“They're baaaaccck,” Tracy sing-songed as she passed by where I was trying to study.

I didn't look up. “Who?”

“Them.” She gestured with her chin.

I finally looked up to see the small group of Marines coming into the restaurant where I worked part-time. I snorted and looked back down at my book. “I guess they can come in if they want to,” I said, turning a page. “This is a restaurant and they have to eat.”

“And flirt with everything in a skirt.” She paused, looking over at me. “Aren't you going over there? They are sitting down in your section.”

Damn, she was right. I closed my book. So much for studying. I grabbed the menus and headed over to the table where the men sat, talking. As I approached, I took a moment to check them out. They were military judging by their short buzzed haircuts. There was a base nearby and a lot of the personnel came in for lunch or dinner with their families or friends. Between them and the locals, this place stayed pretty busy.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” I said as I placed a menu in front of each man.

They looked up, smiling and nodding in greeting.

“What would you like to drink?”

One of the men, a handsome blond with clear blue eyes, looked up at me. “You,” he answered, giving me a wink. The other men laughed at his joke. I gave him a smile.

“You're funny,” I answered.

He leaned back in the…

The Colonel's Baby