by Cat Johnson
Not even close.
Still trembling, Emily nodded. “Sure.”
Hawk looked them both over one last time, she guessed to make sure they were dressed and put back together enough to be seen in public. Then he moved toward the door.
He paused with his hand on the lock. “I’ll walk you to your tent. You shouldn’t be out alone this late.”
Nodding, she grabbed the folder from the desk and pretended they hadn’t just had sex on top of it as she followed him out the door.
Making love to Emily was easy. Trying to get some sleep afterward knowing she was here on base so close and yet so far—not so much.
Tired and still wanting more of her, Hawk finally dragged his sorry ass out of his rack and hit the showers. The hot water striking his back felt good. He had plans to stay in there for a long time. Or at least until he felt human again.
While he stood and let the water wash away the fatigue, his mind wandered back to his too-short time with Emily. His body reacted with some pretty visible results. He considered if he had the energy or the desire to deal with it now.
“Hawk! Are you in here?” Pettit’s voice so close on the other side of the shower curtain deflated Hawk’s erection in no time.
“Yeah. What?” Hawk knew he sounded as exhausted and cranky as he felt. A man couldn’t even take a damn shower in peace. He’d deal with this kind of shit at the FOB where attacks came day and night, but here during a damn USO tour he should be able to relax for five minutes in the shower.
“Holy shit, Hawk. You have to get out here.”
Apparently there’d be no relaxing and no more shower.
Soap still in his eyes, Hawk turned off the water and quickly wrapped a towel around his waist, not worried any longer he’d embarrass himself with an Emily-induced hard-on.
Ready for anything but really wishing he had his gun and some clothes on, Hawk pushed out from behind the shower curtain. He came face to face with a very flustered-looking Pettit.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Wally.”
Oh no. When it came to attracting trouble, that kid was a life-sized magnet.
“Where is he?” Hawk pulled his uniform T-shirt over his head, not taking the time to tuck the hem into the waistband of his pants.
“That’s the part you aren’t going to believe. He’s in Kerri’s tent.”
“Aw, fuck.” Hawk jumped on one foot as he shoved a sockless foot into his boot, grabbed his jacket in his fist and ran for the door.
He’d had a bad feeling about Wally’s ability to resist that woman’s overt flirting. What he’d been counting on was that Kerri was all show and she wouldn’t actually follow through.
Bad call on Hawk’s part, because now Wally could get into huge trouble. Looking down at his barely dressed, definitely non-regulation appearance, Hawk realized so could he if anyone saw him looking like this. Hell of a poster boy for the US Army he’d turned out to be.
Hawk barely noticed the cold air against his still-wet skin as they ran through the entrance to the tent used by Kerri’s entourage...only to be stopped by the steel wall that was her personal bodyguard.
He heard Kerri say, “Let them through, Tony. It’s okay.”
Looking around the man, Hawk saw Kerri, fully clothed and wringing her hands. “I didn’t know who else to call. I’m pretty sure he can get into trouble for this, and I didn’t want to do that. I had Tony look for you but he could only find Ryan.”
Hawk looked around the otherwise empty space and frowned. “I don’t understand. Where’s Wally and what happened?”
Kerri hooked a thumb at the door behind her. “In there.”
That didn’t explain much, but Hawk didn’t require words when he could just go find out for himself. He preferred that actually—seeing things for himself.
Striding to the next room, the picture awaiting him there truly was worth a thousand words.
“Jesus, Wally.”
Seeing his newly promoted sergeant stretched out face down, naked and tangled up with an equally undressed female had Hawk cursing even more colorfully beneath his breath.
Judging by the woman’s uniform lying on the floor, she was with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF. Fraternization at its most blatant.
“Pettit, get in here. Kerri, can your guard keep everyone out of here until I clean up this mess. I mean everybody. I don’t care if it’s a five-star general or the president of the United States, they cannot, I repeat cannot enter this room.”
