Impossible Odds: Rescue Team Nine (Book 3)

Chapter 2

Dice

Rubbing my eyes, I make my way to the main ranch house of Wayward Ranch. What was I thinking when I offered a hand to my comrade Jack "Red" Porter with his new twins. The sleep in my eyes is starting to diminish my good-deed personality. Red's wife, Aimee, was called to assist with a resident they had transferred from the ranch to the nearby hospital of Mayberry, Mississippi. Her nursing degree is becoming a true godsend for the people here. The new parents are still adjusting to the twins' sleep schedule, so it was only fair and right to help the man in his time of need. The two of us have been serving as a part of Rescue Team Nine for several years. The unit is the closest thing I have to a family. Still, if the missed calls lighting on my phone are any indication, Barbie, Brittany, or whatever the hell her name is, would have been happy to leave me with a good time and a hard rest afterward. But now that I think about it, holding the twins and watching them rest in my arms brought a whole new level of pleasure. Maybe I'm starting to get soft. Shaking my head, I quickly disperse that idea. Right now, I need caffeine.

Rescue Team Nine is a small part of the military that most people don't know about. There are thirteen rescue teams in all. It's not just one branch of the military. We consist of all branches of the military with training in the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard. My reputation as a rescue swimmer has not only helped me earn my call sign but also earned me a place with the team. There's no place I'd rather be.

Our Captain assigned Wayward Ranch as the team's main base a couple of years ago when he took command of our unit. It's where my comrade Eric "Bear" Anderson met his wife, Ayasha. The ranch serves two purposes. It's a working ranch and a halfway house/school for those less fortunate and those with special needs. Pushing open the front door, I stumble into the main entranceway and hope that Ola, Ayasha's grandmother, will have a fresh pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen. But instead of her weathered and welcoming face, I find Bear, Ayasha, and Brody "Gunner" Winchester sitting at the table with their heads together. Arching a brow in their direction, I head toward the coffee pot. Thankfully, it's full. The trio hasn't noticed me. It must be serious because I know I'm not that stealthy. Not with two fully trained soldiers in the room.

"Cloey's never going to agree to it, Bear. You know how independent she can be."

A frustrated sigh fills the air. "Ayasha, if she values her life, she'll relent this time."

What the fuck? Screw the coffee, I'm suddenly awake.

"And why would she be valuing her life?"

The three jump at the sound of my voice. Ayasha has the decency to look guilty, but my two comrades don't look the least bit remorseful. They know about the past I share with the pretty blonde and my reputation regarding women.

"No offense, man, but you look like you slept with the pigs."

Leave it to Gunner to try to dispel the tension with sarcasm. It won't persuade me, though. Shit is about to hit the fan.

"You didn't answer my question."

"Why don't I fix you a cup of coffee?" Ayasha offers.

I make my way to the table and sit. "Despite Gunner's helpful observation of my appearance, I'm well aware of my surroundings. At the moment, I'd like my question answered."

I admit. I'm the womanizer, the jokester, the all-around nice guy of the five-person unit. They know when I sound the least bit serious, I mean business. And Cloey Henderson is my business.

"Why do you care? If my memory serves me correctly, and I have a stellar one at that, you told her not in so many words that she was a piece of ass and she needed to get over you."