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    Zone of Action: The Sexy Soldiers Series, #4
    Zone of Action: The Sexy Soldiers Series, #4
    Zone of Action: The Sexy Soldiers Series, #4
    Ebook131 pages2 hoursThe Sexy Soldiers Series

    Zone of Action: The Sexy Soldiers Series, #4

    By Tawdra Kandle

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    About this ebook

    Meet Jake Robinson, the laid-back soul in a battalion of soldiers. While his friends are embracing love, commitment, and starting families, Jake has already navigated those waters and bears the scars to prove it. The path of settled domesticity is not his calling.

    Enter Harper Drummond, a chef who thrives on stress in the bustling world of an up-and-coming restaurant. She's dedicated to her demanding career and has no interest in the complications of a relationship. However, when the need for a steamy release arises, she's not averse to finding a willing partner.

    What begins as a one-night stand between Jake and Harper takes an unexpected turn when they discover surprising connections and a chemistry that ignites sparks. Opting for a friends-with-benefits arrangement seems like the logical choice—they're both adults, and it's just about sex, right?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTawdra Kandle Romance
    Release dateJan 16, 2024
    ISBN9798223123095
    Zone of Action: The Sexy Soldiers Series, #4
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    Author

    Tawdra Kandle

    Tawdra Kandle writes romance, in just about all its forms. She loves unlikely pairings, strong women, sexy guys, hot love scenes and just enough conflict to make it interesting. Her books run from YA paranormal romance through NA paranormal and contemporary romance to adult contemporary and paramystery romance. She lives in central Florida with a husband, kids, sweet pup and too many cats. And yeah, she rocks purple hair.

    Read more from Tawdra Kandle

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      Book preview

      Zone of Action - Tawdra Kandle

      CHAPTER ONE

      JAKE

      Man, you look like shit. I dropped a hand onto my buddy Kade’s shoulder as I overtook him in the hall of the building where we worked. Isn’t that kid sleeping yet?

      Kade shot me a narrow-eyed glare. Yeah, Jake. She’s been sleeping solid for two weeks, but you know, Leah and I just party so much that we’re still staying up all night. Sarcasm dripped from his exhausted words. No, asshole, she’s still getting up three times a night.

      Hey, hey. I lifted my hands. Don’t jump on me. I’m not the one who thought having a wife and baby would be a good idea.

      Jake, you know what? Sometimes you can be a real douche. He shook his head. "I wouldn’t change one fucking thing. Leah and Emma are the best two things that ever happened to me. I might not have planned for either of them, but, God, I can’t imagine living without them. They are my life now."

      A twinge of something uneasy slithered through my chest, but I ignored it. I was happy for Kade—even when I teased him, I knew he was on the level, and Leah and the baby really did make him deliriously content—but I also knew firsthand that shit like that could go bad fast, turning on a dime. I wasn’t going to share that with him, though. Between the sleep deprivation and his knee-jerk defensiveness about his new ready-made family, the dude just might drop me here and now.

      Instead, I smiled at him. Glad to hear it. Not every guy who goes on TDY and comes back with a wife and kiddo on the way ends up like you.

      Don’t think I don’t know it, he returned. As a matter of fact, I was just getting ready to leave, so I can go home and relieve Leah. She needs a little break by this time of the afternoon.

      You’re a good daddy. I glanced at my watch. I was about to head out, too. And I don’t even have the excuse of helping out the wife.

      Yeah. Kade smirked. Friday night, huh? You and the guys hitting the bar? Or are you driving up to Richmond?

      I shrugged. I think we’re staying local. And as far as the guys, it’s just me and Owen, unless I can talk Mac into coming along, too. The rest of you losers all hooked up with girlfriends or wives, and now there’s just a few of us left standing.

      Kade frowned. I was just going to ask you about Derek. Shaw’s really worried about him.

      Our friend and fellow company commander, Derek McTavis, had been critically injured in an accident at air assault school several months back. He was home again, but he hadn’t recovered completely yet.

      I was planning to go check on him right now and see if I can persuade him to come out tonight. I’m not optimistic, though. He’s been a homebody ever since he got back here from Campbell, and he doesn’t even have the hot girlfriend excuse the rest of you do.

      Yeah. From what I hear, they won’t clear him to come back to work yet, but he’s not doing much to change that. I invited him to come over for dinner, and he refused. Shaw said he skipped some appointments and blew off his meeting with the therapist the Army is requiring him to see. Kade sighed. If he doesn’t pull his shit together, he’s going to fuck up his whole career.

      I’m not going to let that happen. None of us are. I spoke with more assurance than I felt. I’ll rattle his cage today, and then maybe we could all try to go over there this weekend and cheer him up. You know, we could watch the game, have some beers, just hang out.

