Scheme of Maneuver: A Career Soldier Military Romance

by Tawdra Kandle

  “Fine.” I threw up my hands. “Then just forget about it, Owen. Chalk last night up to a mistake made under the influence of a decent bottle of pinot noir, and don’t think about it again. I’ll pretend I don’t know you, you can pretend you never met me, and we’ll just go on with life being vague acquaintances.” Turning my back, I pressed the heels of my hands to my eye sockets, willing the threatening tears to retreat.

  “Hey.” Owen’s big hand fell on my shoulder, and with gentle pressure he urged me back to face him. “Please don’t cry.”

  “I’m not.” I spoke through a clenched jaw. “I’m not heartbroken, I’m just fucking pissed at you.”

  He sighed. “We really can’t have this conversation right here. I really don’t feel like explaining anything to anyone who walks in. Come here.” He gestured for me to follow him out the kitchen door and onto a small deck at the back of the townhouse.

  Dim late afternoon sunlight dappled the wooden floorboards and rails. There were two wicker chairs at a small, round table, next to a cozy glider that looked perfectly suited for two people. I avoided it and dropped into one of the chairs to collect myself.

  “I’m not really mad at you. I guess I’m more mad at myself.” I drew my knees up and wrapped my arms around them, staring across the back lawn. “I knew I should’ve been totally straight with you last night, but you have no idea what it’s like to grow up as Kade Bragg’s little sister. It’s all I’ve ever been, for my whole life. Even after he left to go to college and then to be in the Army, everyone looked at me as the sister of the guy who’s serving our country. I knew coming out here to stay with Leah and Kade would mean more of the same, but dang it, despite everything, I love that doofus brother of mine. I figured I was old enough to be my own person, finally. And last night, when you didn’t know me, it was so perfect. You didn’t look at me as the less-successful Braggs kid. You saw me.” I paused. “Or at least it felt like you did.”

  Owen had parked himself on the glider and sat leaning forward, his elbows digging into his knees. “Of course, I did. Or . . .” He frowned. “I saw the person you wanted me to see, I guess. But since you didn’t give me all the information, right now I’m feeling a little . . . deceived.”

  “Everything I told you last night was the truth.” I counted off on my fingers. “My name really is Jacqueline. I did move out here from California to stay with friends, but they just happen to be related to me, too. I’m between careers. I was a makeup artist on the West Coast, but I didn’t love it. My clients tended to be women who were searching for a boring kind of perfection, instead of a more interesting individual look. Kade called me a few weeks ago and asked if I’d consider coming to stay with them for a little while, because Leah has two more classes to take before she can finish her law degree. She’d been putting them off because of the baby, but Kade wants her to have those credits under her belt before they have to move to another duty station. I said yes, because honestly, I just wanted to start somewhere fresh.”

  “I knew that.” Owen fidgeted a little. “Kade told me his sister was coming to stay with them, but I never gave it enough thought to put two and two together.”

  “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter now.” I sucked in a deep breath. “I won’t say anything to Kade or Leah. You don’t need to mention this to my brother, either. It was a fluke. We were at a wedding, we’re both single, and we succumbed to the romance of the evening. It’s done now.”

  Owen stared at me, and something in the intensity of his gaze made my insides go liquid. “But what if I don’t want it to be done?”

  I blinked. “What’re you saying? Aren’t you the guy who just ranted and raved about bro codes and betraying a trust and me being your friend’s little sister?”

  “Yeah, and all that’s still true. But I’ve got to be honest, too. Jacque—Jacey, I couldn’t stop thinking about you after last night. I was going to text you after I left Max’s today and see if you’d go out for coffee with me. Or a late dinner, or really, anything. I just wanted to see you again and make sure you really were as amazing as I remembered from last night.”

  “What the hell am I supposed to do with that?” I stood up from the chair and stalked to the end of the deck. “Are you trying to make me feel even more guilty about misleading you? Or more miserable, thinking that maybe we really could’ve had something if only I hadn’t had the bad luck to be your bud’s sister? Mission accomplished, Owen. Because I was thinking all of those things, too. I couldn’t stop smiling after I got your text last night. I knew I had to tell you the whole truth, because I knew that I wanted more than just a one-night fling with you. At first last night, when I followed you out of the reception, that’s all I was looking for—like we both said, a little fun. But then you kissed me, and for some reason, it felt like everything changed.”

