Soldier With Benefits (Military Men Book 2) (6 page)

Like the others, Mac wondered about the meeting, and what had been so important for someone to make a special trip to see Louie.

During the return trip, they had to drive around the scene of a roadside bomb, the plume of black smoke visible long before they saw the site. American soldiers waved them past, and they arrived back at base without further incident.

“I’m for the showers,” Tai said.

Good idea, Mac thought. They were lucky they had plentiful water. In the past she’d soldiered in places where they’d gone days without water and suffered through severe restrictions on use. She would never take running hot-and-cold water for granted again.

Mac headed for her room, deciding to check her email again before hitting the shower. Give the rest time to shower before she ventured in there. She’d scarcely powered up Louie’s laptop when he arrived. He pulled out another of the spindly chairs and straddled it to face her, a tense expression on his face.

“What?”

“CBS has heard we have a woman on staff,” Louie said. “That’s what the men wanted to discuss earlier, and I’ve just had a follow-up call from Carolina Eastern.”

“That’s a bad thing?”

“They want to use you as protection while they interview some of the local wives and other women.” Louie’s tone told her he didn’t like the idea.

“I thought protection is our main purpose.”

“Yeah, it is. This is different. There would be one female journalist and you with the locals. A team of men can go with you, but they’d need to remain outside for the entire interview.”

“But there could be anyone inside the building with the women,” Mac said.

“My point exactly. They’re gonna talk to the top guys. Probably offer them better money as an enticement to go ahead.” His brown gaze pierced her. “I don’t like it.”

Mac nodded, digesting everything he’d said. “Are your concerns part of the job or private?”

“Both.” Louie never hesitated. “You’ve already proven you’re a fine soldier. You have guts and can do the job. You’ve impressed the rest of the team, and that’s no easy feat.”

Mac forced herself to look away, to keep her hands clasped in her lap instead of reaching for him. “This thing between us is casual. We can’t afford to allow emotions to get into the way.” She struggled with the lump lodged in her throat, swallowing to make speech easier. It was straightforward when they were out on the job. She didn’t have any problems while she had the job to focus her attention. It was during the downtime when her willpower lagged.

“I know, Joanna. I agree with everything you’re saying.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“No problem,” Louie said, but she could tell he was avoiding the truth. Hell, they both had their heads stuck in the desert sand.

“Are you going to have a shower?”

“Yeah,” Louie said.

Mac nodded and picked up her shower gear. “You coming now?” This would be a hell of a test, but one she was determined to ace. If she kept her feelings and emotions corralled inside their room, that would work.

She and Louie walked down the corridor to the showers. There were still quite a few guys showering and in various states of undress. Mac ignored them. She ignored the small break in the teasing chatter and chucked her gear down on a wooden seat at the far end. Without looking at anyone, she stripped and turned on a shower, washing briskly. The showerhead beside her burst into life and from the corner of her eye, she saw Louie.

After a brief silence, the rest of the guys started to chatter again. Mac soaped the dust and sweat from her body. It would take a couple of weeks before they thought of her as a soldier instead of a female. This time she was glad Louie was here with her. None of the men would try anything with him around. None of them had asked any probing questions about her background yet, only the general stuff, but when they did, she had a cover story ready for them. The only thing was, she’d have to use a different photo when she showed them shots of her fiancé. Somehow, she didn’t think it was a wise move to show the photos of her and Louie in Fiji to the rest of the team.

Chapter Four

After the initial blast of hot water, Louie switched the tap to cold and willed his body not to react to Mac’s presence. He grabbed the soap and cleansed his body with rapid efficiency. Switching off the water, he picked up his towel and noticed a couple of the others sneaking a look at Mac. He nailed them with a glare and hoped like hell the expression cried boss man instead of possessive lover. The men looked away with alacrity and a burst of satisfaction filled him. They’d received the message.

He left the shower block with his towel wrapped around his waist. By the time Mac arrived back in the room, draped in an oversized T-shirt, he’d dressed.

