A Marine of Plenty Read Online Free PDF

“I’ll get your flour and supplies. Oven three over there is for you. It’s a little temperamental, so have McIntosh or Cortez kick it if it won’t fire up.” He pointed to the two Marines. “We’re a little low on aprons, but we’ve got plenty of gloves.” He indicated the shelf over the sink. “Soap and water, there.” He included the fat, double-bellied sinks. “And you’ll find some pans in the cabinet below your table. Shout out if you need anything.”
    Cortez carried one of her crates over and set it down. “Supply officer brought eggs in for you yesterday, ma’am. Six dozen and they’re in the fridge. Do you need those?”
    “Yes, please.” She reached up to unbuckle her helmet. “All good to take this off here?”
    The men exchanged a glance, but Hall nodded. “No windows back here. You should be clear. If you need to get some air, everything back on.”
    Oh, that meant she could lose the flak jacket, too. Stripping out of the gear, she tried not to wave her arms around, but she cooled immediately. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer came on, and Jana glanced around her. All the Marines worked diligently.
    This is why I came .
    Humming the tune, she went to fetch the eggs. She couldn’t wait to make her bread.
     
    ***
     
    Leaving her proved to be the difficult, bothering Charlie more than he cared to admit. Surrounded by a dozen highly trained Marines in a secure area, she should be fine.
    But I don’t like it.
    And that thought plagued him through the round of his duties. He checked in with the commander, took reports, looked over intel, and handled one disciplinary action, but the entire time, his mind wandered back to their blonde guest. The attraction he understood—the gorgeous woman possessed a sense of humor, and a sexy smile he couldn’t quite erase from his mental screen. It’d been months since he’d been with a woman, any woman. So the attraction, he comprehended. The nascent worry, the gut-churning concern? Not normal.
    She’s here for less than forty-eight hours. Focus on the job at hand and put the rest out with the garbage .
    Unfortunately, the mental chiding failed to have any real effect on his reactions. He found his gaze regularly tracking to the mess hall, and the kitchen beyond it. By his mealtime, he practically vibrated with the need to check on her. He might as well be a green recruit. Bypassing his customary table, he beelined for the kitchen.
    Music filtered through the doors each time they opened. Most of the Marines served themselves—only officers received trays or fully-loaded plates. Simple, straightforward, bland-as-dish-water meals kept the bellies of the soldiers full and their minds sharp—but desire for grub didn’t drive him. Mouthwatering fresh bread smells battled the meaty temptation of her slow-cooking brisket.
    He heard her before he saw her. She sang along to Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree , her low, husky tone making the song far sexier than it should be. Or maybe the bump and shake of her denim-clad hips as she danced her way back and forth from the oven had more to do with it.
    “Captain.” Hall greeted him with a snappy salute. Charlie waved him back to work. They had plenty to do without his distraction. Torn between admiring the view and admonishing Jana for disregarding his instructions to leave her helmet and flak jacket in place, he settled for navigating through the other cooks to check out her work. Pies lined the shelves above her—apple, pumpkin, and cherry from the scent. Breads joined the pies and—between the music, the hum of activity, and the scents—it transported him home to his father and brothers while Naomi and their mother busily assaulted their senses with a home-cooked meal.
    She bent over the oven, jeans stretched taut across her sweet ass giving him an eyeful. Forcing his gaze upward, he caught another Marine admiring her and, with a frown, sent the man back to work. Judging by her cheerful disposition as she