Elliot, p.1
Elliot, page 1
ELLIOT
BROTHERS IN ARMS IN ALASKA BOOK 8
KALI HART
Elliot 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 © 2021 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
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Brothers in Arms in Alaska Series
Sneak Peak HOLDEN
1
DAKOTA
“So, this is Three Rivers?” Specialist Jess Perkins, asks as the quaint Alaskan town comes into view through the trees. As one of my crew chiefs for the past two years, she doesn’t sound impressed. “Are you sure there’s anywhere to eat, ma’am?”
“Perkins, I told you to trust me.” The flight line appears, and I can’t help but feel a thrill as my copilot radios the tower to request permission to land. Ever since my best friend Aspen introduced me to Three Rivers last summer, I’ve been smitten. But a busy flight schedule and an unscheduled deployment have kept me away more than I’d like.
That’s all about to change. Today is my last flight as an Army Blackhawk pilot.
I haven’t told Aspen yet, but I’m planning to find a house in Three Rivers this weekend.
Our crew and one other Blackhawk crew complete our landing and shutdown procedures. The East Fork is a ten-minute walk from AK12 Aviation, but we’re not in a hurry today because I’m calling the shots. I want the crews to enjoy a tasty lunch at my favorite restaurant and catch up with some of our old friends. So many Army veterans have settled in Three Rivers, Alaska.
I’m giddy with excitement to be the next.
“How many people live here?” Perkins asks on our way to lunch.
“Couple thousand maybe?”
“And you want to live here?” Her expression, a mixture between shock and terror, makes me laugh. Out of all the crew chiefs I’ve worked with in my six years as a pilot, she’s definitely my favorite. She’s incredibly smart and ambitious. I’ve told her multiple times she’s capable of doing whatever she wants, but her bluntness might limit some of her career paths in the military.
“You need to visit for a weekend,” I insist, tempted to invite her to the double birthday bash for Aspen and Macy this weekend. But because I’m a warrant officer and Perkins is enlisted, it’s technically against the rules. “I promise, even the city girl in you will fall in love.”
“I doubt that, ma’am.” She spouts off her reasons why, but the words don’t fully register when my eye catches a familiar Army veteran across the street. One who’s made my pulse triple in a flash ever since I met him a year ago. He looks sinfully attractive in those low-slung jeans and Aviators. The sheer sight of him makes me yearn to lick every delicious inch of his muscular body.
I wasn’t even sure Elliot was in Three Rivers anymore because he wasn’t at my thirtieth birthday party a few weeks ago. Something I didn’t expect to be so disappointed about considering nothing happened between us last summer.
But I still remember the way the air crackled between us.
“Ma’am?” Perkins asks, her tone implying I’ve been caught daydreaming.
“Caribou chili nachos,” I say, hedging my bets that she’s asking what to order for lunch.
“I just asked about flight school,” Perkins says, eyebrow raised in suspicion as her gaze bounces between me and Elliot. Dammit, she’s too smart for her own good. “You two have a history or something?”
“No.” I answer too quickly, and it only makes Perkins more curious.
“Is he why you’re moving to Three Rivers?”
Shackling her arm, I whip her to a stop in the middle of the road. “No one knows I’m moving here yet Jess, so keep that tidbit to yourself like you promised, okay?” I hiss. “And no, Elliot is not the reason.”
If her smirk is any indication, Perkins isn’t thrown off one bit by my reaction. “But he’s definitely a bonus, right?”
Deep down inside, I know the answer is yes. Never mind that he hardly gave me the time of day last year when he and I went four-wheeling with Aspen and Storm. If he felt the electricity between us, he never let on. He was cordial, but otherwise sealed up tight as a bank vault. Something told me he had a story, but no one would offer it up. Including Elliot himself, no matter what tactic I used to pry the information loose.
Seeing him now only reminds me that he skipped out on my birthday party last month when everyone else showed.
“Drop it, okay? It’s not like that.”
Perkins wriggles her eyes, taking extra liberties now that the rest of the crew has left us behind on the road. An approaching truck forces us to move and join everyone else in The East Fork.
“Dakota!” Aspen hugs me from the side, her arms strangling my neck since her massive baby bump keeps her from giving me a full-on hug.
“How you doing, mama?”
It’s not just Aspen’s face that glows, it’s all of her. Like a damn halo of golden light surrounds her. She’s due in two months but seriously looks like she could pop any day. I can’t wait to meet her little girl. “My feet are swollen, my back hurts, and I pee all the damn time,” she answers, leading me to the patio dining area. I’d be willing to bet our crews—active duty and veterans alike—have taken over the entire area. “But other than that, I’m peachy.”
I feel Elliot’s presence before I spot him at a table in the corner. He’s sitting next to Aspen’s husband Storm, deep in conversation. The familiar crackle of electricity ignites between us as I get closer.
