Protected in His Arms: Elite Texas SEALs

by Castillo, Holly

  With all the chaos of the last several months, though, it had been nearly a year since she had last been with a man, and most of her friends she turned to had gotten involved in deep relationships with other women. While she hoped their relationships thrived, she needed to release pent-up sexual frustration. Santo simply pushed that need into hyper over-drive. He exuded male confidence and strength, and from the way her body responded to his hands just holding her arms, she could only imagine what it would feel like to have them touching her everywhere without the hindrance of clothes.

  Her face suddenly felt hot and she clicked on the tiny fan she kept on her desk. The courthouse, having been built in the early 1900s could be sweltering in the summer and barely tolerable the rest of the year, given that it never got cold in south Texas. They were officially in the “dog days of summer” as they wrapped up August and eased into a new school year, and the heat and humidity draped over them like a steamed blanket.

  She glanced up as Judge O’Connor stepped out of her office with a new stack of papers. “I know tomorrow is supposed to be a light day, but I’ve had this sitting in my office forever, and I’ll need you to work on filing everything.”

  Evie eyed the stack and tried her hardest not to laugh. “This wouldn’t by any chance be the stack of papers I’ve been asking you to return to me for the last four weeks, would it?”

  The judge pursed her lips at her though her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Fine, Evie, you’ve made your point. I swear, sometimes you are like a bulldog that just will not let go!”

  “That’s why you love me so much.”

  “I do love you, but only because I’m terrified of you.”

  Evie let out a burst of laughter. “As if I’m the frightening one in this office. I don’t get paid enough to be frightening.”

  “You’re lucky I get to have an assistant at all. Otherwise, I’d be stuck with the clerk, and who knows what would happen day-to-day around here.”

  “If it wasn’t for Nancy, you wouldn’t be able to keep up with the Commissioner’s Courts, the special elections—heck, any elections for that matter, or half of the things that are always pulling you sideways.”

  “Nancy has been around since this town was founded and moves as fast as a snail. You know that.”

  Evie gave the judge a wide-eyed stare of mock horror. “You can’t say things like that! She might have her hearing aid turned on this week.”

  The judge bit down on her lower lip, obviously restraining a smile, and dropped the stack of papers on Evie’s desk with a grand flourish. “On that note, I’m heading out. You should get going soon, too. It’s already nearly six. Sometimes I think I take advantage of you.”

  “You do,” Evie replied with a smile. “Which is another reason you love me.”

  “Good night, Evie.” Judge O’Connor threw the strap of her satchel over her shoulder and turned towards the stairs leading down to the ground level.

  “Be sure you have Everett walk you out!” Evie called after her.

  The judge paused in mid-stride and turned to look at Evie, her face suddenly tense. “Why?”

  “I always tell you to have whoever is on security to walk you to your car when you’re one of the last to leave the building.” Evie watched Judge O’Connor walking back towards her slowly, and an unexplained chill slid down her spine. She suddenly felt uneasy, as if the calm, fun banter they had been sharing had suddenly changed into something very serious and very dark.

  “Did Santo say anything to you when he was here earlier?”

  Evie blinked rapidly. She certainly hadn’t expected that question. “He asked to schedule time to meet with you next week. It’s already on your calendar.”

  “Is that everything he said to you?”

  Evie observed the tight lines around the judge’s lips and the wrinkles in her forehead and wondered if she had missed an important piece in her conversation with Santo earlier. “He, well, he did mention that he wanted me to watch out for you. He gave me his card and asked me to call him if I felt anything seemed out of the ordinary.”

  The judge looked flustered and frustrated. “It’s nothing to worry about, Evie. I’d just throw his card away if I were you.”

  When she began to turn away again, Evie couldn’t help but say something else. “Who is he to you? If I have crossed a line asking you, I’m sorry. But we know each other fairly well, and you’ve never told me about him. He cares a great deal about you.”

  Judge O’Connor shrugged one shoulder. “We met in Austin, where I grew up, and have been friends for many years. He’s just another cowboy.”

  Her answer seemed far too flippant to Evie. Based on the way she had greeted Santo and the hour they had spent talking in her office, she suspected far more existed between them. “Should I be worried for your safety? You haven’t seemed yourself lately.”

  When the judge hesitated briefly, Evie’s stomach began to twist into knots. Finally, the judge shook her head. “No. It’s nothing. It will all be sorted out soon enough, and it’s not worth even losing a moment of sleep over. You know me, Evie. I trust you more than anyone in this world. If there is something I’m legitimately worried about, I’ll let you know.”

  Evie nodded and forced herself to smile. “Santo isn’t the only one who cares about you. I hope you know that.”

  “Of course I do. And I’ll have Everett walk me to my car. Now hurry up and get out of here yourself. I hate it whenever you work longer hours than your boss. You make other people think I’m a slave-driver.”

  Evie’s smile turned genuine. “Yes, Judge. We wouldn’t want that to happen.”

