Loving An Airborne Ranger Read Free Page B

light coating of lipstick and a bit of blush on her cheeks and she was good to go.  She paused to look in the full length mirror Matt had fastened to the back of her closet door.  “Not too shabby, Lisa,” she thought, and then immediately, “Matt, I hope you don’t think I’m being disloyal to your memory.  I don’t know why I am feeling guilty.  Matt’s been gone for a year.
    Kyle had awakened from his nap so she quickly changed and dressed him.  Now back to the kitchen.  The cooking was coming along very well with only the green beans and pork chops to start and she was going to hold off on these until Chuck came over.
    The chimes from the front door sounded so she hurried to answer, checking herself in the dining room mirror to make sure everything was okay.  It was Chuck.  Since she was holding Kyle, she offered her cheek.  Chuck airbrushed his lips against her cheek, enjoying the freshly washed smell of her hair.  Even so, there was a reaction.  Sure she was blushing, she stepped back to let him in.  He presented her with a bottle of white wine.  “Since I didn’t know what you were fixing, I didn’t know what color to get.  I wouldn’t have known anyway.  I didn’t expect you to reciprocate on dinner, but I’m glad you did.” 
    She put Kyle down and he chased happily after Gunner.  “Come on into the kitchen,” she said.  “We’re having chops so I have to put them on the stove.  You can have a chair and watch the chops cook or watch TV until it’s ready.  It’ll be about ten minutes.”
    “Why don’t I pour a glass of wine and sit and watch?”
    “That works for me.”
    Lisa served up dinner.  She put Kyle in his high chair and gave him some food to play with, most of which he dropped on the floor to Gunner’s delight.
    “This is beautiful, Lisa and delicious.  I don’t know how long since I’ve had a meal that didn’t come off the grill or out of a box.  This is really awesome.”
    “Why thank you sir.”  The food was consumed mostly in silence except for occasional laughter at Kyle and Gunner.  When they finished, Lisa rinsed the dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher.  Want to go in the family room?” she asked.
    Chuck followed her into the family room.  At eight thirty, she excused herself to put Kyle to bed.  She returned to the family room where Chuck was sitting in an arm chair.  He quickly stood until she was seated and sat back down.
    Conversation ran the gamut of their mutual interest.  Chuck asked, “Is your mother still after you to move home?”
    “Every time she calls.  So is my sister.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know.  I have up to a year I can stay in base housing and before that time is up, I have to decide.  Do I buy, rent or crawl meekly home?”
    “Damn!”  His face colored, embarrassed at his language.  I’m sorry, Lisa.  I’m not used to watching my language.  I do apologize.”
    “I’m glad you’re comfortable enough to think of me as one of the guys.”
    “Oh, I don’t think of you as one of the guys,” he blurted out.  Both of them blushed at this remark. 
    He glanced at his watch.  It was already ten o’clock.  “I had better go.  I have an early call tomorrow.  We have a drop at 0800.”
    Lisa knew he meant a parachute drop.  They both stood and walked to the door.  Lisa offered her cheek, but Chuck cupped her chin in his massive , calloused hand and with a very tender touch, turned her head and kissed her on the soft, yielding lips.  She heard herself moan slightly, and stood on her tiptoes, put her arms around his neck and returned the kiss.  Then in a lower voice, she said, “You’d better go.”
    “Thank you for a lovely evening, Lisa.  It was a wonderful meal but the company was better.  I thoroughly enjoyed the company.”
    “I did too,” she said and to herself, “The kiss too.”   “Good night, Chuck, and be careful tomorrow.”
    “Oh, I will.  I’ll