Page 16 of Saved By the SEAL

It’s a terrible plan which will probably erupt in my face, but at the same time, I want it, I kinda need it, and I have a feeling that Michelle wants that too. Sometimes, the right thing to do could mean saying goodbye to someone really important, and I definitely can’t see myself doing that. Michelle is special, so special that I can’t stop myself from wanting every part of her. I didn’t trust her at first, but now I’ve seen the intense vulnerability inside her and I can see the truth of her. She’s perfect.

As soon as I make the decision not to push Michelle away anymore, it’s obvious to me. My brain is cleared. Dating Michelle in secret might not be the wisest thing I’ve ever done, but what if it ends up being something special? I want to see her now. I need to let her know that neither of us should run anymore. Not until we’re forced to.

There’s a smile on my face as I head back up the stairs two at a time and into the apartment. I’m bursting with the new clarity surging through my brain, and I can’t wait to discuss it with her. I’m also thrilled to give her the breakfast I picked up on the way back in… but it instantly becomes obvious that I’m not going to get a chance to talk right away because Michelle is on the phone and she’s leaping around the room in excitement. I don’t know what this news is, but I hope it’s good. She could use it.

Eventually, she hangs up and races over to me squealing and jumps into my arms. “Oh, my God, Jordan, you’llneverguess what just happened. One of the jobs I applied for has just called me, and they want me to come in for an interview today! It’s one of the admin office jobs too, one of the ones that I want so I can be hidden away from the world.”

“Oh, really?” I’m delighted for her. “That’s amazing. They must have loved your application to call you that quickly.”

“You think I’ll get it?” She jumps down and kisses me quickly. It’s just a sweet little chaste kiss, but it’s so natural and romantic that my heart skips a damn beat. I guess we don’t need to talk about things. It seems like we’re continuing on anyway, which is freaking awesome. “What am I going to wear? Oh, my God, this is so exciting. I feel so good about things right now.”

She tries to pull away, but I tug her back to me. She spins around into my arms, and I duck down and kiss her some more. Mmm, the taste of her lips is really something else. She’s fruity and delightful. I want some more.

“Don’t distract me.” She giggles and taps me playfully on the nose. “Don’t make me drag you to bed or I’ll end up missing my interview. I don’t thinkthatwill be the best way to make a first impression to the working world, do you?”

“I suppose I'd better not be the one to make things harder for you.” I pout as I let her go, but I’m only joking. “Try on some outfits, though, and I’ll help you decide what looks best for the interview. But you’ll blow them away whatever you wear.”

She shoots me a playful wink as she heads into the bedroom to get herself dressed professionally. I try to focus on the positives of today instead of the idea that her life is moving quickly and she might not need me soon. We’re definitely not worrying about the future here, just enjoying the moment for everything that it is. Worries can come much later on.

“Are you sure I look okay?” Michelle asks me anxiously for what feels like the hundredth time. “I don’t know if I’m smart enough. I don’t know what these people are going to be expecting when I arrive. What if I’m not enough?”

I lean across the car and rest my hand reassuringly on her thigh. Judging by the way she shudders, she can feel the bolts and sparks of electricity too, which makes the pair of us grin. This little taboo secret between us is so damn thrilling. I don’t even care if this can implode massively when it feels so good right now. I just want to be close to Michelle all the time.

“You’ll be enough for them, you never have to worry about that,” I tell her fiercely. “You are going to blow them away. Remember, they must have seen something really good in you to contact you so quickly. You need to have confidence.”

By the time we arrive at the office building, Michelle does appear to be a whole lot calmer. She’s breathing much steadier at any rate, which I take as a good sign. I know confidence goes along way in job interviews, even if it isn’t exactly real. I hope she can hold her head high and show them what she can do for the company. Even though it doesn’t necessarily matter if she doesn’t get the first job she’s been given an interview for and we have plenty of time, I think it’ll knock her confidence too much.

“Go get ’em,” I say teasingly as she steps out of the car. “And don’t worry, you’ll be amazing.”

“I hope so,” Michelle whispers. I think sheer terror is blocking her airways. “Are you sure you don’t mind waiting?”

“It’s my job, remember?” I chuckle. “I don’t mind one bit. I’ll go and get myself a coffee from the café across the street.”

She nods and backs away but keeps her eyes on me for a few seconds as she goes. I wish I could go into the interview with her, to hold her hand and help her, but she doesn’t need that. She has to do this alone. I need to check out the security of the building, anyway. I’m going to be watching this place for a while, I assume, so I need to make sure I have all the information.

Plus, I really might go and get a coffee from that cafe. I could use a caffeine boost before I keep going…

“Hi.” I barely set foot into the café before someone demands my attention. My first assumption is that it’s some kind of greeter at the door or one of those weird places where they pretty much demand your order as soon as you set foot in the place. I’m not quite ready for that. I blink a few times, wanting to at least see a menu first. “Sorry, do I know you from somewhere?”

Oh!Thank God I didn’t try and order with her. That would have been very embarrassing. I run my eyes over this woman’s face, trying to place her. I desperately want to work it out because I hate being at a disadvantage, but I really don’t recognize her.

“Er, I don’t know,” I admit with a helpless shrug of my shoulders. “Not that I can think of. What’s your name?”

“Kate.” She moves a little closer to me and practically inhales me. She definitely doesn’t seem too familiar with normal social boundaries, which makes me incredibly uncomfortable. I want to step back, but I don’t want a scene. “And you are?”

“Jordy.” No one ever calls me that, but it’s close enough to the truth if she does know me just in case this is all innocent, without revealing who I really am. I have my guard up high. I certainly don’t need to be in the middle of this.

“Right,Jordy, well, if I don’t know who you are already, then I would like to. Shall I buy you a drink?”

I’ve had women approach me before, even as boldly as this, but there’s something about Kate which makes me oddly uncomfortable. This feels like more than flirting, and I don’t want to get stuck in the middle of whatever it is.

“I’m actually just about to leave.” I point behind me, desperate to get away now. No amount of caffeine is worth this. “I was just coming in to use the bathroom, but there’s a queue so I’m out of here. I guess I’ll see you around, Kate.”

She grabs onto my arm, refusing to allow me to make my escape that easily. “Let me have your number first. I think that you and I should see one another again sometime, don’t you? There’s a connection there between us for sure.”

Oh, my God, this is insane. I’m going to have to shut her down in the best way I can. “I don’t think so. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I actually have someone in my life at the moment. I’m dating someone, so I can’t give my number out.”

Instead of letting this disappoint her, her lips curl up into a nasty-looking smirk. “I see. So you have a girlfriend.”

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