Breaking Hearts (Delta Force Strong Book 5) Read online

  Breaking Hearts

  Delta Force Strong Book #5

  Elle James

  Twisted Page Inc

  Contents

  BREAKING HEARTS

  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

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  SEAL Salvation

  Chapter 1

  About the Author

  Also by Elle James

  BREAKING HEARTS

  DELTA FORCE STRONG BOOK #5

  New York Times & USA Today

  Bestselling Author

  ELLE JAMES

  Copyright © 2021 by Elle James

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  © date Twisted Page Inc. All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: (Ebook edition) 978-1-62695-333-8

  ISBN-13: (Paperback edition) 978-1-62695-334-5

  Dedicated to my daughters who share my love of reading. You’re beautiful and I love you both so very much.

  Elle James

  Author’s Note

  Enjoy other military books by Elle James

  Delta Force Strong

  Ivy’s Delta (Delta Force 3 Crossover)

  Breaking Silence (#1)

  Breaking Rules (#2)

  Breaking Away (#3)

  Breaking Free (#4)

  Breaking Hearts (#5)

  Breaking Ties (#6)

  Breaking Point (#7)

  Visit ellejames.com for titles and release dates

  For hot cowboys, visit her alter ego Myla Jackson at mylajackson.com

  and join Elle James's Newsletter at

  https://ellejames.com/contact/

  Chapter 1

  “What are you doing behind the bar?” Jim “Sarge” Walker emerged from the kitchen of the Salty Dog Saloon, carrying a tray loaded with hamburgers and fries. Sweat pebbled his bald brow as he frowned in her direction.

  Sophia Phillips grinned. “Looked like you could use a little help. Where’s Mags?”

  Sarge grimaced. “She’s running late. Today is her day to get her nails done. You know how that goes.”

  Sophia shook her head. Mags’s number one priority was to look good. At fifty-one years old, she wasn’t growing old without a fight.

  Sarge put up with her being late because she was good at what she did. Mags was an excellent waitress, and she kept things running smoothly in the saloon.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” Sarge said as he strode by with the tray of food.

  “I thought I’d help myself to a drink while waiting for my friends.”

  “While you’re there, you can help me with a couple mugs of beers from the tap for the two men at table six.”

  Sophia chuckled. “Gotcha.” She positioned a mug beneath the tap and pulled the handle forward. After that mug filled, she set another beneath the tap and filled it as well. When both mugs were full, she carried them to table six.

  “Hey, Red, when are you gonna marry me?” asked one of the two men.

  Sophia’s lips twisted. “What would your wife have to say, Joe?”

  Joe grinned. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

  “Yeah.” Sophia pressed her lips together. “Don’t be a dumbass. Becky’s the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  “Yeah, but she isn’t a redhead like you,” Joe said.

  “Be nice to her,” Sophia said. “She might take off with a better man and leave you in her dust.”

  “I’m not married,” the other man said. “When are you gonna marry me?”

  “Never in a million years, Randy.”

  “You cut me to the core,” Randy said, clutching his heart.

  She collected their empties and loaded her tray. “I’m sure the bleeding will stop soon.” Sophia turned as a woman with sandy-blond hair and blue eyes entered the saloon, wearing blue medical scrubs.

  Sophia smiled. “Hey, Beth.”

  Beth pulled a rubber band out of her hair, smiled and waved at her across the room. “Hey, Sophia. I thought you weren’t working tonight.”

  “I’m not,” Sophia said. “I’m just filling the gap until Mags gets here.”

  “Good, because we’re celebrating.” Beth stretched her arms over her head and arched her back. “I could use a Painkiller, if you want to mix one up for me.”

  “I heard the guys were back from deployment.” A thrill of excitement rippled through Sophia’s body.

  “When did they get in?” Beth asked.

  “Last night. I heard Blade’s truck door slam after I went to bed.”

  “And did you run out to see him?” Beth asked with a teasing grin.

  Sophia shook her head. “I was already in bed, or I might have. I figured we’d see them tonight. I know Nora and Layla are probably beside themselves.”

  “I saw Nora’s car pull into the parking lot as I walked in. Layla’s riding with her,” Beth said. “They should be coming through the door about now.”

  Sophia glanced past Beth. “They’re here.”

  Beth grinned. “Now, all we need is the guys. I’m betting they’re ready for a little R & R.”

  “Speaking of which,” Sophia said, “are we still on for the trip to Cancún?”

  “About that…” Beth started and paused as she glanced toward the two women entering the bar.

  Nora and Layla stepped through the door and turned toward another woman entering behind them.

  “I didn’t know Kylie was going to make it,” Sophia said.

  “Me either. She must be back from her latest news assignment.”

  Nora Michaels, wearing her nurse’s scrubs, hugged Kylie.

  Layla took her turn hugging the woman next. The three women made their way across the room to the bar, where Beth and Sophia stood.

  Nora smiled. “We’re all here. Where are the guys?”

