Before the Mission Begins (When The Mission Ends)

by Christi Snow

  Before the Mission Begins

  When the Mission Ends Prequel #.5

  by Christi Snow

  Published by Christi Snow

  Edited by Mia Downing and Sarah Negovetich

  Cover and eBook Design by AM Design Studios

  Cover Photo by Jenn LeBlanc

  Copyright © 2013 Christina Snow

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, events, or incidences come from the author’s imagination and are not meant to portray real persons or events.

  Texas Tech University and Lubbock, TX are real places, but again they are used only as settings in this very fictional world. Any similarities are purely coincidental.

  Dedication

  This book is for anyone who’s ever fallen in love within twenty-four hours.

  Sometimes there’s no denying amazing chemistry, even when life tries to get in the way.

  True love will win out in the end.

  Thank God for that.

  In 1991, my now-husband and I found this out when we were dating. He was active duty military and I was in college. Separation is tough on any relationship, but especially a new one.

  I love you, Ben.

  I’m glad you stuck with me.

  Acknowledgments

  To my readers, you all are absolutely the best. From the moment I started with Julie and Chris’s story, I’ve been terrified. Theirs is not an easy story to tell.

  I hope their story lives up to your expectations. I love how much you all have embraced them and all the characters from this series.

  As you all know, this is just the beginning. The conclusion to their story will be found in Operation: Endurance, releasing April 30, 2013.

  Books In This Series

  When the Mission Ends Trilogy

  Book #1: Operation: Endgame

  September 2012

  Book #2: Operation: Endeavor

  January 2013

  Book #3: Operation: Endurance

  April 2013

  Book #.5: Before the Mission Begins

  Valentine’s 2013

  Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Books In This Series

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Author's Note

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Lights flashed through the darkened night as another rugged, sexy fireman rushed across Julie’s yard in front of her townhouse. She smothered a hysterical giggle. She really should call Penelope. All this fabulous man-candy was wasted on her. She’d proven that she had no idea what to do with a hot guy, but Penelope would know how to take advantage of the situation.

  She sank down on the curb, taking deep breaths trying to curtail the rush of tears. She could really use a pen and paper. She needed to make a list.

  So far, all the men rushing around had ignored her in favor of getting the fire in her kitchen under control. Once they’d ascertained the house was empty and that she wasn’t going anywhere, they’d urged her to stay out of the way. But Julie couldn’t sit here quietly any longer. She needed some paper. Now.

  A police officer stood by his car, watching the scene unfold. Studiously ignoring the curious glances from her neighbors who had braved the cold to come out and gawk at the circus her life had become in the last hour, she headed toward him. It was hard to see his features in the deepening darkness until she got close. Younger than she expected, he turned toward her with a concerned glance.

  “This is your place, right?” At her nod, he continued. “Are you okay? Do you need a blanket to stay warm?” His eyes trailed leisurely over the too tight Texas Tech t-shirt straining over her bra-less chest to her flour covered jeans with the holes at the knees to her bare feet. Blood rushed to her face. How humiliating. She hadn’t planned on leaving the house tonight. There was no need to dress up just to stand over the oven all evening, working to perfect her latest recipe. She wrapped her arms around her waist hoping to disguise the tightness of her t-shirt.

  Honestly, she hadn’t even noticed the cold, although she knew it was closing in on the lower 30’s. She just needed to work on her list. “No, I’m okay. I was wondering if maybe you had a pen and a piece of paper I could use.”

  A frown marred his forehead as he looked at her curiously. “Um, sure.” He reached into his car and pulled out a spiral notebook. After ripping a sheet of paper out of it, he handed her the paper and pen. “Here you go. Are you sure you don’t need anything else? Do you have someone coming to pick you up?” He glanced back over to the townhouse still swarming with firemen. “I don’t think they’re going to let you back in the house tonight.”

  She nodded at him and gave a tight smile, although her fingers thrummed with the need to start writing. “No, it’s fine. My brother and sister should be here soon. I’ll be sitting over on the curb if anyone needs me.” She pointed to the place she’d just vacated and tried to ignore the look from the cop. She wasn’t crazy. She just needed order in her life. No need to call the guys with the white jacket and van to haul her off to the sanitarium. Not yet, anyway.

  She settled back onto the cold cement of the curb and squinted down at the paper trying to see the lines from the glow of the emergency vehicles. She started writing:

  1. Buy a fire extinguisher.

  2. Take a fire safety class.

  3. Call insurance.

  4. Ask fireman how long before can go in townhouse again.

  5. Ask fireman if someone can get her purse for her.

  6. Ask fireman to get car out of garage.

  7. Ask Penelope if she ever dated a fireman.

  8. Look up physical requirements of becoming a fireman in Lubbock (thinking they must be rigorous from the physique of these guys.)

