Page 5 of Lucky Charm
“Who is this kid anyway?”
“Son of a warlord.”
She put up her hand. “Say no more.” Nation building meant trust building. What better way than to take care of a powerful man’s son.
She hated politics but loved a challenge. She liked to think she found ways over, under, around, and through most situations.
The Colonel toyed with his mustache, the bushy hair in contrast to the man’s bald head. “I picked you because you’ve done field work like this before.”
Cait stifled an auto response. Duncan Moss, their other experienced surgeon had a nasty flu bug. She bet if he’d been well, she would be out, and he would be in. She didn’t say that, though. The Colonel had stayed quiet, his stare more intense. She re-used an old answer to that question.
“Yes, sir. Africa, South America, Haiti.” All missions of intense work mitigating misery and death, and several plain not safe.
“I also picked you because you’re active with the new health center.” He let the rest go unspoken.
Over the span of her three tours in Afghanistan, she worked with many local women to strengthen the support for their families – everything from health to literacy to everyday living. The activity was not popular among certain factions of the population. But the Commander of U.S. Forces had a committed interest in matriarchal nation building. His term, not hers. Hence, she did her volunteer time at the center like everyone else.
She sighed. “What does the General want me to do?”
The colonel shook his finger at her. “Nothing except handle the boy. As usual, he’d like to establish a medical presence there and give a leg up to the U.N. in getting teachers, aid workers, and supplies into the area.”
“The warlord might not be too hospitable if his son is hurt worse than this appears.”
“Do what you must for the child’s health.” Nothing else needed to be said.
“Which team is taking me?” She couldn’t help chewing her lips. There were a lot of Special Operations personnel in the area. What were the odds?
“LT Hunter will be over shortly to brief you on the mission. Any questions?”
Her breath jammed. The memories of their insane conflagration washed over her, the flaming red-hot sex branded on her brain. One crazy night.
“Problem?”
Yes! No! She’d made a commitment to find him again while in the states. She didn’t expect to run into him without a bit of effort. A tremor worked its way down her spine before she could stifle it.
“No, sir. I know him. I worked on him last tour.” Did her voice sound shaky? Panicked? God, she hoped not.
“Good. That’s it then. Colonel Cartwright worked up the equipment and supply list. Follow the SEALs, do your job, stay safe.” He rose and rounded his desk, ready to go back to the emergency room with her when his phone rang.
She pointed toward the door as he answered and walked out. Was there a place handy where she could go and lose her mind?
She stopped in the long hallway and leaned against the door to a supply closet. She desperately fanned herself to stifle the flush flooding her system. She worked hard to keep on her professional mask. She pushed the woman aside in favor of the doctor. Every. Time. Until him.
She dealt with the adrenaline surge and dangerous circumstances daily. Because of that, she was a control freak about everything.
Forcing herself to draw air evenly, she straightened and navigated the hall.
Out of control – that’s how everything had been since their night together. The mission had to bemanaged by the only man who had gotten under her guard in the last decade. Memories of him had been screwing up her personal life for over a year, pun intended. It was the reason she was serving another tour – not because she wanted to be here, but because she had to be here. Finding him and finally dealing with feelings left in flux from their one-moment stand would allow her to see what those feelings even were.
Further, he was a SEAL, dammit. SEALs were a walking death statistic, and it scared her spitless. He could get killed. She’d had two deaths in her life – father and brother in the same accident. Their deaths had caused a profound change in her life. Now this. Taking this tour had seemed like the right thing to do to find him, but the realities of Afghanistan operations were a coping disaster area even without Hunt in the midst. Yet, fate had dropped him in her lap.
“You all right, Cait?” Colonel Jodie Cartwright, the hospital’s head nurse, came toward her. She was several inches shorter than Cait, but her reputation was planted firmly in legendary territory. She had a tough temperament and a no-nonsense approach to difficult work. Her short, gray hair was tucked behind her ears, and her black reading glasses were propped on her head.
Cait gave her a patently fake smile. “Yeah, thinking.” The nurse had an iPad in her hand.
Jo’s graveling voice suggested a two-pack a day smoker, but she never touched the things. “I’ve got all the supply notes. Everything you’re going toneed. We’re assembling it now. Are you all right with this?”
She waved off the comment. “I’m fine, Jo. How much safer can I be than with a SEAL team, right?”
