Some men can look at a woman and never leave a mark, but when Commander Austen, a legendary US Navy SEAL gazes at a woman, her resistance withers.
She imagines strong but confident hands gently restraining her. Firm lips and an unyielding jaw seeking out sensitive places with a slow sensual brush. Her bones pool like warm water in her body. 
With his eyes the color of blue steel and a body made from it, this warrior can scramble a woman’s sense of right and wrong so badly, she may never untangle herself.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be interviewing some honorable and interesting characters who’ll be dropping by Natasza’s blog to introduce “A Warrior’s Challenge” series, “Code Name: Ghost” the first of a five book series available July 2013.
After viewing the trailer you’ll see why hot and gritty will take on a whole new twist with this Special Forces action romance. Reality will put crosshairs in your mind, and the shots fired will do irreparable damage to your heart as you’re introduced to Alpha Squad.
The media is pointing the finger at the US Navy SEALs, accusing one of them of being a serial killer. Kayla Banks, a woman with First Nations blood in her veins leaves her country north of the border. Hired as a tactical specialist at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado her skills at evasion come in handy when her heart plots against her. Commander Austen has committed his life to protect God and country, but when the “Blood Shark” picks up Kayla’s scent, the Commander realizes love can be as dangerous to a warrior as combat.
Code name ghost video trailer.
Now that your tongues are a little drier and your eyes a little wider I’d like to introduce the hero of the story.
Welcome United States Navy SEAL Commander Thane Austen!
Morning, ma’am. (Returns a delicious grin. Wearing his number one whites, his chest pockets covered in ribbon racks representing medals of honor and distinguishing acts of courage, his predator-like blue eyes gaze from under his white cap.)
Can you give us a quick SITREP (Situation Report) on your and Kayla’s story?
Intense, from the moment I meet her to the time I learn she’s hiding secrets from the team and me. Convincing a woman like Kayla—whose half mule—by the way, to trust me changes my life and saves hers.
Are you going to share some of those secrets?
Being a Special Warfare operator we deal with ‘need to know information’ to protect the integrity of a mission. I can tell you I met Kayla for the first time after returning home from a deployment to find her working in Coronado Base Command as a tactical specialist. It was May 29th. I had the phone number of a redhead in my pocket and I wanted nothing else than to have a cold beer and get the jungle sweat off me. I walked into the Base Command Tactical Centre, saw her, and knew I was in a shitload of trouble.
How so? (A sexy smile unfurls. What a rogue.)
She ricocheted through me like a bullet. Her features reminded me of a porcelain doll, and a body any man would give up his soul to touch. Being her senior officer meant she was off limits. Although not meaning to—I kind of insulted her when we first met. Damn, if she didn’t bite me back. I knew then she was going to drive me nuts.
What do you think about women working in the military?
Indispensible I’d heard, but I hadn’t had much luck. The five women who worked in Base Command were nothing but a pain in my ass. When Capt. Redding hired Kayla while I was away, I was wary if not pissed.
How long have you been a SEAL, you’re thirty-seven now, correct?
Yes ma’am. I joined right out of school when I was 17, and got accepted into the Basic Underwater Demolitions program known at BUD/S.
So both you and Kayla have been enlisted for most of your lives, because she joined the Navy at 17 as well?
Yes, she was in the Canadian Forces, but she had to de-enlist and come onboard as a civilian employee with the US Navy.
Has Kayla changed your opinion of women in the military?
(Laughs) She changed my opinion on a lot of things.
Do tell.
Women can’t be SEALs, but in her position she had to be able to think like one. She proved that to me in the first week. (Grins) Then she shook the hell out of me and broke my resistance.
A muscle-bound mountain of a man like you and a little woman like Kayla broke you?
She did. I’d made a choice long ago to serve my country, but never get tangled in a long term commitment. You’ve undoubtedly read numerous stories about the conflict of a SEAL trying to reconcile duty with having a relationship are difficult. It takes an incredible woman to be able to handle our life. Marriages fall apart, adultery runs rampant. I didn’t need that. In, out, and gone was my policy when dealing with women, and there’s plenty who don’t mind. It worked for me.
So is Kayla incredible?
(Nods) More than. She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever known, yet so incredibly feminine. (Gets a heated look in his eyes). Whenever I’m not with her, I still see her clearly. (Laughs) Can’t get her out of my head, which is dangerous when I’m deployed. After meeting her, I thought for sure I was going to die on my next mission.
Why is that?
