Latched (Coronado Series Book 1)

  LATCHED

  THE CORONADO SERIES

  BOOK ONE

  LEA HART

  Copyright 2014 Lea Hart

  All Rights Reserved

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be interpreted as real. Any similarity to real events, locales or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  DEDICATION

  For My Daughters, My Heartbeat

  For My Husband, My Head Scout

  For My Mom, My Champion

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to thank the people who helped me shape this book into something readable; Mom, Sharon and Gail.

  I would also like to thank my book club for their support, confidence and kind words.

  I would like to thank my husband for going to work every day and allowing me the opportunity to write.

  I would like to thank my brilliant oldest daughter for helping with the social media side of being an author and for not being too horrified that her Mother writes Romance Novels.

  I would like to thank my youngest daughter for providing me with an opportunity to become the person that I’m supposed to be.

  CHAPTER ONE

  FRIDAY

  Birdie stood in the window of her shop arranging flowers in silver buckets that lined the front wall. She heard a tap on the glass, saw her friend James and waved him in.

  “Birdie girl, are you busy? I need cookies.”

  “Who is driving you to eat cookies at 10:30 in the morning?”

  “How wrong would it be to kill the bride I’m working with?”

  “Well it would definitely put a damper on the wedding and may put the groom in a terribly bad mood. I’m going to say it would be really wrong. But you can count on me to bail you out of jail.”

  James dumped his heavy bag on a chair and fixed his shirt. “I appreciate it and hope it won’t come to that, but it’s comforting to know you’re good for bail. I guess I’ll try medicating myself with chocolate and caffeine and see if that helps.”

  Birdie patted his shoulder, “I’ll be right back.” She made her way to the back and poured him a fresh cup of coffee and placed several cookies on one of her vintage china plates. “This will help. Fill me in on the latest crazy bride you’re dealing with.”

  He took a sip and waved a hand in front of his face. “Same story of bridezilla, different wedding. I may be getting burnt out.” Leaning his head on his hand, he devoured the plate of cookies and stared at his close friend. “What’s different about your face? Let me look.”

  She fluttered her eyes. “It took you long enough to notice. I thought the two hours I spent getting them put on was going to be a waste.” Batting her eyes, she waited for him to figure it out.

  “Quit being such a spaz and fluttering your eyes. Let me look.” He studied her closely. “Ah…. lash extensions. They look good; your eyes are more dramatic.” He sat back, fixed his pant leg and took a sip of coffee. “Finally you’re taking my advice and vamping up your look.”

  “As previously discussed, the flower lady - accountant look is not going to get you laid. But I think you already knew that. Good choice with the lashes.”

  “I think I’m very stylish - people ask me about my clothes all the time. Just today I got a compliment on my shoes.” She lifted her leg and admired her new leopard kitten heel pumps. “I have fabulous style, it’s just something that doesn’t attract men.” Picking up her iPad she showed him a photo of a girl who had a half-naked selfie posted. “Is this what I’m supposed to do? Not with a team of professionals could I achieve this. Is this the look I need to have to get a date?”

  “Well, it’s a look…..a cheap trampy look… but a look none the less. I’m not really going to be helpful here since I’m gay. You know I don’t have a clue what straight men go for.” He studied her over the rim of his coffee cup, “I think you are very stylish. But it’s women and gay men who compliment you.”

  “I can’t whip myself into a sex Barbie just to get a date. I need to work with what I have. Do you think it’s possible to find someone out there who’d be willing to have sex with me in my current state?” Leaning back in the chair she dropped her shoulders, “I don’t even want a relationship. I just want to find a lover. How come it’s so easy for men?” She took back her iPad and went through her feed and showed him an account she followed called Beard Brothers. “Look at these men, I want one of them.”

  James grabbed it and studied it like someone who had found the answer to all of his questions. “How did I not know about this? I love these men, I want one too.”

  I’m changing the flavor of men I go after. I’ve decided I want a man with muscles, tattoos and a beard. A guy who looks like he listens to crap rock music but has the soul of man who loves Sinatra. My only obstacle is that I think they go for girls who look like the half-naked selfie girl. I don’t inspire lust, I need to try and do that more.” She studied the men closely, “I need to learn how to inspire lust in a tattooed, muscle and bearded man. Do you think that’s possible?”

  She looked down at her cute black leggings, perfect white shirt and piles of necklaces, “I don’t think I’m sending the right message.”

  James stole back the iPad and studied the bearded men. He waved his hand dismissively, “You always look lovely. But you’re right, lovely isn’t going to get you one of these men. Where should we look to find one?” Hearing the front door open he gazed up, “Holy shit, look who’s walking in your door. We conjured him up with magic.”

  Birdie looked up, “That’s just Frisco from the platoons on Team One.” She tilted her head and looked at him more closely, “He does fit the description though.”

  “I had no idea SEALs were so good looking. I thought it was just a myth.”

