Page 6 of Summer with a Navy SEAL

As we shake hands, I try to ignore the spark of electricity that shoots through me at his touch, but it’s impossible. Being this close to Brogan, seeing him shirtless and oh-so-tempting, is doing things to my heart that I never thought possible. I always found him the nicer of the Hollister brothers, someone who followed his older brother’s lead in everything, even bullying the gardener’s daughter.

But I can’t let myself get carried away. I’ve worked too hard to love and accept my curvy body to let a man, even one as handsome as Brogan, make me question my worth. Their relentless teasing had made me hate my body for years and I refuse to go back to that dark place.

“So where do we start?” Brogan asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I clear my throat, trying to focus on the task at hand as I set my coffee mug on the counter. “We need to take down the old cabinet first. I’ll go grab the tools.”

As I walk away, I can feel Brogan’s eyes on me, and grinning, I make sure to add a little extra sway to my hips.

Two can play at this game, Hollister.

Over the next few hours, we work side by side, removing the old cabinet and preparing to install the new one. I can’t help but admire the way Brogan’s muscles flex as he lifts the heavy wood, his skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat. He catches me staring more than once, a knowing smirk on his face, but I quickly look away, pretending to be engrossed in the task at hand.

As we take a break for lunch, sitting on the deck after making sandwiches, Brogan clears his throat.

“I always admired you, you know,” he says, his eyes meeting mine. “The way you stood up for yourself even when Preston and I were being jerks. You were so strong, so confident.”

As a blush creeps to my cheeks, I blame it on exhaustion. I’m tired of arguing for the day. “Believe me, I didn’t feel confident at all. Your teasing really got to me.”

He reaches out, his hand covering mine. “I’m so sorry, Willy. I was a stupid kid, trying to impress my brother. But I never meant to hurt you.”

The touch of his hand on my skin makes my heart race but I force myself to remain calm. His words feel sincere, his gaze never leaving mine. “It’s alright. We were all just kids, trying to figure out who we were.”

“True, but Preston and I didn’t have to be assholes about it.”

For a few moments, we don’t talk. He lets go of my hand and we dig into our sandwiches, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the silence between us. It’s strange, sitting here with Brogan like this, feeling so at ease despite our complicated history. I want to hate himso bad but he’s making it difficult. It doesn’t help that he’s gorgeous, especially with all his tattoos.

But before my mind can drift to more than just his tattoos, I clear my throat. “You know, I never thought I’d be sitting here sharing a sandwich with Brogan Hollister, of all people.”

He chuckles, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. “Life has a weird way of surprising us, doesn’t it?”

I nod, taking a bite of my sandwich. “It does, I mean, look at you. A Navy SEAL. I never would have guessed that the boy who used to…” I pause.There I go again, digging up the past, “say all those mean things would grow up to be a hero. A real one.”

He looks away. “I’m no hero, Willy. I just do my job.”

I shake my head, setting down my sandwich. “Don’t sell yourself short, Hollister. It’s not like you. What you do is incredible. You could have picked something else to do but you chose to put your life on the line to protect others. That takes a special kind of bravery.”

He’s quiet for a moment, this time his gaze meets mine. “Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.”

I feel a flutter in my stomach, a warmth spreading through my chest. I should look away, but I can’t tear my gaze from his.

“Willy, I…” Brogan’s voice is low and rough. “I know I have a lot to make up for, but I want you to know that I’m not that same stupid kid anymore. I’ve grown up, learned from my mistakes, and I’ve changed. Seeing you again like this, doing so well, doing great work… it’s made me realize how much I regret the way I treated you.”

I swallow hard. “You really don’t have to…”

“No I do,” he interrupts gently as a soft breeze blows a strand of hair across my face. Brogan’s hand reaches out before stopping just over my cheek. “May I?”

I nod, not trusting my voice.

Gingerly and almost lovingly, he tucks the wayward strand behind my ear, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. The touch is feather-light but it sends sparks through my entire body.

Our eyes lock, and for a moment, the world around us fades as Brogan leans in, his face mere inches from mine. I can feel his warm breath on my lips, the heat of his body so close and for a moment, time seems to stand still. I should pull away but I’m frozen, my gaze locked with his.

Is he going to kiss me?

Because I don’t think I can stop him.

And I don’t want to.

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