  “Because it did.” Owen reached for my hand as I paced in front of him. “I felt it, too. I couldn’t wait to explore that with you. To see if maybe . . . I don’t know. Maybe I’d found someone who could be more with me. Then I saw you come into the kitchen just now, and it was like fate had given me a little reward, that you were here, too. I didn’t have to come up with an excuse to see you again. But when I heard what Jake said, I knew right away who you were. I remembered what Kade had told us. And I guess it stung, the idea that what I’d been so excited about might be off-limits to me.”

  “It’s just stupid,” I muttered, trying to ignore how his fingers felt curling around my forearm. I was struggling to resist the urge to sink down into his lap.

  “Yeah, maybe it is. And maybe we’re getting bent out of shape over nothing. I mean, maybe you’re right. It could’ve been circumstantial last night. The wedding, the setting, the wine . . . all very romantic. It’s possible that here, in the cold light of day, we’d find out we really don’t have that spark.”

  I swallowed hard over the lump rising in my throat. “Maybe.”

  “But we really should find out. It would be irresponsible of us not to test this theory.” With just the slightest tug, Owen had me tumbling down to land across his knees. “If we don’t, the possibilities could end up torturing both of us needlessly.”

  “I don’t like torture,” I whispered, unable to look away from the heat in his eyes.

  “I only like it when I know it’s going to eventually lead to something good.” He brushed a kiss over my cheek. “You know . . . like if I were to suck your tits for a really long time, it would kind of be torture to both of us, but then when I slid my dick into you, all that torture would be worthwhile.”

  “Um.” My mouth had gone so dry that I couldn’t form words.

  “Jacey . . .” He nibbled down my neck. “Can I kiss you so we can find out once and for all?”

  My tongue darted out to run over my lips, and slowly I nodded. “Please.”

  Last night, his kiss had been soft and inviting at first. Today, it wasn’t that way. Today, his lips demanded more of me, seeking parts of me I never shared. They forced mine open, and his tongue swept over me, exploring and daring. I answered him with a soft moan, meeting each thrust and touch. His hands, which had been loose on my hips, traveled to cage my ribs, his thumbs just barely teasing the underside of my boobs.

  God, I wanted him to touch me everywhere. The fire that he’d kindled inside me last night roared back to life, and all I could think were single syllable words: More. Hard. Now.

  I could feel his stiff erection under my ass, and I wanted to wriggle down to my knees on this hard porch, settle myself between his legs and take what felt like a cock of promising proportions into my mouth. I wanted to hear him groan my name, feel his fingers in my hair as he guided my head up and down—

  “Jacey.” Owen murmured my name against my lips. “Honey, I think we have our answer.”

  “Hmmmm?” I was too lost in pleasure to follow what he was saying.

  “The spark. It’s still here, and if anything, it’s bigger and hotter.”

  I ground my
ass down on his dick, where it was outlined under his jeans. “Bigger and hotter were the exact words I was thinking.”

  “Yeah.” He closed his eyes and hissed in a breath. “So . . . what do we do about this?”

  “I have some really good ideas that involve us, a room with a locked door and nudity. Lots and lots of nudity.” I nuzzled his neck, pressing light kisses to his jaw, enjoying the feel of his scruffy day-off beard against my lips.

  “I’m on the same page, but I was thinking more of the Kade issue.”

  And just like that, my bubble popped. My brother’s name turned out to be the perfect bucket of cold water tossed into my happy place.

  “Ugh. You had to bring him up, didn’t you?” I dropped my forehead to his shoulder. “Here’s a hint for the future: when you’ve got a girl all hot and bothered on your lap, saying her brother’s name isn’t exactly sexy talk.”

