Love of a Marine (The Wounded Warriors Series Book 2) by Patty Campbell Page B

she just been steamrolled? She pursed her lips and pretended to think about it for several seconds while the other three occupants, and Queen, of course, sat stonily silent waiting for her reply. “Yes, it sounds like fun.”
    Yippees and yays erupted from the back. Queen even added her opinion with a muted huff. Cluny slid his hand across the front seat, out of view of the kids, and squeezed her wrist. This man’s touch told her she was still young and desirable and his touch was something she desired to experience.
    “What should we bring?”
    “I was thinking about those fan- tas -tic brigadeiros Santos made the other night.”
    Amber asked, “What’s that?”
    “Just about the most delicious thing you ever tasted, that’s what.”
    Graciella clamped her teeth together. Cluny had no idea how expensive they were to make, and it sounded like it would be a pretty big crowd.
    He said, “Tell you what. Write down all the ingredients you’ll need for about thirty people and I’ll buy everything, and you and Santos come to my house Sunday. I’ll even help make them, unless it’s a secret recipe you don’t want to share.”
    She sighed because he did know they were expensive to make, and he’d saved her from refusing.
    Santos said, “It’s not a secret, Macfearsome. I can teach you. Amber told me you have a big house with a kitchen and everything. Mama, can we?”
    “Can I come too?” Amber asked.
    “Everybody can come. We’ll have a party. How about it, Santos’s mom?”
    She giggled like the schoolgirl she hadn’t been for many years. “I’m in!”
    At her apartment, they trudged inside with the towels, blankets, and the cooler. “Santos, take Amber to your room and show her your collection of Transformer comic books.” Some had been his father’s and were protected in sealed plastic because of their value. Her son was very proud to own something his dad had loved.
    Cluny sat beside her at the kitchen counter while she wrote the list of ingredients she’d need to make the recipe for so many people. “This is going to cost a fortune, Cluny. Are you sure you want us to make them? There any number of dishes I could bring that wouldn’t be so expensive.”
    “Don’t worry about the cost. It will be worth it to watch the expressions on their faces when they bite into them. I can afford it. I want to do it.” He brushed his fingers through the hair draped across her shoulder. “Just having you and Santos in my house will be worth it to me.”
    She gazed into his clear blue eyes, amazed at her good fortune to have met him. Fate had a funny way of bringing people together. Was Cluny McPherson her destiny, or was she being foolish? “I think you can find everything on this list at Trader Joe’s.”
    “Graciella, I want to kiss you.” He’d stepped away from the stool and stood close to her. Very close. “May I?”
    She placed a hand on his cheek. “Cluny…I…the kids.”
    He gripped her upper arms and grinned. “They’re busy.”
    The next thing she knew, his mouth covered hers. At first the kiss was tentative, then he deepened it and put his arms around her. She moved easily into his embrace, her hands on his neck. His soft, gentle lips against hers stirred something deep inside. Breath caught in her throat. She could easily fall in love with this man.
    She drew back. “Cluny, I’m scared.”
    “Me too.” He rested his brow on hers and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, kissed her forehead and stepped away. “Amber! Front and center. I need to get you home before your dad sends a search party.” He let his hands slide down her arms and reached for the shopping list.
    “Shall I pick you up or would you rather drive yourself next Sunday?”
    “Write down your address. We’ll find you. What time?”
    “About eleven thirty? We’ll go grab lunch then start the cooking lesson when we get back. Is that OK?” He scribbled his address on her scratch pad.
    The kids walked into the kitchen.