“This is, um, pretty impressive,” she finally said.
Chase sat down across from her, laying his weapon over his thighs. His knees almost touched hers. “You bet. These vehicles are designed to withstand a direct hit from an IED—an improvised explosive device. The hull is V-shaped to deflect the blast outward.”
“Have there been many, uh, attacks in this region?”
His face softened fractionally, and Elena wondered if he could see her fear. “There’ve been a couple of attacks, but none recently.”
Something in his expression said he wasn’t being completely truthful, but she also instinctively knew that he’d never allow her to visit the drilling site if he thought she might be in danger.
“How long will it take to get there?”
“Not long. The site is just outside a small village about two miles from here. The road is pretty rough, which will slow us down a bit, but we should be there in under twenty minutes.”
“I read that the villagers will also benefit from the well.”
“That’s right. Part of our mission is to win the hearts and minds of the local people, so anything we can do to improve their situation only benefits us.”
The driver and a second soldier climbed into the cab of the truck, and looked back at Elena and Chase. “Everyone comfortable?”
“You bet,” Chase answered. He looked over at Elena. “Hold on to something. The road gets a little bumpy.”
He wasn’t kidding. The loudness of the engines, combined with the swaying and tipping of the vehicle as it traversed the road, made conversation nearly impossible. Above her, the gunner rocked in his sling seat, his booted feet planted firmly on the platform as he surveyed their surroundings. Elena found her initial apprehension fading, and she felt a sense of excitement at being embedded as part of a military convoy.
All too soon, the vehicle began to slow, and Chase rose to his feet to lean through the opening into the driver’s cab. He spoke in low tones and Elena couldn’t make out what was being said.
“We’re here,” he announced unnecessarily as they came to a stop. He lowered the rear door, and Elena blinked at the sudden brightness.
She climbed out of the MRAP and realized they had driven onto what looked like a military compound, complete with razor-wire fencing, guards and temporary buildings. But dominating the small complex was a large, steel drilling machine, and its rhythmic pounding shook the ground and reverberated through her body. Stacked on the ground beside the drill were a dozen or more lengths of wide pipe, each nearly thirty feet in length. As she watched, two men in military uniform carefully inserted a pipe into the mechanism.
“What are they doing?” she asked.
“Drilling,” Chase answered sardonically. “C’mon, I’ll introduce you to the project manager.” He glanced at his watch. “You have two hours to conduct your business, and then we’re leaving.”
The time passed swiftly for Elena. She and the project manager, a civilian contractor named Bill, took a tour of the compound and he explained the mechanics of drilling for water. Inside his trailer, they reviewed progress reports and charts, and Elena learned that pipe was being laid from the well site to both the forward operating base and to the nearby village. Even when the well was completed, they would need to maintain a security detail at the site to prevent insurgents from destroying it. But having a water source would enable the troops to be more independent and provide the villagers with a clean water source that they didn’t need to pay for.
During the entire visit, Elena was all too aware of the big soldier who dogged her footsteps. Chase never let her out of his sight, taking his role as her personal bodyguard seriously. He didn’t participate in her conversations with the workers, or indicate that he was at all interested in the papers that she pored over or that he even understood them, but she sensed that he missed nothing. All too soon, he indicated that their time at the site was up. She might have protested, but the implacable expression on his face said he wouldn’t change his mind on this. Reluctantly, Elena said goodbye to the construction team and climbed back inside the MRAP.
“That was amazing,” she said to Chase. “I have a whole new appreciation for the work being done over here. I wish my coworkers back home could see this.”
The thought reminded her of Larry, who had scoffed when she’d told him that she’d be deploying to Afghanistan. What would he think if he could see her now? In the next instant, she realized she didn’t really care. Her relationship with Larry might have occurred in another lifetime. Even the thought of him with that other woman didn’t cause her chest to tighten.
Sitting across from Chase, with his rock-hard body and unflappable attitude, she couldn’t imagine what she’d ever found attractive about Larry. Chase was the most unapologetically masculine guy she’d ever met, but she also knew he had a softer side that he allowed few people to see.
Back in Kuwait, he’d been so honest with her about not wanting to lead her on. She’d even called him sweet. He hadn’t appreciated her description, but she knew it was true. He could be both lethal and incredibly tender, and she found the combination completely irresistible. She knew he wanted her. She’d caught him watching her several times during the trip, when he didn’t think she’d notice. The heat she’d seen in his eyes had brought her right back to the shower incident, and she’d had to press her thighs tightly together and try to ignore the sharp stab of arousal she’d felt.
He’d made it clear that he didn’t want her in Afghanistan, but since she’d arrived at the forward operating base, she’d realized that she was a lot tougher than she gave herself credit for. Now she just had to convince Chase of that.
“You’re smiling,” he observed, watching her.
“Am I?”
His eyes narrowed fractionally. “What’s going through that head of yours?”
But she just shook her head. “Nothing. Really.”
She could see he didn’t believe her, but she wasn’t about to reveal her thoughts to him. Six months ago, she’d never have considered working in Afghanistan, or traveling to a construction site with an armed military escort. There were so many things she would never have considered doing six months ago, and having a one-night stand with a guy like Chase McCormick topped the list.
