Read Marrying the Marine-epub for Free Online Page A

button near the dashboard prompting the top to slide backward. “I hope you like seafood.”
     
    “I LOVE SEAFOOD.” She could just stare at his face all day, every day. As he drove the Jaguar along the coast, the warm autumn wind connected with her skin, pricked her scalp.  “Royce loves seafood, too.” She looked back over her shoulder at Royce. He stared back at her with a big smile on his face.
    His eyes diverted from her to Braylon. “Br…Br…Bray,” he tried.
    She looked at Braylon, then back at Royce. “Braylon. He’s your nephew.”
    He nodded. “Braylon,” he said it correctly, then burst into laughter at his achievement.
    Smiling, Sandella applauded. “Good job, Royce! Good job!”
    Braylon’s smooth lips spread across his handsome face. “I know the family has already said it a million times, I’m sure.  But thanks for all the hard work you put in with him. The last time I saw him he wasn’t talking at all.”
    “You don’t have to thank me. I love what I do. Besides making my pies, this is the only job for me. Speaking of my pies, I have to be back by three to make my afternoon deliveries.”
    “Well, I guess we better not spend too much time eating because I was hoping to take a stroll on the beach after lunch.”
    “That’ll be nice,” she said, thinking her father would roll over and die if he knew about any of this.
    Minutes later Braylon drove into the parking lot of the Chart House, situated on the ocean, and parked. “The food here is great.”
    “So I’ve heard, but I’ve never been.”
    During lunch Sandella had the pleasure to indulge in the flavorful Lowcountry perloo shrimp and grits dish. She’d even tried some of Braylon’s fried chicken and jalapeno and cheese biscuit, which was delicious too. Judging by Royce’s empty plate, she could only assume the shrimp fritters she’d ordered for him were to die for.  
    After lunch, the three of them walked side by side with her in the middle along the pristine sandy beach of the ocean. A light breeze rustled off the shore blowing strands of her hair across her lips. She swiped her hair behind her ears.
    “Thanks for lunch.” The corners of his mouth turned up into a sweet smile that melted her heart.
    “Thanks for joining me,” he said, taking her hand into his.
    A hot zing of electricity zapped up her arm making her nipples curl tight. His hand, so big, so hard, had her sizzling inside. If the touch of his hand made her nipples erect, my goodness , what would his mouth make her feel if he tasted them?
    The two of them had a wonderful time getting better acquainted. Belatedly they turned around and made their way back toward the restaurant. When they reached the dock of the Chart House, a gentleman burst from the side door of the restaurant and accidentally bumped into Sandella.
    “I’m sor—” The black man’s eyes stretched wide. Wearing a white apron, he was dressed like a cook. She recognized the man immediately. “Sandella, my gawd, I ain’t seen you since the day of your mother’s funeral,” he drawled in a Gullah accent. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be her father’s good friend, Claude?
    “It’s been a long time, Claude.” Her bottom lip trembled lightly as she fought the urge to run.
    He reached into the pocket of his apron and slid his glasses up the bridge of his bony nose. Taking in her face, he squinted. “I tell you…you sure are pretty. You look just like your momma.”
    If she hadn’t been so nervous, she probably would’ve blushed. “Thanks.”
    His eyes left her face to take in Braylon’s instead. “Is this your boyfriend?” he asked, checking him out from head to toe.
    “Yes,” Braylon blurted, untruthfully.
    Sandella’s jaw dropped. On the verge of going on a destructive rampage over the lie he’d told, she pinched her lips tight to keep from yelling. If Claude ran back and told her father she had a boyfriend and he was a Marine, Kane would have a