Page 41 of SEAL Summer Escape

Mason nodded, taking a bite of his own sandwich.“Hell, we train in them sometimes.Mother Nature doesn’t care when we get called up, so we have to be prepared for all kinds of scenarios.”

“I guess you can’t really talk about the work you do—the missions you go on and stuff.”

“That’s a negative, sweetheart.And it’s not because I’m ever trying to keep something from you.The missions themselves require operational security—we can’t risk having word get out as to where we’re deploying to, what we’re doing, when we’ll be back.And even when we return, no one else is privy to the details.”

“I understand,” she said softly.

“What’s wrong?”he asked.“You look a little sad.”

She shrugged.“I’ll just worry about you when you’re gone.I mean—I know we’re not exactly dating or something.This is just one date,” she hurriedly rambled on.

Mason’s chest tightened.She looked so flustered at the moment, but damn.To have someone worry about him back at home when he went out on an op?

It hadn’t exactly been something he’d wanted until right at this moment.

And now?

He couldn’t imagine leaving without rushing right back to her side when he returned.

Chapter 10

“THIS ISN’T JUST ONEdate, sweetheart.It’s our first date.”

Taylor smiled, sneaking a glance back over at Mason.“I didn’t mean to make the conversation so serious,” she said, watching Mason squint in the sunlight as he looked out at the storms in the distance.“We’re supposed to be just relaxing and enjoying a picnic lunch.”

Mason met her gaze, and she briefly took in his form stretched out on the blanket.Broad shoulders, bulging biceps.A tee shirt that stretched across his impressive chest.His long legs were stretched out in front of him, as muscular and tan as the rest of him.The tiny golden hairs on his arms and legs stood out in the sunlight.

He looked masculine and virile.A bundle of energy captured in a brief moment of respite.

What did he see in a woman like her?

Her life was...boring compared to his.She went to the same place every day—same customers, same food, same old Anchors.She came down to the beach every morning.Loved photographing the ocean.Relaxing in her apartment and reading.

Mason was the type of man who thrived on adrenaline.Risked his life to help others.Trained hard and fought harder, and spent his down time playing sports with his friends.

He reached over and took her hand, and she felt electricity shoot straight through her.

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