  Owen chuckled, but I didn’t miss the underlying strain. “I get that. And if all I wanted from you was a quick tumble that we could swear Kade could never know about, that we’d agree to keep it a secret, I’d be dragging you to the nearest no-tell motel. But the thing is, Jacey, I’m not sure that’s what I want.” He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “We don’t know each other really well yet, but I’d like to change that. I want to take you to dinner and find out what you like to eat. I want to talk about the movies and books we both like or hate. I want to hear about your plans for the future, about where you see your life going, and tell you the same about my plans.”

  Warmth filled me. I’d been afraid to even think about these things, but what Owen said was exactly what I wanted, too. “I’d like that. I mean, I want to bounce on you naked, too, but the getting to know each other outside the bouncing . . . it’s what I want.”

  “But how can I tell your brother that I want to date his little sister? And if I don’t tell him, how can I face him knowing that I’m lying to one of my best friends?”

  I drew in a deep breath, considering. “It’s not really lying, unless Kade comes up to you and asks directly. In that case, you’d have to be truthful. No question. But you know, maybe it’s like the spark.”

  When Owen frowned, I rushed to explain. “Hear me out. It’s like just now, when we had to test to see if we really did feel the same today as we did last night. What if we make a big deal about telling my brother, and then we go on a date and figure out that we have nothing in common? It would be a lot of fuss and upset over nothing.”

  “Ah.” He nodded. “I see what you’re saying. You might have a point. We could go out and see how it works before we say anything to Kade.” Owen held up one finger. “But if we decide that we’re going to keep seeing each other, we have to face the music and tell him. I’m not going to hide from my friend, and I’m not going to put you in the position of lying to your brother.”

  “Deal.” I stuck out my hand to shake on it, but Owen grinned and pulled me closer.

  “An agreement like this needs more than a handshake.” He wrapped his arms around me and covered my lips in another all-consuming kiss.

  I’d just twined my arms around his neck and opened my mouth to him when I heard a voice behind us.

  “Oh, my God. No. Just no. Oh, my eyes . . . they burn. I’m not really seeing this, right? This is a hallucination, right? Brought on by something I drank last night?”

  We jerked apart, and I twisted to see Jake standing just outside the door to the kitchen, one hand covering his eyes and the other extended toward us, as though he was blocking us from his view. I slid off Owen’s lap, landing with a bump and a bounce on the webbed seat of the glider.

  “Dude, you scared the shit out of me.” Owen ran his hand over his face, exhaling long. With his other hand, he reached for me. “You okay, Jacey?”

  “I scared you?” Jake was almost yelling, and I wanted to tell him to keep it down, but I was afraid that would only make him louder. “I’m the innocent party here, Owen. I wandered out here onto the deck, blissfully ignorant, looking for Jacey because Leah was wondering where she’d gone. And what do I get an eyeful of? This. The two of you . . . groping each other. Making out. Lip-locked.”

  “Jake, buddy, no offense, but I happen to know that you’re not exactly a virgin. Those eyes of yours have seen much worse than two people kissing.” Owen threaded his fingers through mine and squeezed.

  “Maybe so, but I didn’t expect to find one of my friends hooking up with our other friend’s baby sister.” Jake pointed at Owen. “When did this happen, and why didn’t you tell me?” He shifted his accusing finger my way. “And you. You just got to town, what? A week ago? And already you’re bumping uglies with this guy?”

  “Jake, calm down, please.” Owen sighed. “Seriously. You’re making a much bigger deal of this than it is. I met Jacey last night at the wedding. We talked a little bit, and we liked each other. Neither of us knew the other was going to be here today, but we took advantage of the chance to talk a little more.”

  “I’m not an idiot, Hughes. What was happening here when I walked out wasn’t exactly talking. You might have been using your mouths, but not for idle chit-chat.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m assuming Kade and Leah don’t know what’s going on.”

  “We don’t know what’s going on. Not yet.” Owen braced his feet against the floor of the deck. “We’re exploring possibilities, Jake. We’re getting to know each other. There’s nothing to tell Kade yet. So we’d both appreciate it if you’d keep this to yourself for now.”

