Page 27 of SEAL's Paradise
The creepy man’s eyes were still on her as she looked back, and Riley began to grow slightly uneasy.She was in a crowded restaurant, fully capable of handling herself, and Sawyer would no doubt come to her aid if necessary.That didn’t mean she felt comfortable though.Something seemed off about this guy, and she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.Plenty of men lasciviously looked at her and every other woman in the place.The bar had always been somewhat of a meet market for tourists and locals alike.
Frowning, she moved back toward Sawyer to ask if he knew where the man in stripes had gone.She still had thirty minutes on the clock, and while word had spread that she was engaged, she didn’t want to get in trouble and draw attention to herself for hanging out in the bar area for too long while she was supposed to be working.
“Hey there, waitress!”a drunk guy said as she passed, grabbing her arm.She yanked it free, and he reached toward her again and nearly smacked her on the ass before she darted away.
“Hands off!”a deep voice ordered, and Riley spun in surprise, nearly crashing into Sawyer’s muscled chest as he moved closer.A wave of relief washed over her.Not that she couldn’t handle herself, but she was supposed to be a quiet waitress.Giving this drunk asshole a swift roundhouse kick to the balls would’ve surprised her coworkers and customers alike.
Possibly gotten her fired.
And Riley needed answers, not more problems.
“Sorry, sorry,” the guy said, raising his hands to indicate he didn’t want any trouble.“I didn’t realize she was taken.”
“Yeah, yeah.Move it along,” Sawyer ground out, shooting him an icy glare.
As the man sheepishly moved away, the creep from earlier walked over in their direction.His eyes were still on Riley, but seeing that she was with Sawyer, he ignored them both and headed toward the empty barstool the handsy guy had just vacated.
He glanced at his smart watch and shrugged out of the jacket he wore, tossing it onto the empty stool.The man gestured to the bartender to order a drink and turned so quickly, Riley almost missed it.
Her heart thudded wildly as she blinked in surprise.
It almost seemed too obvious now that she was staring right at it.
The noise and commotion from the bar seemed to fade into the background as she honed in on her target.It was unmistakable.It was him.Right there on his bicep was a tattoo—a tiger’s head, complete with stripes and whiskers.
Chapter 12
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SAWYER’S PULSE POUNDEDas he noted the tattoo at the exact same moment as Riley.Rage roiled through him, hot and insistent.Sawyer wanted to beat the shit out of the guy.To rough him up and demand answers.An explanation.Sawyer and his teammates moved in on operations to do the exact opposite of this coward—to save lives, eliminate the enemy, and make their country a safer place.To put the greater good before themselves.
This man might’ve sworn the same oath, but he was doing no honor to the United States.He was weak, driven by lust for money and power.He was arrogant, which fit the original description Riley had given him in more ways than one.The guy might be an arrogant womanizer, but he was selling out his country as well, thinking he could get away with his crimes.
Sawyer’s gaze slanted toward Riley, noting that she’d gone rigid, a look of pure anger etched across her face.Riley had been trying to find this prick for weeks.She’d been like Sawyer in many ways in her government career, dealing with secrets, classified intelligence, and eliminating those who sought harm against the U.S.Maybe she didn’t physically charge in like a team of Navy SEALs, but her job had been no less important.Without the intelligence that people like Riley gathered, he and his teammates would be flying in blind.
Sawyer and Riley were more alike than different, and it was interesting how her work had brought her here to Hawaii so that their lives now intertwined.
