Page 34 of SEAL's Paradise
It felt weird leaving her condo’s parking lot with him—like they were really together or something.She’d been somewhat of a loner since arriving in Oahu, which was fine.Riley was here for work, not to set up a life.She touched base with her sister every once in a while, but Radley was somewhat off the grid at the moment, helping to set up a new endeavor.It was complex, and Riley had been fine to handle this particular operation on her own.Fine until Sawyer had walked into her life.
Her heart pounded as they rode in his truck to an address on the other side of Honolulu.This entire night had worked out differently than she’d expected.The man with the tiger tattoo.The message they’d intercepted.Sawyer himself.She snuck a glance at his profile, taking in his strong jaw and chiseled features.It was almost surreal they were heading out together to investigate.It was even more hard to believe that he’d kissed her there in the restaurant like she was his.
They were just pretending—weren’t they?
“What do you think we’ll find?”she asked, trying to focus on the task at hand.
“A woman, most likely.Probably an addict,” he said, sounding disheartened.“I assume she’ll want drugs in exchange for sex.If she doesn’t get it from the dick at Coconuts, she’ll find some other dude.It’s sad.”
Riley muttered under her breath.She had a sinking fear that Sawyer was right.Heading to the address would probably do little in tracking down the other traitor or learning exactly who the man with the tattoo was.Sawyer’s photographing the guy had been the best step to identify him.While she’d wanted to pull prints from the bottle of beer he’d been drinking, the condensation on the glass had made it impossible.And the bartop itself had hundreds of partial prints, wiped every time they cleaned the surface.
Damn it.
Grabbing her phone, she shot off another text to her contact at DOD.She frowned as she looked at the reply.
I was just about to contact you.The buyer and traitor are both growing suspicious.The messenger said he delivered the envelope.Trouble is, they know he delivered it to the wrong person.
“Shit,” she muttered.
“What’s wrong?”Sawyer asked, glancing over toward her.
“The messenger told them he delivered the package.”
“Except it came to me,” Sawyer said with a frown.“They know someone else took it, either intentionally or not.Well, unless they text tiger boy tonight’s address, he won’t be meeting us there.Can you track him on your phone?’
Riley scoffed.“Of course, but that’ll only work if he brings the jacket.”
Sawyer frowned.“Yeah.Too bad the dude didn’t leave his phone or wallet sitting on the bar.It’s more likely he has those on him all the time.The jacket seemed like the perfect opportunity to plant the tracking device, so I took it.”
“We had to improvise,” she said, unease moving through her.“Frankly, I’m shocked we found him tonight at all.”
“Teamwork, kitten,” Sawyer quipped, looking over at her appreciatively.
She stilled as she saw the heat in his gaze.The man was attractive, but just like at the bar earlier, having his focus on her was almost too much.She felt like she’d been zapped by lightning.Every part of her body sizzled.
He flashed her an easy grin as she looked at him a moment too long.“Like what you see?”
“No comment.”
His husky laughter filled the truck.“Aww, come on, kitten.I’m attracted to you.You’re attracted to me.Where’s the problem in that?”
She cleared her throat and looked away.“We’re supposed to be working together, Sawyer.Not sleeping together.”
“Is this us sleeping together?Regretfully, no.”
She let out a small huff of laughter.This man would be the death of her.
“We’re in my truck, driving, both of us keeping our hands to ourselves.Now if you want me to pull over so we can get busy—”
“No!Let’s just focus on the road.Keep our eyes on the prize.Not get distracted.”
“I think the lady doth protest too much,” he teased, but there was amusement in his eyes as he looked back to the road as she’d requested.She could see the corner of his mouth quirked up in a smile.
Geez.
They were heading into the unknown, checking out the address where the traitor to the country was supposed to be going tonight, and Sawyer was cracking jokes.She knew he was more aware of the situation than his joking personality was letting on.He’d checked his mirrors to make sure they weren’t being followed.His steady gaze assessed the area around them.Sawyer was observing details.Committing the directions to memory.She’d put the address into her phone’s navigation, but Riley could tell he’d already memorized where they were headed.
Sawyer was infinitely more capable than he let on.She was certain he didn’t screw around with his teammates on ops.He’d be kicked off the teams so fast, his head would be spinning.
