Page 37 of SEAL's Angel
“My dad would come around about once a month that first year. But then it tapered off to a card on my birthday and Christmas. Eventually, those stopped, too. We moved around a lot, and I used to tell myself he probably didn’t know where we were. By the time I was a teenager, I realized he’d been sending her child support, so of course he knew where we were.”
“That really sucks. I’m so sorry.”
Jake kissed the top of her head but didn’t speak for a bit. “My mom was beautiful and cold as ice. Like that chick in the movieFrozen. If she touched you, you’d probably freeze up. I didn’t have to worry about that since she avoided it as much as possible.”
Dawn’s eyes teared up, and she turned so she could wrap her arms around his waist. She remained quiet and waited for him to continue.
When Jake spoke again, his voice was gruff, like he hadn’t used it in a while. “If all of that wasn’t enough, she was batshit crazy. It had been bad with Dad there, but after he left, the paranoid train left the station. I had no idea how to deal with it. I was seven.”
“You don’t have to tell me any more. I can see how painful this is for you.” Dawn leaned up and kissed the side of his mouth. He turned his head and rubbed his lips against hers, sending a frisson of happiness racing along her nerves.
“It actually gets better. She got tired of dragging me from place to place, and when I was fifteen, she dumped me on my grandfather’s front porch. He had a peach orchard and farm in Georgia. Those were the happiest years of my life. I stayed with him until I went to college.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’m so glad you had that experience.”
“Me, too, angel. Me, too. I think I would have been a very different person now without Grandpa Joe. He was the first person I loved, and who loved me back.”
“Is he still alive?” Dawn didn’t think so, considering Jake was close to forty.
“He passed when I was away at college. He left everything to me, but I don’t go back much. It’s not the same without him. His attorney helped me hire a management company to run things. I try to visit once a year just to make sure everything is running smoothly.”
“So the only family you have is the team?” It was more a statement than a question, and Dawn didn’t expect an answer.
“Yup, pretty much. Although, you and the kids are also very important to me. But I haven’t earned my place in their lives yet.”
“I don’t know about that. Cindy loves you already, and Chase has definitely come around. There’s just…”
“Yes, I know, my job. And honestly, I understand your worries. It’s one reason I’ve avoided getting involved with anyone. When the guys met their women and fell in love, I saw how they made it work. Then, for the first time, I wondered if it would be possible for me to settle down with someone. But until I met you, I didn’t think I’d find someone who I’d want to spend that much time with.”
Dawn nodded. They’d discussed their thoughts on relationships before, but this was the most he’d ever shared, and she wasn’t sure what to say.
“How about we change the subject? Like the fact that we’re alone in the middle of nowhere, and I’m sitting next to a gorgeous woman who smells like fresh peaches. All I can think about is how I want to pull you onto my lap and kiss you until you can’t think straight.” Jake’s dazzling smile sent a sizzle of desire along her nerve endings.
Oh man, I’m toast. When he looked at her like he wanted to devour her, she couldn’t resist him if she wanted to, and she didn’t want to.
“Any objections, angel?”
“None.” Her voice sounded hoarse and sexy and totally unlike her.
Jake didn’t waste any time and lifted her onto his lap like she weighed nothing. Her father would have said he was built like a brick shithouse and he wouldn’t have been wrong. As far as she could tell, Jake didn’t have any soft spots.
As she sat facing him, her legs on either side of his hips, her gaze traveled down his chest and to the erection pushed against the front of his jeans. Grabbing his biceps, Dawn scooted closer until his cock nestled against her sex.
“You’re killing me, angel.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be. I’ve dreamed of this moment. Of holding you. You belong in my arms, in my bed, in my life. All you have to do is say yes.”
Dawn’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed into his steel-gray eyes. His vulnerable expression pulled on her heartstrings. She smiled and pushed a lock of his brown hair from his right eye. Her fingertips caressed the side of his face and over the day’s growth of beard. Her bravery only went so far, even though she wanted more.
“Jake…”
He dipped his head and took possession of her mouth in a panty-dropping kiss. His tongue slid against hers and then swept over the inside of her mouth, tasting like mint and coffee.
Jake rubbed up her back and into her hair. He cupped her head and angled it to deepen the kiss. Then he leaned back, his hands shifting back to her waist, and holding her against him as they caught their breath.
Even the cool breeze didn’t ease the fire that burned inside her from his kisses. It was like he had some extra panty-melting gene that activated when his lips touched hers.
