Field Stripped: 15 Steamy Military Romances

by Marissa Dobson

  “I would be using my own funds to run it and pay employees... along with fundraisers and donations I don't there will be an issue with funding. Richard Hamilton is also on board to help running it. The thing is I don’t have the ability to build it which is where the company would come in. I am not asking for a handout but if the company would build it and cover the cost. I think that the publicity that the company would receive would more than even out the cost of building as people would associate our resorts and company as a military and veteran friendly corporation.”

  “Wow, Jake that is something I would never have thought of. I actually think it is a very good idea. We have a couple of realtor companies in the area that we work with. I know that we wouldn’t be able to build a completely new building as that wouldn’t make sense business wise. Before you interrupt, I am not saying no… I am saying no to the construction of a new building, as we already have the condo resort in the works… I am saying yes to purchasing something that fits your needs, has a good amount of land and water access. If renovations are needed, we will cover that cost. You will handle the everyday running of it, the employees and all the costs involved with that. I know that the company will host benefits to help you raise money if needed. I will email you the realtor companies that we work with in the area I know that we can find something that will work.”

  “Thank you so very much, Uncle Pete. It means a lot that you are willing to support me in this, you have always had my back even when I was in the Corps.”

  “Anytime Jake, I will always support you and have even when your stubborn ass father didn’t.”

  “I do have a task for you, on Monday why don’t you visit the reality companies without them knowing who you are and see if they are willing to show houses that meet the criteria for your Veteran’s Retreat. If they are professional and willing to work with you, they will still be on our list of realtor companies. If they don’t take you seriously and try to say they can’t help you, they will be removed from the list. All the companies on the list are capable of helping you out.”

  “If they pass the test, hand them your business card from Peterson Resorts and invite them to the open house for our condo resort. This way you not only finding the best company to sell our condo’s but the best one to help you find the perfect property for you Veteran’s Resort.”

  “Will do Uncle Pete. Thank you again for everything. I will talk to you Monday.”

  “Talk to you on Monday Jake and don’t worry about the board, they will see the importance of giving back. Bye Jake.”

  “Bye Uncle Pete.”

  Jake hung up the phone, relieved that his Uncle had understood what he was trying to do and supported him. Getting out of his desk chair he went to see what Ham wanted for lunch.

  Chapter Six

  Sunlight beamed through the curtains waking Blondie up, as she stretched lifting her arms over her head in bed, feeling the pull from her fingertips to her toes. Slowly she got out of bed and went to the kitchen; coffee was needed before she was actually awake.

  Sitting down at the table with a full cup of coffee in her hand, Blondie went over last night in her mind. Jake was a capable bartender he handled the Friday crowd pretty good, he was friendly with all the customers and was quick when making drinks. Hopefully, he can handle tonight’s crowd as Saturday was their busy day. She still couldn’t believe Jake’s declaration last night, when he said that he would have her, her body responded right away. The question she needed to ask herself was should she let Jake claim her, especially after the whole James fiasco.

  There are so many things she doesn’t know about Jake, and she wants to know more before she gets involved. She does know that he was an honorable Marine, was medically retired and he is good to his friends. Besides that, she really doesn’t know anything about him.

  He does have the ability to make her feel and think things that no man has ever made her feel or think. That makes Jake much more dangerous to her heart than James ever would have been.

  As she sipped her coffee Blondie thought about James; he was a constant in her life long after the feelings they felt for each other were gone. Blondie knew she should have broken it off six months ago especially when he started commenting the way she dressed and her body size. Then they stopped having dates and the only time she saw him was when he came in for business lunches at Teufel Hundens. She knew then she knew she was getting played. As foolish as it sounds she felt like she needed someone just to be able to say she had someone. She still can’t believe that he brought a date into her bar, well that won’t happen ever again. Everyone at Teufel Hundens knows he is banned now, so that makes things easier.

  Blondie got up and went to refill her coffee cup, time to get dressed and see what Big Al is making for breakfast. The good thing about having a God Father who is not only a cook but also lives in the same building …hot breakfast. Plus, Al always waits till she comes down before he makes breakfast during their work week. Then they go next door to Teufel Hundens and prep for the day.

  After finishing her second cup of coffee and getting dressed, Blondie took the stairs down to the second floor, giving a little knock on Al’s front door before unlocking the door and walking in.

  He was sitting on the couch reading the paper, waiting for her.

  “What took you so long Lil Mary I thought you might have been sleeping in and forgot all about your Uncle Al.” he said with a huge smile.

  “You know I have to have my coffee in the morning before wake up, it took me two cups this morning,” Blondie said as she bent down and gave her God Father a hug.

  “With everything that went on last night I had to wrap my head around what happened. Truth be told Al, I am worried that James will try something as he isn’t used to being told no or being banned from somewhere especially on Topsail, Island. Jake did me a big favor in dealing with him, but I don’t know what was said only that it was taken care of. I don’t even know what to think about Jake; there is something about him that attracts me yet leaves me with questions.”

  Shaking her head and thinking she was pretty sure she was crazy, she decided to confess to Al what Jake had said last night.

