Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Protecting Love (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Saints Protection & Investigations Book 7) (3 page)

“Are you finished?” Evelyn asked, her voice laced with irritation, a slight shaking of her hand the only outward indication of her anger…or nervousness.

“For now,” Patrick answered, seemingly surprised at her tone of voice. He realized she had given off a timid vibe when they first met. As beautiful as she was, he also assumed she would be a pushover for his request. Now he gazed across the table and viewed her stiff-back, tight-lipped body language.
Damn, I’ve pissed her off.

“We are aware of the facts. I have investigated and found that the truck driver in question was a temporary substitute due to the regular truck driver having called in sick. The signing procedures were overlooked by him. He also became lost in transit. This, of course, is with us and we certainly agree that there is no way to refute the discrepancy—”

“Refute the discrepancy? Why would you need to dispute it? We inventoried and part of the shipment was missing.”

“Will you please stop interrupting me!” Evelyn finally managed to bite out, trying to maintain her professionalism in the face of the infuriating man, sitting in front of her, appearing cool and collected.

His eyes held hers as a slow smile curved his lips. Nodding his head to the side, he replied, “I apologize. Of course, proceed.”

Looking back down at the papers in front of her, she tried to still her racing pulse.
Damn, why am I so rattled?
Jesus, let’s just get this meeting over with!
“As I was saying, because proper procedures were not followed on our end, we have no way of validating…or disputing…your information, therefore GMS takes responsibility for the missing items. I have been assured that everything loaded was delivered, but in the interest of good relations, we will have no choice but to take your word.”

Leaning back, Patrick studied the flustered woman in front of him. And grinned.
She’s even more beautiful up close.

“I
guarantee you, my word is sound,” Patrick said, holding her gaze, thinking he would love to do nothing more than kiss the irritated expression right off her face. In fact, glancing at the heavy table in front of them, he needed to tamp down the rising hard-on just at the thought of what he would like to do with her on the table.

“Be that as it may, we still need to come to some equitable agreement about how to proceed.” Seeing his quirked eyebrow, she plunged on. “GMS is prepared to send out the disputed number of transoms and side panels and that shipment can be guaranteed on this Friday. Our plant manager will be overseeing the shipment and our regular driver will be making the delivery. I have been informed by our Financial Department that we will be able to offer a discount of ten percent to replace the missing items.”

Snapping out of his lust-wandering mind, Patrick’s eyes jumped back to hers. “Ten percent?”

Refusing to back down, she licked her lips and nodded. “Yes, that is what was given to me.”

“To you, it may be a simple oversight, but to us, we had to delay the entire shipment to the field. Delays that cost money, time, and possibly soldiers’ lives if we cannot handle the logistics of getting equipment to them. Perhaps that doesn’t mean anything to you, but I assure—”

“How dare you assume to know what means something to me,” she retorted.

“Well, I can tell you that my superiors will not accept a ten percent discount as a penalty,” he argued, leaning forward.

Sitting back, Evelyn wondered how the meeting had become so filled with animosity.
Oh, yeah…he walked in with attitude and has been serving it ever since he sat down! Well, two can play this game.
“Unfortunately, I am unable to offer more at this time without checking with my Finance Department.”

“Then I suggest you call them now because we need that shipment.”

Pushing her seat backward with force, she stood, slamming her files closed. “If you will wait, I’ll see what I can do.” Without bothering to look at him, she strode out of the room. Once the door closed behind her, she went to her secretary. “Molly, can you go see if Commander Macho in there needs anything? I’ve got to get hold of Saul.”

Grinning, Molly patted her red curls and jumped up. “Oooh, best assignment you’ve given me all day!”

Rolling her eyes, Evelyn called Saul and began speaking as soon as he answered. “We’ve got a problem. I’m aware you’re in a meeting, but the Army is demanding more than the offer of ten percent discount on the missing shipment.”

“Hmmm, playing hardball, are they? Is he some crotchety old military dude?”

As irritated as she was at Captain Cartwright, hearing Saul speak of him in demeaning terms angered her.

