Page 117 of SEAL Summer Escape

Chapter 16

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NOAH TOOK A PULL OFhis beer later that night, glancing across the table at Mason.“You gave us a scare, Viper,” Mason said, scrubbing a hand through his cropped blond hair.“When we couldn’t find you in that horrible storm, I was worried as hell.”

“I have the same training you do,” Noah said with a low chuckle.

“Taylor was practically hysterical when we couldn’t find you and Bailey.If the rain hadn’t been so damn bad, we could’ve searched for you.All we could do was hunker down and ride it out.”

“You did what you could,” Noah assured him.“And you had to keep Taylor safe.I wouldn’t have wanted you risking her life and doing something stupid just to find me.”

Mason blew out a sigh, stretching his arms above his head.“Hell of a fishing trip,” he said, taking a swig of his own beer.“I doubt I’ll be able to convince Taylor to go on one again with me—ever.”

“Me either,” Noah said, crossing his arms as he leaned back in the chair.“I think Bailey’s had enough fishing for a few lifetimes.”

“You and Bailey looked pretty cozy earlier,” Mason commented, raising his eyebrows.

“Affirmative,” Noah said.He glanced toward her closed bedroom door.She’d been in the bath for over an hour and had told him she just wanted a little alone time.He’d give her that—for now.But he fully planned to hold her in his arms all night long.

“Did you get that text from Hunter earlier?”Mason asked, eyeing his friend.

“Yep.And he only sent me a brief text before it saying he was glad that I’d been found,” Noah said with a smirk.

“He’s one to cut right to the chase,” Mason said.“It was a touch cryptic, but I’m assuming we’re going wheels up within a few days of getting back home.”

“Sure sounds that way,” Noah said with a frown.His team was used to deploying on a moment’s notice, but he hadn’t thought far enough ahead to the real world to consider what life would be like back in Virginia Beach with Bailey.He knew he wanted her, bad, and wasn’t about to let her slip through his fingers just because she was frightened.

They hadn’t had much alone time since getting back to the condo, and he’d let her have her quiet time to bathe and relax.But in a few minutes?

He’d be going into her room, joining her in the bathtub if he had to.Anything just to hold her close and make sure she was all right.

He took the last pull of his beer and rose, nodding at his buddy.“I’m going to go check on Bailey,” he said.

Mason nodded, his lips quirking in a smile.“You two are good for each other.”

Noah paused, glancing at his teammate.“Is that why you wanted us both to come down here on this fishing trip?To set us up?”

Mason chuckled.“Would I do something like that?”

Noah shook his head, grinning as he tossed his beer bottle into the recycling bin.

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