  Frisco stood at 6’2”, dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes, a lean muscled physique, amazing tattoos and a smile that could melt a Hershey bar. He walked over to them, picked up Birdie and gave her a big hug and kiss. “Stop, your beard is scratchy.” He kept kissing her but she didn’t feel a thing. It was like kissing her cousin…. nothing.

  He finally put her down and flashed one of his killer smiles. “Birdie girl, what are you doing?” He picked up her iPad and looked at the page she was on. “Are you shopping for a man again on Instagram?” He sat down, leaned back in the chair and made himself comfortable, “What are you looking for now?”

  “Have you met my friend James? James, this is Lt. Frisco Jones.” The two men shook hands. Birdie stared at Frisco like he was a science experiment. “Frisco, I need you tell me honestly what you find attractive in a woman.” She held up a picture of the half-naked selfie girl and another picture of a girl who was pretty and stylish. “Who would you choose?”

  “Is this a test, where I fail either way? Can you just tell me the right answer so we can skip the part where you try and fix me?” He laughed, “I like the half-naked girl. I’m a man with very low standards, I want fun and half-naked is fun.” He took the iPad and looked more closely, “This girl is someone who I’d marry. But I don’t want to date her right now. I want naked-fun and that’s about it.”

  “I told you, this is why I can’t find a lover. They want to shtup t
he trashy girl and marry a girl like me. I’m never going to have sex again. Men don’t look at me and think naked fun. They look at me and think responsibility.” She put her head down on the table and sighed.

  James got up and gathered his stuff, “This is my cue to leave. I have a crazy bride to meet at Hotel Del. I’ll see you tomorrow, just text me when you are ready.” He bent over, kissed her and shook Frisco’s hand. “Please help our girl, I can’t take the whining for too much longer.” He scooted out of the way before she could pinch him.

  She lifted her head and blew him a kiss. “Love you, see you tomorrow.”

  Frisco patted her back, “Birdie, I told you I would sleep with you. Why don’t we just do it? Then you can break your rut?”

  “I don’t want to break my rut with you. We have no chemistry. I want to find someone who loses their mind for me; someone who can’t help themselves. It’s really sad that I’m not attracted to you because I could’ve been done with this a while ago. I’m going to try and find a man who looks at me and thinks, I can’t wait. Is that too much to ask? I don’t even want to keep him, I just need a short term lease.” She put her head back down and let out a small sigh.

  “I would be happy to do this for you. After all, friends help each other out.” He rubbed her back, he hated to see her so desperate. “You’re very pretty and you have a body built for sin. Unfortunately your mind doesn’t go with it.”

  “I appreciate you willing to take one for the team, but I’m going to hold out. Sitting back she considered him. “Wait …… you said I have a body built for sin. How come no one ever mentioned that before? Is this because I am curvy?” She shook her head, “Never mind - my birthday is coming up and I would like one of these men as my present.”

  “Your birthday isn’t for another four months. I don’t think you’re going to make it that long. These guys are totally different than your ex fiancé, asshole Justin. Why the change?”

  “Are you really going to ask me that? It didn’t really work out for me last time. Plus I want to have amazing sex this time. I have decided that passion is not wrapped up in a Brooks Brothers suit. Unrelenting lust does not drive a BMW, and multiple orgasms do not come from a man who is attached to his spread sheet. No, I’m changing my brand of men. I am going to try a new flavor; I want a muscled, tattooed and bearded man. I know I just described you. But I want someone who gives me a pit in my stomach.”

  Frisco stood up and stretched, “Do you want to go next door for sandwiches or do you want something else?”

  “Let’s go next door and get something. I have your financial statements for the last quarter ready. I found a better investment and you’re making a little more money.” They walked out of her shop, “Too bad my superior financial skills don’t make me super sexy. If it did, I’d be fighting the men off. Do you know any men with beards that you can introduce me to?”

  “I think you’re sexy Birdie, I hope that makes you feel better.” He opened the door to the gourmet deli and grocery. “Men may look at you and think naked-fun, but you open your mouth and they realize you’re the real deal. You look like sin, but you act like responsibility and sometimes that can be confusing to a man. They don’t know which signal to go for.” They walked back to the deli counter, “I will think of someone to introduce you to. Just don’t talk a lot.”

  “If finding a lover requires me to keep my mouth closed, I’m willing to do that.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  SATURDAY

  Birdie stood in front of the window of the Officer’s Club on North Island admiring the men that were putting up the arch for her cousin’s wedding. She studied the six alpha males that were swimming in testosterone and wondered if one of them might be a candidate. One of them was her cousin Josh, so he didn’t count. She realized she knew all of them except one. Maybe he was another platoon leader from the team. His bearing gave away his military background even if he wasn’t in uniform. He was tall maybe 6’3” and big probably over 230 pounds. She admired how his black T- shirt stretched across his massive chest and arms. He would be a perfect candidate for her plan. Maybe Frisco knows him and can introduce me to him. She noticed she was fogging up the window and lifted her shirt to rub off the condensation that had collected.