  9. Find a place to live for the next couple of days.

  10. Maybe check out if fire station has extra beds.

  11. See if fire station could use a physical therapist.

  12. If #11 is yes, volunteer services to fire dept.

  13. Check restrictions on her hospital contract about offering her physical therapy services elsewhere.

  14. Check fire d—

  Someone snatched the pen out of her hand. “Hey!” She looked up into the glaring green eyes of her sister, Rachel. “You took my pen.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes and settled her hands on her hips in a pose that Julie knew too well. “Please tell me you are not sitting here making a list while your townhouse burns down behind you.”

  Julie winced. Rachel would lambast her over this. She was sliding down a slippery slope, but so far hadn’t been able to stop it. Her debacle of a last date had just put a nail in her psychological coffin. Her OCD was out of control. She wasn’t sleeping. This wasn’t healthy, but she tried to defend herself anyway. “I’m not. I’m pretty sure the fire’s out, so there’s no danger of it burning down completely anymore.”

  Rachel sighed, sat down beside her on the curb, and yanked the partially written list out of her hands, smirking as she read it over. “Having some fireman fantasies, are we?” Rachel glanced back toward the sexy men in question and simply hummed in concurrence. But that didn’t change the concern in her face.

  A noise captured Julie’s attention and for the first time she noticed her brother, Owen, standing behind Rachel. His lips pinched together as he watched the firemen mill about the yard. He frowned down at her, looking way older than his twenty-six years. “What happened?”

  She ducked her head. “I was cooking and it
got hot, so I turned on my ceiling fan in the kitchen. I didn’t even think about it…” She trailed off, not wanting to give Rachel any more ammunition. As a licensed psychiatrist, Rachel really could bundle her up and send her off to the sanitarium.

  Rachel narrowed her eyes at Julie’s weak explanation. “Ms. Hyatt?” Whew, saved by the fire chief.

  Both Julie and Rachel stood, and Julie stepped forward to ask, “Is the fire out?”

  “Yes, my boys are just making sure there aren’t any hotspots left right now. Someone will be here in the morning to check the structural integrity of the home. It looks like we saved most of it. Your kitchen is gone, but the rest just has smoke and a bit of water damage.” Julie nodded and tried to concentrate on how lucky she was that all of her belongings weren’t ash at this point.

  Owen asked, “Do you know what caused it?”

  The Chief nodded, with a grim look toward Julie. “The stove top was the source. It looks like some papers got too close to the open flame.

  Julie closed her eyes in humiliation as Rachel fluttered the paper with Julie’s list on it still in her hand. “Imagine that…”

  She was right. When Julie turned on the fan, the copious amount of lists that were scattered all over her counter blew into the stovetop flame. So stupid… But the lists kept her sane, or at least, kept her insanity under wraps. At the pinched, tension-filled expression on Rachel’s face, she had to admit that this method probably wasn’t working for her anymore.

  Her siblings stepped over to the side while the chief gave Julie instructions about how to proceed the next day. She tried not to obsess about the not-so-subtle scowls Rachel kept flashing her while Rachel and Owen discussed something in hushed tones. What were they saying about her? She’d screwed up big this time. The Fire Chief gave her his card and then walked away.

  Julie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders to face her siblings. She searched their faces. Rachel had her therapist’s face on, completely still and devoid of emotion, but Owen didn’t have that ability. Rubbing the temples of his forehead, he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Her stomach clenched and she wanted to weep. She was stronger than this. She needed to be stronger than this. They wrapped their arms around her and Rachel softly said, “Honey, you’re going to have to make some changes in your life.”

  Chapter 1

  Two months later

  Lust flooded his body as Chris Robertson immersed himself into the most incredibly sexy dream he’d had in a long time.

  Her nipple pebbled as he squeezed and massaged the incredible breast under the palm of his hand. Damn, this dream girl was stacked. Warm, soft flesh overflowed from his palm. His cock awakened quickly dispelling the sense that something wasn’t quite right.

  He continued to caress, pulling her tighter until she was flush against his hips and chest. Her moist heat tempted the tip of his now fully erect cock. He was ready and willing to go at a round two with this girl.

  But wait a minute. He didn’t remember going for a round one. Why couldn’t he have enjoyed that in this dream too?

  Dream girl moaned and shifted her hips and all questions fled. The tip of his cock found the edge of heaven. Chris yearned to surge forward and sink into that moist heat, but something niggled. Something wasn’t quite right here.

  Still half asleep, he didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t want to wake up. He just wanted to enjoy the spice of jasmine and pear wafting off her warm body. She smelled and felt so fucking good. It would be so easy to simply surge his hips and ease into her. He moved his hips slightly, sinking another inch into that amazing space between her legs. As he became more awake he began to nuzzle along her graceful neckline. Her skin was satin beneath his lips as her hair tickled at his nose.