“You got it, Hawk. Tony?” Kerri glanced back at her hired brute as he folded his arms and nodded, relieving Hawk’s worries somewhat on that front.
Now for Wally… The scene looked like a cross between a frat-house party and a Roman orgy. The violation was enough to get Wally court-marshaled and kicked out of the service.
Hawk eyed an empty bottle of bourbon lying sideways on the floor. At least that helped to explain things.
He picked up the glass bottle and handed it to Kerri. “Civilians can probably get away with drinking on base, but Wally…” He shook his head.
Kerri got his drift and nodded, eyeing the bottle. “Gotcha. I’ll be more careful with my empty Wild Turkey bottles in the future.”
Stashing it deep in the garbage bin already mostly filled with water bottles and Styrofoam plates, Kerri winked at him, and Hawk said a silent thank you that she was being so cool about this. They might just get Wally out of this mess without a trip to the brig first.
“We’ve got to get him up, dressed and out of here.” Hawk had been thinking out loud, but Pettit stepped forward as if he’d issued an order.
Pettit grabbed a bottle of water off the floor and cracked the top. Standing over the bed, he looked a bit too pleased as he doused Wally’s head with the entire contents.
It took a bit of time to bring Wally to. He started out sputtering and then looked hazily around the room through squinted eyes. Hawk watched as the pieces began to fall into place in Wally’s addled brain. He waited for full realization to set in before he bothered yelling at him.
Wally glanced down at the naked girl beneath him and there it was—the oh-shit look.
“Wally, what the hell were you thinking?” Hawk crossed his arms and waited.
Still naked, Wally sat up on the edge of the bunk. He looked dazed as he shook his head. “Hell if I know. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”
“Obviously.” Hawk averted his eyes with a scowl. “Can you please put some clothes on?”
Wally grabbed a pair of underwear off the ground from amid the tangle of discarded clothes, pulled them on and then sat down heavily on the edge of the bed with his forearms braced on his knees.
Airman whatever-her-name-was still didn’t stir, which was probably for the better. One problem at a time.
“Oh, he was thinking all right, Hawk, but with the little head instead of the big one.” Pettit grinned at his own joke.
Hawk shot him a look to silence him before he turned his attention back to Wally. “If someone besides me and Pettit found you here, you could at the very least be stripped of your new rank. You’d be damn lucky if you didn’t end up out of the Army totally with a dishonorable discharge.”
“I know, Hawk. I was stupid.”
Hawk continued, undeterred by Wally’s contrition. “And then we have to hope she doesn’t press charges. You outrank her. If she decides to cry sexual harassment or worse, rape—”
“I know. I’m sorry. I swear to you. I won’t let it happen again. Ever.” Wally shook his head miserably.
Hawk went on, “And if she does end up talking and you lose that promotion and get busted back down to specialist or lower, you know it’s going to fuck with your head. I can’t, I won’t, have you become a liability downrange and put my men at risk, Wally.”
Wally simply sat looking repentant, head shaking. Hands shaking too, now that Hawk took a closer glance.
Hawk sighed. “Get dressed and get out of here.”
“Yes, sir.” Judging by his tone and the sudden switch to the formal sir, Wally had realized he was in very deep shit.
Once dressed, an obviously hungover Wally slunk out of the tent after taking one last backward glance at the unconscious girl still on the bed.
Pettit watched him go. “You think he learned his lesson?”
Hawk laughed bitterly. “No.”
“But I bet he’ll at least be on his best behavior for the rest of the time we’re here,” Pettit offered.
Hawk sighed. “Yeah, maybe. But I can tell you one thing. I’m not going to let him forget this. When it comes time for maintenance duty back at camp, Sergeant Wallace, if he’s lucky enough to still hold that title, is going to be first on my list.”
Pettit laughed. “I have no doubt, Hawk. I have no doubt.”
Grabbing a twisted sheet hanging from the bottom of the bed, Hawk pulled it up, covering the naked girl the best he could without getting too close.
