Page 40 of SEAL's Paradise
He was honorable.Loyal.Good.He protected those weaker than him and fought for what he thought was right.He was flirtatious and fun, too, which was a dangerous combination.Riley had been too busy for much fun in her life, and she liked that he lightened her load in some way.She felt an ease around him she couldn’t explain.While her body reacted to his closeness, she felt comfort in his presence, too.
Riley ran faster, enjoying the burn of her muscles and sun on her skin.
Someday she’d be gone from this place.
Would she join her sister in the Pacific Northwest?It was a far cry from the sunny Hawaiian shores.
Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it from the belt bag around her waist.Riley always jogged with her phone, keys, and a weapon.Even here in sunny Hawaii, things could go wrong.She knew that as well as anyone.
Her eyes crinkled in confusion as she saw the call was from Sawyer.Riley slowed her steps, settling into a brisk walk instead.It was hard to talk on a cell phone when running.Not that she hadn’t talked while running in the past—although that had been more about getting away from a bad situation, talking into a mic, listening through her ear piece.
She didn’t storm in like Sawyer and his teammates, but Riley had certainly been in countries when the shit hit the fan.Never did she think the agency she worked for would hang her sister out to dry.
She swiped the screen of her phone to answer Sawyer’s call.
“What’s wrong?”she immediately asked.
“Just some trouble in paradise, kitten.I had to loop in my CO.He wants to meet with you.Us.”
“Sawyer!”Irritation roiled through her.“This was supposed to be an undercover op.You’ve looped in your team, your commander—”
“He’s going to help us ID the guy,” Sawyer said calmly.“We were running unauthorized searches on a government computer.He deserves to know what’s happening before an entire team of his SEALs get into trouble.We’ll ID this guy and then find the second.Commander Madden thinks higher-ups must be involved to have this covered up.Surely someone had to notice that a fucking missile went AWOL.”
“That was exactly DOD’s concern,” she said tightly, stiffening as she walked.“That’s why there’s an external investigation.I’m supposed to be covertly finding this asshole, not dragging a Navy SEAL team into this.Do you trust your commanding officer?”
“With my life.”
Riley let out a sigh.As much as it pained her to admit it, she trusted Sawyer’s judgment.He and his teammates were good.They were an elite, Special Forces team.If they thought their commander was as in the dark as they were about the situation, she’d have to believe them.
“Where should I meet you?”Riley asked.
“I’ll be at your place in ten minutes.”
He disconnected the call before she could respond, and Riley muttered under her breath.She could get back home in that time, sure, but she wasn’t going to waltz into base wearing a sports bra and skimpy running shorts.
Sliding her phone back into her belt bag, she turned around and headed back the way she’d come.She’d be there by the time Sawyer was, and after that?
Riley wasn’t sure what she’d say to his commanding officer.
***
SAWYER KNOCKED ON HERdoor a few minutes after she’d returned.Riley set down the bottle of water she’d been drinking and hurried to answer it, her running shoes squeaking on the floor as she quickly turned.She’d probably tracked sand all over the place, but she’d been in a hurry.
Everything about Sawyer seemed to rattle her.She wasn’t even worried about meeting his CO.It was him.
She turned the lock and yanked open the door, her heart thundering as she took in Sawyer in his camo fatigues and boots.Damn, he was hot.Had she even seen him in uniform before?Probably not.“I just came back from a jog.I need to shower.”
His appreciative gaze licked over her.“I don’t mind you all sweaty, kitten,” Sawyer said, flashing her a grin.
“Well, I’m not going to base with you while I look like this,” she said, gesturing to her running outfit.His gaze landed on her breasts in the sports bra, holding there a moment before he looked into her eyes.
“Good point.Everyone there will know you’re mine, but let’s not tempt fate,” he joked.“I can’t have some other sailor trying to steal you away from me.”
She rolled her eyes, then turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.She could feel Sawyer behind her, and her heartbeat sped up.Something about him always sent her body on high alert.“Grab some water if you want,” she said, quickly taking a few more swallows of her own.“I’ll be quick.”
“Need any help?”he asked, his eyes dancing with amusement.
“In the shower?That’d be a no.”