“No, he’s young, professional, and…well, to be honest…he has a point. They have to time their shipments out and this snafu cost them time and money. I feel as though we should offer more compensation.”

“You’re right, Evelyn. I’m sorry, that was an asinine comment. Look, I’ll work up a proposal and email it to you in about five minutes. You can keep him busy for that long, can’t you?”

“Sure.”
Well, I’ll let Molly do the entertaining.
“And thanks.”

“No problem. Look, you’re doing the right thing. It’s just business. Always start out with a lowball offer and then you can go up.”

Disconnecting, she leaned her back against the wall, while gently banging her head against the concrete.
I hate this part of the job. Three more months…surely I’ll get the engineering job in three more months.
Sighing heavily, she jumped when her phone vibrated a few minutes later, indicating an incoming email. Looking at it, she smiled.
Good…this should work.

Patrick’s eyes looked from the bubbly Molly to Evelyn as she walked in. Her face appeared more relaxed and her body language more open.
’Bout time. Hopefully her boss decided to stop dickin’ around.

Molly smiled as she left and he turned his attention back to the woman seated again in front of him after she printed off several papers.

As she pushed them across the table, she smiled, saying, “I think you’ll find this offer to be equitable for your time and trouble.”

He looked down, impressed that he was now being offered a twenty percent refund on the missing shipment, a guarantee delivery date of Friday morning and a three percent discount on their next purchase with GMS, up to a certain price. Lifting his eyes, he nodded. “This is much more like it.” Sending a message to his superior, he waited just a moment before receiving the okay to move forward.

“We have a deal,” he said. “It’s too bad your boss had to waste our time this morning.”

The good feeling Evelyn had achieved disappeared with Patrick’s last comment.
What a prick!
Plastering a smile on her face, she simply replied, “Fine. If you’ll sign here, I’ll have Molly print out the copies for you.”

Seeing the narrowed eyes and glaring expression on her face, Patrick wondered what just happened.
Jesus, I just made a comment about her boss…not her.
Realizing the intrepid Ms. Sinclair seemed to be anxious to end the meeting, he just nodded.

Standing, Evelyn stuck her hand out one more time. “Then if you’ll wait here, Molly will return shortly.” She wanted to escape, but this time, the tingle from his hand to hers was impossible to ignore. Snatching her hand back quickly, she offered a curt nod before walking out of the room without a backward glance.

*     *     *

Patrick watched Evelyn leave the room and rubbed his hand over his face.
Wow – way to fuck up a chance to get to know her!
He had been so shocked when he walked in and saw the woman from the pool. Considering he had jerked off in the shower twice with her on his mind since seeing her…
screwed that chance.

Her boss set up her to fail at this meeting,
he thought angrily. Sure, it was good business to lowball first then go up, but her boss would know that was not going to be acceptable. And Patrick had the feeling she had not been working there long enough to realize that.
And me getting pissed about it didn’t help.

Before he could process the events further, the bubbly Molly came back into the room with the papers for him to sign. She continued to babble as he tried to read over the contract. Finally, seeing everything in order, he signed and waited while she made copies.

“You must have really made an impression,” Molly joked. “I’ve never seen Evelyn so flustered.”

Sure that Molly’s boss would be livid to know she was being discussed, Patrick was unable to stop asking more.

“Does she do this type of meeting often?”

“No, it’s not her thing. She’s an engineer and wanted a job in the plant, but,” giving a little shrug, “she took the job working with military sales until an engineering job opened up for her.” Scrunching her nose in thought, Molly continued, “She’s got some super-duper engineering degree.”

Why the hell would GMS put an engineer in this job? Unless they really wanted to hang on to her.
Molly diverted his attention again as she handed him his copies.

“Thank you,” he said as he packed his papers up to leave and then followed Molly out of the office. As they walked down the hall, he chanced a glance inside an office where the door stood open. There was Evelyn, standing in front of a tall filing cabinet, gently banging her head against the furniture as though she was trying to forget everything that had just happened.

