by Aliyah Burke
“If he starts crying, you owe me five bucks,” a voice commented mildly beside him.
Oliver looked at his friend and second in command, Lieutenant Jason Rowe. “If he starts crying, he’s doing to be put on mess duty for a month.”
“The boy has the talent, it’s you yelling at him and glaring that makes him fumble,” Jason commented. “Watch this, let’s walk away and look at something else and I bet you he gets it up.”
“He’s going to need to learn to work under pressure,” Oliver muttered, but walked away with Jason.
“You need to lighten up, man. I’ve known you for over fifteen years and you are wound tighter that a banjo string,” Jason said. He was originally from Alabama and knew more than one country term or euphemism.
“I’m tight as…listen we’ve got a hundred soldiers training here that I’ve got to get up to credential status. We are two months in and six months before I send them back to their MOS,” Oliver pointed out.
“Radar up and running, reading to intercept and pin down enemy location!” the soldier called triumphantly.
Jason looked at him smugly. “See, you need to loosen up, man. We’ll get them up to specs. Besides, you catch more flies with honey than piss and vinegar.”
“Uh huh, I’ve heard that one before and piss was never part of it,” Oliver said.
Jason grinned as they walked back. “Where I’m from it is.”
“Good job, soldier,” Oliver said, trying to be less terrifying. “Now input the coordinates and report it to field artillery so they can target the enemy locations.”
“Yes, sir!”
Oliver and Jason were silent while they walked back over to the table with the maps held down with rocks from the open field where they were conducting that day’s training. When he leaned over to make sure that they were marking the targets correctly, Jason leaned against the folding table and it shifted a little, scraping in the dry earth.
“You need to come out with me tonight. There’s some new bar that has an opening tonight in Lawton and it’s supposed to have to some pretty good live bands and a wet t-shirt contest,” Jason said.
“Yeah that’s what I need, noise, beer, and wet t-shirts on some women who don’t need to be doing that anymore,” Oliver muttered.
“It’s better than going back to your place and drinking a beer before watching the news and going to bed,” Jason replied. “It’s Friday, dude. Come on, one night won’t kill you.”
“It possibly may,” Oliver shot back.
“Stop being as asshole and come on out and be my wingman,” Jason said good-naturedly, ignoring his grumpy mood.
“Why do I have to be a wing man? Most of the women in this town are looking for some soldier they can marry quick and get benefits…”
“Gee, jaded much?” Jason muttered, cutting him off.
“Okay, maybe some do actually fall in love, but most of them are there for the party and so are these fools.” Oliver happened to extend his hand over to there the private was working on the radar and the young man waved back happily. “Why the hell is he waving at me?”
“Because you waved first.” Jason started laughing.
“Why aren’t there decent girls around this place, like the one I was talking to over by the hangar where they’re getting the emergency drop together?” Oliver said. “She seemed nice and steadfast, really cool but young… Christ, why am I going over this.”
Jason looked at him. “So a hot young thing was talking to you and you noticed that, but you want steadfast like a good dairy cow that consistently gives milk. Yet you don’t think for a minute that you need to get out and have some fun?”
“She was not a dairy cow, she was beautiful,” Oliver retorted.
“Then say that, man. No woman wants to hear she is ‘steadfast.’” Jason made air quotes. “Did she have luscious lips, a great rack, nice legs and ass, any of that stuff?”
“She had all of it,” Oliver said, and an image of Grace flashed through his mind. “Christ, maybe you’re right, I have become Colonel Richards.” Jason met his gaze and they both shuddered thinking of the man who made their lives hell when they first joined the army. “Okay, I’ll go with you tonight and grab a few beers, but I’m not promising anything and when I’m ready to leave, don’t try to make me stay longer.”
“That’s all I can ask… Colonel Richards,” Jason solemnly teased.
“You know there are rocks on this table,” Oliver pointed out.
“Yeah, yeah.” Jason grinned. “You’re going out, so I’m okay with the risk. Okay, Jones is waving again. I’m going to go over there to see what he wants before you break his arm off for waving at you.”
“Please,” Oliver sighed. “Thanks.”
While he went over the maps, he thought about Grace and wondered if he may see her around Lawton that night while he was out. She was more than beautiful with that wild wavy hair and that skin that seemed to soak up the sun and gleam like she had bronze in her skin. Her eyes were wide and almond-shaped, more Egyptian, he thought, remembering the corners and how her lashes framed her eyes. Her lips were soft and full and her body when she stood was all curves in all the right places. She wasn’t steadfast, she was hot, and man if he was younger…but he wasn’t and women her age…well, he wasn’t brave enough to be shot down. He still had his doubts about going out that night, but Jason wouldn’t let him get out of it.
Oliver focused on the job at hand and picked up his radio. “Fire direction center target acquisition at coordinates sent from radar operations, confirm.”
