Uniform Desires (Make Mine Military Romance)

by Sharon Hamilton

  Which was ridiculous. He’d told her from the start, anything he felt for her would be purely physical.

  He’d been wrong.

  And now, instead of him backing out of the relationship as was his modus operandi, she was calling it all off. Normally, that suited him fine. But this was Delaney, and she’d managed to sneak under his protective barrier, somewhere between pizza, football, and night training missions.

  He glanced back as she slipped into the semi-darkness of DD’s Corral, the country western nightclub frequented most by members of the units conducting joint training exercises in the Little Creek-Ft Story area for the past two months.

  His member straining against the fly of his jeans, Tuck edged toward the dance floor, making his way through the crowd of men and women in civilian clothing, just as one of his favorite Tim McGraw songs struck up the first chords on the juke box.

  An Army guy stood and swayed in front of Delaney. "Hey, honey, wanna dance with me?" His voice carried loud and clear as the song hit a lull in the melody.

  Tuck’s fists clenched and he took a step toward the two.

  "Not interested." Delaney tried to get around the man.

  Again, he stepped in front of her. "Ah, c’mon. Just one dance."

  The man next to him jabbed an elbow in his friend’s gut. "Watch out, that’s Razor, the one I told you about."

  "Razor, is it? You’re pretty for a razor. Tell ya what, I’ll bring the shaving cream, and, darlin’, you can shave me any day."

  Her eyes narrowed. "Still not interested." She ducked around him and moved on. Before the army guy could catch up, she grabbed the biggest Navy SEAL on Team 10, Benjamin Sjodin, and headed for the dance floor.

  Nicknamed Big Bird, the SEAL was the largest and youngest member of their team and as graceful as his Sesame Street namesake. Still, Delaney painstakingly set out to teach the man how to two-step. A farm boy from Indiana, he’d been nicknamed Big Bird because he walked like an ostrich, all lanky, jerky and unnatural, but he got the job done. Not so much on the dance floor. He stumbled and stepped on Delaney’s feet and his freckles glowed every time he blushed.

  "O’Connell might have the reputation of being a razor, but she also has the patience of a saint." Cory Nipton, aka Reaper, grinned. "That’s the fifth time Big Bird stomped her foot. I’m keeping count."

  "He has the grace of a bull in a tutu. Whatcha drinkin’?" Tuck sat on a barstool beside his friend.

  Reaper lifted his bottle of Guinness and swished the liquid inside. "I’m good for now."

  Tuck wasn’t. He ordered another Bud from the tap, waited for the bartender to slap the mug on the counter, then took a long swallow. He needed the liquid encouragement before launching himself out into the sea of women looking for a little fun on the dance floor.

  Before Delaney, he’d enjoyed dancing with just about any woman willing to put up with his less-than-stellar two-step. Since Delaney, he found himself comparing every woman to her. They didn’t fit right against his body, the perfumes they wore weren’t as enticing as the fresh scent of Delaney’s skin. They didn’t laugh like she did at his crude jokes or point out when he was being an ass. If he was honest with himself, Delaney had ruined him for other women and that went against his promise to himself to remain unhitched, unattached, and single for the duration of his military career…if not longer.

  Tuck’s only experience with marriage was when his mother had run out on his father and left him to deal with the old man’s foul-tempered upbringing.

  Not like he wanted to marry Delaney now. But he would like their relationship to last at least one more night. Maybe two. She fit him like a glove. A warm, wet glove he could drive himself into again and again.

  Fuck. He’d never be able to dance if he had a hard on. He took another swallow of his beer before again facing the dance floor, scanning for a pretty woman to partner with. Maybe she’d make Delaney rethink her desire to call an end to their crazy, mad lovemaking that never should have happened in the first place. But now that it had, he wanted it to happen again.

  He took in the ladies sitting at the tables, smiling and laughing, touching their hair and generally trying to appeal to the bar’s male population in hope of enticing one to dance.

  There was a blond with pretty hair. After a closer look, Tuck shook his head. She smiled with a big toothy grin, like she was trying too hard. The brunette beside her was passable, but she laughed too loud and often. No. He couldn’t do that to himself.

  One after another, he ruled out the women seated around the dance floor, his gaze shifting back to Delaney.

