Page 39 of SEAL Summer Escape

“You don’t need to be nervous around me,” he said quietly.

“I know—I just feel flustered.You say exactly what you’re thinking, and I just don’t know what to do with that.”

“I’ll always be honest with you,” Mason said.

“I appreciate it.It’s just different than what I’m used to.”

“It sounds like your ex didn’t treat you right,” Mason said with a grumble.“Which reminds me.Did you call the police earlier?”

“Yeah, I did,” she said, nodding.“An officer came and took a report.A neighbor of mine happened to be coming home right then, and she said she’s seen Eric hanging around here when I’m not home.I guess he was coming more than I realized—I’m stuck at home more now without a car.”

Mason clenched his jaw, nodding as he started the engine.“We’ll remedy that this week, sweetheart.And I’ll get you the numbers for the rest of the guys on my team.The other team, too.I want to make sure you can reach them in case of an emergency.”

Taylor bit her lip, looking frustrated.

“How about we forget about him for a while and just enjoy us,” Mason said, reaching over and taking her much smaller hand in his.Her hand was so delicate and smooth.He lazily traced circles over the back of it was his thumb, his other hand firmly on the steering wheel.

“Now that I can get on board with,” she said with a relieved sigh.“I’m tired of letting him dictate my life.”

Mason pulled onto the road, heading away from the busy tourist stretch of the beach.

They passed another beach community, but before long they were in a more secluded area.Mason pulled his SUV to a stop, cutting the engine.The small sandy parking area off the road wasn’t a real parking lot, but the locals came here a lot to enjoy the private section of the beach.

There were no other cars around today, and Mason loved that he and Taylor would be alone.“I packed a ton of things for lunch since I didn’t know what you liked,” he said.

“I’m not picky,” she assured him as she shifted to unfasten her seatbelt.Mason’s groin tightened as her dress slid slightly higher up her bare thighs.

Hell.

Every little thing she did he found sexy.

The way her curls fell down over her shoulders.The way she moved.The way her chocolate brown eyes widened as she looked at him.

She flushed slightly as she caught him watching her.

“You look beautiful,” he said.Not wanted to make her uncomfortable, he held her gaze for a moment and climbed out and rounded the SUV, opening her door.He took her hand and helped her step out, letting his hand linger on her waist as he moved to assist her.

He towered above her, loving the way her small body fit against his.He brushed some of her hair back from her face as the ocean breeze blew.“I like your hair like this,” he said, capturing one curl between his finger and thumb.“You always wear it straight, but this looks incredible.”

“I’ll probably have to pull it back since we’re at the beach.It’ll be blowing in my face all afternoon.”

“Damn.I should’ve told you ahead of time where we’re going.”

“It’s fine,” she assured him.“And I love the ocean.”

“Duly noted,” he said with a grin, moving toward the trunk of his SUV.He opened the back hatch and grabbed his backpack laden with food and drinks and a soft blanket that he’d stashed beside it.“I don’t have an actual picnic basket.This’ll work though,” he said, turning back toward her as he swung the backpack onto his back.

Taylor had already pulled a hair tie out of her bag and was pulling her hair back into some type of twist.Her slender neck was elongated, and he saw she had on some dangly earrings he hadn’t even noticed earlier.

The glint of silver caught in the sunlight.A few stray pieces of her hair fell loose, but it gave her a softer appearance.

Hell, he wanted to tug her hair back down and run his fingers through it, kissing her senseless here in the parking area.Back her against his SUV and feel her curves against him.

That would have to wait though.

He brought her out here to enjoy lunch and an afternoon down at the ocean, not to make out with her on the side of the road.

“Let’s go,” he said, tucking the blanket under one arm so he could take her hand with the other.

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