Committed to Chase

By Natasza Waters

Sensuality, humor, and fun detonate in this younger man, older woman romance. 

Jesse Hunter is the sublime and sexy new chief engineer at Charlie's office. Ignoring her desires is easy since he's eight years her junior. While the younger women battle it out for the retired SEAL's attention, Charlie keeps her concentration on her work. With an important contract on the line, her presence at the Las Vegas computer convention is expected. Everything goes sideways when she wakes up in Jesse's hotel room with his warm palm on her bare hip. She rolls over to see a naughty glint in his eye. When he chuckles and says, "Morning, sweetheart, time to face the music." Charlie tries to blame last night on too much alcohol. But he's not convinced, and his seduction doesn't end at sunrise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Natasza Waters
• Release date: Dec 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9780994777294

Natasza Waters

Natasza Waters debuted her first romance novel in 2011 for readers who enjoy a cup of romance with a twist of steam. After majoring in English, Natasza's life altered course. After thirty-four years of service in the Coast Guard, a few crow's feet, and deeper laugh lines, she now spends her days crafting stories. Readers can look forward to romance, action, and suspense in her award-winning novels.

Book preview

Chapter One

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Jesse paced a rut into the hardwood floor. On his tenth rotation, he glanced at his go-bag sitting next to the garage door. Some things didn’t change after spending fifteen years in the Navy, especially with special warfare ops. He’d wished he were psychic many times, and the fluid, mechanical movement of his prosthetic leg reminded him of that every day. Even with a half million dollars of training spent on each warrior, it didn’t stop the Humvee from driving over the daisy chain buried in the pitted road thirty klicks outside of Ramadi two years ago.

The I.E.Ds killed two members of his platoon. The tangoes nailed them good, and Jesse had woken up in a hospital with a severe concussion, nearly deaf, and his left leg blown off to just above the kneecap. His recovery had been a steady uphill climb, and the team guys had kept pushing him. His hearing returned and so did his strength. Eventually, he was on his feet again...actually one foot, and created a new life, starting with a career as an electronics engineer for Harrington Corp in San Diego.

If he could accomplish all of that, he could certainly pick up the fucking phone and call her.

Several staff members from Harrington Corp had been invited to the computer expo in Las Vegas, one of the biggest conferences of the year. In the last six months, his team had designed, created, and implemented a new piece of equipment that benefited corporate and government industry. The company’s lead saleswoman was chomping at the bit to start pitching to new customers.

As chief engineer, he and his group had been given an all-expense paid trip, and that included Charlene—or Charlie as everyone called her. She worked as a data analyst, but she was so much more. Although they’d all take turns manning the conference booth, downtime would be theirs to enjoy.

Jesse exhaled a deep breath and took a critical look at himself in the mirror across the room. Okay, practice shot. You know your target. Aim high. Hey, it’s me. Just thought since we’re both going to the conference, it doesn’t make much sense to drive two vehicles to Vegas.

Rolling his gaze toward the ceiling, he shook his head. Charlene was not a squad of tangoes intent on burying him in the sands of the Middle East, but it would feel worse if she shot him down.

You’re an idiot for even attempting this.

Charlene had caught his eye a year ago when he’d joined the company. On the first day, he’d been given the grand tour and introduced to the employees. He remembered nearly all their names, but one very interesting lady stuck in his mind when he got home that night. Time stalled when he’d turned and set eyes on Charlene Chase for the first time. Neither of them said a word. They’d gazed at each other, then she quickly offered her hand, welcomed him to the company, and deployed a speedy extraction that would impress a SEAL.

Having a beer on his couch after work, he’d played the scene over in his head a few times. Dark hair. Alluring brown eyes and the sweetest smile he’d ever seen in his life. His heart began to hammer in his chest that day, and it hadn’t stopped yet.

Six months in, Mr. Harrington the CEO, realized he had a goldmine in Jesse’s specialized skills. Harrington gave him the development project and said he could pick his team. Charlene had been first on his list. Her professionalism and complete devotion to her piece of the puzzle impressed the hell out of him. They’d worked late hours and although every available woman in the company had hit on him at least once, Charlene kept her attention on business.

Over time, most people learned he had a prosthetic leg and had served as a SEAL. Charlene never asked him a single personal question. At first, Jesse wondered whether it freaked her out. He’d done his damnedest to stay in shape. Maybe even a little obsessive with the body mass and muscle building to overcompensate. Although he’d backed off, he could probably lift more and run farther than the average guy with two good legs.

Before the mission that changed his life, his relationships had been pared down to sex with a smorgasbord of Frog Hogs. When he’d been home, downtime was spent with the team guys and screwing random women with little intention of looking for anything other than the big ‘O’ that blew his brains out.

After recovery, he slowly started to date a few women. Some could handle his leg, a couple backed away quickly. He wasn’t whole anymore, and he’d accepted his circumstance easier than a lot of guys who left a limb on foreign soil.

Charlene had gripped his attention because he didn’t have hers. He loved a challenge and running the engineering project wasn’t enough. After you’d lived a day as a SEAL, nothing was ever enough.

Just do it, he said, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He snatched his cell from the table and dialed her number. When she answered, his heart sped up like a HALO jump without a parachute.

Hi, Charlene.

Jesse, hi. Ready to go? she asked brightly.

I am. How about you? Got your bag packed?

I was just heading out the door. Did they forget something from the office? I can pick it up on my way by.

Steady inhale. Steady exhale. No. I’m heading out too, and I just realized it’s crazy for both of us to drive five hours.

That’s true. I can drive by and pick you up. I don’t mind, she offered.

He chuckled. Was thinking the other way around. What’s your address?

She paused for a second. What about the others? Anyone else need to carpool?

He grinned. If he wasn’t mistaken, the tone of her voice rose an octave. Women had an uncanny sixth sense, especially when a guy showed interest. Charlie never flirted with him, then again, he’d done a pretty good job of hiding his attraction to her. Not that I know of.

Maybe I should call—

Think the team have already left. Most of the project employees were married and bringing their spouses along for a mini vacation. I’ll pick you up. What’s your address? he asked again. He wouldn’t admit it in a million years that he already knew where she lived. It didn’t make him a stalker. Definitely not, but he might have driven by her place once...okay, four times.

I’m on Mcbethany road. 7245. Are you sure? I’m used to driving. Raising two daughters who had to be in every afterschool sport and weekend outing, taught me endurance.

Oh, he was sure all right. Be there shortly.

"Sounds great. I’ll put my car back in the