Page 72 of SEAL Summer Escape

His warm hand landed on her bare shoulder, and she glanced back to see him standing behind her.Heat radiated off his large frame, but it was the touch from his hand that burned into her skin.Even when he removed it, she could still feel it there, as if he’d branded her.

Marking exactly where he’d been.

She turned toward him and looked up to meet his intense gaze.Noah was six-feet-tall and nothing but pure muscle and masculinity.He towered over her much smaller frame, somehow making her feel delicate and feminine.

Inexplicably making her feel safe.

The clean scent of his soap filled the air between them, mixed in with the salty air from the ocean breeze.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, his voice deep.“I saw you head out here and wanted to say goodbye.I’m meeting up with some of my team mates over at Anchors.”

“Oh,” she said in surprise.He’d come out here looking for her just to say goodbye?

Not that it mattered.Guys like him were a dime a dozen around here.One military guy would leave the bar with a beautiful woman, and another would walk in the door a few minutes later.

It didn’t matter what Noah did.

He was just like every other man around.

“Hell, you’re cold,” he said as she shivered.

“I’m fine.It feels good out here after being behind the bar all night.The deck is so crowded, I just came down here for a breather.”

He nodded.“Yeah, it’s packed in there.But anyway, I didn’t want you to think I up and stiffed the bartender.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, crossing her arms as she looked up at him.

He chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”she asked, feeling miffed.

“You.You act all tough, but I bet you couldn’t hurt a fly.”

“That’s a bet you’d lose.”

He reached out and brushed a stray strand of her hair back, tucking it behind her ear.He seemed fascinated by the tiny row of earring she had there, briefly running his thumb over them as she shivered.His large hand lightly moved down her neck, his touch burning into her skin, and she felt heat rising within her.

This was ridiculous.

She didn’t know Noah.He was friends with her best friend’s boyfriend.So what?

She shouldn’t be standing out here with him in the dark like they were together or something.It was a little odd he’d come looking for her, but she supposed they were sort of friends.They had mutual friends, at least.

“I’ll let you enjoy your break,” he said, taking a step back, breaking whatever spell was between them.“Owen’s best man is footing the tab for tonight.But if those guys don’t pay the right amount, let me know.I’ll swing by tomorrow and settle up.”

“We have bouncers at the bar.They don’t exactly take kindly to customers refusing to pay.”

“I know.I’m just looking out for you.”His gaze locked with hers for a moment, and then he was turning away.Walking back toward the restaurant in a couple of long strides.

Looking out for her?

She didn’t need a guy to watch out for her at work.Especially a man she barely even knew.Maybe Mason was protective toward Taylor, but hell.She’d practically been kidnapped by her crazy ex-boyfriend’s friend.Everyone was protective toward her now.

Bailey walked back up to the deck, taking a deep breath.The cool night air blew around her, and she breathed it in, ready to get back inside.To get back to work.

There was an entire bar full of guys there tonight.No need to let this one stay on her mind.

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