He got back a grainy response confirming that his happy waving solider, Jones, had done his job correctly. The firing began, and for each confirmed strike he marked the area in red on the map. Out of twenty targets, they only missed two and that was more than a successful training mission. By the time the sun was setting, they had moved the radar back, and after a brief lecture on what went right, what went wrong, and how to work as a team, they were free for the weekend with directives to be back on base for five a.m. roll call. Oliver got in his truck and went to his base apartment and relaxed for a bit before he would have to meet Jason in Lawton.
Chapter Two
Grace always packed at least one good pair of jeans and a dress when she traveled, but this time because they moved so quickly, she had only her shorts and basic clothes because she knew she’d be working. That meant before going back to her hotel, Erika made her go shopping at the small boutique in Lawton to grab a few things. She ended up with two pairs of jeans, three good blouses, and two dresses. One she wasn’t too sure about, but Erika loved.
That was what she was wearing right now as she looked at herself doubtfully in the mirror on the closet door. The dress clung to her curves. It was red and white stripes and the color accentuated her skin. The straps were thin and it hugged her breasts, making her cleavage high. She tried to tug the skirt down to her knees, but it kept going back up mid-thigh. Grace wanted to put her hair up in the bun that kept her cool, but Erika passed buy and snagged the tie and her thick hair fell to her shoulders. At least her pumps were only three inches tall so her feet wouldn’t be dying throughout the night.
“I don’t know about this.” Grace chewed her lips. “And why can’t I wear my hair up? It’s hot.”
“No, it’s not. It cools down at night and your hair is gorgeous down,” Erika said firmly. “Stop chewing off your lip gloss. I wish you’d go with the red to match the dress.”
“Nope,” Grace said firmly. “I should change into the jeans…”
“You touch those jeans and I’ll hack them to pieces with my scissors.” Erika sighed. “Why do you want to hide your body? God I wish I had your curves.”
“Erika, guys and me don’t ever work out the way I want, so I keep to myself. You don’t get hurt that way,” Grace explained.
“Yeah, but you don’t live either and you end up living in a house with seven cats you dress up in baby clothes,” Erika replied.
Grace looked at her, aghast. “That does not happen.”
Erika nodded. “It sure as hell does. I’ll show you pictures of my Titi Rosa and her babies, as she calls them.”
“I’m sufficiently scared now, thanks,” Grace answered.
“You’re welcome. I’m saving you,” Erika said mildly as she picked up her purse. “Let’s go have fun!”
The new club was not far away from their motel, so they were able to walk there. The entire crew of the Humanitarian Resource Organization was staying at the same hotel so when they were leaving they saw others heading out as well. Including Eddie, who was coming back in with his meal for the day in a Styrofoam container. When he saw them, he almost swallowed his tongue and kept looking at Grace until she was uncomfortable. They quickly said goodbye and she could feel his stare on her back end.
“I told you this dress was a bad idea,” she hissed at Erika.
Erika laughed as they walked. “It’s called male attention. Granted, it was Eddie, but it just goes to show the dress works.”
At the bar, the atmosphere was lively. There were balloons in the ceiling that fell in intervals and strobe lights that pulsed along with the music. They were tons of military personnel men and women. You could tell because the men had the neat haircuts and, even though the women had their hair down, you could still tell by the way they carried themselves with straight shoulders. When they walked in, they were instantly mobbed with attention as they tried to find a spot at the wrap around bar.
The black and royal blue there was nice to look at. Even the booths were upholstered in royal blue suede. Finally, a small booth opened up and they managed to slide into it with their drinks. More than one eligible bachelor came over to offer them a drink and to ask for a dance. In less than thirty minutes they had three drinks to each of them on the table and Erika was on the dance floor for the second time. Grace refused because she was still very self-conscious in that dress and was still sipping the first drink they’d bought.
An hour later, she was considering leaving. Grace looked at the door, wondering if she could make it before Erika tried to stop her. Her eyes widened when she saw the major she met that afternoon walk in. He wore casual black jeans and boots that were black and polished. He wore a dark blue polo shirt and she smiled, thinking that even in regular clothes he seemed strict, yet sexy and dangerous. God, she never thought she’d be attracted to an older man. Out of all the people who’d hit on her so far that night he was the only one that made her heart race. She watched as he ordered a beer and then sat at the bar with his friend, who was younger, but she only had eyes for Major Oliver Clarke.
“Is that the guy that you saw talked to?” Erika asked as she slid into the booth after dancing. “He is older man sexy, you should go talk to him.”
“Yeah, like he’d want to talk to anyone like me. I’m twenty-seven. He has to be about thirty-nine. I’m not that sophisticated. He looks like he wants that type,” Grace said.
“You’ll never know until you go say hello again, soldier. His friend isn’t too bad to look at either,” Erika purred. She slid a shot sitting on the table in front of Grace. “Here’s some liquid courage. Go say high and bring him back over here to talk or maybe dance.”
