Then why would he turn her down flat without even giving her a chance? The jerk! He held her life in his hands and didn’t even know it. Well, Lt. Daly also didn’t know that Cambrie Brasher was a fighter and she wasn’t about to give up on him so easily. Not when Emma had been so sure he’d cooperate. And Finn wouldn’t have wasted her time if he didn’t think so, too.
Cambrie groaned, remembering the email she had sent out earlier asking the local news station for a press conference to announce her military support program. Hoping to use the press to gain support in the community and assist her in catching up on valuable lost time, it had been a great idea. But now with her plan backfiring and her adopted soldier bailing before she even got started, Cambrie just wanted to sink under the covers and fade into her dreams.
Or nightmares at this point.
Chapter Three
“Well done, Miss Brasher,” Mr. Hackler said after the press conference held in the main lobby of the library.
“Thank you,” Cambrie said, glancing around, still amazed at the outcome.
Every major news channel and newspaper in the area had attended the event highlighting the library’s quest for the grant. After the noontime news aired, the library had been under siege with community members wanting to participate and support the efforts. Cambrie figured most thought they could get on TV if they had come to the library, but the news crews had since left and only a few reporters remained, mulling through the crowd and interviewing people.
“I’m very pleased, Mr. Hackler,” Cambrie said, wanting to get away from her boss. She needed to send an email. Oh, God. Keeping a straight face while lying was damn hard.
“I can’t wait to see the response you get from the community,” Mr. Hackler said, interrupting her panic. “I think we have a great chance at winning that grant now that you’ve put on your thinking cap, Miss Brasher. Splendid ideas.” He walked away to catch up to the mayor.
Cambrie ran in the opposite direction of the crowds. What the hell was she going to do now? She had just promised Maddyville an adopted soldier to support. Now she had to come up with one since the last time she had checked her email an hour ago showed no response from Lt. Daly on her second request to adopt him.
Why did she kid herself? The man wasn’t about to reply. He had already said no, had declined politely. He didn’t need to waste his valuable time with her.
But she couldn’t go down without a fight…or at least one more try.
Slipping into her office, while customers mulled around the library hadn’t been easy. She had to claim an important phone call to keep moving and avoid the clutches of the well-meaning but overbearing members of the Auxiliary Women’s Club not to mention all the people who inquired about Aunt Annabelle.
Cambrie locked her office door to avoid prying eyes. Privacy is what she needed. Logging online, she pulled up her email, disappointed again to not find an email from Lt. Daly. But there was one from Emma. Oh, how would she tell her friend that she failed to gain Miller’s support?
Hey Cam, Finn told me he got an email from Miller that sounded like he might’ve turned you down or blown you off. Now, the Cambrie I know would never take no for an answer when she set her mind to something. Don’t let Miller scare you off, girlfriend. Go get him. Believe me, he will make your program win. Keep me updated.
Hugs, Em
Oh, those words were the fuel she needed for the fire in her belly. Encouraged by Emma, and determined to win the grant, not just to save her job but to keep the library open for all the deserving customers, Cambrie typed.
Lt. Daly, while it’s obvious from your lack of a reply that you’re ignoring my requests for your participation with the adopt-a-soldier program, I must try one more time. I have made a commitment to the program and to the library, so there is no backing out now without losing everything—my job, the library, and my Aunt Annabelle.
I don’t expect you to understand my predicament nor is it your problem. I just ask that, as a friend of Emma and Finn’s, you help me out. I’d do anything if you’d just cooperate long enough for me to get my boss off my ass.
Listen, I’ll be blunt since I gather you military types prefer it that way. I’m not ugly, boring, or dull. We can and will have decent conversations. I may work with books, but I also love adventure. I tend to be a bit clumsy, but that just leads to more fun with my escapades.
I read a lot but I love romances the most, especially the erotic ones, and I’m not ashamed to admit that. I believe sex is healthy and testing our sexual boundaries can only bring a heightened awareness of ourselves.
And don’t even think about busting my balls because I read romances. I know men don’t understand why women enjoy a good romantic story (and they are not all about lovey-dovey crap), but maybe if you guys read one then you’d understand what a woman is looking for. There’s a lot of information in those books that may unravel some of the mysteries of the woman’s heart, LOL—but that’s a topic for another time.
I’m attaching a picture, not that I’m a beauty queen or anything but it’s to dismiss any pre-determined perceptions you may have based on my occupation, and it’ll be nice for you to see who you’re talking to. I don’t have gray hair twisted in a bun or act prim and proper. Whatever you may think about librarians, well, I’m the complete opposite. I have long, brown hair, light brown eyes, average height, slender build, and am not shy about having some fun.
Ask me anything you want to know and I’ll respond truthfully. Be my pen pal for this program and I promise we’ll have interesting conversations that will help pass any boring times wherever you may be. Hell, it’ll give me some male companionship and adult conversation that I’ve been sorely lacking due to other commitments.
Come on-just do it. It’ll be fun, I promise. I’m sure I met you at Emma and Finn’s wedding, but I can’t remember because I met so many people that day. Please reconsider, Lt. Daly, I really need you.
