SEALs of Summer 2: A Military Romance Superbundle

by S. M. Butler

  Carsen didn’t know where she was. She would hold onto that with all she had. Because going back was not an option.

  As she stepped onto the landing the hairs on the back of her neck bristled. Much as they had when she first got here. She recognized the feeling.

  Someone had been in her house.

  Pulse racing, she walked down the open hallway to her bedroom. Even before she went in she knew someone had indeed been there.

  Her gaze scanned the room, stopping on the bed. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. There, on the white coverlet lay a pink piece of stationary. Just like the one Grey had written his number on.

  Feet heavy, she moved closer to the bed. With a shaky hand she reached out and picked up the paper decorated with sea shells along the bottom. She read the neatly printed message. A poem. Three short lines.

  The room began to swim. Reganne opened her hand and the note drifted to the floor, sliding across the hardwood floor.

  Before her legs gave out she dropped down on the bed. It couldn’t be. She’d done everything she was supposed to do. Moved half-way across the country. Followed all the protocols. Didn’t go out. Didn’t date. Never gave her phone number out. Stayed off the internet. Dammit, she’d even gotten rid of her Kindle and read paperbacks now.

  Numb, she stared at the stationary lying so peacefully at her bare feet. Except it wasn’t tranquility she felt.

  It was terror.

  *

  Grey knocked on Reganne’s door. This was probably the worst move he’d ever made, but life didn’t often give second chances and he wanted to see Reganne again. At least take the plunge and ask her out for dinner or coffee.

  His pulse actually sped up at the thought of seeing her again. That had never happened before.

  Damn.

  Raking a hand through his hair, he waited. As seconds ticked by he began to regret his decision. What if she didn’t want to see him?

  Or maybe something had happened. She’d been spooked earlier, although she covered it up pretty damn good.

  His regret morphed into concern as seconds turned into a minute. He knocked again. The sun had just begun to set so she couldn’t be in bed yet.

  Just as he reached for the handle, the door cracked open. Reganne’s lovely green eyes stared back at him.

  “Hey.” He shuffled his feet on the deck, attempting to steel his SEAL nerves.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came back to ask you to dinner. Or coffee.”

  The door opened farther. At least she didn’t slam it in his face.

  “You came back to ask me out?”

  God, he sucked at this. Precisely why he didn’t do the whole dating thing. So much easier to go to a bar and let the women come to him.

  “I did.” Maybe he shouldn’t have. Her body language wasn’t encouraging. More defensive. With a hint of something in her eyes he couldn’t decipher. “Is everything all right?”

  She didn’t answer right away, setting off alarms in his gut. They’d gotten along great at the party. Until something happened to make her want to leave suddenly. That something hadn’t gone away.

  Her phone rang from inside the house. “Hold on one sec. That could be the hospital. I’m not on call, but it might be one of my patients.”

  She disappeared. Grey waited, hearing the murmur of her voice as she answered. Then silence. Seconds later he heard her cell phone hit the floor.

  Pushing through the door he saw Reganne standing by the sofa, face pale.

  “Reganne?”

  She jumped, turned wide, startled eyes to him.

  He approached her slowly. “What happened? Who was on the phone?”

  Her gaze dropped to the floor where her cell had landed. “No one.” She knelt down and picked up the phone with a shaky hand. “No one was there. Must have been a wrong number.”

  Definitely not a good liar. That call had shaken her up and he’d be damned if he left before he found out why.

  He crouched down beside her, placing his hand over hers. “You can trust me.”

  She refused to meet his gaze. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  Not what he’d expected her to say, but he’d take it. “I’d love one.”

  That seemed to reset her. With a deep breath and a nod she slipped her hand out of his and stood. He rose to his feet.

  “Take a seat,” she offered. “I’ll make a pot.”

  Grey moved to the facing sofas divided by a coffee table and sat down. Reganne set her cell phone on the island dividing the living room and kitchen before starting the coffee. As he looked around the open, breezy house he wondered where all the personal touches were. No photos of family on the walls, no paintings or art of any kind. No plants. There were some medical books on the bookshelf but other than that, nothing to let him know who Reganne McCain was.

  “Nice place.” The coffee pot started to splutter.

  Reganne opened a cupboard and pulled out two mugs. “Thanks. Do you take cream or sugar?”

  “Black. Been here long?”

  “Eight months.” She handed him one of the mugs before sitting on the opposite sofa. “I’m hardly ever here.”

  “Busy schedule. I get that.” His own house mostly sat empty. With his career he didn’t spend much time at home. There was no one to come home to and no one to keep plants alive during his deployments so he didn’t have any, either. He supposed a doctor’s schedule resembled a SEAL’s; she just didn’t leave the country.

  “You’re probably not home much either.” She tucked a bare foot beneath her, holding the cup with both hands.

  “Nope.” He sipped his coffee. Good blend. Strong and smooth. “Wanna tell me what has you so shaken up?”

  “Not really.”

  He let out a short burst of laughter. “Not what I expected you to say, but okay.”

  She smiled over the rim of her cup. “What did you expect me to say?”