“What do we do with her?” Pettit asked with a glance at the Airman.
Good question.
“I guess we leave her here to sleep it off. Will you go make sure Wally keeps himself out of sight until he doesn’t look and smell like he rolled in a bottle of bourbon?”
“Sure thing, Hawk.” With a nod, Pettit left to do as he was told like a good soldier. If only Wally could be so obedient.
Turning, Hawk noticed Kerri hovering in the doorway. “That okay with you? If we leave her here to sleep it off?”
“Of course, it’s her room while I’m here anyway. Until now she’s been no problem. Real quiet girl.” Kerri glanced at the figure on the bed then looked back to Hawk. “She did hint her boyfriend back home had sent her a Dear John, or I guess Dear Jane letter. That’s probably what got into her, besides Wally that is.” Kerri laughed at her own little joke and walked out to the front of the tent.
Hawk followed her. “Thanks for calling me. It could save his career.”
Kerri smiled. “No problem.”
Hawk and Emily had broken some rules themselves last night. He smothered any feelings of guilt about yelling at Wally. Yeah, Hawk had made an unwise decision, but with one big difference—Emily was a civilian, making it a shade less illegal. They also hadn’t been drunk. Nope. Alcohol wasn’t required for either of them to want to jump each other at inappropriate times and places.
Hawk glanced back at the doorway to the room where the Airman still slept. “I just hope she’s smart about this.”
“She’s a decent kid, Hawk. She’s been assigned to me as kind of a liaison since I arrived. I think she’ll do the right thing and keep this quiet. She will if I have anything to say about it anyway.”
Hawk smiled. “You’re one in a million, Kerri.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know, Hawk. Too bad I’m not the one in a million for you.”
Surprised, Hawk had to laugh. “You don’t want a tired, mean old soldier like me, Kerri. Believe me.”
“You’d be surprised what I might want.” Kerri ran one red polished nail down Hawk’s T-shirt.
It did nothing for him. Sure, she was hot. Yeah, a few months ago he may have fallen into bed right there with this woman, broken a few rules and never looked back. But things had changed and without his even realizing it.
Hawk grabbed her hand, moved her fingers from his chest and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Sorry, Kerri.”
She smiled. “Whoever she is, I hope she appreciates you.”
Laughing out loud, Hawk shook his head. “Nope. I can honestly say she doesn’t. Not yet anyway. But one day, she will.”
“She better. If she doesn’t, give me a call. Now that this little situation has bonded you with my bodyguard, Tony, your phone call might actually make it through to me.”
Hawk smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks again.”
“No problem, sugar.”
He pulled on the jacket he still held balled in one fist. With socks shoved in one pocket and his shirt still not tucked properly into his pants or his pants tucked into his boots, Hawk took a quick peek outside the door. Making sure no brass was around to see him, he skirted around the side of Kerri’s tent and headed for his own.
Chapter Sixteen
Wally’s poor judgment and the still-looming possible consequences aside, Hawk still walked to the USO offices with a spring in his step. He may have more events with Kerri, the ever-present Tony and the mismatched team of photographers for another day’s fun, but he also had another entire day with Emily. If he had anything to say about it, they’d also have some more private time together tonight.
He opened the door to the office and realized by the look of the full room he was the last to enter. Used to being the first to arrive most places, Hawk decided to cut himself some slack. His morning had already been fairly eventful and the day hadn’t even really started yet.
Kerri, sporting an interesting outfit comprised of a camo flak jacket and black high-heel boots, was the first to greet him. “Good morning again, sugar.”
“Morning.” His gaze searched the room as he responded to Kerri.
Spotting Emily, Hawk started to go over when Kerri stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Oh, Hawk. That issue you were worried about? It won’t be a problem. She is so embarrassed she made me swear that I wouldn’t tell anyone about it, so I think your boy is in the clear.”
That got his full attention. Hawk let out a breath filled with relief. “Thanks, Kerri. That’s really good to hear.”
