Special Forces: Operation Alpha
Search and Rescue Book 4

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Jen Talty

Katina Freedom made a huge mistake when she’d been sixteen and she’s been paying for it ever since. However, she’d paid her debt to society and all she wanted to do was ease back into the community, get a job, and live a quiet life without drawing any attention to herself.

She’d managed to turn her life around and even found herself a boyfriend. A good man. A man she could love.
Only, it seemed fate had other ideas for her and now she has to choose between the past and the future.

Parker “Baby” Roman is tired of playing the field. He might be young, but he’s ready to settle down and have a family and he has his sights set on the sexy, but aloof hostess of his favorite local water hole.

But Baby is ill-prepared to find out the woman of his dreams is a convicted felon and being with her could ruin his career. However, he’ll have to set all that aside when Katina’s life is on the line. He’ll do what it takes, but then he’ll have to let her go.

Or will he do what is in his heart?

Katina has served her time and was even able to get a degree. She’s just making ends meet so any additional shift she can get at Sans is a plus. This shift started better than most when her boss Clover offers her the position of day manager. The position is one she can ill afford to pass up, not many places give convicted felons a chance.

Parker ‘Baby’ Roman is thinking it’s time to settle down and the woman he has in his sights is Katina. There’s something about her that very much appeals to him and it’s not just her looks. He just needs to convince her to go out with him. While he does manage that, it’s Katina who plans the date.

Although she almost didn’t go, she talks herself into it and of course not everything goes well. Especially when an ex of Baby’s makes an appearance as they wait for their table.

This is a favorite scene.

“I’m not picky. Wine is wine. Whatever the happy hour special is will work just fine, thanks.” She climbed up on the stool while he ordered her drink.

“Did you get all caught up on your sleep?”

“I did and I also managed to get all my laundry done and binge-watch a new show. I’d say all in all the last two days have been quite productively relaxing.”

She laughed as the bartender set her drink down.

“Cheers.” Baby held up his beer. “To a great first date.”

She clanked her glass and sipped. “That implies there will be a second. I haven’t agreed to that.”

He tilted his head. “Are you going to shoot me down before we even get off the ground?”

“No. But let’s see how this night goes before we call it a first.”

“Fair enough.”

“Baby?” A tall blond with very large breasts slinked over and looped her arm around his shoulders. “Awe, who put Baby in a corner?”

He rolled his eyes and shrugged, successfully removing her slippery fingers from his body.

Christ. How the hell could Katina be jealous already? How stupid was that?

“Hi, Haley,” Baby said.

“What are you doing here?” Haley asked. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I was on a mission and just got back a couple of days ago,” he said.

“And before that?” Haley asked, leaning closer, pressing her fake, extra large tits against his arm.

“Busy.” He shifted farther away.

“Haley, this is Katina, my date,” he said.

“Oh. I see.” Haley pursed her lips and patted his chest. “Always on the prowl,” she said with disdain dripping from every word.

“And you’re always causing trouble,” Baby said.

“It’s a gift.” She did a little curtsey. “We need to talk. We have unfinished business.”

Katina so wanted to tell this woman to fuck off, but she’d refrain.

For now.

“I don’t think we do,” Baby said with a narrowed stare. “I think you should go. I’d like to get back to my date.”

“You owe me at least a conversation,” Haley said. “Considering all that we’ve been through.”

“Even if he does, now is not the time.” Katina picked at her thumbnail. So much for keeping her mouth shut.

Haley looked Katina up and down with a scrutinizing glare. “So, you and Baby, huh? How long have you been seeing each other?” She planted her hand on her hip and pushed it out to the side, making her big, fake boobs jiggle. “Because I doubt it’s been very long.”

“Haley, let’s not do this, okay?” Baby set his beer down. “Don’t make me be a jerk.”

“I don’t have to make you act like an asshole when it comes to women, because you are one. I just want to know if there was any crossover between me and this chick.” She reached between them and snagged a bar menu.

“We were never a couple, Haley,” Baby said.

“You look like a nice girl, so be prepared for a couple of nice dates and in a couple of weeks, or his next mission, be prepared to be dumped.”

Katina laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Haley asked.

“He’s the one who should be worried about being dumped. I’m only using him for his really large dick. When I’m bored, I’ll move on.”

Baby spit his beer out, spewing it across the bar.

Haley gasped. “You two deserve each other,” she said under her breath as she stomped off.

“I can’t believe you just said that.”

She couldn’t believe that she had to force her gaze from diverting to below the belt simply because Haley hadn’t made some ridiculous retort about the size of the man’s penis. Of course, Katina struggled with the idea she even said it, but that was a different story entirely.

“Me neither, but she was being a bitch and you didn’t deserve that.”
Jen Talty. Protecting Freedom: Search and Rescue Series (Special Forces Operation Alpha) (Kindle Locations 253-286).

Other than a flat tire the rest of the date goes well and Katina agrees to a second. However there is one very important thing Baby doesn’t know about her and she knows she has to tell him.

Katina’s hand gets force when a sleazy reporter shows up at Sans, she knows she’ll have to tell Baby about her record, and hope they continue their budding relationship. His threats and innuendos are blatant, she has nothing to do with her parents and she certainly doesn’t know where any inheritance her grandparents left might be.

Un fortunately Baby hears it first from Haley and the reporter, but he isn’t even a little put off by it. Although, he does call Tex for more information.

For the moment the reporter shows up things take a twist, and some very interesting occurrences lead to some action and suspense. I love the way this relationship grows and heats up. Katina’s limited knowledge leads to some very funny passages as well.

I can’t wait to see if Jen writes more in this multi-author crossover series.

5 Contented Purrs for Jen!

Jen Talty

Welcome to my World! I’m a USA Today Bestseller of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance.

I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.

I’m currently enjoying the next phase of my life…the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.