Hell Yeah!: Man of My Heart (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The Omega Team Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

lives, but they deal with it. There are a lot of people much worse off than you are.”
    “Really?” He took a sip of his coffee. “You know a lot of people with a bad leg and ugly burns?”
    Aron gave him that steely look which had worked on assholes when they were in college.
    “I know people who have no legs and whose burns are a lot worse than yours.”
    “I feel sorry for them.”
    “I’m sure they’ll appreciate it because they don’t feel sorry for themselves.”
    Caleb shifted in his seat. Too long in one position and the leg he’d broken in three places became stiff and sore.
    “So, did you suggest coffee just to give you an opportunity to bust my chops?”
    “No.” Aron shook his head. “I may have a real opportunity for you if you aren’t stupid enough to turn it down.”
    Caleb gave him a suspicious glare. “What kind of opportunity? ”
    “Liberty’s cousin is dealing with a spot of trouble and may need your protective services. When she mentioned it to me, I thought of you right away.”
    “Yeah?” Caleb snorted. “Haven’t you heard? The last assignment I took made a wreck of me and killed two of my team members. I wouldn’t suggest anyone rely on my skills or intelligence as a bodyguard.”
    “Fine.” Aron finished his coffee and slammed the mug down. “Be a hermit. Curl up in a ball and die. But your brain still works, and I’ll bet your marksman skills haven’t suffered. But if you want to waste it all, fine by me.” He tossed an envelope on the table. “My cell number—if you ever decide to join the human race again—and a picture of a possible client, although she doesn’t know it yet.”
    Caleb sat there a long time after Aron left. Running into him in Kerrville had been pure chance, and not necessarily a good one. Aron had no idea what he asked. Maybe a few years ago he’d have been interested, but not now. After two tours with the SEALs, he’d joined Grey Holden’s hotshot private security and protection agency, The Omega Team. For a couple of years, it had been great—interesting jobs and outstanding pay.
    Then, a year ago, he’d taken a team on a hostage rescue mission that had gone FUBAR all the way. No one knew how. It was one of those Murphy’s Law things, no matter how you planned. But, in the ensuing chaos, they’d indeed rescued the hostage. Two of his men had been killed, and he had broken his leg in three places and suffered burns on his arm and back from a fire the hostage takers had set to slow them down.
    Grey and his partner, Athena Madero, had talked to him until they were blue in the face, but he carried the blame on his shoulders. When he’d finished with the hospital and rehab, he’d handed in his resignation, used some of his combat pay he’d never spent to buy a little cabin high in the hills of—where else?—the Hill Country, just outside the little town of Boerne, and plunked his ass down there, vowing to stay forever.
    Somehow, Aron McCoy had heard about what happened, dug him up, and came to see him. He thought he’d closed that door for good but damn! Luck sure wasn’t on his side. He hardly ever came into town, but here in Kerrville today, there was Aron, bumping into him coming out of the hardware store. Now, he’d gotten dragged in here for coffee.
    Shit.
    The waitress came by with the coffeepot and gestured over his empty mug. At first, he thought to refuse but then thought, what the hell, he only had himself to go home to. By choice, of course. So he nodded at her for a refill. While he sipped the hot brew, he decided to take a look in the little envelope Aron had left. It contained two things—a slip of paper with Aron’s name and phone number, and a photograph. A head shot.
    Caleb looked at the photo then did a double take, staring at it again. Music helped him while away his self-imposed isolation. Country rock music. And here, right in front of him, was a shot of the hottest up-and-coming female singer in years. Jasmine