Dog Tags: A romance anthology featuring military and canine heroes
Page 12
He cleared a lump that’d suddenly taken up residence in his throat. “Wow. Had you told me six months ago, as I was lying in a hospital bed on the other side of the world, that I’d be standing, literally on my own two feet, in front of my new café, I would’ve said you were blowing smoke. But here I am, and I can’t thank you enough for your help and support in making my dream come true. I especially have to thank my beautiful girlfriend for finding the perfect spot for me to open up a coffee shop.” She blushed and waved at him. “Anyway, I know you didn’t come out today just to listen to me talk, so let’s get on to the good stuff.” A round of applause filled the air.
“Pull the cord,” Mike shouted.
“Oh, yeah. Can’t have a grand opening without a grand-opening banner, right?”
With his eyes on Chloe, he yanked the cord that would allow the banner to unfurl. The clapping stopped short, and there were some gasps and squeals, but the only response Garth was interested in was Chloe’s. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers as she read the words over his head.
CHLOE, WILL YOU MARRY ME?
Only a few people had known the proposal was coming today. He’d asked for her father’s blessing two weeks ago, when he and Chloe had gone to visit them near the Outer Banks. Aside from her parents, the only other people who’d been in on the secret were her sisters, Mike and his wife Brenda, and Mrs. Schofield.
While Chloe was still processing what she was seeing, Garth stepped toward her, pulled a ring box out of his pocket, and got down on one knee as her father took the phone from her to keep recording. Roscoe sat next to him while Garth grasped Chloe’s left hand and held up the open box with the diamond ring he’d bought for her. “Chloe, you started off as Roscoe’s foster mom, then became my friend. It wasn’t long after that you became the second reason why I needed to get home in one piece. I knew I had to do two things when I got back here. I had to get Roscoe, and I had to ask you on a date. After months of getting to know you through email and Skype, I felt like I’d known you all my life before I ever had a chance to kiss you. And now . . . now, you’re my everything. So, Roscoe and I would like to ask you and Pepper if you’d marry us—please?”
Tears were rolling down her cheek as she nodded and found her voice. “Pepper and I would be honored.”
As he placed the ring on her finger, the crowd went wild, but before he had a chance to stand, Roscoe lifted his paw and set it on Garth’s knee. If Garth didn’t know better, he’d swear the dog was smiling.
Also By Samantha A. Cole
The Trident Security Series
Leather & Lace: Book 1
His Angel: Book 2
Waiting For Him: Book 3
Not Negotiable: A Novella Book 3.5
Topping The Alpha: Book 4
Watching From the Shadows: Book 5
Whiskey Tribute: A Novella Book 5.5
Tickle His Fancy: Book 6
No Way in Hell: A Steel Corp/Trident Security Crossover: Books 1 & 2
Absolving His Sins: Book 7
Option Number Three: A Novella Book 7.5
Salvaging His Soul: Book 8
Trident Security Field Manual
Torn In Half: A Novella Book 8.5
The Deimos Series
Handling Haven: Special Forces: Operation Alpha:
Deimos Book 1
Cheating the Devil: Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Deimos Book 2
The Trident Security Omega Team Series
Mountain of Evil: TS Omega Team Prequel
A Dead Man’s Pulse: TS Omega Team Book 1
Forty Days & One Knight: Book 2
The Doms of The Covenant Series
Double Down & Dirty Book 1
Entertaining Distraction: Book 2
Knot a Chance: Book 3
The Malone Brothers Series
Take the Money and Run: Book 1
The Devil's Spare Change: Book 2
The Blackhawk Security Series
Tuff Enough: Book 1
Blood Bound: Book 2
Hazard Falls Series
Don’t Fight It: Book 1
Don’t Shoot the Messenger: Book 2
Stand Alone Novels
The Road to Solace
Scattered Moments in Time: A Collection of Short Stories & More
The Bid on Love Series (With 7 other authors!)
Going , Going, Gone: Book 2
The Collective: Season Two (with 7 other authors!)
Angst: Book 7
Special Projects
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume One
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume Two
First Chapters: Foreplay Volume Three
Word Search For Warriors: Authors For a Cause
Word Search For Warriors: Volume II
Trident Security Coloring Book
Shaded with Love Volume 5: Coloring Book for a Cause
Cooking with Love: Shaded with Love Volume 6
About Samantha A. Cole
USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-Winning Author Samantha A. Cole is a retired policewoman and former paramedic. She’s lived her entire life in the suburbs of New York City and is looking forward to becoming a snow-bird between New York and Florida someday. Her two fur-babies, Boomer and Bella, keep her company and remind their mom to take a break from writing every once in a while, to go for a walk, which is the best way to deal with a stubborn case of writer’s block.
An avid reader since childhood, Samantha was often found with a book in hand and sometimes one in each. After being gifted with a stack of romance novels from her grandmother, her love affair with the genre began in her teens. Many years later, she discovered her love for writing stories was just as strong. Using her life experiences and training, she strives to find the perfect mix of suspense and romance for her readers to enjoy.
