Brent: Military Heroes (The One I Want Series Book 2) Read online

  Brent & Brie

  The One I Want

  Jet Masters

  Ellie Masters

  JEM Publishing

  We believe in Soulmates, True Love & Romance.

  Jet & Ellie Masters

  Copyright © 2019 Jet & Ellie Masters

  Brent & Brie: The One I Want series

  Book 2

  All rights reserved.

  This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this print book ONLY. No part of this print book may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted, or distributed in any printed, mechanical, or electronic form without prior written permission from Jet & Ellie Masters or JEM Publishing except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  Editor: Erin Toland

  Proofreader: Cindy Wolken

  Interior Design/Formatting: Ellie Masters

  Published in the United States of America

  JEM Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, businesses, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  AISN: B07QMK9572

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to our amazing readers.

  True Love

  Jet and I believe in true love. We believe you can look into the eyes of your soulmate and JUST KNOW. Many people may not believe us, but for us, we are one of the lucky few who fell in love at first sight.

  Jet and I are writing THE ONE I WANT series together. It's a collection of contemporary, love at first sight, romance stories. These stories are about strong women. We're talking helicopter pilots, commercial boat captains, wildlife adventure guides, veterinarians…you get the picture. Strong, accomplished women who don't need a man in their lives, but who can't help stumbling across

  THE ONE.

  Sparks will fly.

  These stories are about love at first sight. They’re heartfelt and true to what Jet and I believe about love. We believe that special spark exists, and we're bringing it to you, one story at a time.

  The men in these stories are pretty amazing too! You'll see Green Berets, Delta operatives, Air Force Para-jumpers, and more. Of course, strong women deserve strong men. Right?

  It’s with great pleasure that we launch THE ONE I WANT series. We conceived this concept together, argued plot points, sketched out scenes, and worked to bring you stories with all the feels. In the end, we want to bring you a Happily Ever After that will stay with you long after the last page is read.

  Amazon Links Also by Ellie Masters

  Sign up to Ellie’s Newsletter and get a free gift. https://elliemasters.com/FreeBook

  Contemporary Romance

  The One I Want Series

  By Jet & Ellie Masters

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA.

  Aiden & Ariel

  Brent & Brie

  Caleb & Caitlyn

  Dax & Dani

  Rockstar Romance

  The Angel Fire Rock Romance Series

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA. It is recommended they are read in order.

  Ashes to New (prequel)

  Heart’s Insanity (book 1)

  Heart’s Desire (book 2)

  Heart’s Collide (book 3)

  Hearts Divided (book 4)

  Dark Romance

  Captive Hearts Series

  each book in this series can be read as a standalone and is about a different couple with an HEA. It is recommended they are read in order.

  She’s MINE

  Embracing FATE

  Romantic Suspense

  Changing Roles Series:

  this series is about one couple and must be read in order.

  Book 1: Command

  Book 2: Control

  Book 3: Collar

  HOT READS

  each book is a standalone novel.

  Off Duty

  Nondisclosure

  Down the Rabbit Hole

  Romantic Suspense (standalone)

  each book is a standalone novel.

  Twist of Fate

  The Starling

  Redemption

  HOT READS

  Becoming His Series

  this series is about one couple and must be read in order.

  Book 1: The Ballet

  Book 2: Learning to Breathe

  Book 3: Becoming His

  Sweet Contemporary Romance

  Finding Peace

  ~AND~

  Science Fiction

  Ellie Masters writing as L.A. Warren

  Vendel Rising: a Science Fiction Serialized Novel

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Final Thoughts Jet&Ellie

  Amazon Links Also by Ellie Masters

  About the Author

  Connect with Ellie Masters

  Caleb & Caitlyn

  THE END

  Chapter 1

  Brie

  Brie Hamilton powered behind Hurricane Julian’s fury in a seventy-foot luxury yacht. A Category 5 monster, Julian tore up the Gulf, ripping at least one oil rig off its anchors and flooding coastal towns from New Orleans, Louisiana to Panama City, Florida.

  “You eager to get to Tampa?” Aiden Cole sat beside her and munched on his sandwich. He brought her lunch. It sat untouched beside her as she navigated the channel markers into Tampa’s harbor.

