Page 41 of SEAL's Paradise
“For now,” he stressed.“Some other time, however—”
She was already walking down the hall but heard his laughter trailing behind her.The man was persistent.She’d give him that.
Riley quickly stripped in her bathroom, leaving her hair pulled back in a ponytail as she quickly showered.She wrapped a fluffy white towel around herself, then strode back into her bedroom, yelping in surprise at a big spider scurrying across her floor.
Sawyer was there in a flash, chuckling when he saw the reason for her fear.“No worries.I got it, kitten.”She’d backed up against her bed, but she realized she wasn’t uncomfortable with Sawyer in her bedroom.Not even with her being nearly naked.Sure, he was a flirt and a tease, but he’d never do something to a woman against her wishes.There was that honorable characteristic about him once again.He was a decent guy.
He reached for a box of tissues on her dresser, and she flushed as she saw the satin bra and panties she’d grabbed and left right there to put on after her shower.He raised his eyebrows, enjoying her discomfort far too much, then rid her bedroom of the spider.
“Pink’s a good color on you, kitten,” he called out as he walked away, and her gaze landed again on her panties.
Freaking Sawyer Cole.
She was half-tempted to put on her bra and panties and casually walk out into her living room just to torture the guy.It would serve him right.They were already short on time though, and her job in Oahu was to find the traitors and end the sale of stolen military weapons, not bring a cocky Navy SEAL to his knees.The second option sure sounded like fun though.
Chapter 18
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THIRTY MINUTES LATER, Sawyer escorted Riley into a building on base accessible to visitors.As much as their CO would’ve wanted them to meet privately, that simply wasn’t an option.Riley didn’t have clearance to access the secure areas, and she couldn’t get it without tipping her hand as to who she was and why she was really here.As it was, the tattooed guy knew someone had intercepted his delivery.He was probably already suspicious about what had gone down at the bar, and the last thing they needed was for him to somehow spot Riley here.
As they moved into the lobby, Sawyer’s hands twitched.He was itching to put his hand on the small of Riley’s back or take her hand in his own, to show a united front.He was in uniform, however, and meeting with his commanding officer.
The CO turned as they approached, Riley cool and confident at Sawyer’s side.She’d slipped on dark slacks and a button-down blouse, finishing it with a matching blazer.Riley looked pulled together and professional, her hair smoothed back, with just a touch of light makeup.There was none of the sexy eye shadow she’d worn for their date the other night.Sawyer was used to seeing her in a waitressing uniform, and yeah, it was hella different to see her in business clothes.A suit.Riley probably dressed like this every day when she’d been a government employee—that is, when she’d been in the office.
Imagine if Riley had been TDY overseas to areas Sawyer had.They’d seen their fair share of shit in the field but sometimes were at embassies or bases that staffed Americans.Maybe they’d walked right by each other before, and he’d never known it.
Life was funny sometimes.And in the end, she’d wound up where Sawyer was stationed.She was the one who’d asked him for help, and he had to admit, it felt good to know that he had her trust.
“Ms.Moore,” Commander Madden said, holding out his hand.They briefly shook hands as he introduced himself, and Sawyer was pleased to see that Riley didn’t seem fazed in the least to be meeting him.They spoke for a moment before all going to sit in a quiet corner.
“I understand that my team is already trying to ID the man with a tiger tattoo,” the CO said in a low voice, his eyes on Riley.
“That’s correct,” Riley said smoothly.“While I was planning to work alone on this assignment here in Oahu, once I brought Sawyer in, we were able to photograph the suspect at Coconuts.Sawyer did,” she clarified.“It was a stroke of luck, given I’ve been looking for the traitor for weeks.But as I told Sawyer, another sale is meant to go through in less than three weeks.We’re short on time.This is an urgent matter.”
Sawyer scrubbed a hand over his jaw, thoughtful.“What if they grow suspicious and move up the timeline?”he asked.“They might try to smuggle out another weapon ahead of schedule.”
