Damage Assessment: A Career Soldier Military Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Synopsis

  Glossary of Military Terms Used

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Other Books

  Scheme of Manuever Sneak Peek

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Damage assessment

  Career Soldier, Book 5

  TAWDRA KANDLE

  Damage Assessment: Career Soldier, Book 5

  Copyright © 2017 by Tawdra Kandle

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Cover design by Meg Murrey

  Formatting by Champagne Formats

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Synopsis

  Glossary of Military Terms Used

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Other Books

  Scheme of Manuever Sneak Peek

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Dedication

  To all the servicemen and women who have the courage to go on, in the face of incredible obstacles.

  These are the men of the 94th ID. They fight with honor, they defend their nation and their brothers fiercely, and when they love, they do it with single-minded passion.

  When a freak accident seriously injures Derek McTavis, he’s afraid that his Army career might be over. Even after he returns to Fort Lee, he has a hard time recovering and returning to his old lifestyle, despite the encouragement and support of his friends.

  And then he meets Tasha O’Hare.

  After years of uncertainty about her future, Tasha’s working hard toward a career in physical therapy. She doesn’t need anything—or anyone—to distract her. But when she’s assigned the broody Captain McTavis, she soon realizes that she’s becoming invested in more than just his physical recovery.

  Derek resists Tasha’s help, but it turns out she’s just as stubborn as he is. Her passion and determination give him hope not only for his broken body . . . but also for his heart and his future.

  For these two wounded souls, love may be the only path to healing.

  Glossary of Military Terms Used

  BDU: Battle Dress Uniform, more commonly known as fatigues. This is the uniform worn by most soldiers on duty. These are made of a heavy camouflage cotton, either in dark green (jungle fatigues) or lighter sand colors (desert fatigues).

  BOQ: Bachelor Officer Quarters, where unmarried officers can live. Officers also have the option to live off-post, in their own rented or owned home. While on temporary duty, officers are assigned quarters in the BOQ at their temporary post.

  PT: Physical Training, which is a set of morning exercises required of all soldiers.

  TDY: Temporary Duty, wherein a soldier is temporarily assigned to a post other than his/her permanent assignment. Temporary duty might be assigned for a short course, for training, or for a limited-time duty of another sort.

  PCS: Permanent Change of Station, where a soldier and his/her family move from one permanent assignment to another. This usually takes places every 3-4 years, depending on the branch of service or other circumstances.

  Dress Blues: the uniform worn by Army officers and enlisted men on more formal occasions.

  Air Assault School: In Fort Campbell, Kentucky, the United States Army Air Assault School qualifies soldiers to conduct air mobile and air assault helicopter operations, to include aircraft orientation, sling-load operations, proper rappelling techniques and fast-rope techniques.

  MP: Military police

  E-5: A Non-Commissioned Officer rank (Sergeant)

  Prologue

  Derek

  The sway of the helicopter as it hovered two hundred feet in the air was almost comforting as it lulled me into a state of relaxation, even while I watched the men and women in front of me swing out the open door and vanish down the rope that dangled to the ground below. The earplugs I wore didn’t completely drown out the incessant thwap-thwap-thwap of the blades above us. Next to me, a soldier shifted, his jaw clenched and his eyes fastened on the sergeant who was motioning directions as each one took his or her turn.

  I understood the nerves. After all, we’d only been in Air Assault school for ten days, and today was the final test. Once I hit the ground, I’d be finished and free to celebrate. Since it was a Friday afternoon, I’d intentionally booked my flight home to Fort Lee, Virginia, for later on Sunday, giving me two nights of fun here in Kentucky with some of the guys I’d just met before it was back to the grind of being a company commander.

  Not that I didn’t love my job. I did. But every now and then, it was a relief to be in a new place, with different people, letting loose. I’d hoped my buddy Shaw, another company commander in my battalion at Fort Lee, might hang around with me this weekend, too, but he was flying home today, eager to get back to some chick he’d just begun dating.

  “Whipped,” I muttered to myself. The guy next to me frowned. He’d seen my lips move, but of course, he couldn’t hear what I’d said. I shook my head, smiling to show I hadn’t been talking to him.

  Shaw was already down on the ground, having been in one of the earlier groups. I knew he was probably watching for me, because that was what all of us did: we had each other’s backs, supporting our friends no matter what. I frowned a little. It hadn’t been so easy lately. My buddies who’d been just as fervently devoted to living the single life as I was—we totally bought into the saying that if the Army wanted us to have a wife, they’d have issued one—had begun dropping like flies. First it had been Max Remington, who’d fallen in love with Samantha, the most unlikely woman ever—they’d met after she’d been picketing the post, protesting actions of the Army. And now those two were talking about tying the knot. And then Kade Braggs had gone TDY for some course up at Fort Davis, and he’d returned with a wife and kid on the way. That had blown my mind, but the dude seemed happy about it, believe it or not.

