by Cat Johnson
“I am here to work, not find men.” Or diggers.
That statement was truthful. She wasn’t looking for men, only for one particular man. And actually, after he’d totally ignored her last email, she wasn’t all that sure she wanted that one anymore.
Emily watched the wide sway of Kerri London’s shapely hips and the energetic bounce of her more-than-generous chest and sighed. This woman had all the assets Hawk would appreciate. Watching Hawk hook up with Miss Sex on Heels after she’d been with him might just be more than Emily could take.
Suddenly, a warm friendly arm was around her shoulders. “Come on, love. Hot pants has her own transportation. So let’s get your things and you loaded into my jeep. You keen for some tucker or a cuppa?”
Emily wasn’t sure if she was keen for some tucker or not and was afraid to answer lest she commit herself to an orgy with some diggers or something. With a silent plea, she raised a brow and glanced at Jai.
“He means food and a cup of something hot to drink, Em. You’ll get used to him, don’t worry.” Laughing out loud, Jai answered her unspoken question.
Somehow, Emily doubted that. But his offer reminded her how chilled she’d become from the helicopter ride and from standing in the wind on the airfield.
“Sure, Mel. Some food and hot coffee would be great.” And getting away from Ms. Kerri Hotpants London even better.
“Bloody good, and then I can show you to your lush accommodations for the duration of your stay.” With a wink at Jai, Mel asked, “So, Emmie, have you ever slept in a tent before?”
Emily groaned. This was going to be one heck of a trip.
“So, Grandpa. How are they still letting you fly? I’d thought you’d be back in the nursing home by now.” Wally joked with the helicopter pilot. It was the same man who’d brought Hawk and the squad to their secluded camp weeks before.
Wally had explained to them all then that since he and the pilot were both from Alabama, he figured it gave him teasing rights with the old guy. So far, the elder man gave as good as he got from Wally, which never failed to amuse Hawk.
“Listen here, boy. I was flying when you weren’t even a gleam in your mama’s eye, and I’m still here. What does that tell you?”
“That the Army is desperate and has to hit up the senior citizen centers back in the States to recruit?” Wally shot back with a smirk.
“Ha, ha. Real funny there, kid.”
The man had to be pushing sixty. He’d flown CH-46s for the Marines during the final years of the Vietnam War. The reality was that the wrinkled, gray-haired reservist was nearing the upper age limit to be allowed to fly and would soon have to retire, but the old coot was determined not to quit before they made him. For that, Hawk had to admire him.
In any case, it was nice to see any familiar face again out here, even one he’d only met once. Hawk smiled at the pilot now. “Hey, Lou. Glad to see you again.”
“You too, Hawk. Didn’t think I’d be picking you up again so soon. What’s up? You and your two boys here giving up already? Heading for home?”
Hawk snorted out a laugh. “Not exactly.” He almost wished that were the case.
“I’ll tell you what, it’s way better than that, Grandpa. Well, maybe not better than going home but still really great. Wait until you hear the news.” His excitement evident, Wally practically bounced in his combat boots.
“Wally.” Hawk growled in warning.
“What? I can tell him about my promotion, can’t I?” Wally looked innocently at Hawk. A bit too innocently.
“Yes, you can tell him about your promotion.” Hawk grit his teeth, willing Wally not to spill the rest of the news. The news about the recent orders that had Hawk far from happy.
It seemed Hawk’s captain and his good old friend Commander Hank Miller had been busy in the weeks Hawk and his squad had been downrange. Between the two of them, and thanks to some marketing geniuses, Hawk was now part of a frigging USO handshake tour with a country singer he’d never heard of.
But that wasn’t even the worst part. Thanks to a strange twist of fate, Wally’s advancement had just come through from the promotions board. Someone decided it would be good press to incorporate the promotion ceremony into the tour. Of all people, now big-mouthed Wally was in on Hawk’s modeling secret, and Hawk had a horrible feeling that would cost him. He’d probably have to barter his sister for Wally’s secrecy.