  Her smile, although not a full one, lit up her face. He wanted to see her smile more. “I guess I thought you’d confide in me.”

  “But you’re a stranger.” Her tone had turned teasing.

  “Do you always invite strangers in for coffee?”

  “Touché.”

  He took another drink. She seemed a bit more at ease than before. Good. He didn’t like seeing her upset.

  “So how about now?”

  That made her laugh. A light, airy, musical sound that made his chest lurch.

  “Points for persistence,” she said. “But, really, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  “What if I want to worry about you?”

  Slowly, her gaze lifted. “You do?”

  He set his cup on the table and leaned forward. “Yes.”

  Chapter Three

  ‡

  The way Grey stared at her, direct and honest, with those intriguing eyes of his, made Reganne’s stomach flutter. She had no doubt he meant what he said. That made the moment even more intense. Could she confide in him? Tell him everything?

  And risk his life, too?

  Not happening. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. Not to mention attractive with eyes and a body to die for. She refused to drag him into this. Somehow, she would handle it. Hopefully with her life intact.

  Anger coursed through her. It wasn’t fair. She deserved a normal life. One where she didn’t have to look over her shoulder or lock her doors every night. One where she didn’t wake up from a nightmare seeing Carsen’s face.

  Dammit, she wanted to date. Be free. She wanted to go out to dinner with this handsome man. Maybe even spend the night with him. Just because she could.

  After the note and the phone call she knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Startled out of her thoughts by Grey’s voice, Reganne gripped her cup. “You didn’t.” God, he must think her a nutcase by now.

  “Who did?”

  He read her like a book. An
d she’d thought herself good at hiding her emotions. To escape his keen gaze, she pushed to her feet. “Would you like a refill?”

  “No, I’m good.” He rose to his feet. “I have to get on the road.”

  “Oh. Do you live far away?”

  He carried his cup to the sink. “No. I’m only a few blocks here. I’m heading up to my grandparents’ cabin for the weekend.”

  Disappointment stabbed through her. Did he have someone waiting for him there? Just because he asked her out didn’t mean they were exclusive.

  She followed him into the kitchen and put her cup in the sink next to his, then walked him to the door. He paused. Her breath caught. Had a man ever smelled so good? Like the beach and the ocean mixed with pure, raw male.

  “How about dinner on Saturday night? I know this perfect little Italian restaurant downtown.”

  “Demarco’s,” she guessed, remembering meeting Cloe earlier that evening, who was married to the dashing SEAL named Donovan.

  “You’ve been there?”

  She shook her head. “No. But, if their food is as good as what they brought to the party then I’d be a fool to say no.”

  Had she just agreed to a date?

  “So it’s a date then. I’ll pick you up Saturday at seven.”

  Guess that meant he wasn’t spending the weekend with someone. Her heart did a slow roll in her chest. “I thought you were going away for the weekend.”

  “Toliver is only forty-five minutes away.”

  She’d heard of the small, mountain town. Popular for fishing tournaments and kayaking. The parent of one of her patients lived there and always bragged about the fishing.

  “I don’t want to interrupt your weekend.”

  Grey stepped onto the porch. “Too late. You already agreed to dinner. I won’t take no for an answer now.”

  She didn’t want him to. Even though she knew this was a bad idea. “Then I guess I’ll see you Saturday at seven.” With a smile she waved him off, watching his strong, agile stride as he walked down the beach toward the Taggarts’ cute little gingerbread house.

  When he disappeared from sight she closed the door, armed the security system, and leaned against the door. Her eyes shut and she inhaled deeply. She could still smell him. It made her belly clench.

  Such a strong reaction to a man she’d just met. Not even with Carsen had she felt this way. And she’d thought herself in love with him.

  Pushing those thoughts away, Reganne went through the house and locked the doors. But, she left the windows open. She’d destroyed all the poems Carsen had written to her long ago. The possibility the one she found today had gotten missed and ended up in her packing boxes kept her from locking herself away from the world. From giving him the power over her again. The call could have easily been a wrong number. Just because no one had been on the other end, even though she’d swear she’d heard someone breathing, didn’t mean Carsen had found her. The man she’d seen on the beach today simply resembled Carsen. Wouldn’t be the first time she’d thought she’d seen him in a crowd. Probably not going to be her last. Her past would always haunt her. That, she knew for sure.

  What she had to do was focus on the here and now like she had been the past eight months. Work toward putting it all behind her and not letting it control her life.

  Easier said than done, but she’d been doing pretty well. Leaving the windows open at night was a big step for her. Socializing, even bigger. She hadn’t realized until the party today how isolated she’d become.

  That wasn’t her. She’d always been an open, out-going person. Somehow, she’d return to being that person.

  Going out to dinner with a hot Navy SEAL was the perfect place to start.

  *

  “So, did you ask her out?”

  Grey leaned down and planted a kiss on Darci’s smooth cheek. “My lips are sealed. But, thank you.”

  A self-satisfied smile lit her face. “I knew you two would hit it off. She’s the perfect woman for you.”

  “Don’t listen to her, Stone. She set me up last week and it was a disaster.” Mikey approached, popping a piece of cake in his mouth.