(His expression becomes sedate, reminiscent.) Because I’d finally found a reason to come home. I’d never had one before. Lived for the action, thrived on it like an addict. Suddenly there she was, and I knew I had to make it back on my feet instead of in a box.
Looks to me like someone’s willing to surrender to love.
Maybe.
Haven’t told her that though have you?
No ma’am.
Why not? What girl wouldn’t want an invincible warrior like you?
Kayla, and it’s a little more complicated with us.
Going to share? If it’s not secret SOF (Special Operation Forces) information.
Just before Kayla arrived, a serial killer began stalking women on the base. The media is trying to pin it on one of us because the victims are being left on NAB Coronado land. (His rugged jaw tightens into hard angles) And despite what Kayla and I feel, we’ve been resisting our attraction because there’s a strict policy in place. Two people can’t have a relationship working in a classified department. One of us would have to leave.
So which one of you is it going to be?
(Shakes his head) Neither, I’d have to transfer her.
Then why don’t you?
Can’t. She’s safe in Base Command. I can keep an eye on her, and when I’m deployed I have another team watch her. The Shark has her scent. He chased her, and the team intervened at the last second. If she leaves, she’ll die.
So you can’t fulfill your deepest desires because you have to save her life. Is that it?
Yes ma’am something like that.
Is this going to end in a “Happily-ever-after?”
(Leans one preposterously toned, ripped torso over and clutches his hands together) I don’t see how. Kayla has a history, and I know she’s shared with a couple guys on my team, but not with me. She always has this haunted look in her eyes. She can resist pain like a well seasoned soldier, and that doesn’t make sense to me. And then it just gets more complicated. A Lt. Commander from the Canadian JTF2 (Joint Task Force – Canada’s counter terrorism unit) has loved her for twenty years. She told me she doesn’t feel the same, but they’re close…He knows something I don’t. When I finally figured out there were two Kayla’s. One she shows the world and the other one deeply scarred. (Shakes his head and levels a tropical blue gaze on me, making me squirm in my seat) I have to find the Shark or I’ll lose Kayla.
It looks like you mean to do that.
She’s living behind a wall of smoke and mirrors. I just don’t know why.
Your team name is Ghost. How did you get that?
After my first mission, my lieutenant gave me the name. Said I could kill a man faster than my target knew his life was over.
I suppose in twenty years you’ve ended a lot of life.
Yes ma’am. That’s all I’ve done. Thousands of men and women fight to keep dark things at bay from the United States and Canada for that matter. Navy SEALs are an elite force. We attack with a scalpel and cut out the poison whereby conventional warfare throws mass and firepower at an enemy. More and more we fight terrorism with small squads, definitive missions and have a high rate of success.
How have you kept yourself from the foot of a headstone for so long?
(Leans broad shoulders back in the chair and sighs) Asked myself that many times. Still don’t have the answer. Guess I’ll leave it up to God to decide.
Most Commanders don’t go into the thick of battle like you do. Why are you with your men instead of taking a step back?
Not an option with me. The United States needs every hard-assed warrior she has fighting for her. I’m not an exception just because I’m in charge of the West Coast SEAL teams.
Is there anything that would make you walk away from warfare?
(A warmth blooms in his eyes as he considers his answer) I never believed there was, but maybe….
What?
(Commander Austen surveys me, his eyes hopeful but harsh.) To ignite Kayla’s fire and extinguish the Shark’s. Then maybe we’ll have a chance at a normal life. We both have been at war too long.
Commander, do you think you’ll ever find out what Kayla’s hiding from you?
I can’t save her life if I don’t. My Master Chief tells me to let it be. Captain Redding, who sees her as a daughter, thinks I push her buttons and could make things worse. I’m probably just imagining it, but sometimes I look in her eyes and I think she wants to die. I’ve seen a lot of horrific things, but that tears me apart.
Thanks for being here Commander, and disclosing some of the obstacles and adventure we’ll be looking forward to in “Code Name: Ghost” Book one of “A Warrior’s Challenge” series.
“Pleasure is mine. And umm…”
Yes…
“I understand you’ll be talking with Kayla next. She’s…uh…a little ticked at me right now. Then again she’s always ticked at me. Guess I deserve it, but…”
(Thinking to myself, it would be hard to stay angry at a man who looks like this guy.) How so?
(The Commander rises from his chair, to stand at a daunting six-foot-three. In the prime of his life with a physique that would make any enemy think twice, he stares down at me.) “She doesn’t want me to chase the Shark and I haven’t really been doing a great job of following company policy?”
