The Family You Choose: Changing Hearts

By Donna Steele

Willa has a job and familial obligations. That's all she needs. Her stint in the military cured her of needing or wanting a man in her life, other than her younger brother. However, this new assignment is intriguing, except maybe for the man assigned to train her.

 

Clint is happy with his new role now that he's separated from the military. He's with his friends, getting the job done under less hazardous conditions. Well, less hazardous until he meets the woman he needs to train for this new assignment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Steele
• Release date: Sep 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223502661

Donna Steele

Women strong enough for love. Donna writes science fiction, paranormal and small town romances about women coming into their strength and having the courage to find and accept love. Now that she has retired from going into an office every day, she created an office at home and writes full time. Talk about living the dream! She was the girl at the party who was yearning for the quiet corner and a book to read (go Rory Gilmore!), and has been writing in her head since she learned to read. Getting those stories down on paper (or in her laptop) has been more fun than she ever imagined it could be. The possibilities of science fiction have always drawn her and she's read them all, there just needed to be a little more romance in them. She finally got up the courage to write them herself and is delighted to be able to share these stories with you. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. She can be reached at www.steelestories.com, www.facebook.com/donnasteeleauthor, or https://twitter.com/steele_donna

Book preview

Chapter Two

Willa Landers stepped out the shower and grabbed her towel. The water pressure had been almost adequate this morning. Unusual for this dump. She thought again about cutting off her long red hair, it was thick and drying it took forever, but she didn’t have the time or money to keep that up. This way she could wrap it in a bun and go. At least the place fit her budget and was private. Maybe no one else in the building was up. It wasn’t like she really knew any of them anyway. She’d had a good workout this morning. Saturdays gave her time at the gym that she couldn’t seem to carve out of the rest of the week.

She wasn’t lonely. No time for it and besides, she had Gavin. The people she worked with were enough for the most part. It wasn’t like she spent a lot of time alone here. Just at night.

Her job kept her on her feet more than being in an office, but not quite enough to feel like a real workout. As a security guard at Beaton Industries, Covington Plant, she got in the steps but keeping herself toned was important too.

She jerked when her cell phone buzzed. She had no plans today, other than laundry and housecleaning before she headed over to the rehab center. Please don’t be about Gavin. Looking down at the notice, her heart both slowed and sank. What would Dennis want today? Her supervisor wasn’t her favorite person to begin with. To mess up a Saturday was above and beyond. She forced a smile so her dickwad of a supervisor wouldn’t be able to hear how pissed she was.

Everything okay, Dennis?

Good morning to you too. I need you to come in for a couple of hours.

Is there a problem? She managed not to grit her teeth. I’m not on the schedule for today.

I know. It’s for some special training. That new security group the bigwigs hired is going to put some software into beta testing for us.

Willa shut her eyes, shaking her head. Today?

We’re all going to have to take the training. Dennis spoke again, his voice a little more insistent.

On our days off?

I’ll expect you here in thirty.

Make it an hour. I just got back from the gym.

Nice. Keep those buns tight. An hour. Be here. He broke the connection before she could respond, and Willa took a deep breath attempting to hold onto her temper. She liked her job, for the most part, but Dennis kept edging closer and closer to the line. She wasn’t the only female security guard. The bigwigs, as he called them, were great about diversity that way. However, the supervisors for all three shifts were male. One was a nice guy, David, married with kids, daughters, but the other two, Dennis and Greg, were less than ideal.

She better get moving.

Chapter Three

Dylan took a seat next to Clint with her food. Nash was still busy cooking. He had no need to fear Clint would hit on her now. They were solid. I wanted to thank you again for the work you did.

He looked up and nodded. I’m sorry about your dad.

She sighed. We should have known the state of the equipment. We relied on people that Lucille had put in place too long ago. That won’t happen again.

I haven’t heard you mention your aunt lately. What’s she doing now?

No idea. I think she was expecting the place to implode without her there to manage it and she’d swoop back in and rescue us. I think knowing that we’re thriving with Mom and me at the helm has her pissed. I invited her over to see the house when it was completed and got crickets.

Clint chuckled, but from what he’d heard from Nash, Dylan was probably accurate in her assessment.

How was the construction on the new plant looking? Dylan asked.

Moving at a good pace. You have a lot of workers anxious to get it back in production.

She chuckled then. I bet we do. Though I am glad we moved some of the production back here. I’d like to do that more. We want at least half of our goods to be produced here in the States. The backup at the ports never really goes away.

It’s more expensive.

Don’t Aunt Lucille me. The workers over there will be getting the same benefits, but they’ll go farther over there.

That’s for sure. You’re going to have employees coming out your ears. He took a bite of his burger and felt true contentment. Thick, juicy, a big slab of onion and cheese. He’d dreamed of this, literally, while deployed.

Dylan laughed and took a bite of her own smaller version without onion, substituting cole slaw which he’d already dissed.

When they had whetted their appetites, Dylan spoke again. We’ve decided to institute the new security system at the Kentucky plant first. Have you seen it?

Yeah, Nash showed me the model when I got back. It’s state of the art.

They’re going to need some training. I know you just got back but could you be available?

Sure am. Might get me some burgoo while I’m there. It’s been a while.