But she’d done all those things and more. She’d surprised herself with her own capabilities. She knew Chase didn’t want her on the base, but she had to believe that she’d impressed him today, just a little bit, with her abilities. Now she was going to take it one step further.
He’d said he wanted to be friends, but Elena knew from the way he looked at her that he wanted more than just
friendship
. Six months ago—six days ago—she might not have had the courage to take a risk and go after what she really wanted. But not anymore. And she really wanted Chase McCormick.
She was going to show him that she could be effective, both on the base and in the bedroom.
His bedroom, to be precise.
But the downside of eavesdropping on her professional discussions was that he could no longer fool himself. She’d asked pointed questions of the project manager and the engineers and had been able to decipher their spreadsheets and charts within minutes. She’d pointed out inconsistencies, made recommendations for improvements and—much to his disappointment—had promised to return to the site to check on the progress.
But even more disturbing than her keen mind…she’d been personable and charming. She’d smiled and laughed with the men, and he’d known the instant that they’d each fallen under her spell, spilling their guts about the problems they were encountering, and even going so far as to admit that some of their invoiced costs were excessive. Through it all, she’d smiled and nodded and taken notes, and none of them had seemed to understand that she wasn’t their friend. She had all the control, and she could tighten the purse strings to their accounts until they choked.
He’d tried to see her through their eyes and acknowledged that she must be like a tall, cool drink of water after enduring the dust and heat and threat of death for months on end. Even wearing a helmet and flak vest over her DPA uniform, she didn’t resemble a soldier. She could have been a visiting dignitary or a celebrity on a USO tour, here to cheer up the troops. She’d certainly cheered up the guys at the construction site. At one point, the project manager had placed a hand at the small of her back to guide her into his work trailer. Even knowing that Elena couldn’t have been aware of his hand through her flak vest, Chase had wanted to pick the man up and throw him across the threshold.
Now he watched her as she sat across from him, a small smile lifting the corners of her gorgeous mouth. He couldn’t stop thinking about how her lips had felt against his own. Soft and lush. And when those lips had moved lower, across his torso and over his abdomen…oh, man.
He realized he was getting turned on and adjusted his rifle across his thighs to hide the evidence. In the same instant, he realized she was talking to him and he hadn’t heard a word she said.
“Huh?” Oh, that was good. Way to impress the lady. He regrouped. “Sorry, I was thinking about something else and missed what you said. Repeat?”
Her smile widened, as if she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. “I asked if it’s okay to take my helmet off, seeing as we’re in an armored truck. I’m so hot, and my head itches.”
“Sure, just hold on to something while we’re moving.” He indicated the low ceiling. He was back in control. “We’ve had guys whack their heads while going over rough ground.”
Reaching up, she unsnapped her helmet and removed it, and placed it on the floor between her feet. Chase couldn’t look away as she pulled her hair free from the ponytail holder and shook it out, then worked her fingers into the glossy strands to massage her scalp. She gave a blissful sigh and tipped her head back against the wall. Her eyes drifted closed.
Chase curled his hands onto his thighs. Even from where he sat, he could smell her shampoo, and his fingers itched to wrap themselves in her hair. He admired the slender column of her throat and the delicate line of her jaw, remembering how soft her skin had been beneath his fingertips. Beneath his lips.
And just like that, he was hard again.
“Hey, Sergeant!”
Chase jumped guiltily and leaned forward to look at the soldier sitting in the front passenger seat. “What is it, Corporal?”
“Looks like market day in the village. Wanna stop?”
Elena had opened her eyes and was sitting upright, straining to catch a glimpse of the village through the windshield. Her gaze swung toward Chase, and he already knew what she was going to ask.
“Can we do that? Is it safe?”
Chase hesitated. Normally, they would stop the vehicles and greet the villagers. They would exchange courtesies with the elders, pass out candy to the kids, purchase goods from the market stands, all part of their campaign toward winning the loyalty of the local population. But today he had to think about Elena. The responsibility of keeping her safe was a huge weight on his shoulders.
“Sergeant?” asked the corporal. “The lead truck wants to know if we stop or keep moving.”
Chase made the mistake of glancing at Elena. He saw the excitement and hope in her eyes and knew he couldn’t say no.
“We’ll stop,” he replied gruffly. “Twenty minutes, max.”
Elena gave him a beautiful smile, and Chase felt something shift in his chest. “Thank you,” she said.
Instead of acknowledging her thanks, he reached into a pocket and pulled out a camouflage bandana. He always kept several handy in case of sandstorms, and now he shoved it unceremoniously at Elena.
“Here, cover your head.”
She took the cloth and stared at him, then shook it out and began to arrange it over her hair. Chase watched her struggle with it for several seconds before he made a sound of impatience. Setting his weapon on the bench, he crouched in front of her.
“Not like that,” he admonished softly. “You need to cover your hair and your neck.”