  “I got a text a few minutes ago.” Kylie held up her cellphone. “Mac said they got stuck in a debriefing with their commander. He’s convinced they’ll all get in trouble since they’re on leave. He wants to make sure they don’t do anything stupid.”

  “What are the chances of that?” Nora grinned.

  Kylie nodded. “I know. They’re all a bunch of adrenaline junkies. If they don’t stay busy, they’ll get bored pretty quickly.”

  “And boredom leads to…” Sophia waited for all the women to chime in.

  “Trouble!” Sophia, Layla, Kylie, Nora and Beth said at once.

  “Someone call my name?” a deep voice called out from the saloon entrance.

  Sophia’s heart fluttered as she glanced across the barroom at the man who’d captured her heart from the moment he’d first walked into the Salty Dog Saloon over a year ago. The man who was now her next-door neighbor, and the man who didn’t know she existed, other than as a waitress, bartender and a friend.

  The friend zone sucked.

  She sighed and willed her pulse to slow to a normal rate.

  Michael Calhoun, or Blade, had the blackest hair and the bluest eyes of any man Sophia had ever seen. He could have any woman he wanted, and usually did…have any woman who caught his eye.

  Unfortunately, th
at didn’t include Sophia. Still, her heart fluttered, and her body flushed all over.

  Blade opened his arms. “Can a guy get a welcome home hug around here?” His gaze landed on Sophia as he crossed the bar to where she stood with the other women.

  “If you’re not going to hug the man, I sure as hell am.” Beth stepped into Blade’s arms. “Welcome home, soldier,” she said with a smile and leaned up on her toes to press a kiss to Blade’s lips.

  Heat rushed into Sophia’s cheeks, and her fingers curled into her palms to keep from scratching Beth’s eyes out. Some friend she was.

  Then again, Blade hadn’t singled out any one woman with his comment.

  He hugged Beth and set her to the side. Then Blade looked at the other ladies standing close by. “What? Is Beth the only one who’s happy to see me?”

  “Of course not,” Nora Michaels said. She crossed to Blade, gave him a short hug, and then looked over his shoulder and exclaimed, “Rucker, you’re here!” She ran into her fiancé’s arms.

  “I’m glad to see you.” Layla gave Blade a quick hug and hurried past him to throw herself into Craig Bullington’s arms.

  “Good to see you, Blade.” Kylie Adams waved as she rushed past him to Sean “Mac” McDaniel, leaving Sophia standing by herself.

  With the rest of his team filing in behind him, Blade moved a few steps forward, stopping in front of Sophia. “Hey.”

  Heat rose up Sophia’s neck, filling her cheeks. “Hey, yourself.”

  Blade took a step toward her. “I didn’t see you at the airport last night.”

  Sophia forced a shrug. “I had to work.”

  “Surely your boss would’ve let you off to welcome me home after being deployed for so many months.”

  “I’m sure he would have,” she said, “had you been a fiancé or a spouse. I didn’t even think to ask.”

  Blade cocked an eyebrow. “Good friends don’t count?”

  “Sure, they do.” She couldn’t hold back any longer. She walked up to him, put her arms around his neck and hugged him. God, she’d missed him. His arms settled around her waist. She leaned into him for just a moment, inhaling the sexy outdoorsy scent of him. As quickly as she hugged him, she stepped back. She couldn’t let herself get used to holding him. “Good to see you, Blade.”

  “Wow,” he said, “that was almost a hug.”

  She shot him a tight smile. “Can I get you a beer?”

  He nodded.

  She didn’t ask him what kind. Sophia knew what he liked. She slipped behind the counter and drew a draft beer in a mug for him. The rest of the guys and the women stepped up to the bar, and she filled their orders as well.

  “You missed the big engagement last night at the airport,” Nora said.

  Sophia’s head popped up. “Really? Which one of you?”

  “Bull asked me.” Layla raised her hand, displaying a diamond on her ring finger. “I said yes.”

  “It was all very beautiful,” Nora said. “You should’ve been there.”

  “I had to work,” Sophia insisted.

  “No, you didn’t,” Sarge said. “Mags was here last night. She would’ve covered for you.”

  Trust Sarge to walk by and open his mouth at just the wrong moment. “Why don’t y’all get a table? I’ll bring the drinks over,” Sophia said.

  “But you’re not working tonight,” Beth said.

  “No, I’m just filling in for Mags until she gets here.” She waved a hand. “Go on. Find a table.”

  Beth was the last one to turn. “Why didn’t you come last night?”

  Sophia filled another mug with beer. “I didn’t feel like I’d fit in.”

  “What are you talking about? We’re all a part of this little group.”

  “Yeah, but most of the women already have their guys, and I don’t.”

  “Neither do I,” Beth said.

  “Yeah, but you and Nora are close friends.”

  “We’re not?” Beth asked.

  Sophia smiled. “We’re getting there. After all, I did invite you to go to Cancún with me.”