  She laughed up at Big Bird, the musical sound hitting Tuck square in the chest.

  He jumped up from his seat.

  "Where ya goin’?" Reaper asked.

  "Gonna find me a woman." He stalked toward the pretty redhead at the end of the bar. "Wanna dance?"

  "Sure." She grinned, slid off her seat, and stood on leopard-patterned stilettos that matched her leopard, skin-tight skirt.

  Yeah, she’d do. Without waiting for her to get her bearings, Tuck grabbed her hand and wove through the tables to the hardwood dance floor. He turned and spun her into his arms, executing a perfect two-step.

  Thankfully, she was graceful enough to keep up as he whisked her around, passing Delaney who struggled to keep her feet from being crunched under Big Bird’s size thirteens.

  When she glanced across at him, he made a point to smile down at his partner for the first time and laugh, though the redhead hadn’t said a thing.

  The woman he was dancing with cleared her throat to get his attention. "Don’t you want to know my name?"

  Not really. He gritted his teeth. "What is it?"

  "Lisa." Another few steps in the dance and she raised her brows. "And your name?"

  "Tuck."

  Big Bird chose that moment to dip Delaney, nearly dropping her on the floor.

  Tuck lurched toward them, stepping on Lisa’s foot in the process.

  "Ouch." Lisa leaned on his arm and limped for a moment on her injured foot.

  "Sorry." He held her steady until she’d wiggled her toes and nodded.

  "I’m okay."

  Big Bird pulled Delaney back up in his arms and hugged her.

  His jaw tightened. The caveman in him wanted to stomp across the floor, throw Delaney over his shoulder, and take her back to his cave where he’d make her his. Damn the woman for getting under his skin.

  Lisa, her brow puckered, stopped in the middle of the floor, pulling Tuck to a halt. "I get it."

  "You get what?" he asked, impatient for the delay when Delaney and Big Bird moved to the other end of the floor.

  She planted a hand on her hip. "You’re trying to make someone jealous, aren’t you?"

  "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

  Her lips twisted and she jerked her head toward Delaney. "It’s her, isn’t it? You were with her in the hallway by the bathrooms a minute ago, wasn’t it?" Lisa stepped back. "Thank you for the dance, but I’ll find someone else more interested in me." She walked away like a model, strutting her stuff in her leopard stilettos and mini skirt.

  Her exit left Tuck standing in the middle of the dance floor, looking like a fool. Heat rose up his neck into his cheeks and he made his way back to the bar to retrieve his beer.

  Reaper laughed and slapped his back. "What did you say to piss her off?"

  "Nothing."

  "Oh, come on, she didn’t leave you high and dry for nothing."

  "She didn’t want to dance with me. Can you leave it at that?" Tuck tossed the last of his beer to the back of his throat, thinking it was time for him to leave.

  "Man, you’ve got a bug up your butt tonight." Reaper grinned and took a swig from his mug, then nodded toward Delaney. "What do you think about me and O’Connell?"

  Tuck choked, nearly spewing out the beer he’d been in the process of swallowing. "You and Del—O’Connell?"

  "Yeah, why not?"

  "
Her call sign is Razor for a reason." Didn’t he know it? She’d cut him off like an unwanted appendage. Tuck’s pride still smarted from her brush off. Never mind he’d always been the one to leave the woman behind.

  "She’s not that cutthroat, just with men who get too fresh."

  "What brought this on?" Tuck demanded. "I thought you two were just friends."

  "Hell, we’ve known her for the past couple months. And since she’s been hanging out with us, I’ve gotten to know her even better." A smile played on his lips. "I think she’s a keeper."

  "She’s not a fish."

  Reaper chuckled. "I know. What I’m getting at is that I think it’s time to take it to the next step."

  "Next step? Like dating?"

  "No. I got to thinking. You and me, we’re not getting any younger."

  "So?"

  "We never really know when our next mission will be our last."

  "Don’t be so fatalistic," Tuck grumbled and stared at his beer.

  "It’s true. We could be dead tomorrow, and what would we have to show for it? Who would give a rat’s ass?"

  "Your point?"

  Reaper turned and held out a ring box. "I’m marrying that girl."

