Page 36 of SEAL's Paradise
“But how?We’ve been intercepting the messages.There’s been nothing since the message from early this morning.I would’ve seen the latest texts.”
“He’s not wearing the jacket I bugged either,” Sawyer said.“They know.”
Riley bit back a string of curses.Of course.If the wrong man intercepted the package but knew about the stripes and whiskers, they’d given themselves away.Surely the messenger would’ve explained why he thought he’d delivered the envelope to the correct person.
Riley nodded toward the SUV.“There’s another guy with him, there in the driver’s seat.”
The doors to the massage parlor opened, and a group of about eight women suddenly came out.They weren’t exactly dressed like prostitutes, but they approached the group of men gathered, clearly trying to each have a man pick them.
“I’ll head over and see what’s going on,” Riley told him.“Since there are other women in the lot now, I’ll be less suspicious looking than you.”
“How the hell do you figure that?”he asked in disbelief
“The tattooed guy must know a man intercepted the envelope earlier.I’m sure the messenger gave a description once they figured out the error.He saw us both at Coconuts.”
“Then he’ll easily recognize you from the bar as well,” Sawyer countered.
“I’ll talk to his friend in the SUV.Maybe it’s the second guy we’ve been looking for.The tattooed guy might recognize me, but the man he’s with certainly won’t.”
“Shit, kitten.I don’t know about this.I don’t like the idea of putting you in danger.”
She leveled him with a cool look.“Believe it or not, I’m well-versed in taking care of myself.I can handle the situation.Just because you seem to think I’m actually a waitress, it’s skewing your perception of me.”
The second man unrolled the window of the SUV, cigarette smoke drifting out into the night.
“This is perfect,” Riley said.“I’ll go ask him if I can bum a cigarette.It’ll give me an excuse to approach him.”
“You smoke?”
“I’ll improvise,” she told him.
Just then, an argument broke out between two men in front of the massage parlor, one of them shoving the other.A woman was clearly trying to placate them both, but a feeling of restlessness seemed to fill the air.One man quickly hustled a woman back through the glass doors, and the rest of the crowd seemed to be growing impatient.Antsy.
More cigarette smoke came from the parked SUV, and Riley swallowed.This was her chance.It was an easy in, and she was going to take it.Her hand trembled only slightly as she tugged it free from Sawyer’s, and he raised his eyebrows.“We can call this off,” he said, his voice husky as he noticed her nervousness.“There are other ways to find out if this is our guy.We’ll go in together, act like we need directions or something.”
“What?No,” she protested.“I can do this.”
“Kitten—”
She glared at him.“You wanted to come along tonight to see what was at the address.Now isn’t the time to try and stop me.We’re going to miss our chance for me to get him alone.”
“Maybe I don’t just want to see another prick with his hands on you,” Sawyer growled.
Riley faltered, and Sawyer suddenly pulled her into his arms.One big hand landed on her waist, squeezing gently as he held her to him, and the other lifted her face to his.“I’ll be watching.If he so much as lays a finger on you, expect me to be there in five seconds.Less than that.I’m not letting anyone hurt you.”Sawyer ducked down and kissed her, shocking the hell out of Riley.His hand slid to the nape of her neck, holding her to him, his thumb lightly running over her throat.Sawyer always seemed to catch her off guard, and at the moment, she couldn’t find it in herself to care.Riley clung to him, drinking in his taste and warmth.His mouth was hot and hungry, the scruff of his whiskers rubbing against her sensitive skin.Every nerve ending in her body alighted, and if he’d hauled her away right then, she probably wouldn’t have been able to say no.
Sawyer released her before she’d had nearly enough.They were both breathing heavily as he spoke again, his voice gravel.“Five.Seconds.Anyone touches you, and I’ll be there before they even know what happened.”
His eyes blazed with an intensity that surprised her, and Riley could only nod.
“That’s better.”He kissed her again, hard and fast, before releasing her.“I’m not letting anything happen to you, Riley.I promise you that.”She turned and strode down the block, feeling somewhat shaky.That kiss had felt like a claiming—like she was really and truly his.He was always teasing and playful with her, but there’d been nothing subtle about that moment.He wanted her.
Competing emotions dueled within her.Anxiousness.Determination.Lust for the man she’d left moments ago.And complete and utter focus as she honed in on her target.Riley reached the massage parlor at the end of the block, hesitating for only a moment before striding purposefully to the SUV.Sawyer’s gaze was on her the entire time, and it felt good to have him watch her six.
It was go time.