She shook her head laughing. That hollow leg of yours never gets full. The plant manager there is Chris Wagner. I’ll let him know you’re coming. The two of you can work out the details.

****

Willa parked in her usual space. There were more empty spots than usual since it was a weekend for some people. Who else had been called in for this last-minute training? Was she the first to arrive? She spotted the maintenance guy’s truck. He usually worked on Saturdays since the machinery was shut down, doing inspections and whatever minor repairs were needed without hindering schedules. But she spotted no one else from her shift.

Shaking her head, she moved inside and turned toward the training room. She’d heard through the grapevine that new security software was coming but not that it had arrived.

She opened the door to find the room empty. What was going on? She was in no mood for this crap.

Dennis entered through the far door holding two cups of coffee. Good, you’re here.

Where’s everyone else?

I thought, since you’re one of my best, I’d give you a heads up on the system. I know you want to get ahead.

Willa just looked at him, ignoring the offer of the second cup of coffee. Knowing Dennis there was no way she’d drink that. Finally, he set the extra cup on the table.

So, there is no training session today?

I thought there would be. Turns out the software hasn’t gotten here yet.

You dragged me all the way down here and the stuff isn’t even on-site? She felt her temper rising. He might be her supervisor but that didn’t keep him from being a dick. And it triggered memories of what she’d endured on base during her basic training and beyond. She didn’t want to dwell on the past, but no way would she let herself be in that position again.

He only shrugged.

I’m outta here. She turned to go but he grabbed her arm. Slowly she faced him. Let me go. Her voice was low, not hysterical, she was still in charge and would remain so. She could take this slob if necessary. Keeping her job was the more important aspect. She kept her breathing even.

For someone looking for promotion your attitude isn’t great.

I said let go of my arm.

He was bigger than her but a lot of that was flab. He didn’t have her military training either. The man probably wore the same size pants he wore in high school, but he wore them a lot lower now.

The standoff didn’t last long, probably only seconds though it felt longer. She met his stare with one of her own and after only a moment, he released her, but his eyes narrowed.

You need to remember who you’re talking to.

Maybe you need to remember Jane. He’d been seeing Jane for nearly three years though Willa had no idea how the woman had put up with him that long.

She’s none of your damn business.

Being here on my day off for a lie isn’t part of my business either. I’m leaving.

He moved to block the door. You better watch yourself. Insolence isn’t going to get you far.

Willa made no comment, skirting around him and stalking to her car. No one could see that her hands were shaking ever so slightly. Did she report this? What would that do to her employment status? Maybe nothing official, but she’d have to live with the consequences.

Could she maybe say something to David? He wasn’t her direct supervisor and might not want to be drawn into anything but who else was there? She’d just dodged a bullet and she knew it. How long before it ricocheted in her direction?

Chapter Four

Clint looked around the security room of the plant. Clean, neat, notebooks lined the shelf. Were they referred to often? He would probably be helping to write the new one for this system. The surveillance screens attached to the monitoring computers were sharp, and the equipment looked new.

After what had happened overseas, he had no doubt a lot of things had been updated and upgraded. With Dylan’s aunt no longer in charge, a lot of things were getting a fresh look and new influx of funds.

Clint had never officially been introduced to Dylan’s Aunt Lucille. He’d seen her the day they took down Morris and his son, but she hadn’t really uttered a word that day. At least not while he was present. April had done most of the talking. He grinned at the memory. Those Beaton ladies were tough.

He turned as the door opened and Chris Wagner joined him. He was followed shortly by a woman in a security guard uniform.

Whoa! Nice. Great body, long legs, fit and athletic. He could see that even in the uniform. Her hair was up in a bun so he couldn’t guess the length but from her expression, the red in it was about to go off. Fire simmered in those dark brown eyes. She was obviously pissed as shit. What was going on? Clint stood to the side as the woman walked straight up to Chris.

Is this one for real? Is the software here this time?

Yes. I swear. Chris answered her. That’s one of the reasons I’m here. I wanted to introduce you to your trainer.

Will Dennis be here as well?

Not for this session. He has to be trained too, but we’ve broken the sessions up.

The woman nodded but didn’t look completely satisfied with the answer. Clint wanted to know what that was all about. And who she was. He didn’t usually go for the feisty ones, but he could make an exception. He’d had good luck with redheads in the past. There was no ring on her finger, yeah, he always checked now. No jewelry of any kind except small gold studs in her ears. Her eyes were large and dark brown and her lips... Yeah, he could make an exception in this case.

He forced his attention back to Chris as the man spoke. Clint, this is Willa Landers, one of our best guards. I want her to be your liaison during the training. Willa, this is Clint Norman of Sutton and Associates Security. They’ve created this software specifically for Beaton. We’re the beta site.

She nodded stiffly to him and shook his hand. Nice strong handshake. He had no doubt she could do her job and maybe a couple of others as well. Was she ex-military? He wouldn’t be surprised, noting her posture.

I appreciate you taking this on, Ms. Landers. We’ll be creating a users’ manual as well and your input there would be of great help.

She only nodded. He hadn’t seen a smile yet, so his own smile widened. He didn’t have too much trouble putting women at ease usually. If anything, her eyes narrowed.

Okay, Chris spoke into the quiet, "I’ll leave you to