Model Soldier by Cat Johnson Page A

it.”
    Couldn’t have her getting too cocky, now could he? At least Rasta-man appreciated Hawk’s humor, because he broke out laughing while Goldie’s face twisted into an angry frown.
    “I agree. Not seeing your face is preferable. Perhaps I’ll crop them all like that.” Insult delivered, she spun back to the laptop.
    “You do that, doll, and I’ll owe you a big kiss, plus some.” Hawk heard Goldie emit something resembling a disgusted snort and he smiled. She was sure fun to play with. In fact, reevaluating his former opinion of Goldie, Hawk decided he wouldn’t mind at all playing with her some more. In all sorts of ways.
    “I think we’re good for the indoor shots for now,” Rasta called from across the room where’d he’d moved to play with his stuff.
    “What about the dress uniform ones?” Goldi shot Hawk a look. “Are you going to have any problems with us shooting you in your dress uniform?”
    “As long as you don’t use real bullets. No. No problem. Shoot away.”
    Hawk smiled as she rolled her eyes at his corny joke. He was pretty certain using real bullets had crossed her mind at one point that morning.
    “The photos in here we can take anytime using the lights, Em. I’m anxious to get outdoors and scout some locations for the exterior shots while the weather is good,” Rasta-man suggested.
    Hawk really, really did not want to be helpful for this thing he was being forced to do against his will. But also against his will, his brain had been in overdrive and he actually had an idea for the outdoor shoot. And shit, he was going to share his idea and he was sure Rasta would love it and take a hundred more photos of him because of it.
    Oh, well. Here it goes , he thought.“I had some thoughts about the outdoor shots.”
    Looking amused, Goldie turned to him. “Really? You? Had thoughts?”
    Hawk raised one brow at her and rose to her challenge. “Mmm, hmm. I do that occasionally. Think. Be real nice to me, Goldilocks, and I might share some of my more interesting thoughts with you sometime. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.”
    His pet name for her went over like a fart in a spacesuit, judging by the look on her face. He smiled again. Yeah, he definitely was enjoying this verbal foreplay. But time to get back to work so he could get this assignment over and done with.
    “Anyway, I don’t know what you’re looking for exactly, if you want authentic-looking combat shots or not, but troops come to Hohenfels for realistic force-to-force combat maneuver training,” Hawk began.
    Rasta nodded excitedly. “So you do mission rehearsals and stuff like that here.”
    Hawk nodded. “Exactly.”
    “What do you use in the simulations? Lasers?”
    Well, well. Rasta-man wasn’t just a pretty face with a lot of hair. He had some sort of military experience, probably from behind the lens of his camera but at least Hawk wouldn’t have to explain everything to them both like children.
    “Exactly. We have a laser engagement system and COBs—Civilians on the Battlefield—who help us train. There is a village set up, totally realistic, perimeter razerwire fencing, guard towers, MPs on patrol, and civilian housing where the COBs live. You’d never know you weren’t in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
    Rasta looked excited enough to jump right out of his skin at that thought. “And we can get permission to shoot there?”
    “Captain said whatever you wanted, he’d approve. Within reason,” Hawk added.
    Eyes wide, Rasta began grabbing some of the equipment and stowing it in bags. “Great! Let’s go.”
    Goldie watched him and said wryly, “I guess it’s all set then.”
    Hawk grinned. So she didn’t like not being in control. Interesting and something to remember for future.
    Rasta paused and glanced at her. “Sorry, Em. Did you have an idea for something else?”
    “No. I think we should trust Hawk’s experience.”
    Goldilocks was going to trust him. Mmm, mmm. He liked that idea and he’d also stow