NASH

  ALPHA COMPANY RENEGADES BOOK 5

  KALI HART

  Nash is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2020 by Kali Hart

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without express written permission from the author/publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Epilogue

  Alpha Company Renegades Series

  Sneak Peek CARTER

  1

  MADDIE

  “Up and at ‘em Rocky Road,” I call, entering my home. My lazy dog lounges in the sun, rolled over on his back with all four paws stuck in the air. “It’s time for the park.”

  His upside-down position shifts my way; the better to contemplate his next move. I know this because it’s been our daily routine since I adopted him a year ago. Only two things truly excite this older pup—Doritos and the prospect of chasing a Squirrel. Yep. Squirrel with a capital S. It’s that intense.

  “Don’t make me say the “S” word, bud.” I grab the leash off the wall beside the front door and let it snap once. Then twice.

  Leisurely, as if my lunch break is hours long instead of sixty minutes, Rocky rolls onto his side. Well, it’s progress. “You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

  Still on his side, Rocky stretches his legs and lets out a long groan. At this rate, he’ll make it to the front door by dinnertime.

  “I have a hot date with an Army soldier.” I wave my paperback at Rocky like it’ll make a difference in his motivation level. “If you didn’t weigh a hundred pounds, I’d just pick you up.” I have two options: say the S word and get him going from zero to a thousand in two seconds flat, or I can give him a Dorito.

  “Doritos it is.” Rocky’s curious eyes follow me into the kitchen. He finally rolls onto his stomach so he can watch me. At the crinkle of the chip bag, he leaps from his lounging spot and arrives promptly at my feet in the blink of an eye.

  I clip on the leash before I toss Rocky the Dorito, otherwise he might run off and lay down again. It’s not that the dog hates walks, but he really likes lounging in the sun. He particularly enjoys his park naps, once we get there.

  “Time to go, bud.”

  Thankful I don’t have to mention squirrels to get him out the door, we stroll down the block toward the park. I work at the local dog shelter and live between it and the park. I still have forty-seven minutes before I have to be back to relieve my best friend, Tori.

  Rocky Road and I come to the park so often that we basically have our own bench, and it’s usually deserted. I hang the leash off the bench’s arm, like I do every time, and fish a travel bowl and water out of my tote bag.

  After Rocky’s settled, I set a timer on my phone and pick up where I left off in the military romance I’ve been reading. I have to admit, I’ve kind of got a thing for a guy in uniform. I’m about as hopeless a romantic as they come, and I devour romance novels. It’s so easy to lose myself in the fantasy. Which, let’s face it, is so much more exciting than my actual dating life.

  I’m enraptured by a very steamy kiss when I feel the tug on the bench.

  “Rocky Road, not now.” I keep my head tucked in my book, unable to tear myself away from the military hero feeling up the heroine. “It’s just getting good.”

  A second tug rocks the bench and his leash drops to the ground before I can stop it. My lazy dog turns into an Iditarod champion in a flat second, sprinting across the park after a squirrel.

  I drop my book and run after him, frustrated that I lost my page. Rocky is friendly enough, but with his size, he’s been known to knock over adults if they get between him and his squirrel pursuit.

  “Rocky!” I holler. But I know it’s pointless. He’ll tree the squirrel, and it’ll take the rest of my lunch break to convince him to leave the park.

  A tall man steps into his path and panic fills me. It doesn’t matter that he’s built like a powerlifter. Rocky Road will take him down if he’s in the way. “Look out!” I yell. The two collide, and the man—in uniform—falters a bit. But he stays on his feet and snags the leash.

  I slow my feet—have I mentioned how much I hate running?—and take in the sight of my rescuer. He must have some magic quality about him, because Rocky has completely forgotten about his squirrel and is now infatuated with the man in the Army uniform and Aviator sunglasses.

  If the tingles between my thighs is any indication, I am too.

  NASH

  I’ve done smarter things than step into the path of a massive dog chasing after a squirrel. But it was instinct that took over when I saw him charging and the woman behind him panicking. It’s just not in my nature to stand by and do nothing.

  Somehow, I managed to intercept the beast without being knocked flat on my ass. But there was a beautiful woman watching me, so maybe that helped.

  “I’m so sorry!” she calls to me, still walking my way. I’m thankful for the sunglasses that hide my staring. I’m completely entranced by the way her curvy hips sway in those jeans and the way the breeze makes her wavy curls dance in that cute ponytail. And don’t get me started on her smile. “He saw a—well, I can’t say the S word out loud or it’ll just send him off running again.”

  “It’s no problem, ma’am.”

  Blush travels up her neck and settles on her cheeks as she stops a couple of feet in front of me. It’s the cutest damn thing I think I’ve ever seen. “Please, it’s Maddie. Ma’am makes me feel…old.”

  “And who is this guy?” I rub the dog along the back of his neck, and he leans heavier against my legs. One paw anchors itself on top of my boot.

  “This is Rocky Road.”

  The dog’s ears perk at his name. “Rocky Road?” I repeat. “Like the ice cream?”

