Page 28 of SEAL Summer Escape

Taylor laughed, looking slightly more relaxed.“Won’t he wonder who you are?”

Mason shrugged, grabbing her hand.“Don’t know, don’t care.He can text me back.Let’s go inside.His buddy will probably be pissed as hell to have to come get him this late.But if he shows up at your door, I’ll be there.We might have a discussion about your car, too.”

Taylor nodded, and Mason pulled her close.“I’m glad you texted me earlier.”

She slid the key into her lock and pushed open the door.“Well I’m not.I mean I’m glad that you’re here, don’t get me wrong, but I’d rather not have to deal with any of this at all.”

“Understood,” Mason said.“I’d rather not have your ex-boyfriend hanging around either.”

She crossed the room and turned on a lamp on one of her end tables.Mason’s gaze swept the area—the balcony door was locked with a bar down across it.The windows were closed.Good.He turned back and saw that she’d fastened the deadbolt on the front door.

He relaxed slightly, moving further into her apartment.

The space was small but tidy.Small aspects of her personality showed through in the way she’d decorated the space.There were photographs of ocean sunrises on her wall, a basket of seashells on her coffee table.Books were stacked in a neat pile—both fiction and romance, he noted with a grin.

Hell if he wouldn’t love to show her a little romance and sweep her off her feet.

Not that now was the appropriate time.

“Did you take those yourself?”he asked, nodding at the mounted photos on the wall.

“I did,” she said, her eyes lighting up.“It’s a hobby of mine, but I’ve always loved photography and the ocean.”

“They’re amazing,” he said, walking closer to get a better look.“You must’ve been up really early to take these.I’ve seen plenty of sunrises in my days in the Navy—not usually by choice.”

She laughed, the melodious sound sending electricity coursing through him.“Yep.I try to avoid getting up that early normally.I can’t resist a good sunrise though.”

“Duly noted,” he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Wouldn’t he love to enjoy a sunrise with her.Preferably after getting to know her all night.

Taylor dropped her purse onto an armchair and crossed over to stand at his side.She yawned, blushing again as he chuckled.

“It’s late,” he said, briefly letting his fingers trail down her bare arm.“I’m sure you’re exhausted.Just grab me a blanket or something, and I’ll crash on the sofa.”

“Are you sure?”she asked.“I mean, I could stay out here and let you have the bed.You’re a lot taller than me.”

“Sweetheart, I’m a Navy SEAL.I’ve slept in tents pitched in the desert,” he said with a grin.“The hard floor of a C-17 cargo plane on a nonstop flight across the Atlantic.Believe me when I say your sofa is a luxury compared to any of that.And hell, your company is infinitely better than that of my buddies.You’re much better looking than them, too.”

She blushed furiously, and he smiled.

“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable.This wasn’t exactly a planned date or something.You relax, do whatever you need to do, and I’ll be out here.Tomorrow I’ll go home and change and then we’ll go out on a proper date.I’ll come pick you up and everything.”

“If you’re sure,” she hedged.

“About the date?”

“About sleeping out here.”

Mason’s phone buzzed with an incoming text, and he pulled it from his pocket.

Who the fuck is this?

Mason frowned and thumbed a response.

A friend of Taylor’s.Tell her ex not to come around here anymore.

“What’s wrong?”Taylor asked, noticing the expression on his face.

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