“Today’s your last flight, right?” Aspen asks as we arrive at our table. Storm, still fully committed to the conversation with Elliot, stands and pulls out a chair for his wife. Helping her into the seat, he plants a soft kiss on her neck and suddenly I’m envious as hell over what they have. I’m so happy for Aspen, truly I am. I only wish I could find the same for myself.
Last year, I swore I’d never get tangled up with a man again. Being cheated on does that to a woman. But bitterness is subsiding, and yearning is taking its place.
“Dakota, you remember Elliot, right?” Aspen asks.
Elliot glances across the table, our eyes locking. My pulse doesn’t just triple. It’s apparently set on breaking some kind of world record. “We met last year,” Elliot says since words have obviously failed me. Dammit he looks good enough to eat, one delicious bite at a time. “Good to see you again, Dakota.”
2
ELLIOT
Dakota Michaelson is sure a fucking sight for sore eyes.
It takes every ounce of restraint to stay in my seat and pretend like I’m not completely affected by her unexpected presence. When I met her last year, I wasn’t in a good place. Which is why I ignored the intense pull between us.
“I thought you moved,” Dakota says, taking a sip of her water through a straw I really fucking envy right now.
“Moved from Three Rivers? Never.” I study her a few seconds longer than is polite, but dammit, she’s been a fantasy in my head for months. “What makes you think that?”
“You missed her birthday party last month,” Aspen chimes in, her tone more than hinting at her displeasure of my absence. I wish I had a half-decent excuse, but the truth is that I was afraid of what seeing Dakota again would do to me. You only have to be jilted at the altar once to be jaded on women forever.
“Sorry about that,” I say, my tone a mixture of sincere and smug. But despite my best efforts to keep a protective barrier around my heart, I feel it cracking. Just get through fucking lunch. Then she’s gone again.
“Dakota just flew her last flight,” Aspen says proudly.
“Well, technically we still have to fly back to Wainwright.”
“Last flight?” The words I don’t mean to say aloud slip out anyway. It’s unfair to make her think I care, which I fucking do. But I’m not going through the ringer again with a woman. No matter how damn enticing they may be. You’re fucking lying to yourself and you know it, man.
“I’m ETSing,” Dakota says.
Expiration term of service. She’s getting out of the Army. “You moving here like the rest of them?”
Dakota’s lips part, then close. Her confusing expression leaves me intrigued, but her lips draw the bulk of my attention. I’ve wondered for months what they’d feel like pressed against my own. I bet they’d be fucking amazing circled around my cock.
“Dakota?” Aspen says, pinning her with a hard to ignore stare.
“I was going to tell you this weekend, but someone spoiled the surprise.” She shoots me a laser beam glare. I wonder if she suspects that it has the exact opposite result of her intention. My fucking cock is trying to stand at half-mast. Down, boy.
“You’re r
“Don’t strain yourself,” Dakota says, sliding to the edge of her seat so Aspen can strangle her neck in a hug. Dakota’s ass lifts out of her chair with the gesture, giving me an amazing view. Fuck, she looks hot as hell in that Army flight uniform. I bet she’d look even sexier with that uniform scattered all over my floor.
“I’m so excited!” Aspen announces, shimmying both of them in her hug. Dakota’s perfect ass wiggles in the air. Yes, I stare. I’m only a man.
“It’s been her secret plan all along to convince you to move to Three Rivers,” Storm says when his wife finally releases her superhuman grip on Dakota.
“That explains all the photos you sent me when I was deployed,” Dakota says, taking another leisurely sip of her water. Making me realize this is the most dangerous place I can be right now. I’d be safer facing off with a grizzly bear than in such close proximity to Dakota Michaelson. Every second that elapses causes the pull between us to grow stronger.
Our food arrives, and for several minutes the conversation gives way to hunger. I have to admit, it’s a fucking turn on that Dakota’s eating nachos and not some dainty salad. I like my women with curves in all the best places.
Calm the fuck down, man. I waive at Charmane and ask for a beer.
“Ma’am?”
“No,” Dakota answers a specialist from another table immediately. “No beer.”
“It’s so exciting to see you in charge. Are you sure you want to get out of the Army?” Aspen asks. “I mean, selfishly I want you here with me every single day. But you’re such a badass pilot and leader.”
Well, fuck. I’m not getting up from this table anytime soon without embarrassing the hell out of myself. I try to picture boring things—chopping wood, a lazy day fishing, doing dishes—to calm my dick down. Anything that keeps me from wondering if Dakota uses that same fierce authority in the bedroom.
“I love being a pilot,” Dakota admits. “I’m just ready for something…new.” Her gaze flickers to me so quickly I’m not sure if I imagined it. Real or not, I know one thing for sure. Now that I know she’s moving to town, I’m in big fucking trouble when it comes to Dakota Michaelson.