Cambrie
She hit the send key before she could think about what she just wrote-how bold she’d been.
She sat with her forehead resting in her palms. If she could find another job in Maddyville where she could stay close to Aunt Annabelle and one that paid like this one then she’d give her notice now instead of embarrassing herself anymore with Lt. Daly. What was she thinking writing all of that stuff to a complete stranger? Oh, if he didn’t think she was a whack job before, he would now.
She sighed. How did life get so damn complicated? One minute she’s in Nashville pursuing a great career as a magazine editor and then life threw her a curve ball, and sent Aunt Annabelle to nursing care after a heart attack and breast cancer.
Well, Cambrie had to be grateful for the heart attack or Aunt Annabelle’s breast cancer would’ve been discovered too late.
Ding!
Cambrie’s head shot up and she stared at her screen. Incoming mail from Miller Daly.
Oh. My. God.
Here it came. He more than likely sent her an email blasting her forwardness and demanding that she leave him alone. With a shaking finger, she clicked and opened the message.
Cambrie, please accept my apologies for not getting back to you sooner. The slow response was in no way to avoid you. I was on a mission that lasted longer than expected with no access to email until I returned to camp. Now that I see we have something in common-I too enjoy erotic stories-then I’d be more than happy to help you out but on one condition…
What? He had rules to play by? She could live with that. Hope consumed her.
Okay. Anything. The message disappeared from her screen as soon as she hit the send button.
Sitting at her desk, she wiggled her feet in a dance on the floor. Yes! Finally some progress. If this worked out and Miller helped her with getting the grant then she definitely owed Emma and Finn dinner.
Ding!
Clicking on his reply, she read it.
Ahh. Careful what you promise. I’m a guy of many ideas with lots of time between mission
s. We could be potent together.
Did she read that right? Did he just hit on her? Holy shit!
Ding!
Sorry. Forgot to attach my pic since you were kind enough to share yours, Cambrie. I couldn’t attend Emma and Finn’s wedding—if I had then I would’ve made sure to make your acquaintance…and more. Wink!
Cambrie swallowed hard, her throat dry. One look at the man in the picture on her screen had her pussy awakening with tiny aches, creating a throbbing that she’d never felt before.
The man was so amazing. Dressed in military pants and sleeveless white T-shirt, he had to be at least six-foot-three, maybe weighed two-twenty. Staring at the camera with his massive arms crossed, he was indeed the epitome of strength. She couldn’t see his eyes behind the dark sunglasses, but his light brown hair was short.
A tattoo on his upper arm caught her attention. She squinted to see it better but couldn’t make out what it was. The grin on his face had her imagining kissing the corners to nibble along his angular jaw.
Christ, what had come over her? Okay. If he wanted to play with fire, she was game.
I may be a librarian, but don’t let the title fool you, Lt. Daly. I bet I could convince you to enjoy some books after a few sessions of…say…tutoring.
She slammed her finger on the send button and twirled in her seat, laughing. Wow, so this was what it was like to dabble in cyber sex. Holy shit, she was getting excited. She could feel her wetness gathering between her legs. She couldn’t remember the last time she had creamed her panties. Looked like she had gone too long without a lot of things.
Still smiling, she focused on the computer when the alarm sounded of an incoming email.
OMG! Sign me up. But only with you. Now tell me more…I have a passion for details. Logging off now but I’d love to have an email when I get back on, Cambrie, baby. Start doing your troop duties and work for this grant, LOL. Miller
PS—luv the pic. You’re a woman a man can dream about.
That gorgeous man could dream about her? Well, hell yeah! She could deal with that. What a great perk it would be if her job allowed her to enjoy cyber sex with a sexy-as-all-hell guy. A wickedness crept through her, naughty thoughts fighting for recognition. Her boss said she had to do whatever it took to get the grant. He never said she couldn’t have fun doing it.
Cambrie laughed and began typing her reply, saddened that Miller had to leave for now but at least she’d send him a sexy email to keep his attention. Wow, the rush of adrenaline flowing through her compared to the arousal she felt in a man’s arms. But never had she had a man as built as Miller or as dangerous. He looked like a one-man fighting machine with those muscles.
“Miss Brasher,” a woman called from the other side of the door after a faint knock.
Cambrie immediately stood to move to the door, her body heated from head to toe, her head spinning with a giddiness she hadn’t felt since her first kiss.
Opening the door, Cambrie found Mrs. Ginnity dressed meticulously in a peach suit and matching heels. “So sorry to bother you, but there’s a reporter needing to speak with you. Shall I show him in?”
Cambrie glanced back at the computer knowing her email to Miller would have to be postponed. There was business at hand and Miller wasn’t going anywhere. His interest in her was very much apparent. This day was turning out to be pretty damn good.
Chapter Four
Miller had finally found her after all of this time. The woman from his dreams now stared back from his laptop. The picture Cambrie Brasher had sent him could’ve been painted from his dreams.
Hell, yeah!
Sitting on his hard cot in the tent, he couldn’t stop staring at Cambrie’s picture. And what a name for the hot woman. Cambrie. It rolled off his tongue sweet as sugar with a hint of spice. Miller knew the minute he set eyes on his mystery lady there’d been no denying it was the right woman.
