by Susan Stoker
“What happened?” one of the other men asked.
“She fall in?”
“She hurt?”
“I’m trying to find out, if you’d shut up and give me a second,” the man holding her said.
Kenna couldn’t help but grin slightly.
“Right, so…you fell in?” the man asked once more.
Staring into his dark eyes, Kenna was embarrassed all over again. “Not exactly. See, I was running up there,” she said, indicating the path next to the lagoon. “Minding my own business, and I saw you. You were face down. Floating.”
The man’s lips twitched, and Kenna spoke faster, just wanting this over with. “I thought you were drowning, okay?”
“So you jumped in to save me?”
“Yeah,” Kenna said sheepishly. “But you obviously aren’t drowning, and I’m an idiot. So I’ll just be going now.” She looked over at the rocks meaningfully.
“We’re SEALs,” one of the other men said, obviously trying hard not to burst out laughing.
Aaaaand…Now her humiliation was complete.
“Didn’t you see the scuba flag?” her not-drowning victim asked.
Turning her head, Kenna saw the red and white flag bobbing in the water nearby.
“Obviously not,” she said with a shrug. “I just thought you were drowning and acted.”
“Well, I appreciate it. I’m in charge of safety for our training today, so my job is to hang out up here while my team does their thing under the water. Which is why it probably looked like I was a dead body. Anyway, I’m Marshall.”
“Kenna,” she said, feeling as if she were in the twilight zone. Treading water in the ocean and meeting a hot guy, a Navy freaking SEAL at that, wasn’t what she thought she’d be doing today.
“Be back, guys,” he told his friends.
“Don’t mind us, Aleck,” one of them said.
“Yeah, training can wait,” another added.
“Pretty girls come before scuba any day,” a third called out.
“I thought you said your name was Marshall,” Kenna said.
“It is. My nick name is Aleck, it’s what most people call me,” he said. “But you can call me Marshall.”
He kept hold of her arm and began to swim with her toward some rocks a bit away from his buddies, where it looked like she could climb up and out of the water somewhat easily.
“I can swim,” she told him.
“I know,” he said, without letting her go.
When she reached the rocks, Kenna wanted to scurry up as fast as she could, but clearly the man had other ideas.
“Don’t be embarrassed that you were trying to help me,” Marshall said. “Seriously, if more people got involved when they saw something wrong, I think the world would be a better place.”
“But nothing was wrong,” she told him.
Marshall shrugged.
“Right. Okay, well then…have fun with your training and whatnot,” she said lamely as she reached up to grab one of the rocks and pull herself out of the water. She’d come to terms with her body a while ago, and had a pretty healthy self-esteem, but exposing herself in her sports bra to this man who didn’t have an extra ounce of fat on him—based on what she could see from that wet suit he was wearing—wasn’t exactly high on her list of things to do.
And she couldn’t hang out in the ocean all day. The sooner she got out, the sooner she could get back to her apartment to try to pretend this never happened.
“Can I see you again?” he asked suddenly.
Kenna froze. “What?”
“I mean, I’d like to thank you properly…for trying to save my life and all.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, Marshall sounded…unsure. Why this man would ever need to be unsure while asking someone out, she had no idea.
“Um…okay,” she said without thinking. Then mentally winced.
“Great,” he said with a smile. “When? Where?”
“Duke’s? I’ll be there tonight.”
The second the words were out of her mouth, Kenna wanted to take them back.
“Sounds good. Is seven okay?”
Kenna nodded.
She could’ve sworn she felt Marshall’s thumb brush against her upper arm before he swam away from her.
“See you later then. Be careful.”
“I will.” Kenna began to climb out of the water, refusing to look back to see if Marshall was watching her. When she got to the top, there were a few people running by, but no one really offered to help. Luckily, her shoes were still lying where she’d left them.
Not able to resist, she looked back down into the water and saw Marshall staring up at her.
She gave him a lame wave, then rushed to her belongings. She grabbed her shirt and shoes and headed back the way she came. Exercising was done for the day.
Why had she told him to come to Duke’s? Yes, it was a super popular restaurant on Waikiki Beach, so she wouldn’t have to worry about being in danger if he showed up. But she was working tonight, and as a waitress, it wasn’t as if she could sit and hang out with him.
“Stupid,” she muttered to herself.
But she couldn’t help taking one last look behind her as she hurried down the sidewalk. Marshall was back with his friends now, and they were all smiling as he said something to them.
Shaking her head, Kenna turned back around and squished her way back toward her apartment.
How’s that for a hilarious meet-cute? Jumping in the water to save a Navy SEAL?!? ha! Find out what how their first date goes and what trouble is in the horizon in Finding Kenna!
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Also by Susan Stoker
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SEAL Team Hawaii Series
Finding Elodie
Finding Lexie
Finding Kenna (Oct 2021)
Finding Monica (May 2022)
Finding Carly (TBA)
Finding Ashlyn (TBA)
Finding Jodelle (TBA)
* * *
Eagle Point Search & Rescue
Searching for Lilly (Mar 2022)
Searching for Elsie (Jun 2022)
Searching for Bristol (Nov 2022)
Searching for Caryn (TBA)
Searching for Finley (TBA)
Searching for Heather (TBA)
Searching for Khloe (TBA)
* * *
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
* * *
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey
Securing Avery
Securing Kalee
Securing Jane
* * *
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (novella)
Rescuing Annie (Feb 2022)
* * *
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian
Shielding Kinley
Shielding Aspen
Shielding Jayme (novella)
Shielding Riley
Shielding Devyn
Shielding Ember (Sep 2021)
Shielding Sierra (Jan 2022)
* * *
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
* * *
Ace Security Series
Claiming Grace
Claiming Alexis
Claiming Bailey
Claiming Felicity
Claiming Sarah
* * *
Mountain Mercenaries Series
Defending Allye
Defending Chloe
Defending Morgan
Defending Harlow
Defending Everly
Defending Zara
Defending Raven
* * *
Silverstone Series
Trusting Skylar
Trusting Taylor
Trusting Molly
Trusting Cassidy (Nov 2021)
* * *
Stand Alone
Falling for the Delta
The Guardian Mist
Nature’s Rift
A Princess for Cale
A Moment in Time- A Collection of Short Stories
Another Moment in Time- A Collection of Short Stories
Lambert’s Lady
* * *
Special Operations Fan Fiction
http://www.AcesPress.com
Beyond Reality Series
Outback Hearts
Flaming Hearts
Frozen Hearts
Writing as Annie George:
Stepbrother Virgin (erotic novella)
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.
If you enjoyed this book, or any book, please consider leaving a review. It’s appreciated by authors more than you’ll know.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
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