Page 3 of SEAL Summer Escape

Took her to bed and enjoyed her for hours.

“Hell,” Noah said, stopping beside him, gripping his towel around his waist as he headed for the showers.“Just ask her if everything’s okay.Women like that shit.”

“And suddenly you’re an expert on women,” Mason chuckled.

“The last woman I took home didn’t have any complaints,” Noah quipped.

Mason smirked as his buddy walked off.Damn it all to hell.It wasn’t his place to worry about Taylor, a woman he for all intents and purposes barely knew.

They were acquaintances, barely.Not friends.Not dating.Not lovers.

He had a nagging feeling something wasn’t exactly right though.And as a Navy SEAL, he’d been trained to follow his instincts.To be aware and observant at all times.

The question was, even if something was going on in Taylor’s life, they were practically strangers.A few texts and flirty dinners where she waited on their table weren’t exactly the start of a relationship.

Would she even want his help?

***

THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Mason was driving down the highway from Little Creek toward Virginia Beach.His stereo blasted through his SUV, and the ocean breeze blew in through his open windows.

He passed a couple of large high-rise hotels, aiming for the parking garage close to Anchors.

They were at Uncle Sam’s beck and call 24/7.Getting called on a mission meant they were wheels up within hours.Most of his team was still single, and they enjoyed nights out when they were all stateside.Hell, the other SEAL team stationed at Little Creek, the Alpha SEALs, were all married or in a serious relationship.A couple of them had kids already.

Mason pulled into a parking garage along Atlantic Avenue, the long stretch of road that ran along the busy section of Virginia Beach.He hopped out of his SUV, setting the alarm before crossing the dimly lit garage and walking down the block toward Anchors.

A gentle breeze blew in from the ocean.His gaze swept the area on the boardwalk—although there were a few people strolling along the water, it was nothing like the summer months when tourists flocked to the area.

He pulled open the door to the popular bar, the sounds of music and laughter and scent of fries and burgers hitting him.A long bar stretched across one side of the restaurant, but his gaze landed on their usual spot.

Hunter and Emma were already nestled at a table at the back, Emma sitting comfortably on Hunter’s lap.Hunter lifted his chin in greeting as he saw Mason, his arms wrapped around his woman.

His tattoo peeked out beneath his shirt sleeve, the scruff of his beard just beginning to look shaggy, and Mason smirked at how different Hunter and his Ph.D.girlfriend were.If they weren’t an example of opposites attracting, he didn’t know what was.

“Where’s everyone else?”Hunter asked.

“Must be busy doing their make-up or something,” Mason quipped, sinking into a seat.

Emma burst into laughter, brushing her red hair off of her face.“Brilliant,” she said in her British accent.“I’d love to see them in some lipstick and rouge.”

“Rouge?”Mason asked, wrinkling his brow.

“The hell if I know,” Hunter said, taking a pull of his beer.“Apparently it’s all the rage in London.”

“I’d look as white as a ghost without any makeup on,” Emma chided him.“I’ve got fair skin that needs all the help it can get.”

“You look perfect,” Hunter corrected her, taking her smaller hand in his and kissing the back of it.“Gorgeous.”

“Keep it in your pants, Hook,” Mason said, calling him by his nickname.

Hunter guffawed as Emma’s cheeks turned a rosy shade.

“Easy, princess.Mason just hasn’t gotten laid in a while.”

Mason chuckled as Emma shushed her boyfriend.

Hell.

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