  She gives a shy shrug. “Yeah. It’s my favorite kind. Plus, look at him.” Her gaze fixates on the furry animal cemented at my feet. “Doesn’t he look like rocky road ice cream with his coloring?”

  “He does.”

  “Thank you for catching him.” She’s close enough that she reaches out for the leash. I hand it over, allowing our fingers to graze. The contact sends tingles up my arm, and judging by her briefly widened eyes, she felt it too.

  I scan the park, looking for someone who might be with her. “You came here alone?” I’m not sure if I’m happy about that or worried. Maddie is gorgeous, and there are lots of creeps in this world. I feel an instant protectiveness of her that’s hard to explain.

  “It’s my lunch break,” she explains. “I work at the dog shelter a couple blocks away.”

  “Ah.” I look back down at Rocky Road. “Is he…”

  “He’s mine. I adopted him a year ago, from the same shelter I work at.” She slides her hands into her front jeans pockets, a hint that I make her nervous. I chastise myself for keeping my sunglasses on so long. She might think I’m the creep.

  “Seems like he might be a handful,” I say, removing my sunglasses and tucking them into a jacket pocket.

  “Usually he’s lazy to the core. He was sleeping in the sun until the s-q-u-i-r-r-e-l.” She tugs at the leash, but it has little effect to remove the heavy dog from my legs. “C’mon, Rocky Road. My lunch break’s almost over.”

  I want to ask if she comes here every day, but I don’t want to sound like some stalker. “I’m Nash, by the way.” I reach out my hand to shake hers, wanting another excuse to touch her. I need to know if what I felt earlier was a trick of the mind.

  She hesitates but finally places her hand in mine. “Nice to meet you, Nash.”

  There’s a magnetic pull dancing between us that seems to grow stronger with the contact. I’m captured in a trance by those deep blue eyes. Coming to the park on my own lunch break was a whim. I’ve had a very long morning and needed to get away from the base. I don’t even know why I stopped here, except that it looked like a quiet place to clear my head. Now, all I can think about is seeing Maddie again.

  At the risk of sounding totally cheesy and slightly creepy, I say, “I suddenly have a craving for rocky road ice cream. Maybe we could grab some sometime?”

  “I’d like that.”

  I release a breath I didn’t even know I was holding, afraid she would shoot me down or be uncomfortable with a stranger asking her out on a date. But the light dancing in her eyes suggests it was the right move. “How about tomorrow evening?” I hate the thought of even waiting another day, but tonight, I have my buddy’s birthday party.

  “Tomorrow sounds great.” Maddie tugs a little harder on Rocky’s leash. “C’mon boy. We’ve got Doritos at home.”

  The dog practically leaps at Maddie, his tail wagging out of control. “Where should I pick you up?” I ask.

  “How about here at the park? Seven-thirty?”

  “It’s a date.”

  2

  MADDIE

  “C’mon, Rocky Road. You know my brother will have tons of Doritos at his party.” The sleepy dog, still worn out from his earlier excitement today, groggily hops to his feet. I give him one chip to get us out the door.

  My cheeks hurt from smiling so much these past several hours. I’ll admit, I abandoned my romance novel and spent most of the day fantasizing about my upcoming date with Nash. He’s hot. He’s military. He’s good with dogs. And he asked me on a date—to get ice cream. What more does a girl need?

  I spend way too much time curling my otherwise straight hair before leaving the house for the party, but I’ve been too restless to do anything else. It’s going to kill me to wait another twenty-four hours to see Nash.

  I slow along the street to my brother’s house. The driveway is filled with cars, even though I’m early. I guess it’s a military thing. Something about being early or you’re late. My older brother is an Army pilot and was able to get stationed close to home this time. It’s been wonderful having him around.

  After coaxing Rocky out of the car with another chip I snuck along, I grab a gift bag and head for the gate at the backyard. The aroma of grilled burgers fills the air. I love any excuse to be outside in the fresh air, and my brother does too. I’m so glad we’re not out at some loud, crowded bar celebrating.

  A small crowd of people are lounging around the firepit, sipping on beers and munching on snacks. After scanning the yard for squirrels, I let Rocky off the leash. He goes straight to my brother, Carter.

  “Hey, Rocky Road.”

  My goofy dog wags his tail hard, leaning against Carter’s leg much like he did with Nash earlier.

  Dropping the gift off at a table, I make my way to my brother and give him a hug. He’s almost a foot taller than me, and his hugs always make me feel tiny and petite despite my generous curves. “Happy Birthday, Carter.”

  “I’m so glad you made it, Maddie.”

  “How does it feel to be thirty-five?” He’s the oldest of us siblings, and I’m the youngest at twenty-four. I discreetly scan the crowd, but I didn’t expect our sister to show up. They had a falling out a few months ago. They’re both very stubborn, so I know better than to ask if she’s coming.

  “Just a number, right?”

  “Right. All set for your birthday weekend in the mountains?”