Taking the bandana from her, he shook it out and refolded it, and then draped it over her head. She was so close that he could feel the warmth of her breath against his face, and see the tiny pulse that beat frantically at the base of her smooth throat.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to concentrate on his task. “Take the ends, like this,” he said, “and bring them around the front. Then cross them at the throat and tie them like so, behind your neck.”
He had to reach behind her to secure the ends of the cloth, and he didn’t miss how her breathing hitched. He forced his hands to remain steady as he tied a knot and then rocked back on his heels to survey his handiwork. She looked like a beautiful peasant girl, or give her a pair of big, dark sunglasses and she’d look like a Hollywood movie star. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were focused on him with such intensity that his pulse tripped into overdrive.
“Here,” he muttered, “your hair is still sticking out.” He raised a hand to push the escaped strands beneath the cloth, then froze when she turned her cheek into his palm.
“Chase,” she murmured, her gaze drifting over his face to settle on his mouth.
Jesus.
He was going to kiss her; he couldn’t stop himself. Nothing short of a direct rocket attack would prevent him from covering her mouth with his own, right there in the back of the MRAP, with two junior soldiers sitting just feet away.
He bent his head toward her. Her lips parted, but at the last second she pulled away and ducked beneath his arm to snatch her helmet from the floor. In the same instant, the pneumatic door at the back of the truck lifted open and two soldiers peered inside.
Chase sat on his heels for a moment, head down, fighting for composure. He’d come so close to losing it.
“Hey, Sarge, you okay?” asked one of the men.
“Yeah.” Reaching out, he snatched his weapon from the bench and jumped down from the back of the vehicle before turning to assist Elena. But she had already taken the corporal’s proffered hand, and he was leading her to the little village where children ran toward them in anticipation.
He watched as she bent down to greet the children, and within seconds she was surrounded by a sea of tiny arms, reaching up toward her.
“I gave her a box of candy,” the corporal explained with a self-satisfied grin. “The universal icebreaker.”
“Twenty minutes,” Chase said gruffly, “and then I want her back in this truck.”
As much as he wanted to be within arm’s reach of Elena, he stood back a dozen or so paces. He didn’t trust himself to get any closer. He followed her as the children took her hands and dragged her over to a tiny marketplace to show her the colorful array of handwoven scarves and tassels, tiny bells that hung from embroidered loops and strings of beads carved from stone. He knew he should back off and let a couple of the junior officers watch over her. He should be greeting the village elders and making nice with the tribal leader, but right now all he wanted was to watch Elena.
She lingered over a selection of hand-knotted rugs, and two local women, heavily draped in mustard-yellow cloth, shyly offered her a cup of Chai tea. She looked toward Chase for permission, and he gave her a barely perceptible shake of his head. He didn’t want to be rude, but the drawn-out ritual of drinking tea would take longer than he planned for them to be there.
He watched as she pulled a wallet out of her cargo pants and began bargaining with the women, and even from a distance he could hear their soft voices and musical laughter. The children laughed, too, and Chase groaned. Great. Even with the language and cultural barriers, she did a better job of winning hearts and minds than his men did.
“Hey, Sergeant,” called one of the soldiers, “we should get going. Looks like a storm’s brewing in the east.”
Chase looked to the horizon, where an ominous reddish cloud had formed, darkening the sky. A dust storm, by the looks of it. He knew from experience the damage that blowing sand and grit could do to an engine. No way would he risk breaking down out here. Neither would he let their convoy be overtaken by the looming cloud, which could reduce visibility to zero. They needed to get back to the base ASAP, and batten down the hatches.
“Elena,” he finally called, “we need to go.”
She nodded to the women, hugged several of the children and turned back to him, her arms spilling over with bright textiles and shiny beads.
“Look at all this,” she exclaimed as she reached him. She was breathless with excitement. “These people made these beautiful things with their own hands.”
“How much did you give them?”
Elena laughed. “I have no idea, but I don’t care. It was worth every penny.”
“Leave it to a woman to find a shopping opportunity, even in the middle of nowhere,” he said wryly, but he couldn’t help smiling at her enthusiasm.
Chase didn’t relax until they were back inside the MRAP and rumbling along the road toward the base. Elena spread her purchases out on the bench beside her. He thought she would show each item to him, and found he was actually looking forward to seeing what she had bought. Instead, she smoothed a hand almost reverently over an embroidered shawl and grew quiet.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “I thought you enjoyed your shopping adventure.”
He was teasing her, hoping to elicit another laugh. God, he loved to hear her laugh. But when she looked up, he saw a deep sadness in her eyes.
“I did enjoy it,” she murmured, “but at the same time it made me so sad.”
“Because you’ve suddenly realized that your wallet is empty?” he teased.
She gave him a half smile. “No. It’s just that beauty like this should be shared and seen by many people, not just those stationed in Afghanistan. The people are so gracious and lovely.” She gave a deep sigh. “Someday, I’d like to come back here as a tourist. When the country is safe, and I can visit these villages without an armed escort and accept an invitation to have tea.”
Ah, man. Not just beautiful and brilliant, but sensitive and caring, too.
“Someday,” he said softly, wishing it could come true. For her.