  Then more recently, Shaw, the man’s man, the one we called Danger Ranger, stopped hitting the bars and clubs with what was left of us single guys. Instead, he was spending his free time with some school teacher he’d met, helping to train her for a half-marathon. He’d been talking about her non-stop on our trip to Kentucky and since we’d been here at Fort Campbell.

  All I could think was . . . another one bites the dust.

  Still, I wasn’t going to be the next one to succumb. There were too many hot chicks out there just wa
iting for me to bang them. Giving all that up to stay with one woman indefinitely? It would be a tragedy.

  Movement roused me from my preoccupation as the lieutenant next to me rose to take his turn. I watched as he hooked onto the rope, tested it and then with a deep breath, backed down through the doorway. I waited a few seconds until the sergeant looked my way, gesturing for me to take position.

  This wasn’t my first rappel. We’d been training for ten days and actually doing these exercises the last few days. All I had to do was to slide down the rope and get to the ground in one piece, and then the staff sergeant waiting there would smack my wings onto my chest, and I’d be finished, Air Assault qualified.

  I attached the rope to my waist with the D-clip, keeping my eyes on the sergeant as I awaited his direction. He gave me the same cursory check he’d given the previous soldiers, followed by a nod and a point of his two fingers.

  Time to go.

  With one hand behind my back, holding the rope slack and the other hand gripping the rope in front of me, I rolled so that I was facing the interior of the helicopter and immediately began sliding down. I hadn’t gotten very far when suddenly everything went very wrong.

  The world rocked. I felt a gust of air and raised my eyes up to the helicopter, which was now teetering drunkenly.

  “Shit!” I yelled the word, though no one would hear me. For a split second, I thought I was going to be all right. I thought I was still stable and could drop the rest of the way, hit terra firma and detach myself from the bird.

  But I was wrong. Something else happened, and I no longer had control. I felt like I was falling as adrenaline raced through me, and then I stopped with a sickening and painful jerk. Agony shot through my body just before the wind blew again, and this time, I was buffeted by the current, slamming into the bottom of the helicopter.

  Everything went dark. The shock of hurt in my head battled briefly with the pain in my back before it all faded away into blissful nothingness.

  “Derek? Earth to McTavis.” Jake Robinson snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Dude, are you having one of those grand mal seizures or something?”

  “Don’t even joke about that, Jake.” Shaw scowled. “With the head injury Derek had, seizures were a possibility.” He paused, scrutinizing me. “You’re not having one, are you?”

  “No, of course not.” I spoke sharply, my annoyance clear to anyone who listened. “I was just—I was paying attention to the fucking game we’re supposed to be watching.” I lifted my bottle of beer toward the television screen, where unfortunately an ad was showing.

  “Yeah, but you weren’t.” Kade was standing next to my recliner, swaying slightly back and forth, one hand patting the tiny backside of his baby daughter, who was tucked into some kind of carrying contraption strapped to his body. “And please watch the f-bombs around my daughter.”

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Man, she’s a baby. She can’t talk yet, and she’s not paying us any attention. Plus, she’s sleeping, which you claim she never does. What’s that all about?”

  Kade glowered at our friend. “You need to get used to watching your mouth around her. Before long, she’ll be like a little sponge, picking up everything you say and repeating it. Better practice now. And she doesn’t sleep at night, at least not if we put her down in her crib. She does great if Leah’s holding her, or if I am.”

  “Guys.” Shaw took a swig of his own drink and shook his head. “Simmer down. Kade’s right—we need to be aware that the baby’s here with us and keep our voices down.” He smiled in my direction. “Derek, are you okay? Do you need anything?”

  Just for all of you to stop treating me like a fucking invalid or a sick man. “No, I’m good.” I finished my beer. “I think I’ll get another one while it’s on commercial.”

  “Hey, let me do that.” Jake jumped up and snagged my empty. “You stay seated.”

  “What the hell’s wrong with you?” I struggled to stand, willing my face not to show the stab of pain in my hip. “I’m capable of getting my own fu—freaking beer. Go sit down.”

  “Fine.” Jake threw up his hands and dropped onto my couch, his lips drawn down. Great, now I’d offended him. Well, served him right. I’d told him on Friday that I didn’t want him to bring the guys over here today. I’d expressly asked them not to come. I wanted to be alone. It was easier to wallow when I didn’t have other people in my house.

