Outranked in Love: Dennison's Security, #1

By JF Holland

All it took was one incident, and Adam Jones lost not only his mobility, but also his army career. 

Adam is attracted to Hannah Summers, but as she's his best friend, Phil's sister, she's out of bounds. Unfortunately, Adam's feelings for her are no longer clear cut as lines he shouldn't cross begin to blur. 

As Hannah tries to help Adam come to terms with his life changing injury, confusing dreams taunt him with all that is now out of his reach. Despondent over his losses, Adam sends her away. 

Taunted by images Adam's unsure of being fact or fiction, he begins to suspect he's either forgotten something important or else he's losing his mind.

Can he unravel the mystery to what he's missing, or will he lose something even more important to him than his career? 

Previously published as a short story as part of the Help Our Heroes Charity Anthology. Extended and restructured for rerelease as a standalone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JF Holland
• Release date: Jul 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386637998

Book preview

Also by JF Holland

Contemporary Romance

Dennison Property Story Series:

The Only One 

This Time 

Second Chance 

Full Circle (coming 2019)

Single Titles

Blue Christmas

Date Night

Mine for right now (coming soon)

Fighting the Silence (coming soon)

Howl for me (coming soon)

Eternal Lover (coming 2019)

Paranormal Liaisons (coming 2019)

Mine at last (coming 2019)

Paranormal Romance

The Bound Series:

Moon Sworn June

Bound by The Moon

Fire in the Moon

Light up The Moon

Magic in The Moon

New Moon

Fae Moon (coming August 2018)

Lovers Moon (coming 2019)

Eternal Mates, The Immortal Dating Site

(The Bound Series Spin off)

Immortal Flame

Beauty tames The Beast (coming soon)

Acknowledgements

First and foremost are my children, who are immensely understanding of my need to write. They suffer late meals and a mother who spends a great deal of her time in her own head as I struggle with characters who insist on doing their own thing.

As always, thank you guys, your faith in my abilities, and understanding of my need to tell stories means the world to me.

Justin, as always, when it comes to anything army related, your advice and knowledge is priceless. You’re my life saver and a real-life hero who served your country faithfully and selflessly for years. Thank you once again for helping this thick civvy out.

I’d also like to thank Linz, Becca, Maria and Lilly... ladies, you are all awesome, and my absolutely favourite people. You all listen to my neurosis and then kick me up the arse and tell me to get on with it. You are all the best friends and cheering squad a writer could have or need (I take it my monies in the post) Just kidding.

Love you, guys xxx

Dedication

May I take this opportunity to thank those who put their lives on the line to protect us.

The sacrifice, both yourself and your loved ones give so selflessly in service to your country is truly appreciated.

Outranked in Love

Military Romance

Prologue

H

annah sat in her car outside of the base, unsure as to why she’d drive the four-hours to get there.

Who was she kidding.

She’d driven there as she’d needed to see Adam. He’d not come home after his last tour and she needed to see and talk to him before he left again. It could be another six-months or longer before he’d be back again, and they needed to talk. There was something wrong, but she didn’t know what. He’d promised her he’d be back for her after his last tour but had then not contacted her. The tone of his correspondence had also changed - as if he was backpedalling on everything they’d spoke of and she didn’t know why.

She needed to know where she stood... so, yeah, here she sat like a total loser waiting on him with not a clue as to the reception she’d receive. For years, she’d fought to keep him at a distance, scared of becoming involved with a soldier – especially with her upbringing. However, it had happened anyway.

But, for some reason, he was now treating her as if it hadn’t, she needed to know what was going on. So even though she was unsure of her reception, she’d been unable to stay away. Missing him had been a physical ache and she couldn’t stand the thought of dragging this out any longer.

The longer she sat there, the less sure she became, but just as she was about to turn the key in the ignition and drive away, a familiar figure appeared on the other side of the barrier. She’d recognise, Adam, anywhere. He was tall, broad, and sported a swagger born of confidence in his own abilities. Her eyes swept hungrily over his form, searching for fresh injuries, but couldn’t find anything... well, nothing glaringly obvious to her anyway. He didn’t seem hurt, nothing about him had changed, although, his caramel hair was shorter than she remembered.

Damn.

His head turned, putting his face in profile and Hannah’s heart skipped a beat. He was joking around with one of his team mates and as he grinned, that oh so familiar dimple appeared in his right cheek. Heart in her mouth, she was out of her car and heading in his direction before she even realised what she was doing. Keys in hand, she ran towards the barrier calling his name, desperate to reach him before he could disappear.

Adam...

Adam - or Tenner as he was known - was heading towards the truck. With his kit slung over his shoulder, he was shooting the breeze with Nomad when he heard his name being shouted. Turning, he stared in disbelief as the one person he’d been trying to avoid since he’d come home came running towards the barrier.

Hannah.

God give him strength.

