Page 25 of SEAL Summer Escape

“And tomorrow?”

“What about tomorrow?”he asked.

“Do you still want to go out?”

“Hell yes,” he said immediately.“This doesn’t change things.I told you last night to call me if your ex showed up, and I’m glad you did.I don’t want you to have to worry about him.Hell, like I said, even if you didn’t want to go out with me, I’d help you.I don’t appreciate a man refusing to leave a woman alone.Continually showing up uninvited.The fact that he keeps coming by when you’ve told him it’s over isn’t cool.”

“Okay,” she said, feeling a little breathless.Mason sounded so angry on her behalf.And he had a right to be, she supposed.He was concerned for her.Maybe they weren’t together exactly but they’d known each other for a while.“So, I’ll see you soon?”

“Affirmative.I should be there in ten minutes.Stay out front since it’s late.Unless he wakes up before I get there—then get somewhere that he can’t see you.”

“I doubt he’ll be up anytime soon.His drinking has gotten worse and worse.Once he passes out, he’s out for a couple of hours at least.”

“All right, sweetheart.Don’t worry.I’m on my way.”

Chapter 7

MASON CLUTCHED THEsteering wheel of his SUV, clenching his jaw.He scrubbed a hand over his day-old stubble, frowning.He’d been surprised to hear from Taylor tonight but pleased she’d texted him—until he saw her second text.

His blood boiled at the thought of her asshole ex right outside her front door.

What if he’d been awake when Taylor got home?

Would he have forced himself into her apartment?Forced himself on her?

Guys didn’t just keep showing up like that when they were thinking rationally.Hell, he was used to dating women for a few weeks and then moving on.Never giving them another thought.

The fact that Taylor’s ex kept showing up more and more unnerved him.

Maybe he hoped to win her back, but the likelihood was that he kept coming around because he wouldn’t take no for an answer.He was fixated on her.Obsessed.Maybe he hadn’t been until she’d broken up with him, but some guys always wanted what they couldn’t have.

Hell.

His phone buzzed with a new text as he drove down Atlantic Avenue, and he saw her address flash across his screen.He was supposed to be picking her up tomorrow afternoon for a date, not rushing over because her asshole of an ex wouldn’t leave her alone.

A certain sense of male pride filled his chest though at the fact that she’d texted him for help.

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