Her standalone collection of short stories, Scattered Moments in Time, won the gold medal in the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Awards in the Fiction Anthology genre. Her standalone novel, The Road to Solace (formerly The Friar), won the silver medal in the 2017 Readers' Favorite Awards in the Contemporary Romance genre.
Samantha has over thirty books published throughout several different series as well has a few standalone novels. A full list can be found on her website listed below.
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All Author
Damnit, I Love You
Alex Wolf refused to tell his fiancée that he wasn’t comfortable around dogs, least of all her one hundred-pound Rottweiler Mastiff mix. Damnit, had been trained as a pet at a highly respected psychiatric service dog kennel, but he was just a rescue mutt…wasn’t he?
Although Kane Jordan was no longer living on the streets, he maintained ties to the homeless communities around Dallas. When he found Saje Reece hunting for homeless veterans, he knew she needed his protection…and he needed her.
When Alex and Damnit come to the Dallas office, both men have a lot to learn from a dog.
Chapter One
Alex Wolf hated these goodbyes, but Kat’s job often required her to leave with very few hours’ notice. Katlin Callahan was the Ladies of Black Swan team leader, an all-female group of secretly trained Special Operators, the most lethal women on the planet. They were a secret weapon that Homeland Security took advantage of regularly. They could quickly and easily work their way into almost any facility or group, eliminate the target, and leave without notice.
But while they were gone, they were truly missed by the men standing outside the Guardian Security SUVs parked next to the aging drab-green hangar at Marine Corps Base Quantico. All were saying goodbye to their wives, fiancés, and girlfriends.
The women couldn’t tell them where they were going, how long they’d be gone, or when they’d be back. Operational security was critical.
As a former commanding officer of a Marine Raider company, Alex knew exactly what Katlin and her team were feelin
g. Now, standing on the other side of that relationship, he understood what every significant other of a Navy SEAL, Army Special Forces—and this time, Marine Raider—felt like as they kissed the one they loved goodbye.
They prayed it would not be the last time.
They memorized the feel of their kiss, the press of their body, and the scent of their skin. With one last look deep into their face, they cataloged each and every feature.
They suppressed every negative emotion. The worst thing that could happen to a couple as one of them headed off to war was to leave things unsettled.
Damnit nudged Katlin’s hand.
“What’s wrong, boy?” Kat kneeled next to her one-hundred-pound Rottweiler Mastiff rescue dog and stared him in the face.
“Are you going to be a good boy for Alex?” Her voice cracked, just a little. As though the dog could read her emotions, he licked her face with his thick, wide tongue.
“I’m going to miss you, too.” Kat stood and wiped the dog slobber off with the long sleeve of her black flight suit. She quickly glanced around, as did Alex. Her team members were gathering their bags, giving their loved ones one last kiss, and heading toward the door guarded by an armed Marine.
She glanced at the dog before returning her gaze to Alex. “You have his service dog vest, and I’m pretty sure I left the leash attached. His flight paperwork is in the clear pocket, but I left a copy on your desk. Our executive jet service is accustomed to him, but just in case you have to fly somewhere commercial, they might require you to leave a copy with them.”
Alex cupped her face with his hands and gave her a light kiss. “Babe, you and I have been flying with Damnit for over two years. I’ve got this.” Alex reached down and stroked the dog’s head. “We’ve got this, don’t we, big boy?”
“I know, but this is the first time you’ve had to take care of him while I was on a mission.” Kat seemed edgy. She stroked Damnit’s head and scratched behind his ears. “I’m sorry Tanner can’t take care of him.”
Once again, leaning in to kiss her, he held her gaze. “It’s not your fault that some other service dog training kennel burned, and Tanner took in all the dogs. Damnit and I will be fine, damn it.”
Kat giggled at the little joke. As a puppy, Damnit had learned his name by accident. Since all five of Kat’s team members lived together, it was a joint effort trying to name him. No one agreed. But after hearing; “Damn it, stop that.” Damn it, no.” “Damn it, dog, give that to me,” and other such expletives, he thought his name was Damnit. The name stuck.
When she bent down to snuggle the dog one last time, Alex felt jealous. This was his time with Katlin. Normally, she’d said goodbye to her dog hours before Alex had to take her to Quantico. They had their own routine in these last minutes, which he now had to share with her dog.
“Are you going to miss me as much as you’re going to miss your dog?” Alex couldn’t help the cynical little bite in his voice.
Standing, Kat wrapped her arms around him. “I’m going to miss you more. You own my heart. Take care of it.” Their kiss was long and slow. He savored her taste as he swept into her mouth, tangling their tongues in a dance of promise rather than seduction.
He pulled on the titanium chain hanging permanently around her neck. “I gave you my heart even before I gave you this ring.” When she was on a mission, it held their engagement ring next to her heart. He kissed the ring and tucked it between her full breasts. “Take care of my heart and bring it back to me.”
Their last kiss was brief before Kat turned and grabbed her black duffel bags. As she headed toward the hangar door, the dog whined until she glanced back at the two of them. “Damnit, take care of Alex for me.”
