Romancing the Treasure - Cami Checketts

Prologue

Britton Grady glanced around at his men—rather, former men. The eight of them had retired from active duty separately over the past few months. The other eight in their platoon were still in the service. Britton missed it. He knew his seven close friends felt the same. They were all trying to move on with their lives, start charities or businesses, date, and re-enter their families’ lives, but it was tougher than he thought it’d be.

Tonight, their new normal might get flipped on its head by an intriguing offer. A reality TV show that matched an ex-military man with a charitably minded woman and put them in extreme situations for a week. Interesting, but was it interesting enough for all of them to commit?

“Fifty thousand dollars for a week?” Denzel asked in a bored, unemotional voice. Denzel had been nicknamed “Professor” because he was so cultured and refined—from the way he spoke and his extensive vocabulary to his smooth brown skin, piercing dark eyes, and ultra-handsome face. He looked like he could give Idris Elba a run for his money as the next James Bond, especially because Denzel had an affinity for business suits and the Walther P99.

The beautiful blonde—Emerald Taylor, she’d introduced herself as—stood before them and smiled smoothly. “Yes, gentlemen. Fifty thousand dollars for only one week of your time.”

“What’s the catch?” Eli asked.

“No catch.” Emerald gestured around the room. Ace hadn’t closed his mouth fully since she’d walked in. Brit was waiting for one of the guys to notice and harass him. “My employer wants tough, experienced, good-looking men for this reality show. You’ll each protect one woman in a location of my employer’s choosing. Some of you will have to get from point A to point B, some will just have to make the best of whatever situation you’re dropped into. Each situation will be vastly different, some more dangerous or miserable than others, but you will each be paid fifty thousand dollars for your service, whether the women win the money for their charity or not.”

Ryker folded his arms across his chest and grinned. “Any rules against the woman falling in love with me?” He was the charmer and the flirt of the group with a mischievous grin, curly blond hair, bright blue eyes, and an innocent face women couldn’t resist.

Emerald chuckled. “On the contrary, Mr. Sant, we welcome flirtations and some innocent physical contact.” She winked. “Ups ratings, you see?”

Tanner groaned. “I’m out. I’m not dealing with some famous frou-frou woman wearing her high heels through the jungle and trying to flirt with and touch me.” Tanner had been Dear John’ed a few months before he was released and was still bitter against women.

“Let it go,” Tagg said. “She wasn’t worthy of you anyway.”

“I’m trying, man,” Tanner muttered.

Ace nodded. “I’m with you, Tanner. I’ve got enough women coming on to me.” He snuck a glance at Emerald again.

“Ooh,” Ryker teased. “Big Dog’s gotta fight them off with a stick!”

A few men hooted at that. Ace was always calling himself “Big Dog” usually when it was dinnertime and he was fighting for more than his share of the meal.

Brit smiled at the interaction. It didn’t matter to him. He’d promised his life to the girl of his dreams when he was eighteen, sworn his life away on a Holy Bible. When she’d unexpectedly died two months later, she’d taken any chance of him ever finding love again to her grave.

Emerald’s eyes widened, but she focused on Ace instead of Tanner, Tagg, or Ryker. “You don’t have to flirt with or grow close to the woman. The show’s direction will really be up to you and your female counterpart. I assure you there will be plenty of excitement without any romance, if you choose to keep your distance emotionally. Physically, you will have to be somewhat close. You’re protecting them and if you have a tent, you’ll only have one. That type of thing.” She bit at her lip and looked away from Ace.

Ace looked like a deer in the headlights. Brit had to hide his smile. He was obviously being lured in by this competent woman’s beautiful face and shape.

Kane and Satchel looked at each other and shrugged. Fifty thousand was a decent paycheck and they all liked adventure, but it was a wild card what the women would be like. For the most part, they weren’t proficient at girl-speak—they’d spent the last decade or more with mostly tough and hardened men. Who knew what kind