  The man looked like he was capable of a lot of heat… actually he was a man who looked like he was capable of anything. I want him, can I have him? She wondered if it would be possible to convince him to let her use him for his body. I think it’s time that I got a chance for naked fun. Guys usually don’t want a relationship, so he might like my idea. She didn’t need a forever, she just needed a right now.

  I’ve made every smart appropriate decision in life up until now. It’s time to start making some inappropriate ones that are going to allow me to have some fun. The most fun she’d managed to find was going dancing with James when they went to the gay club downtown. The bearded, tattooed guys she met there were not into the likes of her, but they were great dancers.

  Shaking her head, she went back to work. Taking one last look around the room, she felt satisfied with the arrangements and called it finished. She plugged in her headphones and walked outside to check the arrangements on the tables for the cocktail hour. She listened to Andrea Bocelli’s Con Te Partiro and sang along. Her family and friends always made fun of her singing, but she didn’t care. It made her happy.

  The guys were finishing up and Josh told Frisco to let Birdie know they were 15 minutes away from being done. Frisco looked over to the patio where Birdie was walking around and noticed her singing to herself. “Hey man, is Birdie still practicing her Italian by singing along to opera?”

  Josh looked over at his cousin. “Probably, she’s the worst singer in the family and that’s saying something. She doesn’t care though. If I tell her how bad she is, she just sings louder.”

  Blake stood next to Josh and piped up. “I was helping with her garage last month and I had the pleasure of hearing her sing along to her iPod for two days. I think she felt bad afterwards because she made me a chocolate cake and then last week I got cookies. It was completely worth it. Her chocolate cake was amazing.”

  Frisco laughed, “Birdie doesn’t care if people like it or not. Wait till you hear her sing along to every single one of Adele’s songs, then you my friend have earned yourself an honor.”

  Frisco started towards the patio and Mark stopped him, “Hey, what’s the story with Birdie?”

  “Why? Are you interested in Birdie? Do you want to go out with her?”

  “Why do you care what I want to do? Since when are we in each other’s business about women?” Mark looked at his Lieutenant and was confused.

  “She’s a friend of mine and I’m looking out for her interest. I care what happens to her.” Frisco didn’t want him to know about Birdie’s current campaign to break her rut. He doubted Mark was the right man for the job.

  Mark had heard a lot about Birdie over the last year. The guys talked about the dinners she made and the advice she offered. They never said anything about how pretty she was. The woman he saw was cute and curvy and had a very fine ass. She was also singing Italian opera really loudly and really off key. He liked that about her.

  Mark followed Frisco as he walked over, “Just introduce me. I’m not going to do anything. I just want to get invited to those dinners you guys talk about. Hell, Blake said she made him cookies…. I want cookies.”

  As they got closer they could hear Birdie singing. Her Italian was nearly perfect but her voice wasn’t. She had her back turned to them so she didn’t notice them coming up behind her. Frisco grabbed her and gave her a hug from behind. She whirled around, gave him a big smile and jumped into his arms. As Mark watched Birdie hug Frisco, he was struck with the thought, don’t hug him… hug me.

  “Josh sent us to tell you that we’re 15 minutes out on the arch.”

  “OK thanks, I need to text James and let him know.” Birdie pulled out her phone and started texting her friend. Mark s
tood quietly watching her. He noticed she was cute as hell and she smelled good. He also saw that his buddy and this woman were close. Birdie looked over and smiled. It was like her whole face lit up, she had a smile that completely changed her face. She also had an amazing mouth.

  “Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’m Birdie, Josh’s cousin and resident flower lady. Are you one of the Platoon Leaders?” Mark looked at her and felt like he was hit in the chest….. her smile drew him in and sucker punched him. That was a mouth that promised all kinds of things….. Devil’s candy, that’s what it was.

  He shook his head and tried to clear it as Birdie held out her hand. She smiled at him, waiting for him to respond. What the heck is wrong with this guy?

  Finally he took her hand, shook it and managed to introduce himself. “I’m Mark, the Lt. Commander of one of the Platoons from Team One.” He continued to stare and hoped like hell he was smiling. Otherwise she was going to think he was a creep. She tried to get her hand back and he kept a firm grip, something he never did.

  Birdie glanced up and he felt it again, a flash of sexual awareness that jolted to life between them.

  Finally he let her hand go and Birdie gave him a funny look. “Nice meeting you.” She turned and started talking to Frisco.

  Mark tried to figure out what just hit him. He started to rub his chest to see if he could make the feeling go away. He knew he was attracted to her, but the jolt he experienced was different. He studied her, wondering what it was about her that had him so crazy. She was around 5’6”, curvy figure, big brown eyes and brown hair that was in some kind of crazy bun thing on the top of her head. But that mouth, jeez that mouth. She had a body built for sin, but she didn’t act like it. She acted like a nice girl. Maybe it had been too long since he enjoyed the company of a woman and he was getting his signals mixed.