As though the dog understood the command, he moved next to Alex and looked up at him as though waiting for his next command.
After Katlin disappeared behind the guarded door, the men gathered near Alex in what had become their tradition. Saying nothing, they all listened as the large hangar doors opened on the runway side. Two powerful Rolls-Royce engines screamed to life, unseen in the dark of night, blocked by the old hangers. The customized shiny black Gulfstream five-fifty was another state secret. Runway lights flashed on for less than thirty seconds as the jet sped down the airstrip and lifted toward the stars, disappearing almost immediately.
“I’ve got to get home to the kids.” Daniel was Kat’s older and only brother, married to the team doctor, Nita. “Call me next time you’re in town and we’ll get together for a beer. If our women ever stay in town long enough, we’d love to have everybody back over to the house. The deep end of that swimming pool doesn’t get used very often, and I need a reason to cook steaks and drink beer with adult men. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, but with Nita gone so much, I miss adult conversation that isn’t work-related.”
“I know exactly how you feel.” Henry Morgan V, better known as Shakespeare, was the newest member of their group since he’d recently started dating Lei Lu, the team’s communication expert. “Moving the foundation offices from New York City to D.C. has been easy, but I get so tired answering questions, especially since I don’t have a clue. As a SEAL, I didn’t give a shit what my chair looked like. I was just glad there was something soft to sit on other than the damp ground. When I go home at night, I don’t have anybody to talk to when Lei Lu is away.”
“Same here,” Marcus said with a chuckle. “At least I can go next door and talk to Rafe and Harper, but they’re so busy making up for missed hours with baby Skyler, I hate to interrupt.” The heavily scarred ATF agent had moved in with Tori a few months ago.
“Here’s my cell number, give me a call if you want to go out for a beer.” Shakespeare passed out business cards to Marcus and Daniel. “I play a mean game of darts if you’re interested.”
The idea of hanging out with these men really appealed to Alex. It would be nice to just be one of the guys.
When Kat was away on a mission, Alex’s life revolved around work. When he visited the Guardian Centers, he was the boss and treated as such. Although he was friendly with everyone who worked for him, he had very few friends. Parker “Griffin” Mitchell III was the exception. His Miami Center manager was engaged to Grace Hall with the pretty auburn hair and green eyes, the team’s primary pilot.
As though conjured by his thought, Griffin strode up with his duffel bags. “Can you still give me a ride to the airport on your way home?”
“Of course.”
As everyone said their goodbyes, Alex made a promise to himself that on his next rotation through D.C., he’d make it a point to be free at least one evening and get these men together for a beer.
Holding open the back door to his vehicle, Alex ordered, “Load, Damnit.” The huge dog leaped onto the seat and stretched out.
Alex felt better with the big animal in the backseat. As a child, growing up on the seedier side of D.C., he wasn’t allowed to have a dog, or any pet for that matter. It would’ve been just one more mouth to feed. His parents had already been stretched to their limit feeding half the neighborhood children. His mother’s huge heart wouldn’t allow any child to go hungry if she could do something about it.
Grinning, he admitted to himself that Damnit was bigger than most of the children who found their way to his mother’s dining table. Maybe that’s why Alex didn’t feel comfortable around the huge canine.
After dropping Griffin off at the private aircraft side of Reagan National, he glanced into the backseat. “You ready to go home, Damnit?” At his name, the dog raised his head and looked straight at Alex. With his tongue hanging out, panting, his head seemed to bob up and down in agreement.
Before heading upstairs, Alex grabbed Damnit’s leash and walked out the side door of the underground parking garage to the small patch of manicured grass at the side of the nondescript building housing Guardian Security D.C. Center. A brass plaque next to the street side door was the only indication as to what was housed inside. Alex liked it that way.
Damn, the dog shits as much as a teenage boy.
Damnit trotted back and looked up expectantly.
“I take it that means you’re ready to go to bed now?” He petted the dog’s head and couldn’t help but smile. “I’m exhausted. Let’s go.”
Chapter Two
Kane Jordan ignored the deafening rumble of the eighteen-wheelers on the interstate bridge above his head the same way he ignored the stench of defecation and oppressive human body odor. This was one of the better homeless camps where he’d lived when his life had gone to hell.
“Tell me again why we had to come here at night?” Saje Reece asked for the third time.
Inwardly smiling, Kane knew the small woman beside him was well-aware of the reason. “It’s the only time you’re going to find a homeless veteran at home.” That is, if you could call a leaky tent, a cardboard box, or scrap lumber leaning against a piling a home. So many of the men he knew while living on the streets were happy as hell to have a tent to protect them from the Dallas elements.
“Thanks for coming with me.” Her small hand patted his large bicep.
Heat rushed through his body, adding to the already oppressive humidity. He couldn’t say he enjoyed these late-night treks through the saddest parts of the city, but he relished his time with the cute strawberry blonde.
Kane had discovered her questioning the nonresponsive residents at one of the family camps a few weeks ago when he was delivering gallon jugs of water on his day off. He did what he could, whenever he could, especially for the homeless children.