Page 83 of SEAL Summer Escape

And maybe they’d spend a long weekend together down in Florida, having a good time, but she was planning to keep things between them friendly and nothing more.Flirting was okay, but as for making out or sleeping with him?

Not a chance in hell that was going to happen.

“Hey ladies, wait up!”Mason shouted a moment later, and the guys jogged forward to catch up with them.Mason’s blond hair gleamed in the sunlight, and he ducked down, catching Taylor in a kiss.

After a delicious brunch and a second mimosa, Bailey was feeling pretty carefree at the moment.She let all her worry about the guys’ careers as SEALs drift aside.

Noah had his trademark aviators on, but she could tell he was watching her.The breeze ruffled her sundress, and she rested her hands on her thighs, holding it in place.His gaze dropped to her legs, and she felt heat rising within her.

Just a glance from him seemed to send her up in flames.

That was part of the appeal she supposed—she’d never be with him, so all the innocent flirtations were that much more exciting.

They could look but not touch.

And goodness, did he seem to enjoy looking at her.

Noah slung his arm around her shoulders, tugging her close.“Stay next to me so your dress doesn’t blow too much.”

She nodded, shifting slightly closer to him.It felt good feeling his solid strength beside her—to feel the weight of his muscular arm across her shoulders.“Have you ever been fishing before?”he asked as they walked to the edge of the dock.

“A few times—but not day trips on a boat like Mason and Taylor are planning.”

“Fishing off of Florida should be amazing,” he said with a grin.“All that open water, sunshine, and a cooler full of beers.”

Bailey laughed, glancing out at the water glinting in the bright sun.

“What’s so funny?”he asked, glancing down at her.

She looked up at him, wishing she could see his eyes beneath his sunglasses.She noticed his nose had a slight bump in it, like maybe it’d been broken before.It just added to his rugged appeal though.With his chiseled jaw and the slight scruff of his dark whiskers, he wasn’t completely clean cut.He probably had a million stories to tell, too.She was sure his SEAL team had seen and done everything.

“Taylor and I predicted that’s what you guys would want—a few cold beers.”

“Doesn’t take much to keep me happy,” he said with a chuckle.“But you’re a bartender.Maybe I’ll let you concoct something else for me.”

A wave crashed against the dock, sending a slight spray of water up in the air.The cool droplets felt good against her heated skin.With the sun beating down and the slight buzz from her mimosas earlier, she was carefree and content.

That and the fact that she had a gorgeous man beside her.He had a clean, soapy scent with just a hint of spice.All that tanned, toned skin didn’t hurt either.

“Maybe I will,” she said.“House specialty.”

“And what’s that?”

“A surprise.Guess you’ll have to wait and find out down in Florida.”

“So how long did Owen stay last night?I hadn’t seen him in years, just heard he’d be in town.Man, if it didn’t make me feel old seeing a high school buddy of mine.”

“You can’t be that old,” she scoffed.

“Thirty-three,” he said with a wry smile.“Sure as hell feels old when I remember Owen from back when we were teenagers.We did all the varsity sports together—dated all the cheerleaders, too.Feels like a million years ago now.”

“So you graduated fifteen years ago?You’re right—thirty-three is old,” she mused.

One minute she was standing on the dock beside him, and the next, Noah had ducked down and scooped her up into his arms.She shrieked in surprise, clinging to him, and then he took a step closer to the edge, acting like he was going to toss her in.

“Put me down!”she yelled.

He just laughed harder, holding her close to his broad chest.He was solid muscle—nothing but ripped muscles and pure strength.His hands on her bare skin made electricity surge right through her.One arm wrapped around her, the other held her securely beneath her legs.Calloused fingers gripped her, so she knew she wouldn’t really fall.That didn’t mean she was about to let go of him though.

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