“Yeah, I thought you’d like that.” Kerri grinned and then went back to sipping from her water bottle.
Hawk glanced across the room to Emily. She sat at the corner desk scribbling furiously with her head down. Happy to find her separated from the group so they’d have some privacy, Hawk went to her. He smiled at the memories that flooded him as he passed what had become their desk the evening before.
“Hey, sweet thing. I missed you last night.” He lowered his voice so the rest of the room’s inhabitants wouldn’t hear.
She raised her head and venom shot from her glare. “Don’t you talk to me. Jai will be running things today as soon as I give him some instructions. Don’t worry, Hawk. You won’t have to see me again before you leave.”
“What? Why? What’s the matter?” Hawk frowned, totally and completely confused. He tried to catch her eye, to read her face, but she looked away. “Emily. Look at me.”
Standing, she started toward the door. He grasped her arm. “Emily. What’s the matter? Everything seemed fine last night. I thought—”
“I saw you,” she hissed.
Hawk frowned. “Saw me what?”
She didn’t answer, but he saw her eyes grow glassy with unshed tears combined with anger.
“Emily, you saw what?” He began again just as a deafening blast rocked the ground they stood upon. It was so strong he had to reach out with his free hand and grab the desk to steady himself.
“What in the bloody hell was that?” After that exclamation, the Aussie was running out the office door, video camera in hand, straight toward the undisclosed danger rather than away from it like any sane civilian would.
“Wait. Don’t...” Hawk yelled to stop the idiot, but he was gone already.
Emily took that opportunity to wiggle from his loosened grip on her arm and make a run for the door herself.
“Emily, no!” Hawk didn’t know what had exploded, but he did know he wanted Emily near him where he could protect her until he found out.
He tackled her just as she cleared the entrance of the building, taking them both down into the dirt as the many sirens scattered throughout the base erupted. Amid the garbled loudspeaker announcements, people were running everywhere he looked.
“Get off of me.” Nearly hysterical, she struggled against him, unbelievably strong for a female her size.
His attention split between the bedlam on base and the hellion beneath him, Hawk somehow managed to grab both of Emily’s flail
ing fists in one of his hands and pin them above her head.
“Listen to me. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you. I don’t have time to deal with it now. I’m a little busy trying to keep you alive. Now get the fuck back in that building or I’ll put you in there myself.”
He hated treating her like this, resorting to frightening her, but it was necessary. Emily stared at him with a mix of hate and fear in her tear-filled eyes. Finally, she nodded and looked calm enough he felt confident he could let her up and she wouldn’t bolt.
Back in the USO office, Hawk had no time to comfort Emily because chaos had broken out among their small group. Hawk released his grip on her arm once she was safely inside. He stood stunned, deciding how to deal with this situation, just as the Aussie returned to the room.
“The east wall of the prison facility is blown to bloody bits,” the breathless cameraman reported.
Hawk instinctively reached for his M16 and realized it wasn’t there. All he had was a damn pistol. It was better than nothing, but damn, he’d give anything for Pettit and Wally right about now, and his automatic weapon.
“Look here, mates.” Mel stood in the center of the room and addressed the group. “We’re sitting ducks if they find us here in this office with nothing but Hawkins’s pistol to protect six people. I think we should make a run for it. There’s a bunker not far—”
Tony shook his head, pivoting it emphatically atop his abnormally thick neck. “No way. We stay here where I can protect Kerri.”
“How far is that bunker?” Jai asked over Tony.
Hawk looked at the group—Emily an emotional mess, Kerri in spike heels, the three-hundred-pound Tony who probably hadn’t run anywhere since grade-school gym class, the unarmed Aussie ready to take on the insurgents single-handedly and one Rastafarian with a camera. The answer to the bunker question was obvious to Hawk—not close enough to risk it.
Knowing he had to do something to manage the situation and fast before things spiraled any more out of control, he shouted, “Listen up!”
