Page 22 of SEAL's Paradise
But in the meantime?
Riley was on her own.
She was putting Sawyer at risk if she married him.He had to realize that as well.Suppose she snooped around base as his new wife and was spotted.Questioned.She was skilled at what she did, but if she’d learned one thing, it was to also plan for the worst-case scenario.Riley being caught where she shouldn’t be wouldn’t look good for him.He could be suspended from his SEAL team—benched while they investigated what was happening.Of course, a screw-up such as that would blow her own operation as well.Riley’s DOD contact didn’t want the brass on base involved with this yet, which is exactly how it had fallen into her lap.
That led to further questions.Was someone higher-up involved?It could explain the cover up, with no alarm bells sounding about a missing U.S.missile or two.Surely someone must’ve noticed by now, but there’d been nothing but radio silence from the Navy.
She glanced at her phone again, looking at the intercepted message from this morning.Riley wasn’t sure what the address in the intercept related to.The previous transactions were wired payments, sent to offshore, untraceable accounts.What type of partial payment was being offered tonight?
There was something off about the entire exchange, and she felt like she was missing something.Something obvious.
Riley ran orders for the next several hours, keeping a close eye on the sailors hanging out at the bar.Two of the guys were similar in build to Sawyer and among the original possibilities she’d floated when searching for the traitor who frequented the bar.These two men weren’t in Coconuts as often as Sawyer and his teammates were, however, which made her hesitate to think it was them.There were only a couple of other regulars who fit the description, and none of them were here this evening.Yet.
If a messenger was coming this evening, would the traitor definitely be here as well?
Frustrated, she cleared a table and carried the dirty dishes back behind the bar, heading toward the kitchen.
She really needed a vantage point out there.She could very well miss whoever was handing off a message by going back and forth between the kitchen and restaurant and tending to her customers.Riley had figured she’d seem more inconspicuous by changing her schedule and working tonight, but sitting at the bar nursing a drink or two might’ve worked better.
Except that was out of character for her persona as a waitress.She never hung out here when she wasn’t working, and perhaps that had been the wrong play.
She cast one last look at the military men she’d been keeping an eye on tonight.
“Riley,” the bartender said, shooting her a look.“Let me know if those guys give you any trouble.”He nodded to his left, and Riley’s gaze landed on the men she’d been watching all evening.No doubt the bartender had his own ideas about why she’d been keeping tabs on them.He’d have no clue as to the real reason she’d been eyeing them warily.
“Will do, thanks,” she said, disappearing into the back kitchen with her heavy load.The door swung shut behind her, and the scent of freshly grilled food and grease filled the air.Her stomach rumbled as she moved through the busy, crowded space.She’d get a break in another thirty minutes, but on nights she worked, Riley usually ate a late dinner after her shift ended.It was probably a bad habit to eat right before bed, but she’d grown used to her strange schedule while here on the island.
She maneuvered around a waiter heading the opposite direction and set her own load down on an empty counter, instantly feeling the relief in her arms and shoulders.It had surprised her how much hustle and muscle were involved in waitressing.She’d caught on quickly, efficiently working and blending in with the other wait staff.That didn’t mean it was a cushy job though.She worked hard for her wage and tips.And she was getting paid handsomely for the real work she was here in Oahu for.
Her stomach did a funny little flip at the thought of Sawyer coming by her place later.They had a number of details to go over in regard to pulling this off and making things official.Except they really would have to go through with a sham ceremony.Get a marriage license.A real marriage certificate, signed by an officiant.And how would the “marriage” itself work, anyway?Would they live together?It was hard to imagine seeing Sawyer first thing in the morning—all rumpled from sleep, that dark, sexy stubble on his jaw.She swallowed.It’s not like they’d have to literally sleep together.
But what if he wanted to move in with her temporarily?Despite the fact that she’d made up a story about being a single mom, her place was a one-bedroom unit.
Nerves skittered through her once more.
Riley was attracted to Sawyer, sure, but having sex with her fake husband wasn’t exactly going to keep things simple.It would only complicate matters all the more when they eventually parted ways and continued on their separate paths in life.
Her gut clenched.The idea of marrying him and then neatly saying goodbye felt...wrong.She wasn’t exactly the type of woman who needed a huge, extravagant wedding.Riley had assumed when she ever got married, however, it would be for love.Forever.Riley and Sawyer hardly knew one another.He was just a guy she saw around Coconuts when she was working.She’d make small chit-chat with Sawyer and his teammates while taking their orders or when she brought their drinks and food, but that was it.They weren’t friends and they certainly weren’t in love with one another.As they’d discussed previously, the marriage would be nothing more than a business transaction.
She bit her lip.Was she making a big mistake?Riley was used to getting the job done no matter the cost to herself.While she didn’t sleep with men for information, when she’d been overseas?She’d flirt or date men for information.Be who they wanted her to.
This was different, and it gave her pause.
“You okay?”her friend Chelsea asked, carrying a large tray full of steaming meals to bring out to her own table.A second server was right behind her, and she neatly moved around Chelsea, heading out of the kitchen.
“Me?Sure.”Riley replied.“I’m fine.Just an off night I guess.”
Chelsea shot her a disbelieving look.“I don’t know.You look a little pale.By the way, some hottie out there was looking for you.”
Riley did a double-take as Chelsea started to exit the kitchen with her tray of food.
“Looking for me?”Riley repeated, feeling foolish.
“Yep.Same guy that’s in here a lot with his military buddies.Usually has a couple of women fawning all over him, but he’s alone tonight,” Chelsea said.“I wouldn’t turn down a night in his bed if you know what I mean,” Chelsea added with a wink.“Even single moms like you need a wild night once in a while.”
A shot of embarrassment washed through Riley, a flush creeping over her skin.No one at the bar questioned her lack of a boyfriend or dating life because they assumed she was busy with her daughter.Her fake daughter.But the idea of a night with Sawyer had her all sorts of worked up, even though, rationally, Riley knew that it would never happen.
“Thanks for letting me know,” Riley said, ignoring Chelsea’s comment about sleeping with him.“I’ll be right out.”Riley smoothed her hands down over her shorts, trying to ignore the sudden pounding in her heart.Chelsea couldn’t be talking about Sawyer, because they were supposed to meet later at her place.Much later.He had training all day and then was going to see about adding her to his benefits—for their “marriage.”
