Page 46 of SEAL's Paradise
Chapter 20
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SAWYER SAUNTERED THROUGHthe parking lot on base the next day, feeling like a new man.He’d hung out with Riley at the bar last night, made sure she got home safely, and then crashed.In his own bed.And despite being there all by his lonesome, it had been a damn good sleep.He and his teammates had finished their quick op, and he felt strangely settled once he saw Riley.Sure, they still had plenty of work to do involving her case, but something about seeing her had made him feel like things were right in the world.It was odd because Sawyer had never felt the need to rush to any other woman before when he returned from a mission.Far from it.It hadn’t even been long.Sawyer had been gone for forty-eight hours, but he hadn’t been able to get the beautiful brunette out of his head.
Seeing the surprise on Riley’s face and kissing her hello had been one hundred percent worth it.He’d even followed her in his truck and walked her right up to her condo door—kissing her again, because he loved to hear her little whimpers and feel the way she clung to him as he held her.
Shit, he had it bad.It was like she’d been in front of him for months, hidden in plain sight, and someone had flipped on the light switch.Now she consumed his thoughts, and Sawyer had to admit, he didn’t hate it.
Pausing a moment before he headed into the building, he shot off a quick text.
Sawyer:Good morning, kitten.My bed was awfully lonely last night.
Riley:Maybe you should’ve slept on the couch then.;)
Sawyer:My girl’s full of jokes this morning.
Riley:So now I’m your girl?
Sawyer:Seems that way given I’m gonna wife you up.
She didn’t reply again, and he chuckled.Riley was fun to tease.The woman was too damn serious and focused on work sometimes.Sawyer figured a guy like him was good for her.Sure, he could be serious when the situation called for it, but you only lived once.Why not enjoy life to the fullest extent?
The irony was, at the rate things were progressing, it was unlikely he’d actually need to marry her.Riley wasn’t working this case alone anymore.Sawyer and his entire SEAL team were assisting.
“You’re in a good mood,” Austin said as Sawyer headed into the locker room, whistling.
“Course he is,” Hudson said.“I know for a fact he went to Coconuts last night to see his lady.”
Sawyer chuckled, slinging his bag down and spinning the combination dial on his locker.“She’s still convinced it’s all pretend, that we’re just putting on a show because we’re fake engaged.”
“Isn’t it pretend?”Wyatt asked with a frown.
“I mean, the fake engagement, sure.I still need to get her a ring,” Sawyer added as an afterthought.“But I can admit I’m into her.The secret undercover work, the hidden tattoos.It does it for me.”
“Hidden tattoos?”Hudson asked with interest.
Sawyer shrugged.“She’s got a rose and thorns on her back.I only saw that when she wore a sexy little dress on our date.I’ll find the others though,” he assured him.“I’m positive there’re more.”
