Desert Alpha: A Lady Boss Press Navy SEAL Novella, Bethany Lopez [readict books .txt] 📗

I chuckled at Hummer, who was a total wiseass and always had something to say.

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m ready to hit the sheets and get a solid twelve.” This was from Scotty.

After spending the last few weeks sleeping on the ground, the thought of an actual bed did indeed sound heavenly. Hell, I’d even take a cot at this point. Three hots and a cot was what most of us dreamed about when we drifted off. Well, that and a soft, warm body to hold on to.

“Where do you think they’re gonna put us?” my closest buddy, King, asked. He looked beyond worn out, like he’d drop at any minute.

Truth be told, we all looked pretty rough. With our hair and beards overgrown and dirty, we looked like the kind of guys you didn’t want to come across in a dark alley.

“I don’t even care,” I replied. “As long as there’s running water, some kind of shelter, and those meals Hummer was talking about, they can put me in a bunker.”

“Chief’ll probably ask them to put us in the old tent city. That’s where we were last time,” Scotty said as he eased the rucksack off of his shoulder. “It wasn’t bad. There are actual beds in there, plus it’s close to the showers, the workout tent, and the CrossFit area they set up by the track.”

“Sounds perfect to me.” I hadn’t been with my team on the mission before this one, when they last stopped here for a little R&R like we were doing now. My mother had been sick, so I’d been granted leave to be with her. Luckily, she’d made a full recovery, but it had been touch and go there for a bit.

At the sound of footsteps, we all looked left to see our Master Chief rounding the corner.

“What’s news, Chief?” Scotty asked.

“Sergeant Miles is getting the old tent city set up for us, delivering pillows and blankets and such. So, why don’t you men hit the showers? It should be ready for us when you’re done, then you can hit the sheets or grab some chow.”

After a chorus of yes, sirs, we all turned to do just that, with Hummer in the lead.

Once the hot water hit me, I took my time. Enjoying every spray as I lathered up and washed away weeks of sand and dirt.

The smell of lilacs mingled with the steam and I heard King groan. “Hummer, are you using that girly shit again?”

“Reminds me of that girl I hooked up with in Slovakia. You know you love it,” he shot back.

“I love it so much I’ll probably crawl into your cot later, so I can smell it while I sleep,” Scotty said with a laugh.

“Only if I can be the big spoon,” Hummer retorted.

I grinned and shut my eyes to try and block out their incessant yammering. I loved these guys like brothers, but what I wouldn’t give for an hour of silence.

I stayed in the shower until the water began to cool then reluctantly toweled off and moved into the changing area to dress. The guys, of course, were already there, talking shit and snapping towels at each other.

“Hey, Rip, you going to grab some chow or some Zs?” King asked when he noticed I’d joined them.

“Food,” I replied, and my stomach growled loudly as if on cue.

“Amen,” Hummer said, but whether he was talking to me or my stomach, I wasn’t sure.

Once we were all ready, we followed Scotty and Hummer to the tent city in search of what would be our home for the next few days. Chief was saying something to a woman in an Air Force uniform, but we were too far away to get a good look at her. Only watched as she and the Chief shook hands before she got on a Gator and drove off in the other direction.

“Right on time,” Chief called when he saw us approaching.

I looked around as we walked in, taking in the bunk beds with the unrolled bedding laying on top, the wall lockers next to them, and what looked to be a little sitting area in the back, complete with a couple loveseats and a TV.

“Looks like paradise,” Scotty said as he claimed the bunk bed farthest from the front.

King and I grabbed bunks across from each other, throwing our rucksacks on the bare mattress.

“Ready for chow?” I asked.

“Hell, yeah,” he replied, before asking, “Anyone else joining?”

“I’m gonna take a nap,” Scotty replied, already in the process of making his bed.

“Me, too,” Hummer said. “But let us know how it is.”

“Will do,” I replied, then headed back out of the tent.

“It’s this way,” King said, turning right.

It felt a little strange, wearing a T-shirt, basketball shorts, and Nikes after weeks in my uniform. Lighter and more conducive to the weather, which currently felt amazing on my exposed skin.

“This base have a pool?” I asked King.

“It did last time we were here.”

“Nice.”

As we entered the chow hall, I was aware of eyes following us as we checked out the different food stations to see what was available.

We were used to it. Most of the men and women in the regular military looked at us in awe. We were like gods to them. The elite, best of the best … which was all true, of course. They couldn’t even fathom the shit we went through, sitting fat and happy in their little offices on this safe and secure base.

“There are some fine-looking women,” King said under his breath as he looked around.

“How can you tell?” I asked with a laugh.

All wearing the same uniform with hair either pulled back severely off their faces, or worn short enough to pass regulations, it was easy to lump them all together if you didn’t look close enough.

And then I saw her.

Hair in a bun, standard uniform on, with sun-kissed skin and conservative makeup, she should have blended in with the crowd. But she was smiling, her hands