  Tuck schooled his face to show no emotion, while inside he reeled. "Don’t you think a date should be the next step? Aren’t you missing the important part about getting to know her?" he asked, when he wanted to shout, No! She’s mine! Even though she’d just ended it with him.

  "We’re already close. All those nights we spent together, drinking beer, talking, watching football. We know what each other likes on our pizza."

  "That’s no reason to get married."

  "She likes beer, she watches football, knows me, and finishes my sentences."

  "Because you talk too slow."

  Reaper stared across the dance floor at Delaney and went on as if Tuck hadn’t spoken. "She’s everything I ever wanted in a wife. Tough, smart, beautiful, and she can fly a helicopter like nobody’s business. Man, she’s got it all."

  He had a lot of good points. Delaney was all those things and more. She liked pepperoni pizza and her favorite position was—ah hell. Tuck had to tell Reaper he was crazy to even consider asking her. She wasn’t interested in him or getting married.

  And if she were to marry anyone, the man would be him. Damn it! She’s taken! he yelled inside. But the truth was, she was free to marry anyone she liked. Not that she would. She’d told him just as emphatically as he’d told her that she had no intention of ever getting married. "It’s too soon. You barely know her. You haven’t even kissed her." Tuck frowned. "Have you?"

  Reaper grinned. "Not yet, but I can wait. And I want the first time to be special. The main thing is that I want to grab her up before someone else does."

  "She’s not the last cupcake at the party. And, Reaper, there’s something you should know." He took a deep breath before continuing. He wasn’t a man who’d kiss and tell, but staying silent while his buddy launched a campaign to woo the woman Tuck had slept with just wasn’t right.

  Before he could go on, Reaper responded. "I know she’s not a cupcake, but I’m betting she’s as sweet. You and I both know she’s special."

  Tuck stared at Delaney as she tripped over Big Bird’s big feet and laughed to make him feel better about his clumsiness. "She’s special, all right. And she’s also t—"

  Reaper wasn’t listening. "We could ship out tomorrow and she would never know how I feel." He was in his own world, talking through his reasoning for rushing into something with Delaney. "I’m telling her I love her tonight."

  "I wouldn’t."

  "Why? Don’t tell me the confirmed bachelor is in love with her too?" Reaper laughed. "That’ll be the day."

  "No, Reaper, really, there’s something you need to know about O’Connell." And me. What could he tell his friend? That he’d already staked a claim? He’d been with Delaney and she’d nixed any claim by telling him the liaison was over before it had barely started. No, Reaper fancied himself in love with Delaney, and he was willing to risk everything to make her his.

  The song chose that moment to end, and Big Bird led Delaney back to the bar. She smiled and laughed, her gaze going to Tuck and then sliding to the woman in the leopard skirt sitting at the end of the bar. Delaney’s brows rose, her mouth tightening.

  Tuck clamped his mouth shut, refusing to show any emotion.

  Delaney’s eyes narrowed.

  Reaper grabbed the box from Tuck and hopped down from his stool. "Tonight’s the night."

  Tuck snagged Reaper’s arm and whispered, "Ask her on a date, tell her how you feel, but don’t ask her to marry you until you know where she stands."

  "I’ve made up my mind." Reaper stuffed the ring in his pocket and squared his shoulders. "Wish me luck."

  Tuck ground his jaw. "Reaper, don’t—"

  Reaper strode toward Delaney, stopped directly in her path, and dropped to one knee.

  Tuck started after Reaper, wondering how his friend had gotten this carried away in such a short time.

  Looking from Reaper to Tuck, Delaney frowned, then her gaze swung back to the man on bended knee.

  Tuck wanted to slap his palm to his forehead and would have, if it would do any good. Reaper was on his own mission and nothing would stop him.

  Reaper held out the ring box and announced loud enough for all to hear, "Delaney O’Connell, I love you. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"

  Her cheeks bloomed with color and she bit her bottom lip. "Cory...I..." Wide-eyed, she glanced at Tuck for help. "I...good Lord, I barely know you."

  Reaper smiled up at her with his gotta-love-this-surfer boy good looks and a pleading expression on his face. "I’ve known you long enough to know you’re the one for me. Why waste time, when none of us know how long we have on this earth?"