  Darci smacked Mikey’s arm. “It was not. You didn’t give her a chance.”

  “She wouldn’t stop texting during dinner.”

  “She was probably texting about how awesome you are.”

  “I am pretty awesome.” Mikey grinned.

  Grey punched him in the arm.

  Mikey’s grin widened. “Ouch.”

  Darci rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Grey’s. “Go away. I want to talk to Grey without you trying to talk him out of dating. Shoo.” She waved her hand at Mikey, who grabbed a handful of chips and popped one in his mouth.

  “If it gets me off your radar then I was never here.” Mikey gave a small wave and jogged toward the beach where he no doubt was going to find his own date. Kreegan had no trouble finding dates. Women flocked to him wherever they went. And not just because he was a SEAL.

  “Is he ever going to settle down?” Darci murmured with a shake of her head. “All right, back to you and Reganne. You two looked like you hit it off pretty well.”

  “She’s nice.”

  “Nice?” Darci parroted. “That’s all you’re giving me? You really have to get out more.”

  Not the first time he’d heard that.

  “Would it make you happy if I told you I invited her out to dinner this Saturday?”

  Darci beamed at him. “Yes, it would. I knew it. I saw you turn around and go back to her house. Where are you taking her?”

  “Demarco’s.”

  “Perfect. Don’t order anything with garlic.”

  “It’s an Italian restaurant.”

  She snapped her fingers. “They also serve Irish food. Ever since Cloe revamped their menu they’ve been introducing more Irish dishes.”

  He’d tried the Irish stew the last time he visited the restaurant. As with everything the Demarco family cooked, it was delicious.

  “Is my wife harassing you about the pretty pediatrician?”

  Taggart. Rescued.

  Darci let go of his arm to slug her husband in the chest. Jack grunted good-heartedly. “Pretty pediatrician?” She sent Taggart a look of half-teasing, half-warning.

  “That’s my cue,” Grey said. “I’m outta here.” He bent to whisper in Darci’s ear. “Congrats again. You’re going to make a beautiful mom.” She and Tag had made the announcement after he returned from walking Reganne home. Even as he shuddered at the thought of getting a woman pregnant, he’d never seen Tag so happy. And Darci practically glowed.

  Darci squeezed his forearm. “Thank you. Drive careful.”

  He saluted his buddies and headed for his truck, happy to be out of interrogation. He’d already packed for the weekend, so he drove straight for the cabin. All the way there his thoughts were on Reganne. Part of him wanted to turn around and go back to her house, make sure she was all right. The other part convinced him to keep driving and avoid her thinking him a stalker for showing up at her house again.

  For the first time in a long time he looked forward to a date.

  Chapter Four

  ‡

  At precisely seven o’clock Saturday, Grey knocked on Reganne’s door. He’d fished most of the day, but couldn’t stop thinking about her. That had never happened before. Fishing Toliver Lake always calmed his soul. Made him feel close to his grandparents, who’d been the only source of stability in his life. This weekend, however, the solitude hadn’t relaxed him. He couldn’t stop thinking of Reganne and that got his blood boiling. In the best way possible.

  The lock clicked and the door swung open. Reganne stood there wearing a red and white floral dress that flowed past her knees in the front and nearly to her ankles in the back. It didn’t cling to her curves, yet it accented her slender figure. Her toes were painted red to match her dress, showcased in a pair of leather sandals that made his heart race. He’d always loved a woman in heels. Sexy a
s hell.

  Her hair hung loose down her back and across her bare shoulders.

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured.

  A soft smile tilted her lips. “Thank you.”

  Now he didn’t regret stopping by his place and changing into a pair of khakis and dress shirt.

  “Ready?”

  She picked up her purse from the table next to the door and stepped onto the porch. The scent of honeysuckle drifted past him. He crooked his arm and after closing and locking the door, she slid her hand through, her delicate fingers resting on his forearm.

  Feeling like a king with his queen, he walked her to his truck and opened the passenger side door. He’d even had the sense to clean it out before picking her up. As she settled in the seat, he rounded the hood and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  It only took a few minutes to drive to Demarco’s. He found a spot in the rear parking lot and guided Reganne through the door with a hand on the small of her back. Incredible aromas greeted them.

  “It smells amazing in here,” Reganne commented as they passed the kitchen. Deuce’s older brother Luciano and his wife, Camila, were cooking tonight. Both waved as they passed. Grey waved back as the youngest of the three Demarco sisters, Angela, met them at the counter.

  She smiled when she saw him and he leaned down to kiss each of her cheeks. A tradition with the Demarco ladies.

  “Greyson. So nice to see you. And with a date. Meglio tardi che mai.” Angela winked at him and pulled Reganne in for a hug.

  “Oh,” Reganne said in surprise, hugging her back with a baffled look at him. The Demarcos were a friendly bunch; he should have warned her ahead of time.

  “I have the perfect table for you. Follow me.” Angela grabbed two menus and led them through the crowded restaurant toward the back.

  He waited for Reganne to sit, then helped her push in her chair before sitting across from her.

  Angela set the menus in front of them. “I’ll have Marcello pick a wine to go with your dinner.”