Page 5 of Battle of Hearts

She lifted her eyes and watched Sawyer moved to the stove, adding a couple of logs to the fire. The flickering light cast shadows across her face, highlighting the strong lines of her jaw, her cheekbones, the intensity of her emerald hues. Once again, Mirren found herself watching her, unable to look away as the captain worked. There was something mesmerizing about the way Sawyer moved, every action precise and purposeful, as if she was always in control, always one step ahead.

The minutes ticked by and the silence between them grew heavier, the unspoken tension almost palpable. Mirren could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of emotions she couldn’t fully understand. She’d never been one to shy away from difficult situations, but this was different. This was personal in a way that nothing else ever had been, and it scared her.

Finally, Sawyer turned to face her, breaking the silence. “We’ll be here for a while. Might as well make ourselves comfortable.”

Mirren nodded, though she wasn’t sure how comfortable she could be in this situation. The tension between them was like a coiled spring ready to snap at any moment, and she wasn’t sure what would happen if it did.

Nevertheless, Mirren stood to her feet, letting out a light groan as she lifted her arms into the air and stretched them.She closed her eyes as she did so, missing Sawyer glancing in her direction as her layers lifted and revealed her toned stomach. Mirren walked over a few seconds later, lowing herself in the wooden chair directly across from her captain, their knees almost touching in the cramped space.

They made eye contact, and for a moment they just looked at each other, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Mirren’s pulse quickened, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for Sawyer to speak.

But when the captain finally did, her voice was calm, steady, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. “You did well today, Lieutenant. Your assessment was spot on.”

Mirren blinked, surprised by the compliment. She hadn’t expected Sawyer to say anything like that, especially not in this situation. “Thank you, Captain,” she replied, her voice a little shakier than she’d intended.

Sawyer’s gaze softened slightly, and for a moment, Mirren thought she saw a hint of something more in those green eyes—something vulnerable, something that mirrored the turmoil she was feeling inside. But just as quickly it was gone, replaced by the calm, controlled demeanor she had come to expect from the captain.

They lapsed into silence again, the tension between them growing with each passing second. Mirren could feel it, a pull that seemed to draw her closer to Sawyer despite the voice in her head telling her to keep her distance. It was an attraction she couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard she tried, and it was growing stronger with every moment they spent together.

Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, Mirren spoke. “This storm…it’s worse than I expected. We may be here for a while.”

Sawyer nodded, her expression serious. “It’s not ideal, but we’ll manage. I’ve faced worse.”

Mirren knew she was right, but it didn’t make the situation any easier to deal with. Being trapped in the outpost with Sawyer with no escape from the tension that hung between them was both exhilarating and terrifying.

She had always prided herself on her self-control, on her ability to remain calm and composed in any situation, but this…it was different. This was something she hadn’t prepared for, and it was throwing her off balance in a way she’d never before experienced. She didn’t know whether to be nervous or excited.

Sawyer seemed to sense her unease, and for a moment, the captain’s expression softened. “We’ll get through this, Mirren,” she said quietly. “You’re stronger than you think.”

The use of her first name sprouted a new feeling in her stomach that spread out and fluttered all across her body. The use of her name, the gentleness in Sawyer’s voice, it all sent heat to Mirren’s cheeks that she desperately tried to hide, though she knew she failed. It was a rare glimpse of the woman beneath the soldier, and it made her heart ache with something she couldn’t quite define, knowing that she had broken through a layer that many before her had no luck with. She wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap between them, but she knew she couldn’t. Not here, not now.

Instead, she nodded, trying to steady her breathing. “I know we will,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

3

SAWYER

Time passed ever so slowly now that everything was in order. There was nothing left for Sawyer to set up or prepare, and there was no information Mirren had to gather about the storm they could feel worsening. They sat gathered around the stove, the warmth slowly beginning to seep into the room with every minute that passed.

It had been close to an hour since either of them had spoke, the only sound being the crackling of the fire and the howling winds outside. Sawyer’s eyebrows knit together as she peered out the window, watching the trees sway viciously, the heavy snowfall pounding against the glass.

She looked back at the flames, reaching forward to tend to it with the stoker, quickly finding herself lost in thought. She had been in situations like this before—isolated, cut off from the rest of the world—but this felt different. The tension between the pair was unmistakable.

Almost another half hour had passed before Mirren finally broke the silence. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Captain.” She spoke in a soft voice.

Sawyer’s gaze shifted to Mirren, the firelight casting shadows across her face. Mirren lifted her head to meet her gaze. “And what have you heard?”

Mirren hesitated, her fingers playing with a loose thread on her sleeve. “That you’re one of the best. That there’s no one better when it comes to these kinds of operations.”

Sawyer felt a flush of pride at the compliment, but she kept her expression neutral. “I have a lot of experience.”

Mirren huffed the tiniest of giggles, nodding. “I can see why. You’re…impressive, Captain.”

Sawyer’s heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in Mirren’s voice, but she quickly tamped down the feeling. This wasn’t the time or place for anything beyond professionalism. “Thank you, Lieutenant. You’ve done good work here, too.”

Mirren’s smile faltered, the sudden switch from Sawyer using her real name back to her title slicing through her like a blade. It frustrated her that something so small had such a great effect. “I’m just doing my job.”

There was another pause, quiet filling the room once again, only barely fractured by the crackling of the flames and the distant roar of the wind. Sawyer wanted to say something, anything to dispel the tension, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she found herself staring at Mirren, at the way her fingers played with the edges of her sleeve, at the way the firelight danced in her eyes, the way her lips curved into a smile. It was at that moment that Sawyer quickly discovered what the core of her feelings were—attraction.

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