      Sounds like a good idea. I’ll see if I can work it out. I might have to bring Emma with me, though. I don’t like to leave Leah alone with her on the weekends if I can help it, since she shoulders so much during the week.

      Eh, the baby’s too young for us to corrupt her yet, so you’re probably safe to bring her along. I winked at him. Okay, family man, I’ll let you get home to the little women.

      Let me know how it goes with Derek. He paused. Have fun tonight, but not so much that I have to deal with anything on Monday, got it?

      I grinned. You know me. I’m the soul of sound decisions and good choices.

      Kade rolled his eyes. That’s what scares me.

      Among our group of captains who commanded companies in the 94 th ID, about half of us lived in the barracks on post, and the others lived in homes off-post. I was in the first group; I didn’t have a need for my own space, and I liked the idea of banking the extra money the Army allotted us. Derek, though, had a townhouse about ten minutes from post in the city of Petersburg. I pulled up in front of his place a little while after I’d left Kade.

      I frowned as I jogged up the walk that led to his door. We all teased Derek—or Mac, as we sometimes called him—about his beautiful landscaping. Keeping his grass trimmed and green, his flower beds weed-free and his mulch devoid of leaves or pine needles was almost an obsession with the guy, and more than once, he’d won the title of Best Maintained Yard from the homeowners’ association.

      But today, the lawn was patchy, with brown spots creeping into the areas of overgrown grass. The bushes were overgrown, and the flowers’ heads were drooping and dead. Piles of crunchy leaves covered the beds and even scattered onto his small front porch. It was damn sad-looking, that was what it was.

      I leaned on the doorbell and then followed that up with a quick pounding of my fist. Yo, McTavis! Get your ass out here.

      For a solid three minutes, I didn’t hear a sound. I wondered if I’d somehow managed to stop during one of his appointments or if he’d actually left the house for another reason. And then there was a loud bang from within, followed by a dragging sound. I winced, picturing him pulling his leg across the hallway. Derek had been so active and vibrant not so long ago, and it killed me to see him defeated.

      The door swung open, and Derek stared out at me. His eyes were dull and bleary, and his hair was longer than I’d ever seen it. The shirt that was hanging on his shoulders had several stains on it, and there might have been a smell.

      Dude. I wagged my head. Did you just get off a bender or what? You look like hell.

      He scowled and turned his back on me, moving away down the hallway into the house. Yeah, fuck you very much, Robinson. Did you just come here on a mission of mercy to cheer up the invalid, or do you have a real reason for stopping by?

      I followed him and closed the door behind me. I’m here because it’s Friday night, and we’re heading to the bar. Owen and I are, I mean. But I need my best wingman with me, so I’m really here to tell you to get your ass in gear and come with us.

      Derek lowered himself into a chair on the edge of his living room. I leaned against the arched doorway, watching him. Pain etched his face, and his jaw clenched. His eyes flickered up to meet mine.

      Some fucking wingman I’d be. I can’t even walk five steps to the door without needing a nap. Are you blind, Jake? Look at me. He slumped, dropping his forehead into his hand. I’m no good to anyone, and if you want to help me, just leave me the fuck alone.

      I perched on the bench across from Derek. Not going to happen, buddy. I know you’re feeling rough right now, but⁠—

      "Rough? He sounded incredulous. I’m not feeling rough. I’m in agony most of the time, and I can barely get around my house. I’m a soldier, and I can’t climb my own steps without someone around to make sure I don’t fall and break my neck—or my back again. So yeah, I’m feeling a little more than rough."

      I get it. I leaned forward. I mean, I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through. But Max and Shaw told Kade that you’re skipping therapy appointments. And if you don’t start to get with the program, you’ll end up getting drummed out of the Army. I know that’s not what you want.

      He lifted one shoulder. I don’t know what I want anymore. Maybe I’m not meant to be in the military after all. Maybe this is a sign that it’s time for me to leave. I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know anything right now.

      Which is the perfect state of mind for you to be in when we go out and get hammered. I smacked one hand on the seat of the bench for emphasis. Come on. Get a shower, put on some clothes that have been through the washer recently, and let’s go. I’ll sit down here and channel surf while you’re getting ready.

      Derek scowled at me and ran a hand through his hair. Not going to happen, Jake. I’m not interested. If I want to get wasted, I can do it right here in the comfort of my own home without having to worry about making a fool of myself by falling on my face in a crowded bar.

      I nodded. "Well, yeah, that you could do here on your own, but the chances of you picking up a hot piece of tail in your living room seem pretty damn slim. And I know that would cheer you up."

      I don’t need to be cheered up, dickhead. He rolled his eyes. I’m not interested in that, either. In the hot pieces of tail, I mean.

      "Now

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