Page 9 of SEAL Summer Escape

Taylor nearly choked on her laughter as she stepped away from the car.“You don’t even know him.”

Bailey shrugged, flashing her a wicked grin.“Be careful tonight, sweetie!Call me if you need anything.Better yet, call that Navy SEAL of yours.”

“He’s not mine,” Taylor protested.

“Uh-huh.Then why’s he texting you?And stay away from Eric.The next time he shows up at your apartment—because we both know that he will—do not open the door.Don’t even talk to him.Call the police if he won’t leave.”

“Yeah, maybe I should.”She blew out a sigh.She’d been hoping Eric would move on, but that scenario was seeming less and less likely the more he showed up.“Thanks again for the ride, hun.”

“Anytime!”Bailey blew her a kiss and then pulled out into traffic, waggling her fingers at the guy in the car behind her who’d let her in.

Bailey was such a flirt.The complete and total opposite of Taylor.They’d been best friends since college though, and Taylor loved her like a sister.Bailey had never met Tessa, but Taylor had a feeling they all would’ve gotten along amazingly.

Amazing how one small moment had changed her entire life.

Taken Tessa’s life.

A brief wave of nervous excitement washed over her as she walked toward Anchors.Although her sister was always in the back of her mind, ten years had let her learn to live with the loss.For the pain to dull slightly.She might miss her terribly sometimes, but she had moved on.Continued living.And without a doubt, she knew Tessa would have wanted that.

She pushed open the door to the popular restaurant and bar.Without thought, her gaze immediately swept to the back where Mason and his buddies usually sat.

It happened to be the area that she usually covered, but since she’d called out, she had no idea which tables would be hers tonight.

A group of military guys was at the back of Anchors, laughing and tossing back beers.Her gaze tracked over them, but then the blond guy at the edge of the table looked up.

Blue eyes immediately locked with hers, and she flushed, looking away.She instantly felt foolish.

Something about Mason always got under her skin.She didn’t even know him that well, but she did know with one hundred percent certainty that he wasn’t the type of man Eric was.Mason and his friends loved flirting with women, but they respected them.Treated them right.

He was obviously interested in her, and she kept holding him at an arm’s length.

She glanced back again, feeling more confident, and his eyes were still on her.

He grinned in that easy, confident way he always had, his blue eyes sparking with interest.His cropped blond hair gleamed in the overhead lights, and she tried not to stare at his tanned, toned arms.At his impossibly broad chest.The tee shirt he had on stretched across it, revealing his muscles, and he was leaning back in his chair, relaxed and confident as always.

She smiled back, unable to help herself, warmth surging through her chest.Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and her skin heated.

It was amazing how one look from Mason was all it took to set her ablaze.When those blue eyes locked with hers, she always felt lost to everything but him.

Forget her ex.

She was moving on with her life starting right now.

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