He’d stayed away from her on purpose. His own desperation to see her had him spooked to such a degree that he’d panicked, back peddling so fast he’d left skid marks in his haste to escape his own confusion. She may no longer be an awkward, shy teenager, but she was still out of bounds. So far out of bounds she may as well have been on another planet. As the sister of Phil Summers - best friend and a brother-in-arms to boot - she should not even be on his radar. However, knowing he shouldn’t touch her didn’t stop him from wanting her or fantasising over it.

Shit, did he ever want her.

He wanted her more than his next breath, so strong was his desire he craved the taste and sight of her, and his own desperation for her scared the shit out of him.

He may not be able to touch, but she went with him wherever he went. He didn’t even need a picture of her to carry – which he did in his wallet – but even without it he’d never forget how she looked as her image was burned into his subconscious. Her features were as familiar to him as his own -  from her short, chin length bobbed black hair - to her large expressive moss green eyes.

Even though he shouldn’t, thoughts of Hannah had kept him company on many a tour. She was his one weakness. However, in those dark hours, she had also become not only his salvation but also his sanity.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t have her, but his body didn’t seem to understand that. His dick rose quicker than his hand did when he stood to attention for his commanding officer. He groaned as he took in the sight of her standing there in snug-fitting ripped jeans, and a T-shirt. Both hugged her curves in all the right places and his chest began to ache with longing, the pain of it worse than that of his hard-on being crushed behind his zipper.

Shaking his head to clear his lust filled thoughts and concentrating, he realised just how warily she watched him - as if unsure of her welcome. However, as he stopped talking to Nomad and gave her his full attention, he saw her expression morph. However, when her mouth lifted at the corners turning to a smile, her eyes lighting with warmth, Adam felt something stir in his mind.

Soft husky laughter in his ear, soft skin beneath his fingertips – both so real he felt the tingling echo in his fingers. The sensation was followed by heated whispers in the dark and closeness. He was staggered by the feeling of being complete and whole the fantasy brought with it.

Frowning, Adam tugged at the strands in his mind trying to work it out as his reaction had been so visceral.

Memory or dream?

A dream, surely?

It had to be as he knew for a fact he’d never gone there with Hannah, so it had to be his imagination running wild. It had to be wishful thinking on his part as he’d never go there, she was out of bounds as far as he was concerned, no matter how much he craved her.

However, the echoes persisted and as he studied her, he tugged harder at the strands, trying to make sense of the fragmented sounds and shadowy images. He was desperate to solve the mystery, but unfortunately, the harder he tried to figure it out, the more painful his suddenly pounding head became. When the pulsating morphed into an incessant throb in his temples – the pain unbearable as it spiked behind his eyes - with a sigh, he let it go. Obviously, he was superimposing his very real feelings for Hannah with some other encounter. Just jumbled up wishful thinking on his part, a lust filled mirage.

He’d been having headaches since before his last tour but had just put it down to his job. After all, being Sergeant came with a huge cost. Decisions he made could affect the lives of many, and his teams’ safety and wellbeing fell on his shoulders. Not wanting to let anyone down, he’d not sought out treatment for the recurring headaches as his team relied on him. It was his responsibility to make sure his team were physically fit, well trained, and ready for anything required of them, not exactly a relaxing endeavour. If he failed in his role, lives could be lost. However, on tour, the stress ratcheted up another notch and the levels became staggering. As the team were away from family, they had not only the worry over what they were doing, but also what was happening back at home. They needed to be on their ‘A’ game, and as their sergeant, it was his job to keep their minds where they needed to be because if he fucked up, the price paid could be lives lost. He didn’t want nor need that on his conscience as he’d already seen and done more than enough for one life-time. He certainly didn’t want to be the reason he lost one of his team.

As he watched Hannah, her smile faltered, and her shoulders slumped. When she turned as if to leave, his conviction to keep his distance weakened, especially when he caught a flash of disappointment enter her beautiful, green eyes. She looked at him as if he’d let her down and his restraint snapped, because damn it, all he wanted was to see her too.

I won’t be a minute, he told Nomad out of the corner of his mouth before leaving him and jogging over to the barrier.

Hi.

Hi, yourself, Hannah replied, her smile returning, although a little forced, her expression now guarded.  

Hannah, what are you doing here?

You didn’t come home... and... I couldn’t let you go off again without wishing you luck.

She gave him a twisted smile before standing on tiptoes as she reached over the barrier and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

Adam felt the warmth of her arms on the back of his neck, and her breath feathering over his throat. He froze, the buzz starting in his head and tugging, he found those shadows moving, morphing and twisting into something more tangible. However, when she spoke they just vanished. Promise me you’ll be careful, she whispered in his ear, squeezing him before pulling back.

Always, princess, Adam told her, his pale blue eyes holding hers captive as he softly ran a finger over her cheek, before dropping his hand. He’d had to touch her, just once because as soon as she’d stepped back from him, he’d