Page 34 of SEAL's Angel
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Jake loved listening to Dawn and Rafe’s interactions and would have a lot of ammunition to use against Rafe when they got back to Virginia. It was how he’d imagined a perfect family would interact. What he’d dreamed of having as a child.
At first, he’d wondered if the love she’d always shown her family had been what piqued his interest in her, but he’d been kidding himself. They’d met at a party to celebrate their selection to their first SEAL team. When Rafe introduced them, she’d hugged and thanked him for keeping her brother’s ass out of the fire. He’d been dumbstruck when she’d stepped back with her cheeks aflame.
Then her husband had stepped forward and shook Jake’s hand, and knowing she was married hadn’t stopped the too rapid thump of his heart. Jake had liked Bob a lot. After he’d heard that Bob was killed in action, Jake’s guilt kept him away from Dawn at first. But he couldn’t help himself and had texted her about a month later.
That was almost two years ago, and he’d worked hard to be there for Dawn, to be her lighthouse during storms, her rock, always there when she needed someone to lean on.
It changed during her last visit to Virginia with the kids. The kiss.The. Kiss.It had rocked him to his toes, and he’d sworn the ground moved as he wrapped her soft body in his arms. The scent of peaches had enveloped him, and when his tongue slid against hers, nothing had ever felt so right.
Until that day, he’d been able to convince himself that he wanted her because she was off-limits—forbidden fruit. But when their lips touched, he’d wanted more of her, in and out of bed.
“Jake?”
“Yes?”
“Where were you? You need to turn left up there.”
“Sorry. I was thinking about something.” Jake looked toward her and gave her a big smile.
“That was obvious. Talk about a distracted driver.” Dawn smiled and shook her head.
Jake kept his focus and followed Dawn’s directions to their designated campsite. It was a beautiful spot. He loved the dense trees surrounding their site and the fresh pine scent as he inhaled. Then he heard rushing water that had to be from a mountain stream. It really was the perfect spot.
“This place is amazing. No wonder you love it so much,” Jake said to Rafe.
“It definitely is. I’d forgotten how much I missed this. It sure beats the hell out of the hills and caves in Afghanistan.
“Yeah, no kidding.”
“Remember the kids are here, try to watch the bad language.” Dawn reminded them as she grabbed two sleeping bags out of the back of the Jeep.
“Yes, ma’am.” Rafe laughed and threw a pinecone at her head.
She turned around and stuck her tongue out, making Jake chuckle. It was like she’d blossomed since yesterday. He wasn’t sure what had triggered the change, but he loved it. Was that where this was going? Lust, yes, and unrequited lust at that. But if he were honest with himself, it was more, a lot more. Or he wouldn’t feel the need to protect her and the children.
“You going to stand there all day, slacker?” Rafe asked as he grabbed a few things out of the back and carried them over to the site.
“Uh, yeah, sorry,” Jake answered. His brain was still trying to process his feelings for Dawn, and that she’d finally agree to give their relationship a chance.
“Hey, you okay?” Rafe asked.
“Yeah, yeah, calm your old tits. I’m fine.” Jake reached into the back of the Jeep and grabbed the duffle bag full of tent parts.
“You’re the old man, old man. Don’t be calling my tits old.”
“I don’t know, they’re looking a little droopy.”
“How old are you guys? Seriously?” Dawn appeared to be struggling not to laugh but not succeeding. “You’re not setting a very good example.”
“It’s all good. Right, kids?” Rafe asked and winked.
“Yeah, it’s all good, Uncle Rafe.” Cindy was too busy searching for firewood to be and probably didn’t even know what he’d asked.
They all had their jobs. Apparently, Chase would normally help set up the site, but since he couldn’t stand on his foot, Dawn asked him to blow up the air mattresses for the sleeping bags.
It was more than apparent that Dawn had done this several times. She assigned everyone a task, and within a half hour, they had the campsite set. Once the tent was up and the sleeping bags in place, they grabbed the coolers from the Jeep. After they ate dinner, they’d return the coolers to the Jeep to keep the bears away. They didn’t need any unexpected furry visitors.