Fuck! He couldn’t get leave for at least another month. After all this time, wondering where she was out there, she happened to find him instead of the other way around.
Now he was stuck in this remote desert. The tour had lasted a month longer than planned with still no end in sight. The goal hadn’t been achieved and the team was fucked without reliable information from their local resources in the Afghan village.
Miller tossed his laptop onto the cot and grabbed his weapon to go seek out his commander. Walking out of the tent, Miller scanned the area to ensure no insurgents had snuck up on them. Caution could never be enough. His eyes caught sight of his boss.
Marching across the sand, Miller stopped a foot away from the man. “Lieutenant Commander Wallace, have we received the coordinates of our target yet?”
Chance Wallace faced Miller. The two had been best friends since boot camp. Now with Finn retired they each got turns running different ops. And Chance had been assigned this one.
“If I did, do you think I’d keep it a fucking secret, Daly?”
“Don’t give me any shit. This sun’s baking all of our brains. I think we need to review our mission and devise another plan since this one hasn’t worked. It’s like we’re just sitting around with our thumbs up our asses.”
Chance narrowed his eyes. “So now you want to run the show?”
Miller shook his head and stared at the ground before looking back up and losing formality. “Shit, it ain’t that, Chance, and you know it. I just want to be doing something. We’ve trained for months and it’d be nice to finally get to put that shit to the test. Seems no end in sight.”
“Never heard you complain before about a mission taking too long.” Chance studied him. “What’s her name?”
Miller grimaced. “Get fucked. This ain’t about a woman. It’s about progress and I don’t see us making any.”
“Then don’t get antsy on me now. Granville has intercepted some static on the radio. May be talk of an attack. Gear up. Let’s take a walk to the northern side, see if we can spot any movement and get you some exercise.”
“Will do,” Miller obeyed, turned and made quick strides to the tent. Chance could be a prick sometimes. Exercise his ass. What he really needed was Cambrie’s naked hot body under his while he fucked them both into oblivion.
Dressing in his BDUs, Miller fitted the seventy-pound backpack loaded with ammo and water and headed back to Chance. Miller may be dying to meet Cambrie, but he’d never disobey orders. His missions always came first. No matter what. Cambrie wouldn’t go anywhere in the next few hours until he could get back online. Sucks that the Internet here was so damn spotty. If they lost their connection, it could be days before they managed to get it back. He should’ve told her that so she wouldn’t think he was ignoring her again. Then again, it may prompt her to send another hot email.
“Ready when you are,” Miller said, stepping beside Chance.
“Lynch, Granville, hold camp. Harper, continue staking the coordinates for the village. Daly and I are headed to the northern post for patrol. Granville, I’ll be looking for more info on that static, so keep on it.”
“Yes, sir,” Lynch, Granville, and Harper replied, without interrupting their duties. Lynch stayed on watch while Granville worked the radios and Harper wrote on a clipboard.
“Come on, Daly. Try and keep up,” Chance said, marching away from camp not waiting for Miller to follow.
Miller ignored Chance’s dig. He wasn’t in the mood to be teased unless it was by Cambrie’s sexy body. Walking behind Chance, Miller held his rifle steady, his eyes roaming the land for any combatants. Catching a bullet in the ass now would severely fuck with his plans to meet Cambrie and get laid.
“Tell me her name, bro,” Chance said, his sharp words breaking the silence.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Miller responded without emotion, even though waves of electricity spiraled through him. He still couldn’t believe he had found the woman from his dreams.
Chance laughed loud and Miller shot him a warning glare that was ignored because
Chance continued without a flinch. “Shit, tell that to someone who don’t know you as well as I do. Now we may be stuck out here in the middle of the goddamn desert, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t found a hottie to play around with. I know the Internet connections have been pretty steady, so spill it. Who’d you meet online?”
“Get fucked, would you?” Miller cringed knowing that Chance wasn’t about to let his interrogation go any time soon. Not when they were surrounded by sand and no other forms of life. Miller was prime picking. Great.
“Now that I’d love to do, bro, but since I ain’t got no hottie chasing me, suppose you dish on who you got? Does she got nice tits and ass?”
Something about the way Chance spoke about Cambrie, even if he didn’t do anything out of the norm when it came to talking about women, had Miller’s blood pressure rising and his hand tightening on the gun. No way in hell did he want his best friend to talk about the woman who had captivated his attention since her emails began. She deserved respect. There was something different about Cambrie that Miller had sensed immediately, well once he gave her a chance. He sure as hell didn’t want to have a conversation about her with their typical gutter talk.
“You know, ignoring me won’t shut me up,” Chance said, interrupting Miller’s thoughts. “Hell, we’ve got a couple of hours out here by ourselves on this patrol. I’m damn good at getting information that I want. So you might as well fess up the juicy details now, Miller, or face my endless, mind numbing questions until you crack.”
Miller smirked and pushed his sunglasses up onto his helmet, squinting in the bright sun. Chance was the biggest asshole when he wanted something. “She’s different. Don’t talk about her like a slut.”
Operation: Tempt Me Page 3