A Hero In Uniform - The Complete Series (25 page)

Steven had told her to be at the restaurant by eight so he had a chance to change after HMAS Sydney returned to the Naval Base.

She'd arrived at ten to eight, not caring if she had to wait ten minutes.

But it was now almost eight-thirty and there was still no sign of him.

Her excitement began to be replaced by fear that something had happened or that he'd changed his mind and just hadn't bothered to tell her just as he walked through the door.

Rebekah smiled and stood to greet him, her entire body warming as he pulled her into a tight hug.

Yep, she was definitely in love with this man.

“
Evening, beautiful.” Steven said as he pulled back, a sexy grin on his handsome face. His eyes raked her from head to toe as he said, “You look fabulous.”

“
You don't look so bad yourself.” She replied.

“
Come on.”

“
Where are we going?”

“
To the beach.”

“
We aren't eating here?”

“
Change of plans.” He took her hand and led her out into the cool, dark night. A white 2013 Holden Commodore SS sat idling at the curb and he opened the passenger door for her before getting behind the wheel and heading down the main road that led to the beach.

When they got there and were on the stone steps leading to the sand, Rebekah felt her heart flutter in her chest when she saw the romantic setting placed in the sand.

“
Steven ...”

“
Come on, beautiful.” He said, urging her forward. “Everything will get cold.”

Rebekah followed him to the table and sat down, her heart in her throat as their first evening together in a year got underway.

Steven had never been so nervous in his entire life.

He'd fallen in love with the red-haired beauty in front of him over a year ago and he hadn't thought about much else since then. Every time he'd closed his eyes while on patrol, he'd seen her beautiful face and he'd been in a lot of cold showers as his over-active imagination conjured up images of her naked body.

He honestly couldn't imagine going the rest of his life without her in it.

Which is why, while on a good-will trip to Papua New Guinea, he'd located a jeweller and purchased the largest diamond he could afford.

And he couldn't wait any longer.

“
Oh, my God!” Rebekah breathed when he dropped to one knee at her side.

“
Rebekah ...”
“Wait.” She smiled at him and cupped his face in her small, delicate hands. “I don't need the words. Just ask.”

He grinned and asked, “Will you marry me?”

“
Absolutely.” She said.

“
Glad to hear it, babe.” Slipping the ring onto her finger, he stood and pulled her up into his arms. Lowering his head, he claimed her mouth in their first kiss in twelve months and his hunger for her just grew.

Rebekah smiled against his mouth and murmured, “Maybe we should just head back to my place.”

“
Sounds good to me.”

At the car, he risked kissing her again before pulling back and telling her, “I love you, Rebekah.”

“
I love you, too, Steven.”

Their life together had just begun.

He couldn't wait to see where it led.

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Conrad has helped three of his mates fight for the women they love. When the opportunity rises again to help someone else on his ship, he jumps at the chance ...

Lieutenant Karleigh Greene doesn't want to take her CO down when she abandons her duties with the RAN to find her sister. But the Captain isn't taking no for an answer and they begin a hunt that will take them to a place neither of them would have expected to go.

Prologue

“
You're leaving? Just like that?” Ethan Conrad, the Executive Officer for the HMAS Sydney, stared at his CO in shock, unable to believe what he'd just heard. “What gives, boss?”

“
I've given the Navy more then twenty years of service.” Jackson Tanner replied. “I've decided I want to try something else.”

“
And that something else has to be in the States?”

“
I know a guy there who used to serve. He moved there to start a new company and he needs more men.” Jackson explained. “I want to do this.”

Ethan knew he couldn't stop Jackson from leaving.

It was going to be weird not having him around.

“
Who's going to be the CO of Sydney?”

Jackson smiled and patted Ethan on the shoulder. “That would be you, Conrad.”

“
What?”

“
I put in a word with the Commander and he agreed. You're ready to take on a leadership role that's bigger then XO, and this will be perfect.” Jackson told him. “You know everyone on board the Sydney, and the replacements for Daniel and Ric will learn under someone who knows the ship better then if NAVCOM transferred in a CO from somewhere else.”

Ethan couldn't believe it.

Not only was he losing his commanding officer and one of his closest friends, but he was also getting a promotion that would see his career fast-tracked if everything went well.

He wanted to go all the way to Chief of Navy, but he didn't want to make it there by losing a mate.

“
Are you sure this is what you want to do, Jack?”

“
I've been thinking about it for the past three years. With Daniel and Ric having transferred out and Steven about to leave, as well, I think now is a good time to make this happen.”

“
Alright.” Ethan said. “Let's round up the guys so we can give you a proper send-off.”

One

One month later …

Lieutenant Commander Ethan Conrad sat in his chair on the bridge of HMAS Sydney as the Armidale-class patrol boat headed out into the Timor Sea for a routine patrol.

It felt odd to be in command of the ship when he was so used to being the XO. And with three of his four mates gone, the only person Ethan could share it with was Steven Leigh, the ships RO.

But, he did have something to distract him.

NAVCOM had sent a replacement XO shortly before they'd left Base, and she was causing quite a stir amongst the men.

Lieutenant Karleigh Greene, their new Executive Officer, had piqued Ethan's interest the moment they'd been introduced and, in his opinion, she belonged on the runway instead of the military-inspired uniform that currently covered her slim figure.

Ethan had liked being the XO, and he missed his mate, Jackson, but he was really glad to have met Lieutenant Greene. When she reported for duty at the forenoon watch, he gave Steven control of the ship to give Karleigh the grand  tour of the Sydney.

As they walked the ship, he asked, “How long have you been RAN, Lieutenant?”

“
Eight years, Sir.” She replied.

“
When did you make Lieutenant?”

“
Thirteen months ago.”

“
Which ship did you serve on before us?”

“
I was posted at NAVCOM, Sir.”

“
What did you do there?”

“
Commander Richardson's assistant.”

“
Have you served on any ships?”

“
No, Sir. I've been at NAVCOM since joining the RAN.”

She was handling the rocking of a warship very well for someone who didn't have their sea legs.

“
How are liking being at sea so far, X?”

“
I've only been here for four hours, Sir. Ask me again in a day or two.”

Ethan grinned and said, “Fair enough.”

Karleigh looked at him and asked, “Can I ask you something, Sir?”

“
Go ahead.”

“
Why did Lieutenant Commander Tanner just up and quit?”

He'd been expecting this question and he told her the truth. “He got a job offer from an old mate and he decided to accept it.”

“
So nothing happened?”

Ethan frowned and asked, “What would have happened, X?”

“
There are rumours circulating around the ship, Sir. Rumours that suggest Lieutenant Commander Tanner was forced out of the Navy.”

He hadn't been aware of that.

“
That's not true, X, and I think it's time to tell the crew just what happened.”

“
I agree, Sir.”
“Gather everyone on the quarter deck.” He wouldn't have his mate's reputation tainted by a bunch of sailors who didn't know the truth. “And Lieutenant?”

Karleigh stopped and looked at him. “Yes, Sir?”