Resisting Her Army Doc Rival

‘You’re not feeling up to singing with the band tonight, then?’ Sam asked as he picked up a sandwich and opened it to scrutinise the contents.

‘Haven’t got the energy.’ She wasn’t going to sing again while Sam was still on base. Last night’s gig had led to complications that she couldn’t afford to repeat.

‘You might not get off that easily,’ Cassy said. ‘The whole camp was talking about you this morning.’

That explained a few looks and nudges between soldiers she’d noted that morning in the dining mess. ‘They’ll get over it,’ she sighed. ‘Jock and Sam will be gone in a couple of days anyway.’

‘All the more reason for a repeat performance tonight, only this time you’re wanted out on the parade ground so we can all listen, not just the officers.’

‘Thanks for nothing, Cassy.’ Seemed everyone was deaf when it came to her saying she wasn’t doing it. All she could hope was for the trucks to be late getting them back to base so that by the time they’d had showers and dinner everyone would’ve gone to their barracks. Hopefully.

But it seemed she had no say in the matter. By ten o’clock that night she was lounging in the bar with a water bottle in her hand when Jock and the gang started dragging the gear outside. ‘Give us a hand, Maddy,’ Jock called out.

‘I’m not singing.’

‘You’re one of the band now. You have to help.’

‘That’s a yes,’ Sam said from behind her.

She dropped her head and stared at her feet. It had been hard today, working with those beautiful, trusting children. Last night, pouring her soul into the songs had been cathartic. Kissing Sam afterwards hadn’t been. Simple. Don’t kiss the guy. Sing then leave. Looking up, she found Sam watching her with amusement written all over his gorgeous face. ‘What?’ she growled.

‘You love it.’

A sigh whispered across her lips. ‘Yeah, I do.’

‘Come on, take an end of this table, will you? We can put our gear on it.’

‘We haven’t got any gear.’ She hoisted her end up.

‘We? Looks like we’ve got ourselves a singer, guys.’

The cheers were embarrassing. ‘I’ll need lots of soda.’ It was hot work singing and leaping around in the tight space amongst the band. And afterwards I will leave on my own, will not walk the perimeter. Will not kiss Sam. Will get some sleep.

Sounded very boring. But playing safe often was.

* * *

‘Did someone put out a bulletin about a party?’ Sam asked Jock as he looked around the parade ground. Every soldier except those on duty had to be out there.

‘Looks like it.’

Most of the guys were waiting for Madison, Sam would wager. Who could blame them? When she opened her mouth and let rip with the vocals she was something else.

Not just in the singing department either. Those kisses had stayed with him all night, kept him awake and hard. They hadn’t gone away during the day while he’d operated. And they were there now, reminding him of what he would soon be walking away from. ‘Let’s make it our farewell bash,’ he suggested to Jock.

Leaving the base was part of the deal when he’d signed up. It came with relief from getting through working in a hostile territory, and then there was the regret of leaving men he’d become friendly with. Some would go with him, heading for the same place, others would remain here for another six months. That’s how the system worked. But this time he’d be leaving Madison just when they were getting to know each other. So why wasn’t he pleased he was being saved from facing up to his guilt and denying himself the opportunity for happiness? Hanging around, pretending to push her away, all the time falling into confusion, was a recipe for disaster.

‘You haven’t heard a thing I’ve been saying, have you?’ Jock sounded more than a little peeved with him.

‘Tell me again.’

‘You going to listen?’

‘If you hurry up.’ Sam tipped fluid down his parched throat and waited, almost patiently.

‘Your eyes are already misting over with lust for Maddy. What are you going to do about her? I hope you’ve got her contact details stored in your phone.’ Jock picked up his guitar and strummed a few chords, underlining his comments. ‘I’d hate for you to let her go.’

‘You’re overstepping the buddy line,’ Sam growled.

Jock rolled his eyes expressively. ‘Don’t go before you’ve told her why you’re so cautious. I reckon you’ll end up regretting it if you do.’

‘Relationship counselling your thing, is it?’ Regret was guaranteed. So was relief for what he’d save Maddy from.

‘Hey, guys, what’s our first song?’ Maddy stepped into his line of sight, looking happy at the prospect of singing to those soldiers hanging around waiting for the music to begin.

Boyse called, ‘I’ve written a list. Come take a look, Maddy. Let me know if there’s any song you don’t know.’

She gave Sam a wink. ‘Now, there’s a man who gets things done.’ When she sauntered away she gave a wee wiggle of her butt.

And sent his hormones into overdrive. ‘Someone dim the bloody lights.’

Jock’s roar of laughter was the only reply he got.

Sam took one last slug of his water and set the bottle aside. Time to get rocking. And if he couldn’t ignore Maddy strutting her stuff in front of him, he’d enjoy every last movement she made, absorb each note she sang, and store up a load of memories to take away with him.

His pick slid across the guitar strings effortlessly and the guys immediately joined in. They had themselves a show.

Then Maddy raised her microphone to that sexy mouth and the notes began to pour out, stunning the soldiers into silence. Then some clown let rip a wolf whistle and the silence was over, with people swaying to the beat and joining in the chorus.

Sam played hard, barely letting one song finish before starting the next. He let the music filter into his soul and went with the energy being created out in front of them. And he watched Maddy as she moved from one side of their stand to the other, almost swallowing the mic as she belted out the emotion-filled words.

Words that scorched him. Words that tugged at his heart. Words she’d given new meaning to, and had him yet again wondering where all that pain and anger came from.

‘I need a break,’ Maddy called after nearly an hour. ‘A cold drink wouldn’t go amiss. My throat’s drier than the desert out there.’

‘Get that into you.’ Sam passed over her favourite soda and savoured the moment her fingers touched his. Warm, soft temptation. He bit down on a groan, and shifted out of the way to avoid any more accidental touching. Despite sixty-odd personnel hanging around in front of them, his ability to control the need for her was hanging by a thread. Another touch of that satin-like skin and he’d have to haul her close, kiss that erotic mouth. Make himself some more images to carry home.

‘You going to miss this?’ Maddy followed him.

‘The band? Yes.’ Another step backwards. Then another, and he was tipping off the edge of their stand. As his arms windmilled and his feet hit the ground he heard Jock’s annoying laugh.

‘Good one, man.’

Thanks, buddy.

‘Sam, are you okay?’ Maddy was standing where he’d been, her eyes twinkling with laughter and that mouth twitching. ‘You should look where you’re going.’

You should back off and give me more space. He leapt back onto the stand and brushed past her. Even that felt excruciating—so close and yet so far. ‘Boyse, where’s that song list?’

‘Yes, Captain.’ She flicked a salute in his direction, but the amusement had died, as he’d intended.

What he hadn’t meant to happen was for the hurt turning her chocolate eyes to bog. He hated that bog colour. ‘I deserve that.’

‘Forget it. Let’s get the band cranked up again.’ She turned a shoulder to him, looked around for the other guys. ‘Ready?’