Hazard Duty

Chief Petty Officer Joe Hazard defines the phrase love 'em and leave 'em ladies' man. Ordered to recruiting duty in W. Va, Joe moves back to Birds Gap, his home town. He cut a swath through his high school class leaving a number of disappointed and broken hearts when he enlisted immediately upon graduation, but his past doesn't worry him. Everyone is older and wiser now. Surely he's been forgiven his teenage peccadilloes. Aiming for Officer Candidate School (OCS), he's eager to do a stellar recruiting job and for a break from the wild life he's led. However he doesn't count on getting blindsided by the one female he'd never been able to impress. When she first left Birds Gap, Roslyn Duncan never imagined she'd return, let alone as principal of the high school she despised in her teen years. But those geeky, wallflower days are past and she now has everything she needs-a home, a job, and friends. The last thing she needs or wants is a man like Joe Hazard who brings back memories of painful longing and inadequacy. No, she doesn't need Joe or his outrageous proposition. But she's tempted and even indulges her fantasies and convinces herself that Joe shares her dream of getting every student in BGHS a college education. Neither expects the firestorm of passion that ignites on their first date. Stunned, each tries to resist the incomprehensible attraction. They fail, falling more and more in love with each encounter. When a faulty condom causes a 'we might be pregnant' crisis, Joe finally stops denying his feelings and proposes. Although Ros holds tight to her doubts, they discuss their possible future. Then Ros declines his proposal because the future he wants isn't the kind she wants. What kind of life would she have sitting around waiting for a man who only wants her as a sexual partner. Reader Alert! Principal Roslyn Duncan thinks that her students need a straight-laced, morally upright example. There's no place in her life for sex or a sexy man until CPO Joe Hazard teaches her that her sensuality is as important as self-discipline. In fact Roslyn learns that discipline can be very stimulating. Watch out, or you may learn the difference between sexual peer pressure and loving discipline. To My Hazard Duty was inspired by some of my own adventures. My husband and I served for ten years in the US Navy and learned that the USN is all about families and sacrifice. We were lucky to be stationed together for much of our enlistment. Nonetheless we sacrificed, spending years away from our parents, siblings and civilian friends. We worked long hours on difficult schedules (especially when our children came along), striving to meet and exceed sometimes impossible demands and ensure the safety of our country. But we also had many good experiences. We traveled, visiting many new (to us) and different cultures. We always had a roof and food and the best medical and dental care possible. We made friends at every duty station and keep in touch with many of them today. During those years we became part of the Navy family. I had the chance to work with and watch the struggle, strife and joy of many amazing dedicated men and women. I am proud of my service and have tremendous respect for the sacrifices made by sailors and their families. Those men and women inspire the characters in many of my stories. Chief Petty Officer Joe Hazard is a distillation of many of the senior enlisted personnel whom I had the privilege to work with. Please enjoy his story, and when you see a soldier, sailor, marine, airman or veteran of any of the US military services, say thank you.