Free Soldier With Benefits (Military Men Book 2) by Shelley Munro Page A

right. It wasn’t fair, but that was the way it went. “I’m sorry. Okay? Why don’t you tell them you did it when you fell yesterday?”
    “If they ask questions I will, but I doubt they’ll believe me.”
    “They will after training today,” Louie said. “We have a grueling session in store. You won’t be the only one with bruises by the end of the day. Do you want to check your email before I turn off the laptop? You have time if you’re quick.”
    Mac dressed rapidly in her neutral-colored shirt and trousers. “Thanks. That would be great.”
    “I’ll leave you to it. Power the laptop down for me once you’re done.” Without waiting for her reply, he left their room.
    Halfway down the passage, he smelled the coffee. Most of the team was already there, plowing through a huge breakfast.
    “Hey, Louie. Word is you and Mac have something going. Is that true?” one of the men called.
    Shit. Louie forced a huge grin. “Aside from the fact that Mac’s fiancé would likely try to gut me if I touched his woman, the lady isn’t interested in me.”
    “And what about the bruises?”
    “What bruises?” Hell, they’d noticed the bruises but hadn’t said anything to Mac. Yet.
    The guy gestured at his chest.
    Louie turned away to pour a coffee. “No idea. She fell pretty heavy at training yesterday.”
    “So you didn’t look?” another asked.
    “Not polite,” Louie said. “Like I said, she has a man. She’s not interested in any of us.”
    “Damn straight,” Mac said entering the room. “Why would I want any of you when Sam is waiting for me at home?”
    “You really engaged?”
    “Yep,” Mac said. “Getting married soon.”
    “Why are you here?”
    “Why are you lot so nosy?” Mac countered.
    “Not much else to do.” They all laughed at that.
    “I’m here for the money, the same as most of you. And you do realize I’m doing you all a favor sharing with Louie? The boss snores like a freight train.”
    Louie grinned at the hoots, playing along. Mac wouldn’t know because she slept through anything, especially after sex. He shrugged, accepting the teasing and winked at Mac on the sly. They could say what they liked about him. It was better than letting them hone their wits on her.
    Mac moved up the mess line beside him, the good humor absent now that her back was to the rest of the men. When he looked closer, he noticed the faint redness of her eyes. Hell, had she been crying?
    “You okay?” he asked gruffly. Like most men, crying women scared him half to death. He never knew what to do and usually ended up making things worse. Yeah, he had a healthy respect for women and tears.
    “Why shouldn’t I be?” The snap in her tone warned him to tread lightly.
    “No reason.”
    “I’m fine. What time are we back from training?”
    “Only a couple of hours today. Should be back by eleven at the latest.”
    Mac gave a clipped nod and moved away to join some of the others. Louie wanted to follow but forced himself to take a seat with Simon.
    “Have you seen a photo of her fiancé?” Simon asked.
    “Nah, Mac’s a pretty private person.”
    “Don’t you think that’s weird? Everyone else carries a photo of their wife or kids or girlfriend. Don’t you think Mac would show everyone?”
    Good point, but then he knew Mac didn’t have a fiancé. It was a cover to keep her fellow soldiers away. Not a bad strategy. Producing a photo would bolster her story and give it the ring of truth. Maybe a ring as well, although not many of the married security force wore rings on their fingers. “As I said, she’s a private person. You want to know, you ask her. I’m not about to snoop through her things.”
    “So, you’d leave your room open so one of us could do the snooping?” one of the guys asked.
    “Hell no,” Louie said. “I didn’t come down in the last shower. That would give you free range to rummage through my stuff as well.”
    The banter continued throughout the meal, a way of