Enlisting Her Heart Read online

  Enlisting Her Heart

  Breaking Protocol

  Book Four

  by Willow Brooke

  © Copyright August 2014 JK Publishing, Inc.

  ISBN #

  All cover art and logo © Copyright August 2014 by JK Publishing, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  Edited by Caroline Kirby

  Artwork by Jess Buffett

  Published by JK Publishing, Inc.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author and publishing company.

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  Email: [email protected]

  Dedication

  Our soldiers fight hard and their families love harder. For all of our soldiers and their families—you are not alone. Your sacrifices and obstacles are not going unnoticed. From my family to yours, thank you.

  I also want to dedicate this to all of our troops in 3/17 CAV, past and present, and to my husband who is my own superhero. Thank you for all of those sleepless nights, bad MREs, and blood, sweat, and tears you shed. I love you with my everything.

  To all of my readers, thank you! You are making my dreams come true. Without you, I’d be nothing more than a wife with an overactive imagination. Hugs to you all!

  Last but not least, to my family. As in my stories, blood doesn’t dictate the true definition of family, love does. From all of our different walks of life, we come together in the most perfect imperfect combination.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Epilogue

  Books by Willow Brooke

  Excerpt from Robin and Her Merry Men

  Excerpt from Cabin Fever

  Excerpt from Releasing the Spirit

  JK Publishing, Inc. Author List

  Chapter One

  Violet stretched out on her beach towel, basking in the warm sun. The waves crashed against the shoreline in a soothing harmony that relaxed her soul. For the first time ever, she was in a state of pure peace. When a blast of water dumped on her, ripping her from her euphoria, she flew up swinging. “Kodiak! You big butthead! I’m going to kill you!” Kodiak stood over her with one of the red pails the kids were using to build sand castles with. When Violet jumped up, he ran laughing.

  “You looked hot! Just doing a public service, darlin’! Why’re you mad? It was an act of kindness!” he snickered, zig-zagging around in circles.

  “I was almost asleep! You ruined my relax time, you big oaf!” Violet couldn’t get but a finger's grasp away from him. She knew he was toying with her, which only pissed her off more. He saw she was running out of steam so he slowed down and let her catch him, laughing so hard he couldn’t catch his breath. Her tiny little fists pounded his chest and arms, distracting him from her foot that somehow wrapped around the back of his heel and tripped him into the water. His massive bulk went tumbling down, creating a mini tidal wave. Violet couldn’t help it. Her arms folded over her middle and she burst into laughter, capturing the attention of some of the others who lounged near by.

  Kodiak spit and sputtered water, clumsily regaining his foothold to stand. “Oh that’s it!” He was up and had ahold of her before she could make her escape. He heaved her up into his arms and carried her out to mid thigh deep water and tossed her up into the air. Violet knew what was coming, but couldn’t get her nose plugged fast enough before her head submerged under and her nose sucked up half of the ocean. She thrashed to the surface, coughing up her lungs. “Asshole!”

  It was Kodiak doing the laughing now. Violet’s long curly locks drooped in ropes, covering her face like a curtain. She flipped her head back in the water, dunking enough to wet her hair back and glared at him. Her little plump lips were puckered in a pout, her hair swinging back like something out of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazine. Kodiak couldn’t get over how beautiful she looked. Even with the daggers shooting out of her bright green eyes, his swim trunks grew tight. “Aw, see now you are all cooled off. Better?”

  Violet glared. She tried to get the water out of her nasal cavity without blowing, but it burned. Once she had her lungs cleared, she stood. Before she could charge after the ogre, a set of massive anaconda-like arms wrapped around her and lifted her up. She squirmed, turning just enough when she saw Hulk who began lashing out. “You could’ve hurt her, asshole,” he growled, undeterred by her protests.

  Kodiak rolled his eyes. “The only thing hurt is her ego. We’re just goofing around, bro. Chill.” Kodiak shook his head and turned to walk off. What the hell is with Hulk? He’s turned into a major asshole lately. Something’s going on with him, I just wish I knew what. Kodiak had hopes that his schoolboy maneuver would have landed him on a date with Violet. So much for that, he stomped off, heading for the bar to drown his embarrassment.

  Hulk sat Violet down on the sand carefully. “You okay?”

  Violet watched his features turn back to sweet and sincere and she sighed. She had been secretly trying to help Hulk with the PTSD, but it was getting to the point others were starting to notice. She knew it would be sooner rather than later that she’d have to confront him, which made her heart si
nk. Dealing with the emotional ups and downs of the condition was hell on a soldier and all those around him. It killed her to see him so miserable. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks,” she offered with a smile, then continued with a kind voice, “You know he was only playing, Hulk.” She watched his face sink and made a quick recovery to save his feelings. “But I’m glad to see there is a big strong man to come to my rescue if he turns to a water balloon and squirt guns ambush.” Violet winked. That seemed to lighten him up some. “So, what’s everyone up to?” Since her sun time had been cut short, she might as well socialize. Violet turned, grabbed her cover-up, and slipped the net dress on, hooking her bag over her shoulder. She slowly began walking along the water’s edge, letting the waves come in and cool her feet. Hulk fell into step beside her.

