deal with that offbeat sense of humor of his. Despite his straight face, he knew better. He couldn’t actually imagine she was a gullible subordinate who’d buy into that. Even so, he hadn’t told her anything genuinely distinctive about the remote and covert unit. She figured she would learn the real differences here on the job.
She took a bite of her hamburger. Not bad for cafeteria food.
“Interesting,” said the sergeant beside her. “Maybe I should show you around. Teach you what you need to know.”
“Back off, Jason.” That was the major. She squinted slightly to see his name tag.
It read Connell just like the sergeant’s. Jason’s.
Talk about interesting... Were the noncom and officer related?
That would be unusual—not that relatives had joined the military, but that both men would be in the same unit.
Was that somehow part of the reason that Alpha Force was considered different from other special-ops units?
Doubtful, but— Well, it made more sense than imagining that any of these very real-looking people could be shapeshifters, despite the general’s teasing insinuations that they were. But just being related didn’t make these soldiers distinctive, unless, perhaps, their family members had taught one another useful skills from youth that other people might not have. She couldn’t think of a good example, though.
Maybe they really had taught one another how to shapeshift.
Not!
She took a sip of her drink and another bite of hamburger, then glanced back toward the sergeant to see whether he was, in fact, backing off.
The expression in his eyes was now filled with what looked like irony—even as he seemed to assess her from head to toe as she sat there. Oh, yes. He was a real man.
The gaze heated her insides. Made her sexually aware of the guy all over again.
Forget that, she cautioned herself. She was entirely military. Obeyed all orders and loved it.
No way would she allow herself even to notice if this soldier decided to play games with her.
Although, she realized, she already had noticed...and somehow liked it too much.
* * *
The rumors had been correct, Jason thought. Not that Major Drew Connell—no, not just major, but also Doctor Drew Connell, his cousin—told him much of anything around here.
Jason was just a peon. At least, because of his very special background that had led him to Alpha Force, he had been promoted to sergeant quickly and wasn’t just a private.
In any event, Jason took a sip of soda water and continued to watch the gorgeous, hot—and unapproachable—lieutenant who had only arrived at Ft. Lukman that night. She obviously wasn’t armed with the knowledge she needed to fit in here.
Those rumors said she was a very important aide to General Yarrow. So why hadn’t her boss informed her about what she was in for at this base?
“So tell us something about yourself, Lieutenant,” he said, addressing her. She was slender, with short, blond hair, a pale but perfect complexion, and high cheekbones that underscored eyes of an unusual blue-green shade. “Have you worked with General Yarrow long?” Those were nice, neutral, friendly questions, weren’t they?
Jason was still on probation here. Probably would be for the rest of his life unless he figured out a workable way to resign.
On the other hand, he would be leaving behind some stuff he really liked along with the military regimen he despised. Some stuff he’d grown used to and didn’t want to do without.
So he’d made his decision. He was staying—for the time being, at least.
He glanced at his cousin to make sure there was no angry scowl on his face, the result of every misstep Jason made in Drew’s presence.
Fortunately, Drew just regarded the lovely lieutenant expectantly, as if awaiting her answer, too. So were all other Alpha Force members here—those who were like him, and those who weren’t.
That was something damned special about this unit. They all worked together—and those who weren’t like him were actually assigned to help those with the same characteristics as he had.
What would the lovely lieutenant think if she knew that half the members of Alpha Force were shapeshifters?
Oh, yeah, real dogs and other appropriate animals were kept on base as covers for them. Jason had even started helping to train the dogs in his spare time. But the reality was that Jason, and a lot of others, would be changing tonight under the full moon. By choice these days, which was especially cool.
“I’ve been in the army for nearly two years,” the pretty officer was saying.
She was Lieutenant McLinder. Sara, she’d said during introductions. She didn’t look as if she’d be thrilled for a mere sergeant to address her by her first name, even here.
“I’ve been an aide to General Yarrow for about five months,” she continued.
Jason knew that the general had obligations in addition to being the commanding officer of Alpha Force. This lieutenant really could be as ignorant about the unit as she seemed.
Jason smiled. Wouldn’t it be fun to see her expression when she finally realized the true nature of Alpha Force?
Maybe he could figure out a way to do that—although he would not be in a position, he was sure, to comfort the beautiful officer.
Not then, at least.
Would she run away screaming?
Somehow, he didn’t think so. His first impression was that she was no-nonsense, all by the book. Her duty was to help the general, no matter what.
But Jason would bet she’d never anticipated this.
Perhaps he could help to educate her. Really educate her about what Alpha Force was about.
He would definitely try.
* * *
“Time for us all to go.” That was the major talking, and clearly no one was about to contradict him.
Sara watched as everyone at the table rose almost in unison. She did the same.
So did the sergeant beside her. “Are you staying in the BOQ?” he asked.
Why? Did he want to accompany her there? Tear off her clothes the way his suggestive looks seemed to do, never mind the rules?
The idea made her private areas react in ways she hadn’t felt in a long time—even as she shoved the very idea out of her mind.
“That’s right. I assume you’re not.” She kept her tone brusque, not unfriendly but not anything but professional, either.
“Right. But...well, you’d better stay in your
