First Class Hero (First Class Novels) Read Online Free Page A

smiled.
    Nic was second guessing her decision to come. She still
wasn’t sure why she had agreed. It went against every fiber of her being to
date a Navy man. She supposed she could suffer through one afternoon. And, she
figured if she wasn’t here with Paul she’d just be at home, doing absolutely
nothing.
    Paul began opening bags of ice and dumping them in giant
metal buckets. Nic opened the cases of soda and water and beer and added them
to the ice buckets. The two of them set up chairs and the card tables and threw
blankets and beach towels in a pile. As they turned to grab the last of the stuff
from the truck, a car pulled up and within seconds two little girls were
running to Ed.
    “Nic, this is Mariah, Ed’s wife. Mariah, this is Nic,” Paul
said.
    “Hi Nic. It’s so nice to meet you.”
    Nic smiled and shook Mariah’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet
you too.”
    “What have you got in the car that needs to be hauled out?”
asked Paul.
    “Everything in the back,” she said. “With the exception of
the stroller.”
    Paul walked behind the car and started unloading.
    “Can I help with something?” offered Nic.
    “I just need to get the baby strapped on,” Mariah smiled as
she pulled the Moby wrap from her bag.
    “What is that?” Nic asked.
    Mariah laughed. “I can tell by your face you don’t have
children.”
    Nic shook her head.
    “This is the best invention, ever!” Mariah said and within
seconds she had it wrapped and twisted around her torso like a mummy. She
pulled her sleeping son from the car seat and maneuvered him into the folds and
layers of the brown fabric and eventually he was completely hidden; just a bump
showed.
    “That’s amazing!” Nic whispered.
    “Told ya!” Mariah grinned. “Best invention ever.”
    The women joined Ed and Paul and waited for Ed’s team and
their families to arrive for an afternoon on the beach.
    *****
    A couple of hours later Nic had been introduced to all of Ed’s
team and their significant others. There were wives and girlfriends and a
couple of dates, just like herself, and a whole bunch of children. Everyone was
very friendly and she was actually enjoying herself. A very competitive game of
volleyball was in full swing with Paul on the team on the far side of the net.
Nic sat with Mariah and watched the athleticism of both teams. Ed was manning
the barbecue.
    “It’s not a very friendly game, is it?” Nic asked Mariah.
    She chuckled and shook her head. “I don’t know if you know
many Seals, but they don’t like to lose…at anything !”
    The ball was being batted around and bodies were flying and
sand was being flung in all directions. Nic couldn’t help but look at the
torsos on display. They were some nice looking abs and biceps to watch. There
was also laughing on and off the court but this was serious stuff. The score
was twenty to nineteen.
    “Match point,” yelled Phil, one of Paul’s good buddies from
when they were in San Diego together. “Defense men!”
    The ball sailed over the net and there was a set and a spike
back over but a fist managed to get under the ball just inches from the sand
and up it flew into the air. Paul set it for Phil and over it went again, but
it was blocked at the net and the game was over. Paul patted Phil on the back
and the men eagerly rummaged the ice bucket to quench their thirst.
    After grabbing a bottle of water, Paul fell on the sand at
Nic’s feet.
    “We lost,” grinned Paul.
    “So why are you happy?”
    “It’s been a long time since I played. It was fun.”
    Nic smiled and Ed yelled that the burgers were done. Bodies
moved quickly in the direction of the food. Mariah stood up and called her
daughters to come and eat. They were with the other children playing in the
sand.
    Paul looked up at Nic and tilted his head. “Are you enjoying
yourself?” he asked. “Just a little bit maybe?”
    “I really like Mariah,” she replied. “She was telling me
about when you were based out of