  “Alaina is sitting in the shade with Rock and Maverick who are falling over themselves to make her comfortable, and Mrs. Sanders and Michael haven’t come out of their room in hours. The others are down playing beach volleyball hoping to attract some of the bikini-clad bimbos walking by. Vince is with them, only scoping for his very own native in a speedo. I think they are trying to recreate the scene from Top Gun.” He laughed. “Pop is stuck with his ol’ lady shopping. He texted earlier and asked for his weapon. Since she’s been on this trip, her normal bitchiness has elevated. I don’t know if it’s from the low elevation or if her true colors are shining through but I can’t stand that woman.”

  Violet giggled. “Yeah, she’s a doozie.” An idea hit her and she turned to Hulk with her eyes sparkling. “Wanna go crash the volleyball game? I’ve got the Top Gun soundtrack on my phone.”

  Hulk’s mouth curved up into a huge grin. “Hell yeah.” They walked down the beach, laughing. About halfway there, Hulk reached down and grabbed her hand. He held his breath, hoping she didn’t pull away. When she wound her fingers through his and kept walking, he smiled inwardly. Something about the little redhead calmed him. Sure, he was attracted to her and thought she was amazing, but just being with her eased all of his aggression—which had been rearing its head more frequently. He hated being mad all the time. Hell, what was worse was how he hated others seeing him like that, but options on correcting it were limited if he wanted to remain combat ready and not lose everything. As they rounded the bend to where the others were playing ball, Violet stopped and pulled her hand away. Hulk felt his chest tighten as realization hit him. She didn’t want the others to see them together. When she reached over into her purse and withdrew her phone, he let out a relieved sigh. She swiped the screen, and soon after the song “Great Balls of Fire” blasted from the little speakers. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Think they’ll get the reference?” He laughed.

  “Well, if not they will after the playlist I have set up.” Her plump little lips curved up into a smile. His mouth watered at the sight. The sun gleamed through her long locks, its light setting the deep red color into flames. Damn, she’s gorgeous. They plopped down in the sand at a safe enough distance that they wouldn’t get beaned by the ball or a flying body, they were unable to contain their amusement. All of the guys turned and looked, the recognition flashing across their features in unison. Juju and Vice high-fived. “Good spike, Goose!” she exclaimed.

  “Sweet setup, Maverick!” Juju played along. It wasn’t long before all of the team had given themselves names from the movie, displaying a sad but hilarious reenactment of the timeless hit. Violet scooted over in front of Hulk, resting back on his chest. “Mmm. The sun feels so good. I could fall asleep out here.” She closed her eyes, basking in the warmth. It had been a long time since she had felt so at peace. With Hulk at her back, she let her mind drift and the world disappear.

  Hulk couldn’t believe his luck. Here he was, afraid she didn’t want to be seen holding his hand in front of the others, and she now lounged in his arms. When the soft breeze tussled a strand of hair across her face, he reached down and brushed it to the side, tucking it behind her ear. She smiled, keeping her relaxed pose.

  Romeo ran and dove in front of them for the ball, missing. When he stood, he glanced at them, cocking his head. His finger pointed at Violet and then at him in question, silently asking if they were together. Hulk wanted to nod yes, but didn’t want to assume. He shrugged, grinning. Romeo, being the perv he was, wagged his eyebrows and thrusted his hips suggestively, earning a glare from Hulk. Note to self: punch that punk hard later. He acted annoyed, but deep down it was exciting. Maybe his luck was changing after all.

  Kodiak leaned back on his bed, flipping through the channels on the television for the umpteenth time, finally clicking the power button. He’d been irritated at how Hulk overreacted, but the more he pondered, he realized it wasn’t that big of a deal. Hulk had been on edge for a while, and since Venus’s death, it’d been worse. He knew everyone still struggled, and as much as he wanted to be mad, he just couldn’t. It wasn’t a big deal Hulk had a thing for Violet, and it was obvious she had some sort of feelings for him. Whether it was on a friendly level or something more, it didn’t matter. But he had a serious crush on the little spitfire and whether Hulk liked it or not, he wasn’t going to quit trying. Hell, Maverick and Rock both shared Alaina without any hang ups, so why couldn’t they? Who knew what the future held. In their line of work they had to accept there might not be a tomorrow. So, Kodiak lived like every day was his last. With his attitude back to its normal carefree state, he slipped on his sandals and headed to join the group. They were on vacation and damn it he was going to spend it in his room.