  Al just laughed when she told him and then looked at her with a serious face and said, “Mary-Alice, that boy Jake is a good man, I am not saying that because he is a Marine. I am saying that because he took care of a problem that wasn’t even his to take care of. He is someone I know your dad would approve of, and I don’t say that lightly. I am not trying to tell you who you should and should not date, as you are your own woman; I am just saying I know that you would always be safe with him.”

  “Now, Little Mary what do you want for brunch as it is too late for breakfast? I was thinking of making a broccoli and cheddar quiche and fresh fruit with yogurt.”

  “I think that sounds pretty damn good Uncle Al, I am starving. Do you need any help in the kitchen?”

  “No Lil Mary, you go ahead and make us some orange juice then put it in the fridge to chill, I can handle the kitchen, sad to say…you burn water Honey,” Al said as he grabbed the ingredients to make brunch.

  “It was just that one time, I was 14 years old, can we forget about it already... Really Al, why you gotta bring that up?” Blondie asked in a huff.

  “Easy answer, to see you smile Honey. Now stop stalling make that juice then watch some TV. I got this.” Al responded over his shoulder as he got back to cooking.

  Thirty minutes later Blondie was setting the table and getting the juice out of the fridge. Everything was in its place as Al set the quiche and fresh fruit on the table. He went and grabbed the small container of yogurt out of the fridge and took a seat. Blondie knew the drill; they might not be church going people, but they still said grace before they ate and gave thanks for all the good things in their lives.

  Al finished saying the grace and cut up the quiche serving Blondie some and passed her the fruit bowl. As she finished filling her plate, she took a bite of the quiche; it wa
s fluffy and perfectly done. She couldn’t help but enjoy the taste.

  “Oh my God, Uncle Al, this is fracking awesome. See this is why I never lose any weight, and take the stairs all time, I love your cooking” Blondie stated with a huge smile.

  “You are perfect the way you are Little Mary; I remember your Mom always telling your Dad that if I was a horrible cook she might have actually been skinny. You’re the spitting image of your mom. So take the stairs if you want Honey, but it is never gonna change the fact that you got your curves from your mom.” He said with a laugh.

  “Enough sitting around we have prepping to do, so let’s clean up this mess and get next door to Teufel Hundens. Did you want to take some of this upstairs? I don’t really want it to go to waste. You can heat it up for breakfast tomorrow as I told someone I would help them out tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh you know I will take it Uncle Al, probably the healthiest thing I have in my house right now. Let me run this upstairs. I will meet you downstairs in a minute.”

  Blondie went up to her apartment and put the quiche and fruit in her fridge, then met Al downstairs.

  “Come on let's go Lil Mary,” Al said as he motioned her to come with his arm, “the food doesn’t prep itself and the bar doesn’t stock itself either.”

  Locking the front door to their apartment building they walked across the Parking Lot to Teufel Hundens. As the got inside Al went to the kitchen and Blondie went to the bar to take inventory and start stocking.

  Having finished with stocking the bar Blondie went to her office, as she paid bills and figured out the months’ earnings, she shook her head over the amount of money that James had cost her. Teufel Hundens was in the black, so there was nothing to worry about as they were an established business. However, why didn’t she catch on to being used earlier? It actually pissed her off that she let him use her.

  She knew James made good money as a realtor working for Samson-Adams Reality, as they are well-known for working with the resorts and selling their high-end beach houses and condos. She had questioned James once about why he just didn’t pay for his business meals as they could be written off on his taxes and he said by him coming to Teufel Hundens she would receive even more business from his clients so it would be worth it for her. Shaking her head Blondie knew as a woman who prided herself on being business savvy she made the mistake of trusting someone who took advantage of her. Never again, would she be so trusting when it came to her business.

  The knock on her office door had her looking up from her papers, Jane standing there with a sly smile on her face.

  Oh lord, Blondie thought to herself. What is Jane up to now? Please Lord, don’t let it involve me.

  “Hey, Mary-Alice what ya doing?” Jane asked as she walked in and sat at the corner of Blondie’s desk.

  “Paying bills now get your heifer ass off my desk, Jane… I don’t have time for your games I have paperwork to finish.”

  “Now, now Mary-Alice, I have known you since you were a teenager don’t go talking to me like that, boss or not you know I will get Al in here to tan your hide in a minute,” Jane stated as she wagged her finger at Blondie.

  “Plus I just wanted to talk to you about that yummy Marine that started working yesterday, do you think he could take some of my shifts, I am thinking I need a break from here and certain people. I am due a vacation and knowing that Nikki isn’t going to be back for two weeks I won’t take it till she gets back.

  “I’m sorry Jane, you didn’t deserve that. You know I love you. It is that I am updating the books and paying bills which made me finally realize that I was stupid where James was concerned. As for that yummy Marine, I will have to ask him, even if he can’t you deserve a vacation. I don’t know what is going on, but you have never asked for any time off so I am not going to tell you no when you ask for it.”

  “Don’t worry about it Mary-Alice and you know that Al wouldn’t even take me seriously, he doesn’t even listen or care what I say.”

