Page 24 of SEAL's Paradise
Chapter 10
––––––––
SAWYER’S GAZE RAKEDover the back of Riley as she stood at the bar, no doubt looking for him.He’d told another waitress—her nametag had said Chelsea—that he was here for Riley.And now he’d found the woman herself.Her dark hair trailed down the back of her Coconuts tee shirt.Once she turned and he caught her profile, he knew he’d see it skimming over her breasts.Even though she wore shorts and a Coconuts shirt tonight, he knew her sexy curves were hidden beneath.The image of her in tight jeans and a tank top standing beside her convertible was now permanently emblazoned in his mind.
He approached her without hesitation, his body already pulsing with adrenaline.Something about this woman had him all sorts of worked up, and he was dying to explore the chemistry between them.
Convenient that he’d be marrying her in a few short days.
Sawyer paused at her back, loving how much bigger he was than Riley.She was svelte and toned, but he had pounds of muscle on his frame.He could easily lift her into his arms and carry her the hell out of here tonight.Wouldn’t she love that, he thought with a smirk.
“Fancy seeing you here tonight,” he murmured.
Sawyer breathed in Riley’s sweet scent as she turned toward him.It was floral and sexy and so damn enticing.His blood heated, his body reacting to her on a primal level now that she was mere inches away.Riley looked gorgeous.Sure, she was in uniform, but it was her face and reaction that caught his attention now.She was surprised to see him here.Her eyes were wide, her lips parted, face flushed.
Something in his stomach did a funny little flip.He took her hand, Riley’s breath catching at his touch.He stared at their joined hands for a beat, noting there was something strangely right about it.He didn’t necessarily stroll around hand-in-hand with a woman, but he could almost picture himself doing that with her.Sawyer liked having Riley close.Avoiding any more thoughts of whatever that meant, Sawyer moved in—ducking to brush a kiss across those perfect pink lips.Riley tasted sweeter than sugar, and she was soft and pliant as he pulled her into his arms.
The kiss was over almost before it began, and she looked slightly dazed as he pulled back, making sure she was steady on her feet.
“Whoo-hoo!”a waitress cheered as she walked past.“You get him, girl!”
Sawyer grinned and gave the waitress a mock-salute as Riley’s cheeks flamed.“Surprise.”He didn’t say anything else, just waited for her to absorb what had just happened and form some sort of response.She often seemed flustered around him, and hell if Sawyer didn’t love catching her off guard.
“Umm—wow.”
“Agreed.Just thought I’d kiss my future wifey hello,” he joked.
Riley grabbed him, her fingernails digging into his forearm, and tugged him to the side, pushing open the glass doors that led to the large deck overlooking the water.It wasn’t much quieter out here, but no one in this area had seen what just happened.That kiss, brief as it had been, had drawn plenty of notice from everyone around them.
“Sawyer,” she chastised.“We were supposed to meet later.I’m working—both jobs,” she stressed, looking at him pointedly.
He sobered.“What’s going on?”
Riley quickly filled him in on the newest messages, and Sawyer stiffened.One of the pricks selling out his country would be here tonight?As in, breathing the same air as Riley and Sawyer, existing in their space?Acting as if he was a real servicemember and not a damn traitor to his country?
“Hell no,” Sawyer said.“You’re not doing this alone.Lucky timing that I showed up when I did.If this meeting is about to go down, we’re going to find this asshole.”
She looked at him, exasperated.“Well, that’ll be hard to do out here.”
“You’re the one who dragged me away from the action at the bar, kitten.I was mighty happy standing there and kissing the hell out of you.”
She flushed again, nervously licking her lips, and glanced away for a beat.It took everything in him not to take another taste of the sweetness that was Riley.Now was hardly the time or place.“It was a damn fine way to say hello,” he told her.“I certainly didn’t mind having you in my arms.But come on.I’ll take you back in so we can scope out the place.”
Riley looked confused by the abrupt change of subject but followed him back through the doors, leaving the balmy night air behind them.“Do you get any breaks tonight?”Sawyer asked.“Or am I going to be hanging out at the bar all by my lonesome?”
She shot him a disbelieving look.“You’ve got to be kidding.There’s usually an entire Sawyer Fan Club of women surrounding you.”
His loud laughter filled the area.“Didn’t think you noticed,” he said with a wink.
Riley brushed some of her hair back behind her shoulders, clearly flustered by his remark.“I have a break soon, but I usually hang in the break room, not out front.”
“Well, it’s your lucky day.You can enjoy the pleasure of my company tonight,” he teased, angling his body toward hers as they moved back through the crowded bar area.
They passed Chelsea, and she shot Riley a grin, clearly having seen them kissing earlier.“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”
“Fiancé, actually,” Sawyer said with an easy grin.
Riley nearly choked as she tried to stammer out a response.
