The Soldier's Angel - Preview

Chapter One

Just a heads up - This is a five-chapter preview of my published novel, The Soldier's Angel. The finished product is on Amazon and is available as a paperback, hardcover (US only for some reason) and eBook.

Camille Robichaux paused in front of her mailbox in the lobby of her apartment building, digging in her purse for her key. Behind her, she could hear two men discussing the stairs vs. the aged elevator as they balanced an oversized couch between them.

"It's four floors, Lucas! Come on, man!"

"The elevator doesn't look like it will hold us and the couch and make it, Penn!"

She collected her mail and turned to look and got the surprise of her life as she recognized First Lieutenant Penn Wilson and Sergeant Major Lucas Grayson, who had been awarded Medals of Valor in a very public ceremony for stopping a domestic terrorist plot in Savannah's Midtown District that they had stumbled into while on leave last year. She knew Penn lived with his sister, Cici, and her two boys in their family home on Talahi Island, and she was pretty well acquainted with Cici. They had been in the same support group for domestic violence and helped each other out once or twice. She had heard rumours that Lucas had also decided to make Talahi Island his home. It looked like he had chosen to live in her apartment building in Thunderbolt.

Camille covertly checked them out as she quietly eased around them and headed to the elevator. Damn, they were gorgeous! Penn, with his smooth chocolate brown skin, tall, muscular frame, laughing brown eyes, and an easy, warm smile, was in stark contrast to his white best friend with his black hair and blue eyes, five o'clock shadow, and serious expression. Less bulky but still broad-shouldered and muscular. Something about him was a little more dangerous-looking than Penn, and it captured and held her attention. She found herself staring, quickly looked down, and went through her mail, wondering if he was single before remembering she wasn't.

"I'm not doing it! The elevator, or you carry it yourself up four flights of stairs." Penn's voice was firm, and she could tell he meant it; unable to help herself, she looked up and watched the exchange.

Lucas's blue eyes closed for a minute, and he sighed. "Fine, but if we get stuck --"

"You can punch your way out." Penn retorted, rolling his eyes. "Hey! Excuse me!" She started and met Penn's dark gaze, realizing he had been watching her surreptitiously. "Please tell my paranoid friend here that the elevator is safe."

She cast an amused look at Lucas, who looked like he wanted to strangle Penn. "Oh yeah, perfectly safe." She said as she pressed the button. The doors creaked open. "After you, gentleman." Camille stepped aside, deciding to have a little fun with them. They lugged the couch in, Lucas ending up pinned in the back.

"Are you coming?" he asked gruffly, his voice somewhat muffled.

She smiled sweetly at him as the door closed. "No, I'll wait. It definitely won't hold me as well."

The blue eyes looked slightly panicked, "Goddammit!" she heard him yell as the door closed, followed closely by Penn's laughter. She chuckled to herself, amused that the soldier had claustrophobia, not that she could blame him; she had it too.

Camille hit the call button and adjusted her clothes and hair. The fourth floor meant she was getting a new neighbour; the only available apartment on the fourth floor was next to her. She wondered what her boyfriend, Denis, would think and frowned with a small sigh. Lucas Grayson moving in meant she would have to spend weeks assuring him she wasn't cheating. The thought exhausted her, and all her excitement about coming home early to surprise him with a weekend getaway next month disappeared. The elevator opened, and she stepped in, hit the button for her floor, and took several deep breaths as it creaked its way up. Instead of trying to fix this, maybe she should end it. The door opened, and she stepped out to the sounds of arguing again. Lucas and Penn were in front of the apartment door next to hers, and Lucas was struggling with the lock.