  Hulk spotted Kodiak walking up and draped his arm over Violet. Instead of getting the dirty look he expected, Kodiak grinned. He plopped down beside them, stretching his legs out. “Who’s winning?”

  Hulk groaned inwardly and replied, “Neither. They both suck.” Kodiak laughed. “Well then. What’dya say we go show ‘em how it’s done?” Damn it. Hulk didn’t want to get up and lose his spot with Violet, but much to his dismay, she sat up.

  “Good idea. Let’s go!” Violet shrugged off her cover-up and ran toward the game, her perky boobs bouncing in the hot pink bikini. Kodiak turned to Hulk and grinned.

  “What a view.” He took off, determined to get on her team before Hulk. With the teams uneven, Hulk was forced to the opposite side, quickly seeing that he had gotten the better deal when Violet took position in front of him. Unfortunately, his view caused him to miss the ball most of the time, but he didn’t care. With each jump and dive, he had the pleasure of watching Violet’s breasts bounce and jiggle under the tiny little triangles of her top. Yeah. Volleyball was good.

  Chapter Two

  Violet took one last glance in the mirror, and smoothed out her little strapless white lace dress. She had swept her unruly curls into a loose side bun against her neck, secured with a jeweled butterfly barrette. Her make-up was light except for her eyes, which she had done smoky and paired with a sheer pink lip gloss hoping to bring a more seductive look to her ‘girl next door’ image. For some reason she was nervous. “It’s only a beach party,” she muttered to herself. She couldn’t help but feel excited. This was the first beach party she had ever been to, and knowing that Hulk and Kodiak would be there only added to it. She slipped on the little white matching wedges Vince had picked out to coordinate her outfit and walked out the door.

  The team had all gathered at the tables on the beach for dinner. Cabo was known for its dining and wild bonfire parties on the beach. With five star dining and endless drinks with live bands performing, it was a party fiesta.

  Mrs. Sanders sat at the end of the table with Michael at her side, not knowing what to do with herself. Dom and Michael had pulled her back to the table twice after she had attempted to make her way into the kitchen to help prepare the food. “I don’t see why the chef got so rude. I only suggested he change to real butter instead of using that coconut oil stuff.” Her eyebrows furrowed in a pout.

  “You’re on vacation, Martha. The whole point is to relax and let them do the work.�
� Michael laughed.

  “Well it doesn’t feel right just sitting here,” she harrumphed. Her frown was short lived. Violet walked up, capturing all their attention. Mrs. Sanders smiled at how fast Hulk and Kodiak tripped over themselves to offer her a seat next to them, and had to stifle a laugh when she took a place between them. Since she was the designated matchmaker of the group, her plan of keeping Kodiak and Hulk seated close worked. Those boys might not know what they wanted, but she knew what they needed.

  “Hi, everyone. Hope I’m not too late…” she greeted.

  “It was well worth the wait, baby. Damn, you look good enough to eat,” Romeo teased. Both Hulk and Kodiak glared at him.

  Violet smiled. “Thanks. I think…” Just then the waitress came and took their order, serving them drinks while they waited. Like at home, the group fell into a comfortable conversation, stopping only to bow and give thanks before their meal.

  As the evening wore on, they all migrated toward the huge fire pit and stage area to enjoy the party. The natives put on spectacular shows, from dancing to magic and fire breathing. Violet swayed to the beat of the music amongst some of the others, watching with envy as Rock and Maverick swung Alaina around the dance area. In another corner, Mrs. Sanders and Michael danced slower, keeping their bodies in a slow intimate two-step despite the upbeat tempo. Even Joker had tapped into his romantic side and twirled Bella, both totally lost to the world around them. She couldn’t help but giggle when her eyes fell upon Dom and Vice. He appeared totally out of his element, but like always still dominated their steps, holding on to her in a claim for everyone to see. Dom moved over Vice in a more sensual sway, keeping her attention and remaining her only focus. Everywhere Violet looked, love surrounded her. Even the whore dogs of the family had found girls to woo and impress with their fancy footwork—Romeo with a hot little native, and Juju with a blonde who was barely in her twenties. Violet let out a sigh, dreaming of the day she had her own men who’d rope the moon for her. Her thoughts drifted to two special somebodies and her heart dropped. Having feelings and a connection with two guys wasn’t as storybook romantic as it seemed. How Alaina snagged her two beaus amazed her. For months she had been flirting shamelessly with Hulk and Kodiak, only to get static from one end or another. Maybe she should just ask them, ‘Hey, let’s have a threesome’. However, that’s not what she really wanted. She wanted love…and commitment.