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the safer it would be for her. Stepping outside the room, Jacobs let the morning air chase the heat from his body.
    The surrounding forest provided an opportunity that his unit could benefit from. They had been shut up on base now for a few weeks. A few days in the mountains would trim the fat. While the base could provide all the physical training that his men needed, there was just no substitution for being in the field. There was an edge of uncertainty that nature could provide. The skills a man learned from that could mean the difference between life and death.
    Brice’s encounter with Grace was weighing on his mind. Physical contact was never something Grace tolerated well, but now she was avoiding it to the point of violence.
    Brice seemed eager for another round with her. It might be interesting to see just what Grace would do when faced with the man’s questions.
    His mother was going to tear a strip off his back for thinking that way, but Grace didn’t fit into any of the molds his mother had raised him to cast females into. She didn’t like flirting, didn’t care for passes and lately wasn’t caring much about watching her back either. She was closing everything off, shutting the world out, and that was where he had to step in.
    Maybe she just needed a break.
    Jacobs pulled his mobile phone from his shirt pocket and punched in a line of code to see if his commanding officer objected to his decision. Colonel Turvel must have been at his desk, because a reply was almost instant.
    Nodding his head with satisfaction, Jacobs replaced the phone. Maybe taking Grace off into the mountains would shake loose whatever it was that had prompted her to expose herself during this assignment. If not, he might have to get creative.
     
     
    “You don’t follow orders very well.”
    “The kid was just going to the pot. I didn’t think she needed an escort.”
    “I’m not paying you to think.” Disgusted with the pathetic excuse of a man that stood in front of him, he gave a wave of his hand to get the man to vacate the cabin. He had more important things to do. His mission objective had not been reached. Another trap would have to be laid.
    Two single shots pierced the air, causing him to nod approval. No loose ends.
    Failure was not an option.

Chapter Three
    Opening her eyes, Grace looked around. She slowly drew in a deep breath and released it. She felt wonderful. Her muscles were relaxed and her head was clear of every cloud.
    She held herself perfectly still. Not knowing the exact details of her current location made it vital to investigate her surroundings before making any sudden movements. If startled, Army Rangers tended to wake up mean. The men of her unit slept with their guns more often than their girlfriends. A frown wrinkled her forehead. Jacobs lay stretched out on the opposite bed facing her. One hand was stuffed beneath his pillow and the slightest edge of his pistol peeked out from beneath the white cotton pillowcase.
    Moving her attention back to the window, she caught the slightest tinges of light. She was itching to get out and explore the forest before Jacobs’s commanding officer found some other assignment to ship her off to. Thinking of Colonel Turvel was a mistake. It soured her mood, opening the door to the depression that had been stalking her for the last few months. Oh, she knew it was depression. She just wasn’t inclined to do anything about it.
    Considering Jacobs once more, Grace eased her body over the opposite side of the bed. Jacobs slept lighter than anyone she knew and sneaking past him was a favorite challenge.
    Today her reward for evading him would be the morning sunrise. It wasn’t anything personal, but Jacobs provided the best possible candidate for this type of training exercise. Besides, the four walls of the motel room were far too dingy to endure when a sunrise waited.
    Pulling the door open was painfully slow. The air that came rushing in was fresh, making her eager to