Squeezing the sides, she peeked inside then retrieved a small, tissue-wrapped lump. She raised her eyes to his. He nodded and smiled. She dropped the envelope and slowly undid the yellowed tissue. “It’s a ring,” she gasped. “A plain gold wedding ring.” She turned it in her fingers and raised her eyes to his face.

“My mother’s.” He took it from her and slid it onto her ring finger. “I’ve been saving it for you. For the last twenty-five years, I’ve been saving it for you.”

Her hands flew to her mouth, and she slumped forward against him.

“It comes with one condition.” Cluny straightened her and smiled. She didn’t answer, just stared with huge, swimming, milk-chocolate eyes. “The deal has to include my boy, Santos.” He grinned. “And a few siblings, yet unknown.”

Hands tight to her face, she nodded then lowered them, leaving red finger marks around her mouth. After a quick indrawn breath, she answered, “Yes, amor.” She gripped his forearms. “Now I have a condition.”

“Shoot.” He was beginning to have fun.

“We’d like permission to move back in here. In your house. With you.”

He pressed his lips together, delaying the answer, keeping her in suspense. “I’m nixing the separate bedrooms. We’ll need it for the siblings.” Cluny raised a finger. “One more condition.”

She raised her tawny eyebrows.

“The three of us drive up to Vegas tomorrow and seal the deal.”

“The three of us? What about my step-daughter, the one with four legs?”

“OK, the four of us.” Definitely fun.

“Anything else?” Graciella raised her chin and wrinkled her nose. “Hmm?”

“We should get a head start on the sibling thing. Like now. My biological clock is ticking.”

She stood and tugged him to his feet. “Mine too.”

She took a step toward his bedroom. “Tick.”

Crooking her finger, she smiled over her shoulder. “Tick.”

Cluny suspected he was in for a wild ride with this spirited woman as his wife. He smiled and breathed. He planned to enjoy every minute of it for the rest of their lives.

Graciella collapsed into shrieks and giggles when he raced after her and lifted her off her feet.

THE END

~ About the Author ~

Nine-Eleven was a turning point in my life, as in so many others. It brought home how suddenly a world can be turned upside down, and why if there were things I wanted to do, I’d better do them. I wanted to write love stories.

I was increasingly burned out in my profession of thirty years, and time waits for no one. I’d been widowed for six years, so, what was keeping me there? I sold my travel business and coffee bar, and then my big house in California and moved to the wild open spaces of Wyoming. The breathtaking view of the Grand Teton Mountains from the dining room picture window of a small house in Jackson Hole clinched the deal. I bought the house and moved in.

Heaven on earth. The perfect place to take a cleansing breath, and write. I loved every minute of living in Jackson, including the deep snow of winter. There’s no substitute for a cozy fireplace, a cup of coffee, and a good book.

The path to publication is hard, slow work. I love the books I’ve written, and the characters I write about. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed creating new worlds populated by special people. Someone once asked me why I write what I do. I smiled and answered that with every book I get to invent another hero to fall in love with.

Discover more about Patty Campbell here

www.pattycampbell.com

www.facebook.com/Patty-Campbell-Author-53685522\99661241

www.goodreads.com/author/show/6560120.Patty_Campbell

~ Also by Patty Campbell ~

Heart of a Marine

Wounded Warriors Book One

Patty Campbell

Falling in love wasn't part of the contract...

Single dad and wounded warrior, Dwayne Dempsey, has no idea what he’s bargained for when he signs a construction contract with the curvy Marla Danaher to honcho her condo conversion. The last thing he needs is a sexy property developer breathing down his neck every step of the project. Her strong-minded bossiness should turn him off, but oddly, only makes her more desirable to him.

Marla Danaher has no time for dates, flirting, or marriage. She leaves that up to her twin sister, Charlene. Building a solid financial future and determining her own destiny are her top priorities. Unfortunately, the former Marine running the construction project she's poured everything into only complicates everything. His teasing sexual innuendos drive her to distraction, and she can't ignore his raw physical strength and masculinity. They're on each other's nerves day in and day out, but that does nothing to diminish their strong attraction sparking between them. Too bad love scares them both.

When the mother of Dwayne's daughter suddenly reappears, things take a nasty turn as she fights for sole custody of the child she'd abandoned. There's no way he's giving up his daughter, but when a series of break-ins and threats begin, his protective side flares to life. How can he protect those he cares for most without driving them away?

Buy
Heart of a Marine
here

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Marine-Wounded-Warrior-Book-ebook/dp/B01ELTGR02

Once a Marine

Patty Campbell

A one-night-stand, or the first day of forever?

BD James is on an upward career path. She works for a tyrant who has already cost her one fiancé, so the last thing she needs is another manipulating man. She's tired, angry, and ready for a meltdown. What she isn't ready for is Rafael Cruz—a retired Marine who lives a secret and dangerous double life.

Rafi Cruz is a man who makes things happen, but his timing couldn't be worse. He's leaving on a hostage rescue mission in two days, which means he won’t have time for a long slow seduction. He'll have to work fast, or the hot little BD will slip right through his fingers. She's the only woman in a long time who's been strong enough to challenge him—a quality he values highly. He's reluctant to change his footloose life, but he'll do whatever it takes not to lose her. She'll understand. Eventually...

But when BD learns Rafi has deliberately kept her in the dark about his black ops missions, she questions whether he’s the kind of man she can trust, and if he can be as faithful to her as he is to the Corps...

Buy
Once a Marine
here

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Marine-Patty-Campbell-ebook/dp/B00D8AXZWY/

Jelly’s Big Night Out

Patty Campbell

Passion, fashion, and secrets...

After life took a tragic turn, Jelly Swanson had no time for men. Providing a safe, nurturing home for her little sister and running a successful boutique left her too busy for much else, and forced the idea of a love life to the back burner. But when she goes to school for a teacher's conference, her sister Emi's science teacher takes Jelly completely by surprise. And getting pregnant with his baby? That's not at all part of the plan.

The last thing Henry Palasczewski is looking for is romance. With a broken engagement behind him, he's interested only in the job he loves and the students who adore him. Then Jelly walks into his classroom, and he's dazzled by her sexy, flamboyant manner. She's way out of his league—he's a science nerd, not a movie star—but the chemistry between them is undeniable.

But when Emi goes missing, a tangle of secrets and past loves may destroy any chance they have at happiness...

Buy
Jelly’s Big Night Out
here

https://www.amazon.com/Jellys-Big-Night-Patty-Campbell-ebook/dp/B007FUGHOG

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