“I need to sell it soon so I can rent an apartment.”
“If you love living by the water, why move?”
“I—”
She shakes her head. “Sorry. Not my business.”
I clear my throat. “Okay. Well, you ready to come on board?”
Her hand leaves mine, and she steps back, folding her arms across her chest. Her clutch presses tightly against her breasts. Her lower lip has the slightest tremble, something most people wouldn’t notice, but I’ve been trained to notice any little change in people. I’ve interrogated some of the sickest fucks in the world. I can practically see the tick of her pulse in her neck climbing up, and even if my eyes were closed, I’d hear the change in her breathing.
“I’m so sorry.” I rest my hands on both her forearms to calm her down.
Startled, she tips her chin up and looks me in the eyes.
“I should have never brought you near the water, but I also don’t want to leave you on the docks while I jump in the shower, so—maybe I’ll just go out smelling like sweat and remain covered in dust.”
A small smile slips across her face. “No, I think the man of the hour should at least show up to his own party clean.” She chuckles a little, and the sound fills my ears and makes my heartbeat bump up a notch.
My hands move up her biceps, and I’m so close to her that my body is almost flush against her chest. “What if you go below deck?” I have to look down at her to see her eyes, to get a read on her level of comfort. “Would you feel better if you didn’t see the water?”
Do I sound like some creepy psychopath inviting her into a basement? Jesus.
“I think I can do that.” She nods, and I release her and step back.
“Take my hand.”
“Mind if I keep my eyes closed and you guide me? I—” She swallows. “I guess I can trust you since you offered to lay your life down for this country as a SEAL. I think what you guys do is amazing.”
Her brows pinch together, and I swallow as I note the subtle change in her. She’s focused on me now, not the water. If it’s easier for her to come on board, then she can picture me naked if she’d like. Hey, whatever helps.
“Well, I don’t serve anymore, so—” My jaw tightens, my body tensing a little.
“Once a soldier, always a soldier, right?”
I bow my head and look at her free hand. “Yeah, I guess.”
I hold my palm up, then she closes her eyes and her shoulders relax, as I guide her onto the boat.
“Two more steps to the stairs,” I say while watching her navigate the deck in her heels, relying only on my hand and the sound of my voice.
She opens her eyes once we reach the tiny downstairs of the boat, and I flick on the sole light in the room. “You’re a good leader. I didn’t even trip once.”
The way she’s looking at me has my dick standing on alert. Her eyes are laser-focused on mine, and we’re standing in the small space at the base of the short set of stairs, so close together that I can almost hear her heart beating.
Then she takes a step back, breaking her hold, and looks around the cabin. There’s not much to see. A stove, fridge, and well, the bed occupies most of the space.
She glances at the plaid bedspread, which looks like something from the eighties. Her gaze falls back on my face a moment later, and she nods at the door off to the side of the steps. “Bathroom?”
“Yeah, let me just grab some clothes, and I’ll be in and out fast. Make yourself comfortable.”
And there goes my dick again as I watch her sit on the edge of my bed, her dress sliding up to show her toned thighs. I bet she could wrap herself around my hips and hold herself there just with the strength of those killer legs.
I clear my throat, grab some black slacks and a tee, and go into the bathroom. I don’t normally wear anything other than jeans, but I’ll be going out with Grace at my side. I guess I need to upgrade my wardrobe somewhat for the evening.
I strip out of my clothes and toss them on the floor in the bathroom then turn on the water. My hand darts up to the wall to hold up my weight as I lower my head, the cool water crashing over me.
After five minutes and an attempt to get dressed and ready quickly in the tight space, my large frame bumping against the walls as I pull on my slacks, I exit the bathroom and find Grace standing in front of the bed. All I want to do is pin her down and see how good she tastes. I’d press my mouth to the inside of her thigh and work my way up.
No, scratch that. I’d start on the inside of her calves and take my time. She’s the kind of woman who deserves every ounce of a man’s attention.
“You clean up nice.” A smile lights up her face.
