Heart Of Courage. Sue MacKay

       CHAPTER ONE

      ‘WOULD YOU LOOK at that? Sex in hard boots will do it for me every time.’ The female sergeant at Captain Sophie Ingram’s side ogled Captain Daniels striding across the dusty compound in their direction.

      He was drop-dead gorgeous, Sophie admitted to herself as she tried to ignore the spark of arousal low in her body. A sensation she needed to shove aside. Working in Afghanistan was not the right time or place for liaisons. On a disappointed sigh, she told the military nurse, ‘I’m off sex, hunk or no hunk available.’

      Kelly’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

      ‘Not at all.’

      ‘I mean, look at him,’ Kelly spluttered.

      She did. He was built.

      The Kiwi captain, who’d arrived in camp late last night, widened his eyes as his gaze cruised over her. That delectable mouth lifted at one corner. Guess that meant he’d heard her blunt statement.

      So what? It was best put out there. Saved time and misunderstanding. He could think what he liked. She wouldn’t be hanging onto his every word in the hope of scoring during the three days he was in camp, helping out in the army hospital. Her last sexual experience had been something she didn’t want to remember—or repeat—and had started her considering celibacy. Except it seemed some parts of her body hadn’t got that message if the tightening in her belly and beyond was any indication.

      ‘Captain Ingram?’ The overly confident man stood in front of her, his hand outstretched in a friendly, yet provocative, manner.

      Sophie nodded. ‘Yes.’ She took his hand to shake it but ignored the challenge staring out at her from the deepest pewter eyes she’d ever encountered. Neither would she acknowledge the rising tempo of her arousal. Sex was off the menu for the duration of her posting, no matter what. In her first weeks here a certain officer—now back home, thank goodness—had wooed her, then shown exactly what he thought the role of female personnel really was. Degrading didn’t come close. Joining the army for an adventure was one thing, being treated disrespectfully was another. She’d since seen enough other liaisons end messily to know sex was best avoided on tour.

      But she groaned. Captain Daniels with his dark, cropped hair and knowing eyes would tempt her every time. ‘Welcome to Bamiyan NZ base.’

      His eyebrow lifted in an ironic fashion. ‘This is my third—’

      The air exploded. The rock-hard ground heaved upward, shoving Sophie’s feet up to her throat. Then she was airborne, her arms flailing uselessly, her head whipping back and forth. Slam. She hit the ground, landing on her back, the air punched out of her lungs, her limbs spread in all directions.

      Stones pelted her. Dust filled her eyes and mouth. Breathing became impossible. Whizz. Bang. The air around her was alive, splintering as objects sped past her. Bullets? Fear gripped her. Who was firing at her? A heavy weight crashed over her, pinning her down. A human weight. What was happening? What had caused that explosion? Her heart beat so fast it was going to detonate out of her chest. Her ribcage rose higher and higher as she strained to fill her lungs with something purer than sand and dust. Her airway hurt. Her head hurt. Every single thing hurt.

      ‘Stay down,’ a deep, dark voice snapped.

      She daren’t open her eyes to see who the man protecting her with his body was. Gulp. Cough. Dust scratched the back of her throat. Strong arms were on either side of her vulnerable head. Muscular legs held down her softer ones. The one and only Captain Daniels.

      Around them the gunfire was sharp and loud, and dangerous. Then suddenly it stopped. But the shouting and yelling continued. Orders were barked. Screams curdled her blood. Racing footsteps slapped the ground. Fear flew up her throat, filled her mouth. Was this it? The end? Lying on a piece of dry, barren dirt in some place she’d barely heard of growing up in lush green New Zealand? No way. She’d fight to the last, would not die lying here defenceless and useless. Flattening her hands on the ground, she tensed, ready to push upward, to remove her human shield.

      ‘Easy.’ That voice was right beside her ear, lifting the hairs on the back of her neck. Almost seductive—if she hadn’t been terrified for her life.

      Sophie squirmed, felt the muscles covering her body tighten.

      ‘Easy,’ he repeated a little desperately.

      ‘Let me up.’ She’d aimed for nonchalant, got light and squeaky. Damn. She was a soldier, supposed to be fearless. A little bit, anyway.

      ‘Wait.’

      Sophie needed to know what was going on. Apart from flying bullets and a bomb exploding. Needed to assess the situation, see if she could move, find shelter, help someone. As a doctor she’d be required in the hospital unit. Squinting, she looked around to see if it was safe to move. And came eyeball to eyeball with Cooper Daniels.

      Her heart stopped its wild pounding, stopped trying to bash its way out of her chest. Went completely still. Her lungs gave up trying to inhale as that intense grey gaze bored right into her, deep into places no one had been before. Places where she hid the vulnerability that directed her life. Shock ripped through her. Every muscle in her body seemed to twitch, tighten, loosen. Had she died? Been taken out by one of those bullets?

      ‘Captains, move. Now. Sir. Ma’am.’ Someone, somewhere above them, roared in a strained shout, ‘Get up off the ground. We’ve got you both covered.’

      I’m definitely alive. Sophie pushed at Cooper, desperate to get away from him, to find safety, to regain her composure and see what needed to be done. There’d be casualties for sure.

      The weight lifted from her body, a hand snatched at hers, hauled her upright in one swift, clumsy jerk. ‘Run towards the officers’ quarters,’ Cooper yelled in her ear as he tightened his grip on her hand. ‘The hospital’s a target.’