Patrick grappled with the desire to rush in, pull her into his arms, and offer comfort while telling her she had done a good job with the negotiations. But she did not appear to want any company and he knew that would just embarrass her.

Turning, he followed Molly to the outside door, wishing the meeting could have been more amiable.
It doesn’t matter,
he grumbled to himself.
I’ll be leaving in a couple of months anyway. No time to start anything with the lovely Evie.
Climbing into his car, he pulled out of the parking lot, the image of her dark brown eyes in his mind. He acknowledged,
And she’d be no easy fuck. A woman like that…deserves it all.

*     *     *

Saul stopped by Evelyn’s office on Friday afternoon, seeing her sitting at her desk, typing away on her computer.

“Hey, I thought you’d be ready to head out for the weekend,” he said, a perpetual grin on his face.

Looking up, she returned his smile. “For once, I don’t want to work over the weekend, so I wanted to make sure I finished everything before I left.”

He plopped down in a chair and shook his head. “Evelyn, you shouldn’t work on the weekends. You need your down time.”

“Oh, believe me, I utilize my down time,” she said, leaning back. “But, sometimes, I feel like I need to take care of some things so I don’t come in on Monday morning already behind.”

“How did things end up with the Army shipment?” he asked.

“The Captain was a royal prick, but Saul, I felt stupid not knowing that the offer I made to him was a lowball offer.”

He had the good grace to blush while ducking his head. “Sorry, Evelyn. That’s just the way business is.”

“Yes, but I don’t have a business background!”

Nodding, he sat quietly for a moment before asking, “You still want a job in the plant?”

Stunned that he had to ask, she said, “Saul, you know I do. I find the sales part of the industry to be fascinating and it helps me understand how others use what we build, but my degree is in engineering.”

“Well,” he said, still smiling. “I just might have something that’ll make your weekend better.”

Afraid to hope, she cocked her head to the side. “Yeah?”

“It seems that one of the engineers will be retiring early…I’ve already talked to Gary and dad. They both say that you can have the job when he leaves, which should be in about a month.”

The air left her lungs in a whoosh as she leaned forward, fist pumping the air. “Yes! Oh, my God, thank you!”

Laughing, Saul said, “Hey, this was always the agreement when you came on board with us. I’m just glad we can now work toward that.” He sobered for a second before adding, “You do realize you would be working near Ed all day?”

Not even the idea of working with the surly, burly Ed could put a damper on her enthusiasm. “No worries! I can do this!”

“So, how about a celebratory drink after work?”

“Um, I’ve never been a drinker,” she admitted. “But I’d love to celebrate.”

“Sounds good. Follow me in your car and we’ll go to a place near here. It’s called Aces Bar & Grill. Not fancy, but good food and drinks.”

Grinning at the turn of events, she shut down her computer and followed him outside.
Looks like things are finally going my way!

F
ollowing Saul to the bar, Evelyn glanced nervously at her reflection in the rearview mirror, hoping she was not making a mistake.
This is not a date…just a celebratory drink…but I don’t drink…so it’s a celebratory…something. Jesus, I hope he doesn’t get the wrong idea.
Before she could talk herself into heading home instead, she pulled into the parking lot behind him. It appeared, due to the number of cars—or rather jeeps, trucks, and SUVs—that the place was already hopping.

Getting out, she looked down at her attire and knew she was overdressed. Saul walked over and motioned for her to follow him. Hustling to catch up in her heels, she said, “Do you come here often?”

“I haven’t been here for almost a year, but I swear they serve the best wings and I skipped lunch today.” He halted just as they entered, giving them a chance to let their eyes adjust to the dim interior. There was a crowd, but they sighted a high-topped table near the front and he assisted her to her seat.

Once the waitress took their order, he looked at her, smiling like a little boy. “Look, Evelyn, here’s the thing. I know you said you don’t date co-workers and I respect that. So, I figured if I took you to some high-falutin’ place for drinks, you’d feel self-conscious. But here? This is just a neighborhood bar with a bunch of people unwinding after a week of work. We’re here as friends, okay?”