“They give you any trouble after I left?” Although he’d appreciated the matter-of-fact manner in which she’d showered, part of him had wanted to grab a towel and hide her from the other men. A problem. Hesitation or worry about another person could foul things up during a protection sortie and cause a casualty or death. He had to get a grip on his emotions.

“No problems,” she said, grabbing plain cotton underwear from her locker. “I’m used to staring. They’ll forget I’m female after a while.” She whipped the T-shirt over her head and started to dress.

He wouldn’t forget in a hurry, not after experiencing the silken clutch of her pussy around his cock. Damn, no sane man would forget that. “Good.” Louie grabbed the seat in front of his laptop and signed in to check his email. His right hand trembled but he carried on doggedly as he hunted and pecked at the keys.

Louie ignored the slide of fabric and thought of his mate Nikolai and his wife Summer. He’d laughed at Nikolai, given him a hard time and encouraged Summer while she’d driven his friend mad. He hadn’t understood his friend’s mental pain at the time, why he’d fought to keep his hands off the woman who had jumped feetfirst into his life. He understood now. It was the basic battle of mind and body that produced the stress. He wanted to touch Mac, stake his claim. His hands trembled and his stomach knotted during his inner battle.

Yeah, he knew about conflict.

Mac wasn’t interested in a relationship. She’d lied to him in Fiji and given him a false address when they’d parted. And they couldn’t have an open relationship here. It would set a bad example to the rest of the men and create morale problems. A six-month contract was long enough without romantic challenges thrown into the mix.

Louie let his breath ease out and he forced himself to concentrate on the tropical scene on the screen. Another property for sale. He clicked on the other views.

“That looks nice. Are you planning a holiday when your contract ends?”

“I’m retiring after this contract.”

“Yeah?” Mac pulled up the seat beside him, her face glowing with curiosity. “What are you thinking of doing?”

“Buying a business. A bar or a backpackers’ hostel. Something like that.” He’d never told anyone except Nikolai and Jake, his best mates, the men he’d gone through Special Air Service training with and fought beside before he’d gone into private security with Chesterton UK to earn some big money.

“Where abouts?” Mac peered over his shoulder, a wave of soap and shampoo filling his senses. She sure smelled better than his previous roommates.

“Somewhere touristy and preferably warm. I don’t like the cold.”

Mac chuckled. “Me neither. Winter in Afghanistan was hell, which is why I headed to Fiji for my holiday.”

“Why did you give me a false address?” He hadn’t meant for the conversation to turn personal, but since it was too late now, he admitted he wanted to know. Hadn’t their time together meant anything to her?

“Most guys don’t understand about my job. They don’t understand how I can spend months in the company of other guys and remain faithful. I’ve learned it’s easier to tell people what they want to hear.” Mac stared at the screen while she spoke, obviously unwilling to look at him. “You weren’t exactly truthful with me either.”

“The address I gave you was real. If you’d contacted me there, I would’ve replied to you eventually. It’s my friend’s place.”

“Is he army?”

“We were in the SAS together.”

Mention of the SAS wrenched her attention off the computer screen. He smiled, and after initial hesitation, she grinned back at him.

“SAS, huh? What made you leave?”

“My mate Nikolai was injured. He’s married now and trains the upcoming SAS soldiers. Jake, the other guy we went through training with, is still in active service. I decided I wanted to retire and get a life. Private security offered good money.”

Mac nodded. “I hear you.”

“You in it for the money too?”

“Yeah.”

Louie’s brows rose. He’d hoped for a bit more than that. “What are you going to do once your contract is over?”

“Sign up for another one,” she said, standing. “I’m going to the mess. You coming?”

“I want to send a couple of emails first.”

“See you later.” The door opened and closed after her.

Louie cursed. She’d run for cover the moment he mentioned her reasons for working in private security. Most of the guys here wanted quick money. They wanted to buy houses and get a head start in life, pay off debts. Some weren’t qualified for anything else. He was tired of fighting, sick of war. In his thirties now, he wanted to buy his own slice of paradise and kick back on the beach. In the past, he’d thought of a woman in the picture. Now she had a face.

Joanna.

He wanted to retire with her at his side. He wanted to amble hand in hand down a pristine beach and watch the sunset. Then he wanted to wander home and make sweet love to his woman, to Joanna.

