Model Soldier

Excerpt:
Yes, Staff Sergeant David “Hawk” Hawkins was a lot of things all right, and to Emily’s vast and bottomless devastation, so far none of them good.

He had the muscles she’d dreamed of, but along with them came a truckload of testosterone-fueled bad attitude. He was every inch the serious warrior his picture had hinted, and he was also as stubborn and unyielding as a mule.

The Neanderthal before her, the Hawk himself, folded burly Popeye-like forearms across his chest and waited expressionlessly as Jai set up the equipment. But beneath the cold, steely exterior, Emily sensed molten anger bubbling just below the surface.

She’d tried to be friendly, but her overtures had been met with what amounted to a grunt followed by one long rude glance that covered her from head to toe and all the parts in between. Feeling exposed after that look even in her cashmere turtleneck, wide-leg wool trousers, and leather boots, she couldn’t resist the urge to cross her own arms over her chest. Boy, was she glad she’d chosen pants over a skirt. She didn’t need him ogling her legs, too.

Maybe all this attitude was because he was just resistant to the assignment. Katie had warned her that could be the case. That would account for the standoffishness. And maybe it was partially her own fault, she was so used to working with sensitive, artistic, metrosexual straight guys or openly gay males, she simply didn’t know what to do with a real manly man when she came across one.

Maybe that was the problem with her dating life, too. Something to think about…later. But right now she had an unhappy hulk of a male to handle. If only she could get him past this.

He was handsome, though in a rough and ready kind of way. Hot actually, with dark hair cropped close to his head, deep eyes that openly mirrored his emotions (which was not exactly a plus at the moment), and a body so big that it would definitely let a woman know she was being held.

Emily picked her heart back up off the floor where it had first been trampled by Hawk’s cold reception, dusted it off, and tried to salvage both this assignment and her dreams.

Steeling her nerves, she spoke directly to him. “So I was thinking first we could take some shots inside using the plain backdrop Jai set up. That way I can superimpose different backgrounds for various ads as needed. Then, if it’s still light enough, we can move outdoors and scout some locations for exterior action shots.”

No comment.

Emily sighed. This was not going to be easy, but nothing worth doing was. She turned to her only ally in the room. “Jai? What do you think?”

Jai looked up from the light meter in his hand. “Huh? Oh, yeah. Sounds good, Em.”

Turning back to Hawk, she let her gaze roam over him the way his had traveled up and down her before. The fright from the guards a distant memory now, she was back to appreciating the benefits of a man dressed in camo.

“We can shoot the camouflage outfit first, since you’re already wearing it.” Emily noticed one dark brow cock up. She paused and waited.

“Outfit?” Hawk scowled. “It’s a uniform. An Army Combat Uniform or ACU to be exact. Not an outfit.”

She felt her face pale at his censor. “Sorry.”

This had not turned out at all the way she’d imagined in her dreams. In fact, it was becoming more and more like a nightmare.

Jai looked as if he was nearly ready so Emily figured she better be brave and broach the next subject. “So we’d like to um…” how to say this without getting shot down again, “make your, uh, physical, um, form stand out in the photos.”

There was that brow again, but this time accompanied by a smirk.

He remained silent so she continued. “So maybe you could roll up the sleeves of your camouflage uniform shirt so we can see your arms a bit?”

Even though she’d remembered to call it a uniform—as if she would ever forget that again—she still got the disapproving look and headshake.

“No can do, and it’s a blouse, not a shirt.”

Blouse. That didn’t seem very manly. But more importantly, why couldn’t he just do one little thing without being difficult as well as correcting her terminology, as if she should know what military clothes are called?

“Why can’t you?”

“Because it’s against the rules, that’s why.”

“But I swear I’ve seen guys with their sleeves…”

The steady sway of his head still shaking at her finally stopped her in her tracks. “What?”

“You may have seen it, but it is against our regulations and I can’t do it.”

He meant won’t do it. Emily couldn’t imagine that his captain really gave a darn what his sleeves looked like.

“Maybe we can ask someone if it would be okay…”

He actually laughed at that. “No.”

With a huff she gave in.

“Fine. Are you allowed to take off your blouse?” Emily stifled a snort at the feminine word. “Can you wear just your t-shirt or is that against the rules, too?”

“Yes, I’m allowed.”

Finally, a yes, but still he didn’t move.

“Could you, please, take off your blouse?”

He smirked boldly but thankfully complied with a chuckle.

Hands planted firmly on her hips, Emily asked, “What’s so funny?”

“It’s been a long time since a woman ordered me to take my clothes off. Maybe this gig won’t be so bad after all.” Hawk took off his shirt/blouse and paused with a hand on his belt buckle. “Pants too, doll?”