  “Truck’s packed, and I’m leaving at dawn.” Rocky jabs Carter with his nose, demanding a neck rub.

  “Good. You deserve some time off.”

  “We’re still waiting on a bunch of people to get here before we serve up the burgers,” Carter says, changing the subject. “But grab a beer if you want.” He looks down at Rocky. “Or maybe a bowl of Doritos.”

  Rocky follows me to the snack station, his nose table-height. I’m lucky my dog really only cares about the chips, otherwise the rest of the party food would be at risk. “Hang on, buddy. I need something to eat too.”

  One minute my dog is nudging my arm with his wet nose, and the next he’s sprinting across the yard.

  I’m about to abandon my plate to chase him down, annoyed that I’ll have to put his leash back on until the squirrel threat is gone, when I see him. He’s wearing jeans and a fitted T-shirt that reveal all his wonderfully flexed muscles when he kneels down to pet Rocky.

  My heart pounds in my chest with excitement and nerves. I’m so giddy to see him sooner than expected that it doesn’t even occur to me why he might be here, at my brother’s birthday party until Carter waves him over in welcome.

  “Hey, Nash. Glad you made it.”

  The excitement I felt is overshadowed by a gloomy cloud. Nash is friends with my brother, which makes him off limits. It’s Carter’s only rule, but it means I can’t date Nash.

  NASH

  Words lodge in my throat when I see Maddie standing at the snack table, eyes wide. The smile from earlier today is missing. I had no idea she’d be here tonight, and I’m still not sure why she is. But I’m happy as hell to see her. Waiting even one more day felt like torture.

  “Happy Birthday, man,” I say to my good buddy, Carter. Since being stationed here, Carter is the closest friend I’ve made. Rocky Road’s been glued to my leg since the moment I appeared in the backyard.

  “Glad you made it, Nash.” He looks down at the dog. “Rocky, he just got here. Wait at least five minutes to make a new best friend, huh?”

  The dog happily wags his tail, his eyes glancing at Maddie every few seconds. She’s holding a bag of Doritos, and Rocky seems torn.

  “He’s fine,” I say, scratching the dog behind the ears. I’m about to admit that I already met him when Carter interrupts.

  “Have you met my sister, Maddie?”

  Something like ice freezes my lungs. All the excitement I felt at seeing her turns to dread. I’ve only known Carter a few months, but anyone who knows him well knows that you don’t touch his sisters. He’s incredibly protective over them both. “Hey Maddie,” I say, not wanting to blow our cover. If that even matters anymore. “I’m Nash.”

  “Nice to meet you,” she says, playing along. It makes me feel like I made the right move.

  “Grab a beer and a chair, man,” says Carter. “Snacks are over on that table there.”

  I should probably just take a drink and plop my ass down in a chair far away from Maddie. But the pull between us doesn’t allow me to. I grab a paper plate and help myself to the snacks. It’s close to the grill, but far enough away that I might be able to talk to Maddie without eavesdroppers.

  “I didn’t know you were Carter’s little sister,” I say to her, apology in my eyes. I never would’ve asked her on a date had I known, out of respect for Carter.

  “This sucks, huh?” The sadness in her eyes tells me she’s well aware of her brother’s rule, too. That she respects it. There’s something incredibly sexy in that gesture. I appreciate that she’s not the kind of woman trying to convince me to sneak around behind my buddy’s back.

  “We can be friends?” I offer, knowing how lame that sounds. Hating that I even have to say those words. Because this pull to Maddie won’t just go away. From the moment our fingers grazed in the park, a fire ignited inside of me that won’t be extinguished with friendship.

  “Yeah. Friends.”

  I fill my plate with food and grab a beer. Against my better judgement, I nod my head toward a couple of open camping chairs. Friends can talk, right?

  “So you’re a pilot then?” Maddie asks me once we’re seated. Rocky Road is on his belly, posture erect. He’s eyeing the pile of Doritos on Maddie’s plate like they’re a steak.

  “Yeah.” I want to say something—anything—that’ll make this crappy situation better. But every time I look at Maddie, my gaze drops to her lips. All I can think about is kissing her—and a lot of other things I shouldn’t be thinking right now. “I don’t think we should do tomorrow,” I say, keeping my voice as low as possible.

  “I know.”

  I respect the hell out of my buddy and don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that friendship. I just wish he knew that I would treat Maddie like a queen. I’d keep her safe, take care of her, and love her in a way no one else could. It’s fast to have those kind of thoughts. But knowing that Maddie is off limits cements them all the more. “I wish there was a way, Maddie. Really I do.”

  “Me too.”

  3

  MADDIE

  Well this sucks.

  I really, really like Nash. The more time we spend sitting around the fire talking and getting to know each other, the more I want that date with him.

  And it’s not just because he’s off limits. It’s because he seems like a truly good guy. My dating history has been a joke. One dud after another. I’ve had more than one guy try to date me just to sleep with me and dump me. I’d given up on finding Mr. Right. It was easier to seek him out in a book than in real life.

 

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