  But no, he didn’t listen, and that was why I had five other soldiers and a two-month old baby in my living room, watching a baseball game.

  “Hey, Jake.” Owen Hughes, who’d been quiet since he’d arrived, spoke up from his seat in the corner of the sofa. I knew Owen and Jake had been out at the bar the night before, and I had a hunch Jake was nursing the remainder of a hangover. “What happened with the chick from last night? She was a firecracker.”

  “Yeah, she was.” Jake smirked, but as I watched, something else replaced the snarky smile—something almost like regret. “It was all good. We, uh, had a good time, and then I left. No questions asked, no strings attached, no problems.” His eyes told a different story, but I wasn’t going to poke at him. I didn’t have enough interest to do that.

  “You guys.” Max sighed. “Aren’t you getting tired of the serial hook-ups?”

  “Hey.” Jake pointed at him. “Just because some of you got hooked, don’t try to bring the rest of us down with you. We’re still having too much fun. Right?” He glanced at Owen and then at me.

  Owen shrugged. “I don’t know. If I met someone who had potential, I think I’d be willing to give monogamy a shot. Sometimes I think I’m outgrowing the whole bar scene.”

  Jake clutched at his chest as if in pain. “Don’t say it, Hughes. Don’t even think it.” He leaned toward me, where I stood in the doorway, my empty beer bottle still in one hand. “Derek, tell me you’re still a committed single. Tell me that you’re not going to find true love and settle down to pop out a kid who will make sure you never get to sleep again, let alone do anything else fun in bed.”

  Kade growled and flipped off Jake. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Robinson. I might not be getting much sleep, true, but you can be damn sure no one’s missing any fun. There are ways of making something happen when you want it enough. And even if I wasn’t getting any, I’d still be happier than I was when I was fucking around with you assholes.”

  Jake’s mouth dropped open in mock horror. “You used the f-word and the a-word! You just scarred your kid for life.”

  I used the ensuing laughter as a cover to limp my way to the kitchen, where I dropped the glass bottle into the trash and opened the fridge to find a replacement. When I heard footsteps behind me, I swallowed back a sigh of frustration.

  “Where’s your recycling can?” Max held up his own empty, glancing around, and I felt both irritated and guilty. I was always a stickler for recycling shit and doing what I could to keep Mother Earth cleaner. But since I’d come home from the hospital, having another receptacle to haul outside was too much. That passion had gone the way of my love for yard care, which was why my grass was now mostly brown and dead, and all the bushes out front were overgrown.

  “Uh, just toss it.” I didn’t feel like explaining all of that to Max. “I’ll take care of it later.”

  “Hmm.” Max set down the bottle on the countertop and leaned against the granite island. “Derek, listen. I’m sorry if you’re pissed that we all descended on you today. But if you want the truth, we didn’t know what else to do. You’re scaring us, man. We figured by now, you’d be back at work. But you’re not, and the longer you’re out of commission, the more likely it is that . . . well, you won’t be back.”

  I wasn’t stupid. I knew he was talking about a medical discharge. “Yeah, I know.” I shrugged. “It’s just taking longer than they thought. I need time. The pain won’t go away, no matter what, and the recovery’s been rougher than the doctors thought.” I pinned him with a stare. “And I need space. I don’t
want company or people hovering over me like I might break a hip if I stand up to throw away my trash.”

  “I get that, but you’re isolating yourself. That isn’t good.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Next weekend is our engagement party. Samantha really wants you to be there. It’s not going to be any huge fancy deal—just good food, friends and family. You’re going to show up, right?”

  I looked away, staring out my back window. “I don’t know, Max. I’m not very good company these days, and I hate crowds. I’ll send a gift.”

  “Fuck the gift.” Max was getting mad now, too. “We want you there, not some lame present. That doesn’t matter. You do.”

  I groped behind me and found a kitchen chair, lowering myself into it. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Yeah, you do that.” Max studied me. “You’re not going to your doctors’ appointments or your PT either, are you? What the hell, Derek? Are you giving up?”

  I rubbed my forehead, where a wicked headache began to pound. “Maybe. And if I do, it’s my business, and none of yours. You can’t save everyone, Max. Some of us don’t want to be saved.”

  “That’s the most selfish damn thing I’ve ever heard, and I always thought you were one of the least selfish men I’ve ever known.” Max was silent for a few minutes, as if waiting for me to contradict him. When I didn’t speak either, he pushed off the counter and shook his head.

  “Fine. I’ll tell the guys it’s time to go, and we’ll leave you alone . . . for now. But don’t think this is the end, Derek. We’re not going to sit around and let you throw away your life and your career. You may be thinking of giving up, but we’re not. Not yet.”