Kathleen hung her head in her hands, slowly shaking it from side to side in disbelief and frustration. Dear God, what was it going to take for this guy to get the message? Yes, he may be handsome beyond belief and yes, he may be just the type of guy she'd go out with, if he weren't a damned general. But, he was and she wasn't interested, simple as that. Now, she had to suffer through lunch with him and her wing commander, another lecherous bastard who constantly made a pass at her every chance he got. At least, she was certain that he knew that he had a snowball's chance and part of that was his wedding ring, the other part was because she simply didn't like the guy. Well, at least this time she could bring her sergeant. And Wilkers was going if she ever wanted to see Tech Sergeant, Kathleen vowed.
"Sergeant, would you come in here, please?" She opened the door and stuck her head out to call to the younger woman.
"Yes, ma'am." The young staff sergeant stood, grabbed a pad, pen and walked to the door. Even though she was an SP like her commanding officer, some of her duties included being an administrative assistant whenever she was placed on desk duty for the next month because of a broken ankle she'd suffered chasing down a teenager who thought it was a good idea to try to break onto an air force base for a club initiation. The kid was caught and was now spending time in jail for the prank.
"You can leave that there, you won't need it." The major said as she pointed her chin towards the pen and pad.
"Yes, ma'am". Uh oh, what did I do? Wilkers asked herself. Sure, she'd let that crazy sailor go, but she'd had orders to do so from the wing commander. Besides, if he hit on her one more time, she was going to hit on him, with brass knuckles. Granted, he was cute, at least he was until he opened his mouth. Her hesitance and question must have been very evident on her face because as she entered the office, her commanding officer made it a point to inform her she was not in trouble. At least, not yet, Major Kincaid stated with a wry smile. "What seems to be the problem, ma'am?"
"I need you to go to lunch with me at the Officer's club." Was Kincaid's simple edict.
"Ma'am?" This was a shock, the Major always took lunch alone and in her office.
"I have to have lunch with that infernal general, his sergeant, and the wing commander. It was specifically requested that you attend." Well, an NCO, Farnbury had stated, but Wilkers didn't need to know that part.
"Yes, ma'am." Wilkers was surprised.
"Be ready in an hour and look sharp." Kathleen turned back to her paperwork, silently dismissing the younger woman.
"Yes ma'am" Wilkers stepped back, saluted, about-faced and left the room.
An hour later, Kincaid and the young sergeant entered the ornate officer's club. Wilkers looked around in awe. The NCO was a lot like a neighborhood bar, but, this, this place more resembled a rich man's country club with its rich mahogany wood, gold filigree wallpaper, formal dining room, bar and even a game room downstairs, at least that's what the sign next to the stairs proclaimed. Damn, I should have been an officer, she thought. And she knew she could, she already held a Masters and was working on her doctorate in criminology.
"Looks like they're here, already." Kincaid said as she noticed Farnbury and the General seated at a table. "Well, let's get this over with." They walked towards the three men seated there.
"Ah, Major Kincaid, good to see you again." Farnbury said, his brown eyes glinting as they travelled up and down her body, making her both glad that she was wearing BDUs and wishing she had a shower nearby. At least the General didn't make her feel that bad. Again, she thought, if it weren't for the whole, he's a general and a bit heavy handed thing, she'd consider him. But, he was a general and his crazy announcements had made her a bit wary of the guy.
"Colonel, General, Sergeant." Kincaid acknowledge each one as they each stood in pure, gentleman fashion as she and Wilkers walked up.. "May I introduce one of my sergeants, Staff Sergeant Wilkers."
Duke immediately noticed the staff sergeant as she walked in. Petite in all ways save one, chestnut brown hair that glinted golden red in the sunlit room even though it was gathered severely in a regulation bun that easily accommodated the beret she was issued , bright blue eyes that reminded him of the Caribbean and damned if she didn't make BDUs look sexy. His gaze slowly slid down to her left hand. The ring finger was bare and he silently both cheered and hoped that she didn't have a boyfriend. He also hoped Hawk could talk the major into joining the team and bringing this sergeant with her. He knew Hawk had designs on the major that were more than just personal, though the major may disagree with that right now. Hawk wanted a new chief of security and even add to the security team he already had. The handful of MPs and K-9 handlers were just not cutting it anymore.
Tiffany Wilkers walked in and was still in awe as she was introduced to the General, who didn't quite make her quite as nervous as did the blonde master sergeant, scratch that, first sergeant if that diamond was correct that had stood next to the general. In fact, most of her senses were trained on the six foot two man with the most gorgeous eyes of blue she'd ever seen who helped her with her chair. And those shoulders, all she could do was stare. Too bad, she was stuck here, Tiffany thought. Heck, her mouth was watering at the mere nearness of the man.
"First Sergeant Conrad Hauser, my field commander and first sergeant." Hawk introduced Duke. "Sergeant Hauser, this is Major Kincaid."
"Ma'am, pleasure to meet you again." Duke took the Major's hand and shook it trying to wrench his gaze from her sergeant. "Sergeant"
"Sergeant, nice to meet you." She smiled as she took Duke's hand. "And its Tiffany."
"Call me Duke." Duke smiled back as he though she was even more beautiful when she smiled and could easily give Scarlett and Cover Girl a run for their money in the looks department. What was it with this base? He wondered. All the women here were gorgeous. He wondered silently what it would take to transfer to the Air Force.
He barely heard was said, but then he already knew. He, Flint, Beachhead and Hawk had already discussed it earlier that day. Beachhead was the only hold out in getting the Major to being transferred to the team. A foregone conclusion and done deal, unbeknownst to her. They had, well, except for Beachhead, had admitted that they needed help and this woman's team had a hell of a record. Of course, the general had an ulterior motive, but, even that wouldn't have convinced him to transfer her to the team if the record hadn't spoken for itself and they needed more security. Hawk's team always came before his hormones.
Unfortunately, the Major didn't know that and she was more attuned to the other reasoning for transferring her to the team and her eyes belied those thoughts as she snapped her head to glare at Hawk when he told her she was transferred to the team, along with any member of her security police team she wanted.
"Sir, permission to speak freely?" Hawk nodded. "We both know the real reason you're proposing this idea and I don't appreciate your heavy handed approach, sir
"There is that, and while I do subscribe to using Sun Tzu's teachings in my tactics towards just about everything, specifically, the idea that security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive, in this case, we need you on the team." He smiled.
"Yes, sir, but to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." She countered causing even Duke's eyebrow to shoot up at the fact that she was just as much of a student of tactics as the general. "And, I do plan to allow you to provide me with the means to defeat you, sir." The smile she flashed was saccharine sweet and Duke had to smile. She was definitely a worthy opponent for the strong-willed general.
"We'll see" Hawk smiled. "Remember Major, I have these stars for a reason and it wasn't because they fit on the uniform."
"Sir, Ma'am, may I? The general, while he has made clear his, ahem, person interest. It was actually my suggestion to bring you and a few of your best. " He indicated with his eyes to the sergeant seated next to him. "in to solve our security problem. We need the best and, quite frankly Ma'am. You're it. And on another point, I believe that for your next rank, you are required to have some joint forces experience, is that not correct, Ma'am?" She nodded yes and she was due to progress to Lieutenant Colonel in the next two years if she could get that joint forces experience. "This is the perfect opportunity for you to receive that experience and help us out as well." Duke's cut in did elicit a raised eyebrow from his commander and the lovely major. He could easily see why Hawk was attracted to her and it clearly wasn't just her looks. She clearly wasn't either blinded by the stars or intimidated by them either.