Traveling conditions in the area were volatile enough that Hawk was instructed to take both Wally and another soldier with him. Pettit had been the no-brainer decision since he was already privy to Hawk’s secret hell. Hawk had left Specialist Black from Alpha team in charge of his remaining men.
So here they were, the three amigos, heading for a frigging USO tour.
Hawk wrestled himself out of his own misery and listened as Wally told Lou his news.
“I finally made it, Grandpa. No more Specialist Trent Wallace. When you fly us back, you’ll have to call me sergeant.”
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t call you the one who accidentally fell out of the chopper.” The old pilot was so amused at his own joke he laughed until he coughed so hard he had to snub out his cigarette.
As the pilot lit up another one, Hawk smiled at the single bright spot to this trip—the fact the old coot took no shit from Wally. Though Hawk feared that unless he decided to pull rank on Wally, he would certainly have to take some shit from him about this modeling gig.
Hawk considered that in under an hour he’d be with Emily again. Okay, maybe that made two bright spots in this trip. He’d get to see Emily after what seemed like a very long separation and find out if this near-physical ache he felt whenever he was alone and thinking about her was strictly a combination of sexual deprivation and the loneliness of being deployed or the real thing.
He was really hoping it was the former. This was neither the time nor the place for the real thing.
Chapter Fourteen
Taking a long sip, Emily was enjoying a nice steaming hot cuppa in the dining hall with Jai and her new Aussie pal when she felt his presence. Jai’s wave in the direction of the door at her back confirmed her intuition. She knew without turning around Hawk had arrived.
Her heart kicked into double time. Emily didn’t think that was caused by the caffeine.
“Sergeant. Glad to see you made it,” Jai greeted the trio of men who strode into her sight line as one to stand next to the long table.
Emily knew the moment had come. She would have to greet Hawk, yet she still didn’t know how she should act. Angry? Which she was. Indifferent? Cool and friendly like nothing had happened between them? That would require an award-winning performance on her part.
She had no clue what to do or say. Worse, she’d begun to wonder if her voice would give her away no matter what she chose to say.
Luckily for Emily, Jai made the introductions and gave her a small reprieve.
“Mel, this is our man for the shoot, Staff Sergeant Hawkins. Sergeant Hawkins, meet Mel Townsend, our video man for the next few days.”
Mel rose and shook Hawk’s hand. “G’day, mate.”
“Sergeant Ryan Pettit and Specialist Trent Wallace.” Hawk hooked a thumb at each of the two men on either side of him as he introduced them.
“Call me Wally. And after tomorrow, it’ll be Sergeant instead of Specialist,” one of Hawk’s entourage added.
Feeling ridiculous that she had yet to speak, Emily jumped in. “I saw your captain had added the promotion ceremony to the schedule of events. Congratulations, Wally.”
That earned her a wide grin from the man. Paranoid, Emily had the bad feeling Wally recognized her from the Ratskeller and was imagining how exactly his sergeant and she had spent that night in Germany.
Wally took a step closer and extended one beefy hand in her direction. “Well, hello there. And what’s your name?”
Hmm. Wally was flirting with her. What exactly did that mean? He wouldn’t do that if he thought she’d been w
ith Hawk, would he?
Or would he? Especially if Hawk had told him that he was finished with her and Wally could have her next.
“Emily Price.” Seething at this newest theory, Emily answered more sharply than was polite.
“Wally.” The warning in Hawk’s voice was evident.
“Just being friendly.” Wally grinned as he took Emily’s offered hand in both of his and shook it warmly. “Polite and friendly like my mama taught me.”
“Your mama didn’t teach you what you’re thinking.” Hawk took a step closer to them both and Wally dropped her hand in response. He took a step back, conceding to Hawk.
That was both interesting and maddening at the same time. Hawk hadn’t made any contact with her since that one-word email right after Germany, but in true caveman fashion, he had sent a definite signal to Wally to back off immediately. He might as well have peed on her leg like a damn male dog and marked her as his territory.
Apparently he didn’t want her but no one else could have her either. Lovely, but actually knowing Hawk, not that surprising.