“You think I should?” Grace said hesitantly. She pressed her hand against her stomach to quell the butterflies.
“Drink this and you definitely should,” Erika encouraged.
Grace took up the drink impulsively and downed it. She gasped as it burned its way down and made her eyes water. “What the hell is that?”
“Tequila.” Erika smiled. “Now go.”
Grace took a deep breath, slid out of the seat, and weaved her way across the crowded floor. The tequila made her body warm, and since she wasn’t much of a drinker, she could feel herself getting braver as she approached him. Oliver turned in his seat to look at the crowd just as she approached. His gaze met hers and her steps faltered for a moment. The heat of his gaze as he looked at her from head to toe was even more intoxicating than the drink.
“Major Oliver Clarke, so we see each other again,” Grace said with a smile when she stood close to him at the bar.
“Grace Kyle.” He smiled. “So this is where your friend dragged you out to?”
She laughed. “Yes, it is. I see you took the plunge yourself.”
He slapped a guy on the shoulder and his friend turned. “This is Jason and he forced me to be his wingman. Jason, this is Grace.”
His friend moved off the stool, took her hand, and kissed it. “Hello, Grace. My, my, my, Oliver didn’t tell me you were this beautiful.”
“So he mentioned me?” Grace said with a smile.
“Oh, repeatedly.” Jason grinned.
“Don’t listen to him.” Oliver shoved Jason lightly away from her. “So, Grace, can I buy you a drink?”
“I’d like that if… you bring it over to our booth and sit with me while I drink it,” Grace said.
“I can definitely do that.” Oliver waved the bartender over. “What would you like?”
“Something sweet,” Grace replied, and pointed. “I’m right over there. Jason can come too and meet my friend Erika.”
“What’s she drinking?” Jason asked after he openly appraised Erika.
“She likes the hard stuff, tequila,” Grace answered.
“My kind of girl,” Jason murmured.
“See you over there,” Grace said, and turned to head back to the booth.
“How did it go?” Erika asked when she sat back down.
“They’re coming over,” Grace replied. “Holy shit, I can’t even believe I did that.”
Erika laughed. “Looks like I’m your wingman tonight.”
The two men came over and sat with them and soon Jason and Ericka hit the dance floor. Grace was acutely aware of the man next to her in the small booth. She could smell the deep woodsy musk to his aftershave.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked.
“To that, no.” Grace laughed. “I honestly like more jazz, R&B, and smooth stuff. This is not me.”
He smiled and leaned close to her ear. When he spoke, the deep timbre of his voice made her shiver. “This isn’t my cup of tea either. Want to get out of here and grab an ice cream cone?”
Grace turned and looked at him in surprise. “Yes, I would, actually, and it’s probably cooler out there than in here since its getting more packed. Should we tell them we’re leaving?”
They both turned to see Erika and Jason dancing close. Oliver raised his hand and caught Jason’s attention. With a few hand signals, he let his friend know they were leaving.
“Now they know.” He moved out of the booth and held out his hand to her. “Let’s go get that ice cream cone.”
It was after midnight, and when they stepped out into the night, a cool breeze hit her. The change in humidity amazed Grace after the sweltering heat of the day. Being a weekend in a military town, people were still out and the ice cream shop was still open. He got them two cones. They walked slowly to the fountain and sat looking at the water as it flowed and the colors changed through it.
“Is your strawberry ice cream good?” Oliver asked conversationally.
She licked around the edge so that it wouldn’t drip. “Very, it cools that tequila shot that I had.”
Oliver laughed. “Then why did you drink it?”
“Honestly… I was building courage to talk to you,” Grace admitted.
“Really?” Oliver seemed surprised. “Why?”
“Well, look at you—big, strong, handsome—you probably date like lawyers and doctors.” Grace shrugged and licked at her cone. “I just own a small antique shop in a converted barn in Eugene, Oregon. In my spare time, I work for the HRO.”
“Sounds quiet and peaceful, I like it,” Oliver commented. He had finished his cone quickly. “I don’t date that much, haven’t in a while with all my duties and then my deployments. Most women wouldn’t even consider me a catch. At forty years old, I’m gru
ff and set in my ways.”
“I’m twenty-seven and I’m set in my ways. I don’t think age has anything to do with it.” Grace took a breath and hinted. “I don’t think age matters in many things.”
“Your ice cream is dripping,” he said softly, and took her hand in his. She gasped when he used his mouth to clean her hand. It was hot, intimate, and so very sexy. His voice was a husky whisper. “There, all better now.”
Grace looked at him and acted on impulse. She leaned over and kissed him. Oliver took it one step further and pulled her into his arms. The rest of her sweet treat dropped from her hand and she sank into the wonderful sensation of his kiss. He teased her mouth gently and then licked at her lips with his tongue, silently asking for entry. When she opened her mouth, she moaned gently as he speared into her mouth and tasted her deeply. Grace followed suit, and soon the kiss was heated before he pulled away.