  An hour later, Evie sighed heavily as she put up the rest of her files for the night. She couldn’t stand leaving such a large stack of unfinished work on her desk. Having finally worked it down to a manageable size, she could leave without it eating at her for the rest of the night.

  Her Thursday night routine waited for her. Baggy pajamas, a microwave meal, and intense studying. She had less than a year left before finishing her law degree and she couldn’t be more excited to pursue her dreams. Still, some Thursday nights she reserved for important time with her friends Anya and Elena. She needed to call them as soon as she got home. She wanted the scoop on Santo.

  She never got tangled up with local guys. But Santo called to her in all the right ways. If nothing else she could at least fantasize about the man.

  She waved goodnight to the security guard, Everett, who shook his head at her, glancing at the clock as she walked by. He always made sure to stay until the entire courthouse had been cleared, and she knew he had every right to be annoyed with her. Inwardly she cringed, hating to have put him in such a position. She needed to find a way to work out the right work/life balance and not be so consumed with her need for so much structure and order with her work.

  The sky had quickly moved from dusk to twilight by the time she exited the courthouse and headed to her car, ready to kick off her shoes and stretch her aching feet. Only a few feet from the car someone in the shadows moved and her heart leaped into her throat. Instantly her hand reached for the Taser gun in her purse and she froze.

  The tall, muscular cowboy who called himself the saint of death stepped forward into the dying rays of sunlight, pushing his hat back on his head to watch her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “You weren’t joking when you said you would Taser me, were you?”

  “Mr.-um, Santo. You surprised me. Judge O’Connor already left.”

  “I know. I told her to have a good evening. She warned me to be nice to you.” A smile lit up his face and she saw the dimple in his cheek once again.

  Her heart pounded in her chest, but she slowly released her grip on the Taser. Had he been waiting for her for nearly an hour after Judge O’Connor left? And why would the judge tell him to be nice to her? She latched onto that thought. “Do you typically have to be instructed to be nice?”

  Surprise crossed his features before his smile returned. “
No, not usually. But it seems Francis thinks very highly of you and wants me to be on my best behavior around you.” His eyes scanned the area around them. “Why didn’t you have Everett walk you out?”

  “You know our security guard?”

  “You could say that. We met earlier today when I checked in to see Francis. We kind of hit it off and I kept him company while we waited for you to wrap up.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed hard. Why was he waiting for her? “Well, as you can tell, I can take care of myself just fine. Have a good evening.” She began to move towards her car, but he took another step forward.

  “I could have a good evening… If you would come to dinner with me.”

  She froze in her tracks. She couldn’t remember the last time a man had asked her on a date. Not an actual sit down, let’s have dinner kind of date. He is asking me on a date, isn’t he? Or am I reading this wrong? “Santo… I don’t think that would be a very good idea.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “And why would that be?”

  “I’m-I’m horrible company to be around. Really. I just don’t think it would make for a good evening for you.”

  “What if we pretend it’s not a date?”

  “It’s not?” Okay, so I am reading into this wrong.

  His lips twitched. “Technically, it is. But we can pretend it isn’t, and that I just want time with you to pick your brain about your boss. We can pretend we’re both on a spy mission. Your goal is to get as much information out of me, and my goal is to get as much information out of you.”

  Evie groaned. “Okay. Whatever matchmaking game Judge O’Connor is playing can stop now. I’ve got plenty on my plate without the need to complicate things any further.”

  Santo arched an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

  “Clearly you two talked. She’s always telling me to pull my head out of law books, even though she spent as much time if not more doing the same to get where she’s at. But this…” She waved her hand between the two of them. “This is going too far.”

  “What makes you think Francis is trying to play matchmaker here? She had nothing to do with this. I just want to get to know you a little better. Is there something wrong with that?”

  Evie let out an unladylike snort. “Sure. You just happen to know that mysteries and spy games are my favorite. You just stumbled upon this spy idea by accident.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t know if I should answer that or let you try to figure it out on our date. You could already be playing the game and trying to distract me.”

  She shook her head, confusion, and curiosity pulling at her. “You are quite an arrogant man. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Am I supposed to take that as an insult or a compliment? I prefer to say I’m very confident. If by luck, I’ve somehow landed on a topic you’re very interested in, I think I have every right to be confident your natural curiosity will compel you to join me tonight.”

  Evie shifted her weight from one foot to the next. Her favorite studies in school revolved around forensics and criminal psychology and making sense of the key questions. She also happened to be obsessed with every spy novel she could get her hands on. It seemed far too much of a coincidence for him to suggest their date be based on something she loved.

  Just as she opened her mouth to snap off a sharp reply to his presumptions, her cell phone chimed in her purse and she fished it out. The display glowed with a text from Francis saying “Give him a chance.” Is she watching from somewhere nearby?

  She drew a deep breath. If the judge gave him her stamp of approval, she needed a break from studying and the chance to laugh. “So we’re both spies, is that it?” She couldn’t help but begin to smile at him.

  “Yes.”