Emily couldn’t avoid it any longer. She finally looked directly into Hawk’s gaze, finding it focused singly on her.
He smiled. “Hey there, Goldilocks.”
The deep timbre of his voice and his small crooked smile melted her frozen heart, while at the same time reignited her anger. Particularly when Emily noted she was back to being Goldilocks again, reaffirming that any closeness they’d gained that one night in Germany had expired.
“Hi, Hawk. Glad to see you’re still alive.” Emily answered as flippantly as she could.
He smirked at that. “It takes a lot to kill me, doll.”
Of that, she was certain, at least at those times when she was royally pissed off at him, like now. Although, during other times when she forgot to be angry, believing Hawk would be hard to kill didn’t do much to ease all those ridiculously pointless nights of worrying she’d had over this man. Meanwhile, Hawk probably hadn’t given her a second thought since they’d said goodbye in her hotel room in Germany.
Feeling mean, she smiled sweetly back. “Good, because I’d hate to have to start the ad campaign from scratch with a new model. So much work...” She shook her head dramatically.
Hawk laughed and Emily couldn’t help but notice the adorable way crinkles appeared around his eyes. She batted away the flutter in her belly simply looking at him caused.
Wally raised his hand to get her attention. “I’m available to model if you need me, Ms. Price.”
“No, you’re not, Wally.” Hawk’s eyes never left her face.
Wally nodded and mouthed behind Hawk’s back, “Call me.”
“Nice to see you both again, Miss Price, Mr. Devereaux.” Pettit, ever polite, stepped forward and shook her hand and Jai’s. Then he turned to Mel. “Very nice to meet you, Mr. Townsend.”
“Pleasure’s mine, Sergeant.” Mel pumped Pettit’s hand.
The male bonding and testosterone level around the place was starting to stifle Emily.
“Well, great. Now that everyone’s been introduced perhaps we should review the schedule.” Emily needed something to do. She was starting to feel uncomfortable under Hawk’s constant gaze.
He held up a folded piece of paper he’d had hidden somewhere in his uniform. “I’ve got the schedule. It’s simple enough. I’ll be where I’m supposed to, when I’m supposed to be there. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried,” she bit out quickly.
“No?” Hawk returned skeptically. “Good.”
She hated he knew her so well even if they’d only worked together for two days. Not reviewing the schedule with all the parties involved would up her stress level considerably and Hawk darn well knew it.
Emily was considering how to suggest again they all go over the schedule together while not sounding obsessive compulsive, thereby proving Hawk right, when she noticed she was suddenly the subject of Jai’s smirk and Mel’s interested stare.
If she weren’t careful, not only Jai, but also Mel would know about her little indiscretion with Hawk.
“Um, Jai. Don’t you think we need to review the schedule with Mel?” Emily suggested.
Jai raised a brow in her direction. He had worked with her enough to know her obsessive organizational issues. Emily felt fairly certain that it was becoming increasingly obvious to Mel also. Was she that transparent to the entire male race?
“Why yes, Emily. I think it’s an excellent idea to go over things with Mel. Sergeant, would you and your men like to join us while we brief our new cameraman?” Jai was humoring her. She didn’t care. She had too many other issues to deal with.
Hawk nodded. “Sure. Just let us grab some chow.”
“We’ll be right back.” Wally spoke specifically to Emily with a wink and a grin.
She couldn’t help but laugh, especially when she saw Hawk set his jaw. “Okay, we’ll wait for you.”
Hawk, Wally and Pettit left, and when the overwhelming presence that was Hawk moved farther away, Emily could finally breathe freely for the first time in minutes.
“So, you and the Staff Sergeant, huh?” Mel grinned.
“Jai.” Emily squealed the accusation, spinning to frown at him.
“What? I didn’t tell him. My hand to God, Emily, I swear.” Jai held up one hand in defense.
“Don’t blame him, love. Fair dinkum, Emmie, Jai didn’t tell me. You did. You should never play poker. You don’t have the face for it.”