  Finally he managed to crack one weary eye open to find a girl actually there, in his arms. She wasn’t just a dream. He could only see hair so far, but there was no denying the very female body pressed up against him. She sported a spiky splash of purple and black hair. Purple? Who was this girl and why didn’t he remember going to bed with her?

  He opened his eyes completely to take in his surroundings. He was in Cassie’s guest bedroom. Now he knew something was wrong. There was no way he’d bring a girl into his twin sister’s house. Besides, when he’d arrived in the wee hours of the morning, sex had been the last thing on his exhausted mind.

  The girl wiggled further onto his cock and he stiffened. He couldn’t help the low moan that escaped his throat as more blood rushed to his shaft and his balls drew up in anticipation. He needed to stop this from going any further, before they both regretted it. All his muscles tensed with the control it took to not slide completely into her, but his dick begged him not to pull back. It pulsed, a reminder that it had been months since he’d gotten laid. He was rock hard. Her petite body fit so perfect within his hold and his cock ached for more.

  That tightening of his body must have been enough to pull her out of her own slumber. All of her muscles tensed for a split-second before she squealed aloud and struggled to escape the bed. Her creamy, toned legs tangled in the covers and she tumbled toward the floor. He scrambled up to grab her before she hit, but the bed was too big and he was too far away to snag her. He grimaced as she hit the wood floor hard.

  She clambered up, distracting him with her pert little ass. But then she turned and he couldn’t pull his eyes from those amazing bountiful breasts. They’d felt good, but they looked just as amazing. They had to be “D” cups and were so fucking perfect on that petite, tight body. Both nipples were erect and rosy with arousal. It was enough to cause his mouth to water.

  As she wrapped her hands around her breasts to protect herself from his gaze, she yelled at him. “Chris Robertson, close your eyes!”

  Her familiar voice brought him completely out of his sleep-deprived stupor. His gaze flew up to that face he knew so well, her hazel eyes filled with confusion and anger. The bright purple hair was shocking, in more ways than one. How the hell had he ended up in bed with his sister’s best friend, Julie? And why would sweet, innocent Julie have purple hair?

  * * *

  Julie covered her breasts with her hands, wishing for a robe— anything— to cover her nakedness.

  God was punishing her. How many times over the last few years had she fantasized about having Chris in her bed? Now he was actually there, but she didn’t remember anything about how he got there.

  Adrenaline surged through her veins as she worked to wake up and figure out what happened. Her core throbbed where just moments before she swore she’d felt him, but how was that possible? How the hell did she end up in bed with him? Naked. She searched frantically around the room looking for her robe, avoiding his eyes. Finally she spotted it and wrapped it around her pulsing body.

  She turned back to him as he forced his stiff erection into the denim of his jeans. At least she hadn’t dreamed that. He was just as turned on as she was. He buttoned the fly on his jeans, the muscles of his hard abs flexing and contracting and her mouth went dry. She licked her lips as she eyed the happy trail of hair on his taut belly. She knew right where that led and she wanted to explore that area with her tongue. She moistened her lips again and a low groan came from him.

  Her eyes flew back to his. Their sapphire blue reflected back the same depth of desire she was experiencing. But they also held bewilderment and dismay.

  She took a deep breath and gave him a tentative smile. It helped that he looked just as confused as she felt. “Um, good morning?” She frowned back over at the bed, wondering what exactly transpired there and how in the world she’d slept through it. “How the heck did you end up in bed with me naked?”

  “You were naked, too.” His voice was low and defensive.

  “Yeah, but when I got into bed naked, I’m pretty sure I was alone.”

  He looked back at the bed as if it would give them their answers. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. I got in really late. I didn’t realize anyone was here. I didn’t w
ant to wake Cassie because I saw some guy’s motorcycle in the driveway.”

  She interrupted with a wave of her hand. “That’s mine.”

  His gaze swung to hers in shock. “Yours?” His voice sounded strangled.

  She nodded. The motorcycle was just another part of her transformation. If she looked bad-ass, she felt bad-ass. That was a step toward maintaining a feel of control over her life without the OCD taking over all aspects of it.

  He squinted at her purple hair, the cleavage exposing silky robe, and glanced back toward where the driveway would be. “Who are you and what did you do with the quiet, shy Julie who normally occupies that body? Purple hair? Motorcycle?”

  Heat crawled up her neck, but shoved her chin up at a defiant tilt.

  It hadn’t been easy to remake her life, but by redefining her entire personality and with Rachel’s help, it was working. It was getting easier to leave behind her stressful past. She knew she was healthier for it even if it was still a daily struggle. But she was getting better about coming out of her shell, making her presence known, and not making a list about every single little thing in her life. She was even coming to like the new, more adventurous Julie. New Julie actually had fun. Rachel had been right about that aspect.