  During the twelve-day journey from Rio de Janeiro to Tampa, her crew encountered several squalls, one violent storm, and trailed behind Julian’s passing. Julian cost them a day’s worth of travel. They lost another day rescuing Aiden and his men.

  “More than eager,” she said. “We’re behind schedule.”

  “Is that a problem?” He stared out toward the channel markers, a wistful expression on his face.

  “It’s never good.” She would lose her on-time arrival bonus.

  “You do this all the time? Relocate boa
ts from Rio to the states?”

  “Yeah.” She’d been hired to relocate a wealthy client’s yacht, Chastity’s Dream, from its berth in Rio de Janeiro to Tampa. With the storm and the rescue, her ten-day voyage stretched out to twelve and her on-time arrival bonus went down the drain.

  “Chastity’s Dream…” He gave a slow blink. “Is it a play on names?”

  “Could be, but the client’s daughter is Chastity. I’m not sure if he’s that clever.”

  Aiden cracked a smile. “Well, Chastity is a rough name for a girl.”

  “I bet.”

  “My girl is still busy with princesses and unicorns. I’m not going to be ready for boys or what comes next.” He wiped at the corner of his mouth, trying to hide his smirk.

  “I bet you’re eager to see her.”

  “After a week bobbing at sea?” He straightened in his seat. “You bet. Can’t thank you enough for fishing us out of the water.”

  Aiden and his men had been on that ill-fated oil rig that capsized during Julian’s rampage. They barely managed to escape into their lifeboat when a mega wave slammed into the superstructure.

  “Hey, we talked about that. You can’t keep thanking us.”

  “Well, when the transponder failed to activate, I got worried. After a couple of days, we were concerned. After a week...well, let’s just say, we were really glad you found us.”

  “I’m glad Juan saw your lifeboat.” She smiled. “There’s not as much boat traffic out here as you’d think. You could have been stuck for weeks.”

  “Then I’ll say thank you as many times as I want.”

  “I suppose so. I can’t imagine being in one of those lifeboats, let alone for a week.”

  Aiden looked nothing like the haggard, seasick, and dehydrated man who emerged out of the red torpedo lifeboat less than a day ago. They towed it behind them, a constant reminder of what they’d endured.

  “Duncan and Randall are good men, but yeah…” He rubbed at his jaw. “A week crammed in that thing together was rough.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “Bonus was getting fished out by a yacht. Much better than the tin can accommodations of a freighter. You’ll have to thank the owner for the hospitality.” Aiden took another bite of his sandwich and lifted the plate containing hers. “And the food. You should eat.”

  “Thanks.” She grabbed her sandwich. Speaking around a bite, she made a vague gesture toward land. “How is your daughter going to handle your plans to propose to a woman she’s never met?” She gave him a wink.

  “I’m not worried. Callie is going to love Ariel.” Aiden talked nonstop about the courageous helicopter pilot who evacuated his injured men off the rig.

  Brie couldn’t help but smile, but it was quickly followed by a frown. The love bug had bit Aiden bad. As someone with nothing but a string of failed relationships behind her, she’d given up on love. Happiness could be found on the open seas. Relocating mega yachts across the globe might sound lonely, but it was her dream come true.

  “What about Ariel? Does she know you have a daughter?”

  His eyes lit up. Anytime he talked about the helicopter pilot his entire demeanor brightened. Brie wished there was a man who loved her half as much as Aiden loved Ariel.

  “She does, and I can’t wait to tell Callie about the proposal.” He had talked Brie’s ear off about how best to propose. She wished she could be there just to see the woman’s reaction.

  “After I see Callie and tell her about Ariel, I’m doing it.” A grin split his face and joy shined in his eyes. “By the way, when we hit dock and I forget to say thank you again, just know that I am truly thankful.“

  She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Ariel is one lucky girl. We should be docked within the hour, and don’t forget you promised me pictures of the wedding.”

  “Actually, I’d love if you came to the wedding.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah, you. It would mean a lot to me if you came.”

  She didn’t know about that, but found herself agreeing with a nod.

  Aiden stood and scanned the horizon. “I’m going to grab Duncan and Randal.” He left her to navigate the final channel markers alone.