Emily sighed. No use hiding it now.
Mel continued, “In any case, whatever happened or didn’t happen doesn’t matter. There sure is a good bit of tension between you two now.”
“Yeah, there is.” Emily laughed at Mel’s huge understatement. “I just don’t get how he can act like I’m his territory. Did you see him with Wally? What’s up with that?”
Jai shrugged. “He’s just being a man.”
Mel nodded. “Right, mate. And if you use it to your advantage, Emmie, he’ll play directly into your hands.”
She was about to protest that maybe she didn’t want him in her hands when further conversation was interrupted because Hawk and his men returned, trays of food in hand.
Changing the subject, Emily grabbed her briefcase from the floor. “Okay, let’s get started.”
“Super. So what have you got for me, love?” Scooting his chair closer, Mel hooked an arm around the back of Emily’s chair. He ran his fingers lightly up and down her arm.
It took Emily a moment to recover from the shock of that. But after one look at his wicked grin, she realized Mel was trying to make Hawk jealous for her benefit. As petty as Emily felt, she kind of liked that idea. It would serve him right. Maybe if he had bothered to email her, things could have been different.
A glance in Hawk’s direction and how his gaze remained focused on Mel’s fingers still touching her told her the plan was working. It also raised another issue—what if Hawk decided to beat up Mel over what was really a sham?
She’d have to consider this carefully. On one hand, the shoot would be more difficult if the model took a swing at the cameraman. On the other hand, she loved Hawk being jealous.
She watched as Pettit and Wally attacked their food like starving men while Hawk had yet to touch his. She was certain jealousy was practically killing the man.
His face grew stonier by the second. Emily really began to fear for Mel’s wellbeing. She shot a glance at Jai who looked amused by the whole turn of events. No help there.
Deciding there was nothing she could do about it now without making a scene, she ignored Mel and his wandering fingers, refused to look at Hawk and his possessive anger and took out her papers to review the schedule with all involved.
When all else failed, resort to work mode. That was Emily’s usual modus operandi in times of personal crisis, and she saw no need to change it now.
She focused solely on the paper in front of her. “Okay. First thing after breakfast with the tr
oops tomorrow morning is Wally’s promotion ceremony with Hawk and Kerri London.”
Hawk would surely need dental work by the time he left Bagram. Since he’d arrived, he’d kept his jaw clenched in an attempt to not tell that damn Aussie to get his fucking hands off Emily.
The cameraman had been all handy with her at dinner, then even worse the next morning. The bastard had the nerve to kiss her cheek at breakfast, leaving Hawk to wonder precisely where he’d spent the night.
Exactly how long had Emily and Crocodile Dundee been here in Bagram together? Hawk didn’t know, but he sure as hell wanted to find out.
In spite of their history together, or maybe because of it, Hawk would never take Emily as the kind who would sleep around with a guy she’d just met. He knew he’d been the exception in Germany, not the rule. But damn, with this guy anything was possible.
She might see the Aussie as different. Smooth-talking foreigners were sexy. Not that Hawk could judge that kind of shit in other men, but chicks always dug guys with foreign accents.
The possibility of Emily being with this Mel Townsend character was all Hawk could think about. And now he had to participate in Wally’s promotion ceremony in front of a hundred and fifty, maybe two hundred soldiers and act like nothing was wrong. They were all gathered there not for him or for Wally’s promotion, but instead to get a look at this supposedly famous singer.
Wally leaned closer. “I can’t believe Kerri London is going to help promote me.”
“You’ve heard of her?” Hawk looked at Wally, surprised.
“Hell, yeah. You haven’t? Oh, come on, Hawk. You’ve heard her songs. I’m sure of it. ‘Red Lipstick and a New Pair of Shoes’?”
Hawk raised a brow. “Must have missed that one.”
“’Only Your Dog Loves You Now’?” Wally threw out another song title, or at least what Hawk assumed was a song.
He laughed. “Nope. Sorry. But that sounds like a good one.”
Wally let out a frustrated sigh. “What do you listen to?”