  Beth grinned. “Yes, you did. I’d like to think you wouldn’t have invited just anybody.”

  Sophia glanced across the barroom to where Blade was pulling a seat out at one of the tables. “No, I wouldn’t ask just anybody.”

  Beth turned to see where Sophia was looking. “Still friend-zoned?”

  Sophia sighed. “Yes.”

  “When’s that man going to wake up and see what he’s got right in front of him?”

  “Never. I’m not his type.”

  Beth turned toward her. “And what type is that?”

  “The gorgeous, sophisticated type.”

  Beth snorted. “Ha! Sweetheart, you’re gorgeous.”

  Sophia grimaced and touched a hand to her strawberry-blond hair. “Not even close,” Sophia said. “This red hair. These freckles. All men ever see me as is the kid sister or the girl next door. I’m literally the girl next door for Blade.”

  “You would think that would make him a little more aware of you as a woman not just the girl next door, by living next door to him.”

  “Yeah, you’d think,” Sophia said. “It’s what I get for letting him know about the house that was for sale next to me.”

  “Living so close, should have given you more time to get to know each other.”

  “When he’s not deployed, we do spend time together out in our backyards. However, he’s never so much as kissed me. Face it, I’m stuck.”

  “What do you mean stuck?” Beth said.

  “He’ll never look at me as anything other than the girl next door or the friend who’s always there. The worst part about it is, when he does bring a woman home, I just eat my heart out. Now that he lives next to me, I’m going to have to find another house and move away.”

  “Surely it’s not that bad.”

  “How would you like it if the man you cared about brought a woman home, married her, and had children with her right next door to you?”

  Beth grimaced. “Well, when you put it that way…Yeah, I guess it is pretty bad. Just think, maybe you’ll meet somebody in Cancún and forget all about Blade.”

  “I’m really not interested in meeting anybody. I just need some time away to decide what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. Maybe it’s time I quit the bar and put my degree to use.”

  “Oh, sweetie. Accounting would be so boring.”

  “Yeah, but it would probably pay better than the tips I get here.”

  “I thought you got some pretty good tips.”

  Sophia grinned. “I do. And I never really wanted to become an accountant. My parents talked me into that degree. No, I’m not going on a manhunt in Cancún. I’m just going to relax and enjoy the sun, the sand and the water.” She filled the last mug, set it on a tray and lifted it into her arms. “Let’s go join the others.”

  Beth’s eyes narrowed as Sophia passed her. “Girl, we gotta get that man to really notice you.”

  “That’ll never happen. Come on, let’s go enjoy some time with everyone.” Sophia carried the tray of drinks across to the couple of tables they’d pulled together, and they all sat around. They passed out their drinks.

  When everybody had one in hand, Nora raised hers. “To the guys. We’re so very glad you came back, all in one piece.”

  Sophia lifted her glass. “Here, here.”

  Rucker lifted his mug. “And to the ladies who were here to greet us when we got home. Thank you for keeping the home fires burning.”

  The men all lifted their mugs. “Here, here.” They all took a drink and settled in.

  “So, what have you guys been up to since we’ve been gone?” Dawg asked.

  Beth grinned. “Sophia won a trip to Cancún.”

  All eyes turned to Sophia.

  Blade said, “Really?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I got an all-expense paid trip by signing up at the local home and garden show.”

  “She leaves in tw
o days,” Beth said.

  “We leave in two days,” Sophia corrected.

  “Oh, so Beth’s going with you?” Blade asked.

  Sophia nodded. “Yup.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Blade said.

  Beth frowned. “Well, you know, Sophia, I meant to tell you. I got a call just before I got here.”

  Sophia frowned. “From whom?”

  “From my Aunt Petunia. She’s in the hospital and, uh, I’m afraid I’m going to have to back out of the trip.”

  Sophia frowned. “You can’t back out on me now. We leave in two days.”

  “Can’t you reschedule?” Beth asked.

  “No, the dates are set in stone. I leave in two days, or I forfeit the trip.”

  Beth gave her a forlorn look. “Well, maybe you can find somebody to take my place.”

  “At the last minute?” Sophia asked, her voice rising.

  Beth glanced around the table. “Yeah, I’m sure there’s one of us, or maybe one of you guys. I mean you’re all on leave, right? Surely somebody can take the time off to go with Sophia to Cancún.”

  Sophia shook her head. “I don’t even know if they’ll let me exchange a name at this late date. And it would have to be somebody with a passport. You’ve got your passport.”

  “And so do all the guys,” Beth pointed out. “What about you, Dawg? Don’t you want an all-expense paid trip to Cancún with Sophia?”

  Dawg grinned. “Oh, hell yeah.”

  Blade smacked his mug on the table. “Oh, hell no, you don’t. If anyone’s going with Sophia, it’s going to be me, rather than any of you other horndogs.”

  Dawg said, “Why should she go with you? You’re the biggest womanizer of all of us.”