Page 2 of Falling for a Grumpy Hero

I’d just never really taken into consideration that deployments came to an end and that most people built lives for themselves at home to go back to. Suppose I can request an extension. Maybe look into reassignment options.

As we lifted into the sky, the crimson wash of those last rays of sunshine fell across the cabin, illuminating the dust everywhere, drifting in the air, a fine carpet of it on the floor, and even on us. It was strangely beautiful sometimes, this sandy, dusty landscape that had become our temporary home. For a moment, it even seemed almost peaceful, but that didn’t last long.

Through the window on the opposite side of the cabin, I watched the vast nothingness below as darkness fell, the only sound that incessant thumping of the rotor blades and the roar of the air as we sliced through it. Maybe I should take leave when we get back. Go to Vermont for a few days and see my folks. They’d like that.

During our flight, my weapon was cradled, my head on a swivel to check on my brothers and to keep an eye outside for signs of anything untoward, but it was too dark to see much. I leaned back, realizing that the only useful thing I could do right now was to calmly ride this out.

We’d be starting our descent any second now, and when that happened, my head would be back in the game, but I let my mind wander in the meantime. It wandered all the way back home, mostly to the fact that I had nothing waiting for me there.

My folks, sure, but I hadn’t even told them I was coming. The only thing I was really looking forward to was burying myself balls deep in a base bunny or two. That was my plan as soon as my toes hit US soil. Luke could go down on one knee, but I’d be getting some girl down on both of hers. A few days of debauchery were probably exactly what the doctor would order once we got there.

After that, I guess I’ll figure it out.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts when I felt the helicopter slowly starting to descend, I turned back to the window and kept my eyes peeled, but there was nothing but utter and complete blackness out there. No one else seemed to spot anything either, but we were all alert again, spines rigid as we mentally prepared to get our boots back on the ground.

Suddenly, the helicopter banked sharply and my rifle smacked into my knee with the force of the maneuver. Then all hell broke loose as someone yelled, “We’re taking fire!”

Crack-crack-crack. It happened so fast that it was completely disorienting, the loud metallic pops that hit the frame instantly disrupting the monotonous drone of the vibration under my feet. Crack-crack-crack.

I expected it to end, but it didn’t. I ducked instinctively, even though I knew the bullets wouldn’t be kind enough to miss my head just because it was few inches lower. The acrid scent of something burning filled my nostrils on my next inhale and that was what finally made it feel real.

That smell was burning fuel or maybe hydraulic fluid. Maybe metal. But it wasn’t a scent that belonged here. It wasn’t part of that familiar cocktail. We were taking enemy fire and we were being battered by it. The pilot’s attempts at evading the hit when he’d banked hadn’t worked.

Weapons clattered as we braced ourselves for impact. Eyes wide, my breathing was shallow, my heart pounding so hard that it hurt. Faint sounds of prayer hit my ears, but I didn’t know who it was coming from.

I just knew my own response was closer to the never-ending stream of cuss words being shouted by somebody else on my other side. The pilot banked hard again and I was thrown sideways this time, straining against my harness before I grabbed onto some webbing and held on.

Sparks started flying when the rounds pierced the cabin. I couldn’t process it at first when I saw red mist.

It was complete chaos, the helicopter spinning out of control. I looked around wildly until my gaze locked on Luke’s wide green eyes. He grabbed my arm, but there was nothing either of us could do to help the other.

We were going down. Every second stretched into infinity, interspersed only by shouts, panic, and fear, and then it happened. The impact was jarring, spine-rattling and fiery, but only for a fraction of a second before everything faded to black.

1

LILA

Ihad been working at Callahan Engineering for exactly a week today and I felt like I was finally getting into the swing of things. Although the offices that housed the firm were pretty sterile and gray without much personality, the people themselves were kind and friendly, and Virginia Beach, where it was located, was awesome.

As a recent transplant, I was still getting used to finding my way around, but I loved the warm sunshine on my neck as I pedaled my bike to work along the famous, three-mile boardwalk. The view I had on my commute wasn’t half bad, with white, sandy beaches and the crystalline waters of the Atlantic stretching out one side and the architecture of Oceanfront to admire on the other.

Bright blue skies dotted with puffy white clouds stretched out seemingly endlessly above and the air here was clear and crisp. It was very different from New York City, which was where I’d lived for the last few years.

All things considered, life could most definitely be worse. I smiled as I slowed to a stop when I reached our building, a bustling, busy space we shared with at least four other companies. Employees were racing in and out, lifting key cards on lanyards around their necks to gain access to the elevators once they got inside.

I pushed my bicycle into a slot on the bike rack and fished my own key card out of my purse, quickly slipping it over my head. When that was done, I put my purse in the basket of my bike to rummage through it for my lock. My fingers finally grazed cool metal and I pulled out my chain, locking up my only mode of transportation in this city before I hurried to the elevator.

The only person I hadn’t met yet at my new job was my boss, Mr. Callahan, but he was supposedly meant to be coming back to the office today and that meant that this was the one day I absolutely could not be late. Racing past the restaurant and coffee shop in the lobby, I swiped my key card across the reader, a little too pleased when the green light flashed and the soft beep rang out that indicated I could now proceed into the building.

It’s the little things in life, right? Like that small signal that confirms the new job you love is real.

Another smile crept up on my lips and I was so distracted that I bumped into a man already waiting in the elevator. I cringed and immediately refocused, looking up, up, and up a little more before I finally found myself looking at his eyes.

Correction: his beautiful eyes. They were a gorgeous, deep, stormy blue that seemed to hold the entire universe in them. His gaze was intense, but stony—devoid of any expression other than mild annoyance.

With short, dark brown hair and a frame that seemed really darn muscular under his suit, the guy was exceedingly handsome, but clearly pretty grumpy. My eyes widened and I immediately started stammering out an apology that had now already taken me several awkward seconds to remember I’d been about to make. “I’m, uh, I’m so sorry I bumped into you. I didn’t see you there.”

The man grunted and glanced down at me before looking back at his phone, clutching a coffee in his other hand. Finally realizing he wasn’t going to respond, I turned to face the front of the elevator like a normal person, but my heart was thrumming like a hummingbird about to take flight after staring into those eyes, and it made me feel like I had to keep talking.