3
DAKOTA
This time when Three Rivers appears before me, it’s from the road. Soon, I’m going to call this quaint small town my home. I haven’t had a place that felt like that since I joined the Army at eighteen. I’m ready to stop moving around from base to base and settle.
Preferably with Elliot.
My heartrate triples at the thought of seeing Elliot again. No way he’d miss his sister’s birthday party tonight.
If I had any sense at all, I’d avoid him.
He has trouble written all over him. The last thing I should be thinking about is getting involved with him. Leave it to Specialist Perkins to finally get the scoop on the mysteriously brooding man. I don’t know who she pulled it out of during our lunch earlier this week, but she was more than forthcoming with me after we landed back in Wainwright.
Elliot was left at the altar, in Maui of all places.
No wonder the man walks around with a permanently etched frown. It’d help if he didn’t look so damn sexy wearing it. I’ve never been one to go for the grumpy and brooding type, but maybe that’s my problem. It’s the charismatic life of the party type that tend to cheat.
A bubble of anger surges through my chest, but with one deep breath, I let it go.
I’m not holding onto the past anymore. I’m looking toward the future. Maybe Elliot just needs someone to prove she’s not a total douche canoe. Don’t go there, Dakota. One thing at a time.
Taking back roads to avoid the masses of people walking up and down Main Street, I arrive at my rental cabin that’s exactly two blocks stumbling distance from The Grandview. I have no plans to get sloshed tonight, but I’m looking forward to a few drinks to celebrate all the good things.
After I get checked in and my bags unloaded, I reach for my clutch purse. But a glance in the mirror stops me from leaving. I look…comfortable. Cute even. “Cute’s not going to get you laid, Dakota,” I mutter.
I scour my suitcase, pulling out a daring red top I almost didn’t pack. The girls will be on full display in this puppy. And there’s plenty to display. Do it. I slip it on, adding a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant that dips low into my exposed cleavage.
“Resist me now, Elliot. I dare you.”
Feeling confident and sexy in a way I haven’t allowed myself to feel in ages, I stroll the two blocks to the bar. The double birthday bash is out back in the area they’ve dubbed a beer garden. I’m attacked immediately by balloons, music, and laughter.
It’s not hard to spot my bestie with her massive baby bump, even from the opposite end of the crowd. She looks adorable as hell in that yellow dress and beaming smile, Storm lingering protectively at her side. I want that, too. Her smile doubles in brightness when she sees me. On my way to her, I scan the venue for Elliot.
He’s not here.
Disappointment squeezes me harder than I expected. I suddenly feel foolish for wearing the red top I rarely bring out in public. I love my curves, but I don’t always show them off like this.
“Holy moly, Dakota. You look hot!” Aspen announces when I reach her. “You got a date I don’t know about?”
“I dressed up for you, silly.” I give her a side hug, then gently pat her baby bump. “Where’s the booze? I’m drinking for two tonight since you can’t.”
“Over there,” Aspen points. “Bring me back a sparkling cider or something fancy, will you?”
“You got it.” I weave through the growing crowd, trying to convince myself on the way to the bar that I need to find someone better than Elliot. Someone emotionally available for starters. But a thorough scan of my options leaves me sorely disappointed.
“Dakota?” a male voice I faintly recognize beckons me the moment I reach the bar.
I do a double take. “Holden? Is that really you?” In jeans and a mountain man worthy beard, I hardly recognize the guy that was like a brother to me on my first deployment. He looks…attractive. But in the way I’d think a brother was good looking. “What’s it been? Like six years?”
“Seven by my count.”
He opens his arms for a hug, and I oblige. I wish I felt something. Anything. Because Holden has a heart of gold. He’d make such a good match. But I feel nothing more than brotherly affection. “You married yet? Got a dozen kids?”
His smile dims as he scrubs a hand through his hair. “Not yet.” I suspect there’s more to this story, but before I can pry, I feel a shift in the air. An electrical current that’s been absent but is now undeniably present.
Elliot has arrived.
It takes every ounce of concentration to order drinks. I almost forget Aspen’s sparkling cider. I’ve been attracted to plenty of men in my life, but never like this.
“That your guy?” Holden asks, accepting a bottle of beer from the bartender.
“What?”
He nods toward Elliot, obviously following my gaze since it’s so intently fixed. “No. We’re not—no.” I look away, but not before Elliot catches me staring. Quickly, I turn my back to him. The visual block helps only a little. “Did you get stationed in Alaska?”
Holden lifts a challenging eyebrow at my stumbled, wobbly words. “Are you sure you two aren’t a thing?” he presses.
“Why?”
“Because he’s coming this way with that whole lion stalking his prey look in his eyes.”
I gulp a swallow seconds before I feel Elliot come up behind me. It’s like some kind of damn force field. The heat of him radiates close, tempting me to lean back against him. My thoughts are muddled as his hot breath tickles my neck.
