Heart of a Marine (The Wounded Warrior Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

gave the night sky a soft glow in contrast to the near darkness of the residential area where they both lived.
    She tapped her brakes when his truck bounced into the lot of the condos. What was he doing? The place was dark except for a few security lights to discourage after-hour intruders. He stopped in front of the chain link fence, spoke to the guard dog, Hercules, then let himself inside. Marla pulled over and turned off her lights. She glanced at the building and made out the faint glow of lights from Miss Emmaline’s apartment. He must be checking on her.
    After a few minutes, Dwayne stepped out the front entrance carrying a sleeping child. The girl stirred and Dwayne’s big hand stroked the kid’s back and he brushed a kiss on her hair. He spoke to the big malamute again, closed the gate, and snapped the padlock. Holding the child securely, he opened the passenger door and with gentle care lowered the sleepyhead onto the car seat. He fastened the seat belt, and Marla saw the little girl smile. He kissed her and rounded the car to the driver’s side. Her heart clenched at the adoring look the little girl bestowed on her daddy.
    Marla waited several minutes after he left before she started her car. She didn’t want him to think she’d been spying. She wasn’t really spying was she? She’d just stopped to see why he had returned to the jobsite after hours. It made sense now. Miss Emmaline had been taking care of his little girl while they were at dinner.
    She’d find an excuse to talk to Miss Emmaline. See if she could learn something about him. Why was he a single father? Where was his wife?
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    The next morning, Marla had appointments to show a couple of houses that promised to be good prospects for the buyers she’d been working with. The heavenly aroma of fresh-brewed coffee surrounded her when she stepped inside the local Starbucks. She’d allowed enough time to order her café macchiato and find a nice table with room to spread the property photos and the pertinent information about the school districts.
    Her clients, Pete and Rosalie Wyland, arrived shortly after she sat. “I have a couple of very nice properties to show you this morning.” Marla indicated the photos.
    She explained the pros and cons of both properties, the proximity to schools and the zoning.
    “It sounds like there’s a lot to like about both places. Shall we get started?” Rosalie stood and settled the strap of her large purse on her shoulder.
    Hours later, Marla dropped Pete and Rosalie off at Starbucks where they’d left their car. “See you in the morning?” She asked.
    “We’ll go over all the details this evening.” Pete nodded. “We’re prepared to make an offer once we decide.”
    Marla flashed a bright, confident smile. “If you need any other information or have questions, please feel free to call me at any hour. You have my cell number and it’s always on.”
    The couple nodded and waved when they reached their car.
    Marla’s cell phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. Mother, blinked the caller ID. “Hi, Sil. How’s tricks?”
    “What am I going to do with your father, Marla? The man is impossible. I can’t take it anymore.”
    Marla had heard these words often for the last quarter century. Somehow her mother had managed to “take it,” whatever the crisis de jour happened to be.
    “What’s he done now, Mom?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m just about to explode this time.”
    “Shall I hang up then?”
    “No! I need your help. Why would you hang up on me?”
    “Sil, you just told me you didn’t want to talk about it.”
    “Never mind what I said. You’re as bad as Bradley. I don’t know why you didn’t take after my side of the family.”
    Thank the angels for that.
    “Are you going to tell me what Dadley’s done that’s so impossible? Or are we going to go around in circles, Mom?” Marla immediately regretted her words when she heard what sounded like a