  In less than an hour, they said their final goodbyes along with another round of thank you’s to her crew. She waved as Aiden and his men walked down the long pier with an escort of company officials and Coast Guard investigators. A toppled oil rig was no small matter. They had red tape to attend to before heading home to reunite with loved ones.

  Her first mate helped her secure the boat and she notified their employer they had arrived. The rest of the crew had another billet waiting in Rio de Janeiro and a flight to catch, which left her alone for the first time in nearly two weeks.

  She tilted her head and took in a deep breath. It was time for a drink.

  Chapter 2

  Brent

  “What the hell, Gus?” Brent Calloway slammed his mug down on the counter. “What do you mean you can’t captain for me? We’re supposed to ship out at first light. You can’t leave me high and dry like this.”

  His timetable didn’t allow for delays. Stopping the operation to find a suitably licensed captain could take days, if not weeks, and by then it would be too late. It was time to take advantage of Hurricane Julian’s work. Storms of that magnitude moved massive amounts of sand beneath the waves as they swept up the Gulf. He hoped enough sand had shifted to expose what a lifetime of research said would be there, but he had to get there now. Not weeks from now.

  “Like I said,” Gus gave an overly dramatic sigh. “My doc says no-go. Can’t ship out.” Gus had already tied on four too many beers and stared back at Brent with bleary eyes. He thumped his chest. “My ticker needs help.”

  His liver would need even more help at the rate Gus pounded the beer.

  “But can’t you postpone your appointment for a week, or two?” Brent flinched at the whine in his voice and cleared his throat.

  All he needed were a couple days to sail down to the Keys, a week exploring for the wreck, and if he scored the find of a lifetime, a few days pulling up nearly a billion dollars in gold bullion.

  Gus’s heart wasn’t that sick. Was it? Although, if Gus died while on Brent’s ship, there would be hell to pay.

  “Nope.” Gus took another swig. “Gotta do the stress test tomorrow, and depending on that… ” Gus leaned forward; his expression dour. “Doc thinks I need to go under the knife.”

  Brent cursed. Luck favored the prepared, and he had spent a lifetime getting ready for this moment. Now Gus left him hanging because of a bad heart?

  “You can’t back out.” He tried a different angle, and tried not to sound as desperate as he felt. At least he no longer sounded whiny. Maybe he could bully Gus into reconsidering? “We have a contract and you took an advance.”

  “We have an understanding.” Gus sucked down the last of his beer and gave a loud belch. He waved to the bartender. “Gimme another. And if it’s about the advance, I’ll give it back. No worries about me keeping what ain’t mine.”

  “You gave your word.” He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice, but from the wide-eyed stares of those at the end of the bar, he failed miserably to do so.

  A beat-up shack, the Tipsy Pickle, teetered on pylons driven into the basin of the marina decades ago. The place barely passed health inspection, and probably only with a healthy exchange of under-the-table cash. Paint flaked off the weathered exterior; stale beer and dried up piss created a pungent atmosphere inside. But the alcohol was cheap and the food amazingly good.

  He was surprised the Tipsy Pickle hadn’t been bought out, stripped down to the pylons and rebuilt to attract a more up and coming crowd. Yuppies, hipsters, and Millennials loved their booze as much as anyone, and they didn’t blink twice at overinflated prices. The Tipsy Pickle did not attract that crowd and as far as he was concerned sat on a goldmine.

  Not that you could tell from the thin and haggard
crowd.

  Tired men hunched on dilapidated stools and propped weary elbows on tables worn smooth by decades of use. Half of the tables were occupied, most by individuals not interested in sharing their beer and food with others. Music crackled through tired speakers, creating enough sound to cover most conversation without drowning it out completely.

  A quick glance revealed no likely candidates for his sudden captain’s vacancy. These were dockworkers and deckhands. He needed a licensed commercial boat captain to pilot his research rig down to the Keys.

  “What the hell am I going to do? You can’t leave me hanging. Don’t you know anyone who can step up?”

  The door banged open, letting in a sliver of light. By habit, he looked to see who had entered.

  Like something out of a movie, light spilled around the slender form of a woman, putting all her curves on display; and what amazing curves they were. Trim and toned, the woman had amazing tits, a tiny waist, and hips a man could grab hold of and pound himself into oblivion. He couldn’t help but gape. Not alone in his admiration, every head in the bar swiveled to fix on the apparition.