  At that comment Blondie took a closer look at Jane, she looked tired and sad. Something was going on, but Jane would tell her when it was time.

  “Thank you for letting me have vacation time, but let’s just keep it between us for right now.”

  “Anytime, Jane… Don’t even worry about it. You know what is said in my office stays in my office.”

  Hoping off Blondie’s desk, Jane said over her shoulder, “Best get my old heifer ass out to the bar and start working before my boss gets her panties in a bunch. Oh yeah, just thought you should know last night Jake was ogling your ass. Hell, if I were younger I would give that boy a run for his money,” Jane’s laughter filled the hall as she walked away.”

  Blondie laughed to herself; she was glad that Jane was easy going, no matter how crazy she is at times and Jane was more than a little crazy. Unbeknownst to Jane, Blondie wanted Jake to do more than just stare at her ass.

  Blondie still had to finish updating the accounts and then go take a quick shower and get ready before it was time for her bartending shift with Jake.

  Chapter Seven

  Jake was feeling refreshed and ready to work after his talk with his uncle and lunch with Rich. He made sure he grabbed his pill case from the console of his Jeep and put it in his pocket. Making sure his watch was set to 6:30 so he would be reminded to take his pills, Jake walked into Teufel Hundens.

  A voice called out, “Hey Sud Muffin” as Jake walked past the bar. Glancing over Jake saw Jane behind the bar, with a huge smile on her face. Waving at her, he continued on his way to the kitchen to clock in.

  “Hey Jake, ready for the Saturday crowd,” Al asked as he wiped his hands on a towel.

  “You know it Al, Marines can handle anything… I was just going to clock in and help Jane count out. Is Blondie around? I saw her office door was closed when I walked by.”

  “Oh Lil Mary will be back in a minute; she went to get ready for work. I don’t understand how that girl can get dressed in the morning come over here stock and do paperwork, then go back home and change. I guess we all need a break now and then, and that is hers.”

  “Got it, well I am going to get going to the bar, talk to ya later Al.”

  Jake needed to speak to Jane, he wanted to ask her some things about Blondie and hopefully, Jane would have the information he needed. He was going to ask Blondie out tonight and with Jane’s help hopefully their first date would be memorable.

  “Hello Sexy, you ready to work tonight? Saturday’s are busy so are you sure that you can handle working with Mary-Alice or are you going to be too distracted by her ass to serve drinks?” Jane asked as Jake walked behind the bar.

  “Well, hello to you too Lady Jane... As for our Boss Ladies ass, I can’t help it…When you put a sexy woman in front of a Marine, they can’t help but appreciate the goods. Serious though… I am ready to work tonight, but I do have a couple of questions to ask you before Blondie comes in, and I figured you could help me out with them.”

  “What questions do you have; I will try to answer them if I can?”

  “Well, I plan on asking Blondie if she wants to go on a date with me tomorrow and want to know what her favorite flower and if there is anything she enjoys doing. I generally don’t date as I was always deployed and I want everything to be perfect because I really like her.

  “Don’t think you can fool me boy, Al told me what you said to Mary-Alice, and I think that you more than like her… It is more like lust her…It’s about damn time a real man stepped up to her. Al and I, even though I hate to admit this… actually agree on something. We think that you would be good for her. So I am going to tell you all about Mary-Alice.”

  Jane proceeded to tell Jake everything she knew about Blondie. She told Jake that Blondie’s favorite flower were Lilacs, but she also loved wildflowers such as tiger lilies and black-eyed susans. She enjoyed slow dancing and swing music. On her days off Blondie was known to walk on the beach and just enjoy the salt air. Jane even told Jake what her
favorite restaurant was, and that way to Blondie’s heart was through food. Deserts were her favorite, but she ate healthy so she could indulge in all sorts of sweets. By the time that the register was counted, and Jane was ready to leave, Jake had enough information to make sure that the date he was going to ask Blondie on was going to be perfect. They were just finishing their conversation when Blondie showed up.

  “Jane… Jake nice to see ya, are you all switched over and ready to work?”

  “Yes, Mary-Alice, I was just getting ready to go clock out. I will see you on Tuesday make sure you have a great weekend;” Jane replied as she went to go clock out.

  “Oh yeah,” she said as she stopped and turned around, “I expect to hear all about it on Tuesday, Mary-Alice and don’t leave anything out.”

  “Don’t know what is going to be so special about my days off, but I will tell you about them on Tuesday.”

  Blondie shook her head as she turned her attention to Jake, “Do you know what Jane is talking about… I feel like I missed something big.”

  “Who knows with Lady Jane, she is quite a character, but I figure we get through tonight’s’ service, and maybe some things will come to light.”

  “So now you’re being cryptic… You’re lucky you’re cute… I can’t handle crazy today, and Jane already paid me a visit earlier. So let’s get working as we won’t get much of a break tonight.”

  As Blondie walked to the other side of the bar to take an order, Jake stood there a minute by the register and thought… Damn, she just called me cute, progress is always good.