  "True." Delaney bit her bottom lip. "But—" She glanced again at Tuck with a help me look in her eyes.

  Tuck moved toward the two as others gathered around, shouting and patting Reaper’s back, waiting for Delaney’s response. Not that she’d say yes, but even the chance that she could made Tuck’s gut knot.

  "Cory, I like you, and I think you’ll make someone a great husband. But—"

  He raised his hand. "Sweetheart, even if you don’t say yes right now...please, don’t say no until I have had the chance to prove to you I’m serious."

  Delaney’s cell phone rang, giving her the excuse she needed to avoid an immediate answer. She glanced down. "It’s my CO. I have to take this."

  Reaper nodded, waiting patiently, his smile in place, happy and ready to face a future with Delaney.

  Delaney hit the talk button. "O’Connell." She listened, nodding though the speaker couldn’t see her. At last, she spoke. "Yes, sir. Zero-five-thirty in the morning. I’ll be there ready to punch out. You too, sir." She hit the end button and stared across at Tuck and then down at Reaper. "I’m moving out in the morning."

  "What?" Reaper rose to his feet. "You can’t leave. Not yet. You haven’t answered my question. What about us?"

  "It’ll have to wait," she said. "Duty calls."

  Reaper gathered Delaney’s hands in his. "You can’t leave me like this. I need to know."

  With relief making his muscles a bit jittery, Tuck stepped up beside his friend. "Save the heartache, Reaper. She’s not interested in a relationship."

  Delaney’s brows puckered, her gaze narrowing. She squeezed Cory’s hands and smiled. "I’ll tell you what, Cory, let me think about it. When I get back from deployment, if you still feel the same, I’ll give you an answer. Right now, I need to go."

  "Fair enough. " He jumped to his feet. "I can drop you at your townhouse."

  "That’s okay. I drove myself. You guys don’t have to leave. Stay, have a drink for me. I’ll let you know my answer when I see you again."

  "Wait." He snagged her hand, stopping her from making a quick escape. With a gentle smile, he brushed the hair from her che
ek. "Won’t you at least give me a kiss goodbye?"

  Irritation shot through Tuck. "Reaper, she’s not—"

  Delaney shot a stony glance at Tuck, leaned up on her toes, and brushed a kiss across Reaper’s lips.

  A cheer went up from the men standing around them.

  Tuck balled his fists, his back teeth grinding together as Delaney dodged past him without saying a word and ran from the club into the night. He stood for a moment wondering what had just happened. When it hit him, he groaned. His best friend had just asked the girl he’d slept with the night before to marry him. And she hadn’t said no. Not only had she not declined the proposal, she’d kissed Reaper in front of their team.

  What the fuck? Why didn’t she tell him no? She’d told Tuck she wasn’t interested in a long-term relationship. For most, his parents excluded, marriage meant a lifetime commitment. Until death and all that. "I gotta go," Tuck said.

  "Now where are you going? The woman I love just ran out on me. I could use a designated driver to get me home safely."

  Tuck grabbed Big Bird. "Make sure Reaper gets back to base all right, will ya?"

  Big Bird draped a ham hock of an arm over Reaper’s shoulders. "Yes, sir."

  "Sober." Tuck jabbed a finger in Big Bird’s solid wall of a muscular chest. "You’re to drive sober."

  "No shit, LT. I got this."

  "I might as well leave," Reaper said. "Now that O’Connell’s gone, I don’t feel much like partying."

  "Then stay to humor Big Bird. He’s got to practice the two-step O’Connell taught him."

  Reaper glared at Tuck. "I’m not dancin’ with him."

  "No, but you can find a girl that will. Use that surfer boy charm of yours."

  "I don’t surf."

  "You know that, and I know that, but they don’t." He nodded toward the women seated in groups around the club. "When you tell these girls you’re from San Diego, they’ll be impressed and might take pity on Big Bird for you. Help out the poor guy. I’m out of here."

  "Traitor." Reaper turned away. "Go on. You need your beauty sleep and Big Bird needs a girl. I’ll get him one, then I’m right behind you."

  Tuck walked to the exit and, once outside, sprinted to his truck. Too late to stop Delaney, because the taillights of her Jeep disappeared around the corner at the end of the block.