  “Dude, listen to me. I know what it’s like to keep a big secret from your friends. I’ve been there, remember? When Harper and I hooked up, and then we realized that we had Max and Sam as friends in common, hiding what we were doing together was tough. And we weren’t even really dating then, we were just messing around together.”

  “I remember.” Owen slung an arm around my shoulder. “I was there when you first met her, and I was there when Max figured it out. But there was a reason you two didn’t announce your . . . whatever you called what you were doing. You didn’t tell us, and Harper didn’t tell Sam. Tell me again why you didn’t do that?”

  Jake shrugged. “Because we knew everyone would make a big deal out of something that wasn’t. It was important that it was just between us.”

  Owen cocked his head and raised his eyebrows.

  “Okay, okay. I get it.” Jake put his hands on his hips. “I understand what you’re saying. But this is different. Harper is Samantha’s friend, not Max’s sister. You know the code, bro. Sisters are off-limits.”

  “That’s fucked up.” Owen stood up and faced his friend. “I mean, when you stop and think about . . . if you had a sister, wouldn’t you prefer it if she were dating one of your friends, one of the guys you trusted to actually treat her right and be a stand-up man instead of some stranger who might break her heart . . . or worse?”

  Jake’s brows knit together. “Hard for me to say, because I only have brothers. But I think I see your point. Only you have to consider it from Kade’s point of view, too. He’s seen you pick up girls and have fun with them. We were all each other’s wingmen there for a long time. It would be kind of weird to think that what he knows you did with other chicks, you’re now doing to his sister.” He wrinkled his nose. “If I had a sister, I wouldn’t want to think about anyone doing the nasty with her, let alone one of my best buds.”

  Owen started to respond, but I cut in. “Hey—sorry, but remember me? The sister here? The potential . . .” I’d been about to say girlfriend, but maybe that was jumping the gun. “Uh, the other involved party? Might I have a say in this?”

  Jake scowled at me. “No, actually, you don’t. Little sisters don’t get a choice. They do what their brothers—and their brothers’ wise friends—tell them to do.”

  “Ha! If I hadn’t known you were sister-less, I’d know it now. Little sisters rarely do what their bossy big brothers say. And just for your information, I’m a grown woman who makes her ow
n decisions. I don’t need the approval of my brother or anyone else—including his nosey friends—to tell me what to do. If I want to go on a wild sex spree with Owen, that’s what I’m going to do. And not one person is going to tell me different.”

  Both of the men grimaced. “Listen, Jacey, whatever you do, please don’t use the words ‘wild sex spree’ when you’re talking to Kade about me, okay?” Owen sank down next to me again, hunching forward, his hands hanging between his knees. “You’re right. What you do is your own decision and your own business—and if it involves me, it’s between us, not anyone else. But Jake’s got a point, too. Out of respect for Kade and my friendship with him, I need to be honest and come clean. Even if we just end up going to dinner one night and finding out that we only want to be friends, we can’t keep that from your brother. It’s not cool.”

  Jake nodded vigorously. “Exactly. And when you tell him, I want to be there. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when you tell him that you’re banging his little sis.”

  “I’m not banging Jacey. We haven’t done anything but talk and . . . make out a little.”

  “Whoa.” I made a T with my hands. “Time out. Again, I have to remind the two of you that this is between Kade and Owen and me. Kade’s my brother, so I’m going to be the one to tell him that Owen and I are going out.” I turned on the seat of the glider, facing Owen. “If you want to talk to him after that, fine. But this isn’t the Dark Ages, I’m not anyone’s chattel, and I can speak for myself just fine, thanks.”

  Jake had the grace to look faintly abashed, but Owen only smiled at me, admiration and maybe something else in his gaze. “Damn. Okay, woman, your roar is clearly heard and acknowledged. Do you want us to talk to him together?”

  My stomach clenched a little. It was easy to spout off about facing Kade in theory, but the reality did make me the tiniest bit nervous. “No. It’ll be better if I’m on my own.” I paused, considering. “Or maybe I’ll get Leah on my side first. She’ll understand, and I think she’ll see things my way.”