Smiling at his explanation, she nodded. “Perfect,” she admitted.

A while later, a loud ruckus came from the back where a group of soldiers played pool. Twisting around to look behind her, she glanced through the crowd. Right in the middle of the group stood Captain Cartwright…staring straight at her.

Face flaming, she jerked her head toward Saul, choking on her food. Saul leaned over, slapping her on her back.

“You okay? The sauce go down wrong?” he yelled over the noise.

“Perhaps the lady needs some water,” a familiar voice came from her side. Without turning, she recognized who it belonged to.
Perfect,
she thought.
My face is red, my eyes are watering, I have sauce on my cheeks, and Mr. Army Hunk walks over.
Grabbing her glass of water, she drank deeply, finally gaining control of herself.

Saul peered up at Patrick, a question in his eyes. Patrick stuck out his hand, introducing himself. “Captain Cartwright. Patrick. I met with Ms. Sinclair the other day.”

Saul’s eyes brightened with recognition. “Yes, yes. Saul Oysten, here. I’m over the Financial Department of GMS. Glad everything worked out with the shipment replacement.”

Evelyn watched as Patrick’s eyes darkened, but before she could imagine why, he growled, “So you’re the one who sent her in unprepared with that ridiculously low offer to begin with.”

Saul shrugged, saying, “Business. Purely business. I assumed you wouldn’t accept the first offer and we would come up to what was acceptable.” Just then his phone buzzed and he glanced down at the message. Looking up apologetically, he said, “Evelyn, I’m sorry. I’ve got to head out. Dad’s decided to convene a late meeting and needs me to come back.”

She attempted to slide down from the high chair but found her way blocked by Patrick’s large, immovable body.

“I’ll see Evie’s taken care of,” Patrick said smoothly, and before she could object, Saul nodded, but a flash of jealousy crossed his expression. He appeared to want to say something, but shot her a tight smile instead, leaving the bar quickly.

Sliding into the seat vacated by Saul, Patrick looked over at the flushed…and visibly angry woman sitting across from him.
Looks like I’ve pissed her off again
, he thought ruefully, rubbing his hand along his jaw.

“Look, Evie,” he began. “I’m not sure what I’ve done to make you so mad, but—”

“How about you just embarrassed me in front of my boss by implicating that I couldn’t handle our meeting, for starters? Then you come over here, all caveman-like, to defend me? And now, you’re sitting there like you…like you…I don’t know. Like something!”

He opened his mouth to explain, but before he had a chance, she questioned, “And Evie? Evie? You don’t know me and yet you’ve nicknamed me? Who does that?”

Patrick stared at her, words sticking in his throat. Today her hair was pulled back away from her face with a fancy clip, but the heavy length of glistening tresses hung over her shoulders, beckoning his fingers to discover if it was as soft as it looked. The simple makeup in place showcased her deep brown eyes and the mouth that he wanted to taste. Her lightweight sweater, in mint green, caressed perfect breasts and if he was any judge, they were natural. His eyes moved back to hers and he could not hold the grin from spreading across his face.

“Look, Evie. I was pissed the other day, but not at you. That guy,” he indicated with a head jerk toward the door that Saul left from, “knew there was no way we would accept the low-ball offer and I got the distinct feeling that you didn’t know that. It made you feel inadequate and awkward and I thought that was a shitty play on his part.”

“I’m learning the business…at least in sales until I can move into the engineering job that’s coming up,” she answered back.

“So you’re an engineer?” he asked, pretend surprise on his face.

Sighing deeply, Evie glared at him. “Why yes, Mr. Know-it-all. I’m sure it must be a shock to your system to realize that an intelligent woman might not be hideous at the same time!”

“Whoa,” he exclaimed, putting his hands up in front of him.
Damn, I keep saying the wrong thing around her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insulting about you being an engineer. I just meant that I was surprised an engineer was working in sales. That’s all, I promise.”

