Page 5 of SEAL's Paradise
Chapter 3
Present Day
“WHY ME?”SAWYER ASKED, his gaze on Riley.Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything, and he got the sense that she was deciding how much to reveal.At least with her sunglasses now atop her head, he could better read her expression.
And hell.
Those deep brown eyes might just be the end of him.How had he never noticed how sexy she was before?He’d always thought she was pretty, sure, but this version of her?Holy hell.It was her shift in attitude that had his attention now.The tight clothes.The tattoo he’d somehow missed.His gaze ran over her bare arms, and he wondered if she had ink anywhere else on her body.
It sure would be fun to find out.
“Stop checking me out,” she chided.
He grinned.“No can do, kitten.You’re a beautiful woman.”
He wasn’t imagining the slight trace of pink suddenly heating her cheeks.His grin widened, and he watched as she tried to compose herself.“The other men on your team play by the rules,” she told him.They have women in their lives.Girlfriends, fiancées.I need someone who’s not afraid to toe the line, maybe cross it if necessary.”
Sawyer chuckled.“And your options landed on me.”
“If the shoe fits.”She pursed her lips again, and his eyes were drawn to that sexy pout.He could imagine lots of things he’d like to do with that mouth.He didn’t doubt she’d smack him right now if he suggested any.Pity they were here to talk shop.He could think of a number of ways better suited to spend their time.
“I need help, Sawyer.Time is running out, and you’re already on the inside.I could probably drum up fake credentials and gain access to base, but that will take time we don’t have anymore.You’re already there.”
He cocked his head, studying her.“Why don’t you work for the government anymore?Piss off too many Feds?”
“Something like that,” she murmured.
“Prove that you’re who you say you are,” he challenged.
“Your last mission wasn’t entirely a success.”
Sawyer raised his eyebrows, and Riley continued.“Your team deployed to South America and saved Avery, Ryan’s girlfriend, but you didn’t save the other nurse.Luciana is still missing, most likely in the hands of a cartel.”
His jaw ticked.“You could’ve heard us talking about it.While our missions are classified, Avery is a civilian just like you.”
“Your birthday is June 7.You’re an only child.You joined the Navy fresh out of high school and were top of your class in BUD/S.Should I share your height, weight, and rank, too?”
“I’m listening,” he said, his voice steel.
“I need to find the people involved in this.There’s one person who’s in contact with the buyer, whose messages we’ve intercepted.That’s the suspect I believe frequents the bar.”
“The guy who looks like me,” Sawyer taunted.“Shouldn’t be too hard to find.”
She glared at him.“Except I need evidence.A name.I don’t know where he’s going, who he’s meeting, or who else is involved.Once I find the correct sailor, I’ll still need to conduct surveillance.He’s not transporting those missiles alone.They’re loaded onto a vehicle, concealed, and somehow shipped offshore.We originally suspected the buyer was meeting to assist in the transport, but new intelligence has shown the buyer is not on the island.”