Louie sent his emails, including one to Nikolai, asking if he knew Mac or someone who’d served with her in the past. Her reticence had fueled his curiosity. Mac was the first person he’d encountered who didn’t want to talk.

Louie sent the email and signed off.

When he arrived in the mess, most of the guys were playing poker, Mac included.

Shit, he should have warned her these guys were card sharks. She wouldn’t save money that way.

“That’s me done,” Simon said in disgust. “I’m out.”

Mac laughed and raked the pile of chips toward her. “I think I’ve cleaned everyone out.” She raised her brows and glanced in his direction. “Can I talk you into a few hands?”

“Don’t take her up on it, Louie. She’s a hustler,” Simon said.

“Yeah,” Tai said. “Where did you learn to play like that?”

“My father.” Mac’s smile died a fraction before she forced it into a wide beam. Louie didn’t think the others noticed. He did. Every little clue added to her mystique.

“Maybe he could give me some tips,” Simon said. “I’m not playing with you again. My wife will kill me if I keep losing at poker.”

“Bawk. Bawk. Bawk.” One of the guys made flapping motions with his arms.

“Fuck off,” Simon said good-naturedly at their laughing jeers.

The food arrived. Louie grabbed a plate and thought about the job they needed to do this afternoon. He walked through to the small room he used as an office, taking his lunch with him. He contacted their head office and spoke to his immediate boss about the request from CBS.

“They want Mac to go along as protection with their female journalist when she interviews some of the local women.”

“How is she working out?” his boss asked.

“She’s a pro. Calm under fire,” Louie said. “She fits in well with the rest of the team.”

“CBS haven’t contacted us yet. Who spoke to you about Mac? Carolina Eastern?”

Louie scowled. “How did you guess? She rang me after we met up with some of her team. That woman is gonna drive me to drink with her demands to take her here and there. We’re not running a bloody taxi service. Each jaunt takes hours of planning. You could remind her of that next time you speak to her. And tell her that we put our lives on the line each time we have to research a route through the city.”

“She knows the rules. Don’t let her push you.”

“I don’t, but that doesn’t stop her trying. I’d better go. We’re leaving in half an hour.”

“Call in when you’re back.”

“Sure thing,” Louie said, disconnecting the call.

He ate his lunch while his mind dwelled on Mac or rather on Joanna. One woman. Two separate identities. He’d thought about Joanna often since Fiji, even tried to contact her at the false number. He’d shrugged away the disappointment when he’d failed and moved on, or at least that’s what he’d thought. The minute he’d seen her again he’d known different. Sharing a room, holding and making love with her had shown him the truth.

He wasn’t over Joanna. Not by a long way.

Louie laughed, the dry sound one of derision because the joke was on him. He wanted Joanna. He wanted to keep her and run the bar he intended to purchase with her at his side. It was equally clear to him that Joanna wasn’t open to happy ever after.

Mac had secrets, and Louie had no idea whether there was a man involved or not. He shoved the remains of his lunch away, the sandwich he’d eaten lying like a lump in the pit of his stomach at the thought of another lover.

Hell. Louie raked his hand through his hair and stood to prepare for their afternoon assignment. Things to do. Personal matters had no place on a military mission.

* * * * *

Mac scanned the roadside, narrowing her eyes against the glare of the sun while she searched for warnings of potential trouble. A market was in full swing on a side street, and she caught a glimpse of a fruit and vegetable stall, the deep purple of aubergine, green of okra and red of tomatoes a splash of color against the dusty road and nondescript buildings. The mission wasn’t over until they’d delivered their VIPs back to their quarters. The driver slowed for a checkpoint and they all automatically lowered their weapons, placing them out of sight.

“Tell them we’re on our way home,” Louie ordered crisply.

Up ahead, gunfire echoed. The local military officer waved them through impatiently while barking orders to his men.

“Hold,” Louie snapped when he sensed weapons moving out of hiding. “We don’t want any trouble. No photos,” he barked at the cameraman in their vehicle. “We’ll draw attention. Wait until we know what’s going on.”