Blushing, Evie pulled her lips in, embarrassed to have misinterpreted his comment. “I’m sorry. Truly.” She reached out and placed her hand on his, giving a slight squeeze before placing her hands back around her water bottle. “I have no idea why I’m lashing out at you. I suppose I find myself often having to defend my true vocation. There aren’t a lot of women engineers in my field.”

“I guess you get that kind of comment a lot, don’t you?” he said, regret in his voice, already missing the touch of her hand on his. Deciding to change the subject, he asked, “So how’s the investigation going?”

“Hmm?”

“The investigation…into where the missing partial shipment went?” he reiterated.

Her eyes darted down to her plate before moving back to his. “I don’t actually know,” she admitted. “I didn’t ask any more after I was given the few cursory answers about the truck driver. It’s not my job to search for it…if it really was missing.”

“I assure you, it was missing,” he said. “I understand that it’s not your job…I’m just curious. Stealing equipment meant for our soldiers is a big business. Makes me fuckin’ furious, but well…that’s the way things are. I was just hoping that GMS had recovered it.”

“Oh,” she replied, embarrassed that she had never considered theft of military equipment.
No wonder he was pissed.
Before she could think of another comment, he continued.

“And the nickname…I don’t know…I just think you look like an Evie,” he shrugged, a playful grin on his face. “If you don’t like it…” his voice trailed off.

Evie looked over at him, the wind suddenly going out of her sails.
How can a man look so devilishly handsome and like such a little boy all at the same time?
“No…it’s…it’s okay. I haven’t been called Evie since I was much younger, so I guess it just took me by surprise, that’s all. In college, all the professors used the full name, Evelyn, and then my employers do also.”

“Surely your old friends and family still call you by Evie?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth he wanted to pull them back in, as he watched the light go from her eyes.

Faking a small smile, she slid from her stool and grabbed her purse. “It was…uh…nice to see you again, Captain Cartwright. I hope you have a nice evening with your friends.” Turning, she was surprised to find his hand gently grasping her arm.

“I’m sorry if I said anything to offend you,” he said, holding her gaze.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m tired and really need to go home.” Pulling away, with a smile that did not reach her eyes, she weaved her way through the crowd and disappeared through the door.

What the fuck—

“Hey, man, did you strike out big time or what?” came the jovial question from Dude, who threw his arm around his friend.

Twisting his head around, Patrick admitted, “Damned if I know. I’ve seen the woman three times…three times I wanted to get to know her and three times I’ve been shut out.”

“I’d say, three strikes, you’re out buddy. Time to look for someone a little more accommodating.” Dude carefully stared at his friend’s face, a slow smile beginning. “Unless, of course…she’s someone…special?”

“Fuck if I know what she is,” Patrick answered before allowing himself to be pulled back to the pool tables.

*     *     *

Evie settled into the hot bath a few hours later, candles lit around the bathroom. Lying back, she sunk into the deep water until only her head appeared above the bubbles. Her mind ran over the events of the day, trying to focus on the upcoming engineering position she craved. Back to research…back to understanding how to make things stronger…how to build better machines and equipment.
People? I don’t have a clue how to make them work.
As her muscles relaxed in the warmth, her mind drifted to the enigmatic Captain.
Patrick
.
The first man to call me Evie since my dad.
The thought of her father suddenly had her closing her eyes tightly, not wanting to allow the tears that stung the back of her eyes to escape.

If Patrick only knew…he’d never accuse me of trying to hide military thefts.
After her skin had pruned, she stepped out of the tub and quickly donned her PJ shorts and a tank top. Shutting off the lights in her condo, she stopped and stared at the picture on the end table next to her sofa.

The smiling family faced the camera, their happiness evident in their expressions. Her father, in his military uniform, holding to her mother protectively, with Evie and Chrissie hanging on to both of them. Her dad had returned from an overseas tour in time to see her high school graduation. Who could have predicted he would not make it back from his next tour three years later?

Lying in bed, as the moon moved across the night sky, she realized she wanted to follow up on the missing shipment.
If there was a theft of military equipment from GMS, then I want to know about it!