Page 25 of SEAL's Paradise
“Fiancé?”Chelsea asked in surprise.“Girl, I had no idea that you were even dating anyone let alone getting married.Way to keep it a secret.Congratulations!We all knew it would take a special sort of woman to tie this guy down.Where’s the ring?”Chelsea asked, glancing down at Riley’s left hand.
“We’re picking one out together this week,” Sawyer said smoothly.“Gotta make sure the future wifey gets exactly what she wants.Guess I should’ve waited to propose until I had the rock, but when you know, you know.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet!I love this for you.I want all the details later on, lady.You’ve been holding out on me!”
“Sawyer,” Riley chastised as Chelsea hurried away, pulling him toward her.
He raised his eyebrows, glancing down at her hands on his forearm.Not that he minded her hands on him at all.Anywhere she wanted to put them was damn fine with him.“Shouldn’t we be more subtle about this?”she asked.
He shrugged.“Dunno.I’ve never been fake-engaged before.”
Riley huffed out a sigh, raising her arms in exasperation.He had to admit he already missed her touch.
“I’m gonna park myself over there at the bar, kitten.And I was thinking about that whole stripes and whiskers thing.What if it’s a tiger?It could be a mascot for a sports team.Maybe the guy will be wearing a tee shirt or ball cap with the team logo.”
“Huh.That does sort of make sense.”
“Course it does,” Sawyer said with a grin.
“You’re impossible.”
“Impossible to resist,” he agreed.“Which is why you agreed to marry me.”
“You’re really milking this,” she muttered.
He chuckled.“Gotta shoot my shot.”
Ignoring him, Riley quickly glanced at her watch.“I need to go check on my tables.Don’t do anything crazy while I’m gone.I’ll come sit with you in half an hour.”She leveled him with a look.“And if you find our guy—come let me know.Do not make a scene or attempt to handle this on your own.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, giving her a mock-salute.Sawyer could tell she was getting annoyed.“You act like I’ve never run an op before, kitten,” he said in a low voice as he met her gaze.“It’s sweet of you to worry about me though.”
“I’m not—” She cut off, shaking her head.“I’ll see you in thirty.”
“It’s a date.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, her ass swaying in those little shorts she had on.Sawyer was tempted to chase after her, pull her close, and give her a scorching kiss.But Riley was right.She was working.Waitressing and doing the spy game thing, which he had to admit was pretty hot.This girl was a mystery.He wondered how she was at handling weapons.Fighting in hand-to-hand combat.Riley hadn’t told him anything about her training, but no one would be sent overseas to run assets for the Feds without same basic self-defense knowledge.
She glanced back at him at the door to the kitchen, her glossy hair swaying with the movement and her dark eyes meeting his.Damn, she was pretty.He felt that weird little thump in his heart again, almost like he needed to go to her.Keep her close.Make sure she was safe.
They were in a restaurant though—the same place she worked many a night.
Sawyer would order a drink at the bar, get settled in, and help Riley find the traitor.
