Baby Love (The American Soldier Collection 14)

tive man, with black hair and some hints of grey along the edges that added to his attractiveness. He was into various businesses and supposedly a wealthy man.

“I hope your business doesn’t include mingling with soldiers. You know they’re not reliable. Always leaving on a moment’s notice. A young, attractive, professional woman like you could do so much better.”

She was shocked by his evaluation and the fact that she seemed interested in the guy at the bar. She must have been staring too long.

She glanced back over that way. Paulie’s knowledge that the guy with the hazel eyes was a soldier validated her first assumption, when she’d been watching him from a distance.

This time when she looked back that way, he was talking on his phone. He looked very serious as he closed it up. Their gazes locked for a quick second, and then he was leaving.

Nina couldn’t help but feel disappointed. How foolish was that? She didn’t even know the man. But damn, did she feel an attraction to him.

Paulie touched her hand as Adelle, one of the waitresses, placed two drinks down on the table. Paulie placed the drink in her hand. “See what I mean? Not meant to be. There are better things coming your way. Mark my words.” He sounded so cryptic, as if he had some sort of special psychic ability.

She smirked at him.

“Is that so? Do tell me, Paulie. What makes you so in tune to me and my destiny?”

Those dark eyes held hers as he took a sip from his scotch and then licked his lips. “Ahh…what fun would that be?”

She squinted at him and gave him a sideways glance as though she was so bored with his game.

He chuckled. “I can see it clearly, as well. Just be careful. A woman as young and beautiful as you doesn’t need to get involved with the wrong type of man who might bring you down.”

She took a sip from her drink. “The wrong type of man, huh? Well, no problem there, Paulie. I don’t date.”

“I know you don’t, which I find so interesting. You don’t sleep around, either.”

She widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows at him.

“No offense. I have a keen eye for things. You’re not that type. You’re a good woman. It’s surprising you work here, but your position is important. Viktor and his partners need reliable, trustworthy people, and the managers he has here are top-notch.”

She thought about that a moment as she took another sip from her glass. Mirella was a bit of a bitch. She’d rubbed Nina the wrong way since day one, over six months ago. Mirella had been there the longest and had known the family the longest. Well, she’d slept with one of the men, who obviously had some pull to get her the job here. She acted as if that fact made her more important, but Nina knew better. There was something about her that got on Nina’s nerves, and finally she’d realized that it was the competitiveness Mirella wanted to be head manager.

At first, she’d thought Mirella looked familiar, but she wasn’t going to ask her where she’d grown up because Nina didn’t want the woman to know she’d grown up on the streets and in shelters. People looked down on the homeless, and she knew better than to let that secret out. She swallowed hard, thinking about what had happened to finally get her off the streets.

She glanced toward the side of the room, noticing Mirella watching her with daggers in her eyes. She would probably bitch that Nina was having a drink with a patron. She seemed to make it her mission to harass Nina and try to make her look bad. She wanted to be number one, but Nina didn’t care. Nina wasn’t worried about being number one. She was worried about securing income for a future. The last thing she needed was to get into a pissing contest that could cost her this job. She did what she was supposed to do, and that was it.

“I appreciate the compliment, Paulie. I should get back to work.”

He covered her hand and held her gaze. She felt a little uneasy. Like maybe he was hitting on her, and her original thought that Paulie was harmless was all wrong. “Good things will come your way. You just need to keep an open mind and be ready for them when they arrive.”

She didn’t know what the hell he was talking about but didn’t want to argue or ask and get drawn into another discussion. She smiled softly.

“Only good things, I hope. I’ve had my fill of the bad.”

She saw the change in Paulie’s expression and in his eyes. It was quick, but she noticed it, and it gave her an uneasy feeling. She shouldn’t have said that. No one knew of her past, of her tortured life before Viktor and Zinc found her at the Cuban-owned club where she worked. She was getting comfortable, letting her guard down, and that wasn’t smart, despite the desire to not have a care or worry. She had to remember that—always—and never forget the past, no matter how well she did financially or how secure her job seemed to be. There was always a chance for disaster, and at this point in her life, she didn’t know what she would do if she lost everything all over again.

* * * *

“Damn it. Get out of there, Jessup. Now!” Corona yelled into his wrist mic as the explosions erupted around them.

They were running for cover, shooting their weapons, trying to grab Brophy, the man they’d been sent in to rescue, out of the underground prison. They were running out of time, they were outnumbered, and each second that passed in the vicinity of this village in Fallujah meant a greater chance of not getting out alive.

“There!” Freeman yelled and pointed, then quickly shot his weapon, taking out two men trailing Jessup.

Corona saw his face, saw the blood from where he stood, and he knew it was bad. But the crazy Texan was still shooting and running toward them.

Corona shot at the enemy pulling up behind Jessup.