Model Soldier by Cat Johnson Read Free Book Online Page B

since they were taking their wet t-shirts off at the time, that wasn’t such a chore.”
    Fans? Adoring female fans ripping their clothes off? Hawk glanced at Blake who shrugged and said, “Don’t look at me. That was before my time.”
    “So anyway, Hawkins, I wanted to say good job today,” the computer god added, sounding actually sincere.
    Reminded again of the loss, and that Matt Coleman and his computers were the cause of it, Hawk scowled. “Yeah, thanks.”
    “No really. I mean it. If I didn’t have your entire squad mapped with thermal satellite images so I was able to tell our boys your exact locations, you might have had a chance.”
    Thermal satellite images. Crap. The word “cheaters” sprang to Hawk’s mind again as he let out a disgusted sigh before taking another gulp of his beer.
    “Toys, Hawkins. Just toys,” Blake reminded as he grinned once again.
    Hawk was starting to really hate these boys and their toys.

    Chapter Six

    On the flight to Germany, Emily had read and reread every document in the file Katie had given her—the plans and goals for the marketing campaign and, more importantly, the information about David “Hawk” Hawkins. The scarce little there was about him she devoured eagerly.
    Too excited to really concentrate on anything, Emily totally ignored both the paperback novel she’d bought at the airport shop and Jai Devereaux, the photographer on the assignment with her. Out of guilt, Emily finally turned the book over to Jai to read on the long, boring overseas flight.
    When Katie had decided it was best to schedule phase one of the campaign, the photo shoot, for as soon as possible, Emily hadn’t argued. Katie’s motives for the rush was because, for some reason, she was totally convinced Hawk would back out and they’d have to find a replacement.
    Emily’s motives for the rush were very different.
    She’d scrambled to secure both a photographer and plane tickets and had done so incredibly fast. Just three days after BB had chosen Hawk, Emily was in the air and on the way to meet him in Germany.
    Hawk . God, she loved that nickname. It was so manly. She glanced down at the file for the thousandth time. Staff Sergeant David S. Hawkins. Nickname “Hawk”.
    Oh, yes. A man with a name like that brought to mind all sorts of images and possibilities, and Emily considered each and every one of them repeatedly throughout the flight, and during the wait for the luggage, and then on the drive to the base at Hohenfels, where she hoped her dreams would finally come true.
    “How long until we get there?” she asked for the second time during the drive from the airport.
    Behind the wheel of the rental car, Jai raised one dark eyebrow and glanced at her sideways. “Anxious to get there, are we?” he asked.
    She may have known Jai for two years now and worked with him on countless of Katie’s marketing campaigns, but that didn’t mean she would be willing to indulge the real reason her hand that held the paper she’d once again taken out shook unsteadily. Prince Charming was just miles, or rather kilometers, away now. And after studying him on paper for days, Emily was already half in love with him.
    “Of course, I’m anxious, Jai. This is the first solo assignment Katie’s ever trusted me with.”
    “Yeah, about that. How did you get her to do that? She’s usually totally hands on.”
    Emily bit her tongue about the pregnancy and instead shrugged. “I didn’t do anything.” That part was true at least. “She thinks I’m ready.” I hope she’s right , Emily added silently.
    “You’ll do fine.” Jai’s dreadlocks swung as he pivoted his head to glance at her and then turned quickly back to the road as a car right on their tail flashed its lights at them and then passed them in the oncoming lane of traffic.
    Damn, people drove fast here in Germany. Emily was certainly glad Jai had offered to drive. Once she could breathe again, she said, “I’ve got some ideas for