Page 3 of SEAL's Temptation

“There are.”

His hand lingered near her face for a moment as their eyes locked.He swallowed.She was so damn small and fragile compared to him.How could she even be considering something like this?

“I’d worry about you working down in Panama.Maybe I have no right to say that given my own risky career, but damn, Av.I’m a Navy SEAL.You’re an amazing nurse and an incredibly compassionate person but simply don’t have the same training I do.”

“I know.I know none of us have any military training, especially compared to you and my brother, but I’ve already accepted the job, Ry.I’ve volunteered in third-world countries before.I know to be cautious and aware of my surroundings.This is a career goal for me.I’ll be overseeing other medical staff and working directly with both patients and doctors.It’s a great opportunity, both for my nursing career and to help people that so desperately need it.You understand that, don’t you?”

He studied her a moment.“Why the Darien Gap?Why not seek out a similar position elsewhere?They’ve got to have operations all over the place.”

“It’s one of the biggest migration routes in the world, and access to medical care has been cut off.They’re trying to make a better life for themselves, and if I can help by using my training and skills, I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

“What’s wrong with it is you’d be risking your own life.The Darien Gap is one of the most inhospitable regions in the world,” he countered.“One of the most dangerous.”

“It is,” she agreed.

“And after that?”he questioned.

“What do you mean?”

They’d paused on the trail, Avery still standing in front of him.She was so damn pretty it practically hurt.He wasn’t sure what it was about this girl that got to him.Every time she flew in to Oahu, be it for a conference or simply to visit, it was like he couldn’t stay away.And the idea of any harm coming to her nearly slayed him.

“Say you come off this year-long assignment in one piece,” he rationalized.“What’s next?Will you be chasing after the next dangerous job to prove a point?To show us that you can?”

She shook her head.“No, but I have to do this.I’d regret it forever if I gave up this opportunity.”

He bristled, not liking the idea of her in potential danger.Avery lifted her hand to his face, her fingers briefly caressing his cheek as she tried to soothe him.He hadn’t shaved this morning, and her fingertips lightly ran over his stubble.It was an intimate gesture, certainly more than something a mere friend would do.He saw the moment she realized exactly that as she tried to back away, but he stopped her, catching her in his arms.“What would you do after that?”he asked again, his voice husky.

His hands ran down her bare arms, and her skin was so damn soft and warm, he didn’t want to let her go.Avery stilled, searching his gaze.He could see her chest rising and falling and knew she was just as affected as him by their closeness.

They’d flirted at barbeques.Sat beside one another around bonfires, separated from the rest of the group.She meant something to him.Maybe he hadn’t kissed her yet or taken her to bed, maybe they hadn’t gotten to know each other through conventional dates, but he’d be lying if he claimed they were just friends.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, suddenly looking vulnerable.“I’m not sure I’d want to move back home.I hear Hawaii’s nice,” she said lightly, but he could see the question in her eyes.

His heart was thundering in his chest.“You’d move to Hawaii.”

She hesitated for a beat, searching his gaze.“If I had reason to.”

Her words hung in the air, and in that moment, it felt like something changed between them.It wasn’t a promise so much as a possibility, but damn if he wouldn’t always regret not finding out what exactly was brewing between them.He could see himself dating her.Falling for her.They’d been dancing around their attraction to each other for months, and given the opportunity?It felt like this girl could be everything.

Playfully, he tipped her baseball cap, looking into her pretty blue eyes.Avery smelled of coconut sunscreen and something else delicate and floral.Feminine.Hell if he didn’t want to breathe in her intoxicating scent and then taste her everywhere, kissing her soft lips before thoroughly exploring her body with his mouth and tongue.His cock swelled in his boxers, and he nearly pulled her closer to let her feel exactly how badly he wanted her.

“And if I say to come?To move to Honolulu?”he asked, his voice rough.His heart thundered in his chest, and he knew what he wanted her answer to be.

“I’d do it,” she replied.

Warmth filled his body, adrenaline spiking in his bloodstream.Of course he was attracted to Avery, but it was more.It was her.It had been almost too much to hope that he’d actually get a shot with this woman.Living hours apart, with him on a damn island, made dating practically impossible.

But if they were here in the same place next year?

That changed everything.

“I want to kiss you,” he murmured.His voice was husky and low.Quiet in the middle of the rainforest.Avery’s lips parted, and he heard her little gasp.Her hair blew in the gentle breeze, and her baseball cap framed her face, somehow making her look sweetly sexy.She gave off girl-next-door vibes yet was beautiful in a way that always made his breath catch.

Ryan wanted to give her a reason to come back to Hawaii after she’d fulfilled her wanderlust and career goals.A few days’ worth of memories to keep her warm at night until she was back at his side—back in his arms.

She still had her backpack on, and the moment on the hiking trail should’ve been far from romantic.He didn’t care.She looked like the prettiest damn thing he’d ever seen.Ryan reached out to lift the backpack off her, shouldering the heavy load himself.She looked surprised for a beat but flushed as he moved closer once more.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, his voice thick.

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