  “And how do we know who wins in this contest of wills?” I’ve got to keep a level head here. There’s a reason I don’t get mixed up with the locals! Before I know it the whole town will know if I sleep with this guy.

  “Whoever has the most imaginative, yet believable, story of the two, will win.”

  “And what will be the prize?”

  “Dessert, of course.”

  Evie felt a laugh bubble in her chest. The idea had such intrigue and allure to it, she could feel her resolve crumbling. He must have sensed it, as well, because he walked up to her until they stood nearly toe-to-toe and he offered her his arm. “Shall we go, Miss Gordon?”

  Her hand trembled slightly as she slid it within the crook of his arm and she felt the bunch of his biceps. His muscular build only fueled her fantasies further. Oh, this could go wrong in so many delicious ways. She looked up at him and he smiled down at her with a devil-may-care expression. “Lead the way.”

  The large truck he drove didn’t surprise her, especially given that she knew how rough the roads were that led to his ranch. He opened the door for her like a perfect gentleman, and she couldn’t decide if she felt surprised or disappointed when he didn’t touch her to help lift her in the truck. A combination of both seemed most likely.

  “I hope you don’t mind traveling to Falfurrias. There aren’t many Italian restaurants in Hebbronville, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “A mysterious request to dinner and now you tell me it is for Italian food? I’m beginning to wonder if you are going to tell me next that you are a member of the mafia.”

  “Hmm. Already trying to solve the mystery and our dinner hasn’t even started. You are a shrewd one, Miss Gordon.”

  She laughed, enjoying his quick wit. She had forgotten the excitement of having a conversation with a clever and interesting man, the pounding of the heart, the anticipation of what could happen next. “Call me Evie, please.”

  “Very well, Evie. So before we begin our dinner, why don’t you tell me a little about you?”

  She studied his face. “You mean you didn’t already get the dirt on me from Anya and Elena?”

  “That would ruin our entire adventure tonight, wouldn’t it?”

  “And you don’t think me telling you about myself now won’t ruin all the fun?”

  “We don’t have to guess if our stories are accurate. Just which one sounds more entertaining and realistic.”

  “So are we already telling our stories?”

  “Or the truth, if you’d prefer. I would like to get to know you a little better, Evie. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Her smile slipped slightly. “There really isn’t that much to know about me. I’ve led a rather unadventurous life.”

  “Those can sometimes be the best kind.” His tone came across serious, and she glanced at him sideways and saw his smile had also slipped. She wondered what had caused the change. “Adventure is far too often overrated.”

  Interesting. Coming from a man who refers to himself as the saint of death, I would have expected something more dramatic. “I went to Texas A&M, as did just about anyone around here who has a degree. I studied pre-law, then decided to move forward into the real world before getting my law degree.”

  “So you became an assistant to a county judge. That’s an interesting path to take.”

  “I certainly meet characters of all kinds. Some for petty theft, some for breaking and entering, some for beating their wives. Some are innocent, many aren’t. The system fascinates me.”

  “Is that why you’re pursuing your degree in law now? Ready to go at it with everything you have?”

  She hesitated, glancing out the window as they came close to Falfurrias. “The law intrigues me. I want to help people, and I can see a path for me as a lawyer, and maybe one day as a judge. I want to stay near Hebbronville, so I may have to practice out of Laredo or another nearby city. I love it here. I have ever since I took my job working for Judge O’Connor.”

  “It is an amazing town. There’s something about the people… Maybe it’s in the water.”

  She laughed again. It had been a long time since she had felt so light and free around a man. She didn’t put any expectations on the
outcome of the night. She wouldn’t do anything until she talked to Anya and Elena regardless. She needed to know more about the man before going further.

  “Here we are.” He turned into the parking lot of a quaint Italian restaurant and smiled at her. “Let the games begin.”

  Chapter 4

  Her heartbeat faster at his words and his smile. Why did he have to be so incredibly good-looking and charming? She waited for him to come around to her side of the truck and open the door for her, extending his hand to help her step down. Who says chivalry is dead?

  They walked into the restaurant with her hand hooked in his arm and the waiter smiled at them like they were two lovebirds. He immediately took them to a small booth toward the back of the restaurant quieter than the front and lit by candles on the table.

  She hesitated slightly before sliding into the chair Santo pulled out for her. It had been years since she had been on a “date.” She didn’t even know how things were done any more. She decided to just play it safe and follow his lead.

  He ordered red wine for both of them, then, with her agreement, mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. When the waiter had delivered their drinks and taken their orders, Santo turned his full attention on her.

  She began straightening everything on the table, fidgeting mostly, before drawing a deep breath and letting it out slowly. She had no reason to be nervous. She certainly had no intention of investing any feelings in the man. She had learned the hard way how dangerous that could prove to the heart years ago. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again. She needed to stop obsessing about every little thing he did and simply enjoy the moment.

  “So who shall begin?” he asked, raising his eyebrows speculatively.

  “Well…” she began, tilting her head to the side as she observed him, “you invented the game, so it’s only fair for you to get it started, don’t you think?”