Page 24 of SEAL's Harmony
“We can stay, unless that old red truck turns into a pumpkin at nine pm.” Harmony giggled.
“Hey, no denigrating my truck. It was my grandpa’s and I love that thing. It is getting harder to find parts for it, though. But as long as I can keep it running, I will.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“Nah, probably stupid and definitely expensive. But I have so many memories of riding around in it with him. Hang around long enough, and I’ll tell you some.” Ry waggled his eyebrows like some dirty old man.
Harmony giggled all the way back to the table, and after she sat down, she realized she hadn’t tripped even though she wasn’t paying attention to where she’d been going.
After another hour passed, Harmony had trouble hiding her yawns and Ry had noticed more than once. If she’d been home, she’d have fallen asleep with one of her romance novels in her hand and her glasses on her face. Instead, she was in an actual bar, sitting with a bunch of real-life heroes, and wondering how she’d gotten so lucky.
“I love your smile. What’s got you grinning in between yawns, or should I say who?” Ry whispered into her ear.
When Harmony turned her head, it put their lips within inches of each other, and her pulse pounded in her ears. All she had to do was lean forward the tiniest bit, and they’d kiss. But that would take way more courage than she possessed, even if his teammates weren’t sitting with them.
“Actually, you kinda did. I was thinking about how lucky I was to be sitting here with all of you.”
“Oh yeah? All of us, huh?”
“Don’t be jealous. You’re my favorite, but if you tell anyone, I’ll deny it.”
Ry threw back his head as laughter poured out. Then he pulled her into a quick hug.
“We’re going to get going. Harmony has work tomorrow,” Ry announced as he helped her up. Whiskey came out from under the table.
“And you have PT at five. Don’t be late,” Quinn said. Then smiled as everyone groaned.
“Fuck, Q. After the month we’ve had, can’t you push it ‘til seven?” Josh asked.
Harmony thought he was kidding about the five am PT until Josh asked for a later time. That was just crazy talk. Seven was a much more reasonable hour.
“You’re a bigger hardass than I am,” Rafe joked.
“Fuck you, Buchanan. No one is worse than you. Okay, seven it is,” Quinn said, and then added, “But that’s only for tomorrow.”
Harmony hugged Chrissy, Sky, and Meghan as she reminded her of the promise she’d made. After saying good night to all the guys, she took Ry’s hand as they made their way to the parking lot, and he helped her get into Grandpa’s red truck.
8
Ry got Harmony and Whiskey settled in the truck, then settled in behind the wheel. “Did you have a good time?”
She turned toward him and smiled. “Oh yes, it was fun. It was great to see the girls again, too.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I wondered a few times if I upset you. Other than the whole girlfriend thing.”
“Eh, it was a surprise to hear it. I understand why you said it, although I still think it’s kind of quick. But it looks like I’m the only one who does.” Harmony pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
It was one of her tells, and Ry wondered if Meghan upset her when they went for their girl-talk. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Meghan said all the guys were happy you’d found someone, and that we were the perfect couple.”
“Seriously? She told you that?” It surprised Ry to hear that. It had to have been Josh wagging his dick beaters to Rafe, since he knew how attracted Ry was to Harmony. “And that makes you unhappy?”
“No, not unhappy. I really like you, but I don’t know you and I already have trust issues after my ex-fiancé cheated on me and let me catch him a week before our wedding. It was horrible. My brain says to run away from you, as fast as I can. But my heart, well, that says I can trust you. And that scares me.” Harmony sighed when she finished and rubbed her face against Whiskey’s head.
Ry’s heartstrings tugged for what she’d been through, and he understood how she felt. Hell. He had an ex-wife who’d done almost the same thing. They didn’t know much about each other, but they could change that if he didn’t have another mission too soon.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I hate that your ex treated you like that. It really sucks. I’d like to teach him a lesson, but it’s his loss and my gain. And you’re right, we don’t know each other well, but if you’re up for giving this a chance, so am I.”