If I were in the desert, I’d swear the woman was a mirage. “Thanks.”
“You like jazz?” She’s holding one of my vintage vinyl as she glances at the record player on my small kitchen table. It basically occupies the entire table, but it’s too important to me to store.
“My mother was a singer when she was younger. Jazz. Blues. All that good stuff. She got me into the music.” I grab my loafers from under the bed, my makeshift shoe storage. My sister made me buy them last weekend for such occasions because my flip-flops, sneakers, and boots weren’t cutting it. Cam ratted on me after our trip to Club Y, and I decided I’d rather buy some shoes than get another earful from Bella.
“Miles Davis is great. ‘Blue in Green’ is one of my favorites.”
My brows pull together in surprise as she removes the record from its sleeve.
“Do you mind if I put it on?”
I nod like a fool, unable to do much else as I watch her lift the needle. The notes from the piano drift to me, through me, all around me. I get sucked in as Grace closes her eyes, her fingers sweeping across the base of her throat, taunting me. It’s another place I suddenly want to kiss.
Her hips sway. “This is a little bit of heaven, isn’t it?”
“That’s one of my mom’s favorites. Mine too.” I clear my throat. “I’m surprised you like it.”
Her eyes open, and she angles her head. “Why?”
I shrug. Cindy hated my collection of vinyl. “I don’t know.”
“I studied music in college.”
Her words catch me off guard. “Really?”
“Well, I did for a year until my father said it was a waste of time.”
“A waste?” I cross my arms. When she remains quiet, I ask, “Sing? Write?”
A smile tugs at the edges of her mouth, and she shakes her head. “No to singing, and any songs I tried writing sounded more like Dr. Seuss books.”
I laugh. “I doubt that.” My shoulder presses against the fridge, and she’s wedged between the bed and table, maybe two feet away from me.
“I played instruments, though.”
I straighten and cock my head a little, studying her. “Which ones?”
“Piano. The cello. Even the guitar.”
“The guitar?” Warmth wraps around my body at images of Grace strumming strings.
“What? You sound surprised.” She lifts the needle and stops the record then slides the vinyl back into its sleeve.
“I’m a country boy, remember? So the idea of you playing a guitar is pretty damn hot.”
She squints a little at me and crosses her arms. “Maybe I used to jam out to Led Zeppelin on an electric.”
“Either way,” I say while smiling, trying to picture her headbanging to rock, “it’s sexy.”
Our eyes meet again, and it’s as if I’m seeing this woman almost for the first time. The hard exterior Grace sported when we first met has dissolved into a puddle at her feet, and right now she’s this beautiful, exposed woman. No walls. No bullshit.
“We should get going.” And her shield claws and scraps its way back up, protecting her. She quickly brushes past me, heading out of the cabin, killing the moment.
But there can’t be any moments between us, I remind myself and follow her. But I don’t get far. She’s st
anding at the entrance to the deck, frozen in place.
“You okay?” Shit, I shouldn’t have let her up here alone. “Here. Let me help you off.” I touch her back and guide her with my hand on her hip.
“It’s a stupid fear.” But she’s shaking. An obvious tremble moves through her as I help her off the boat.
“Let me lock up.” I hop back on board, lock the cabin, then meet her on the dock. “You good?”
Her gaze flashes over my shoulder to the water, but she nods.
“Come on, let’s get you away from here.”
“Sorry you had to see me like that,” she says in a soft, almost delicate voice once we’re farther from the water and closing in on the bar.
“You know it’s okay to be scared of some things. It’s called being human.”
“Yeah, well, um, I think I see Jessica.” She’s escaping whatever possible depth of a conversation we could have potentially slipped into. That’s probably for the best.
I follow her gaze and notice Jessica entering a little brick building that has a green flashing sign hanging outside, which says P&D.
I brush off the weird desire to hold Grace’s hand as we walk in silence the last few hundred feet to the bar. I step back and open the door for her, and when we enter the bar, I see a ton of familiar faces. They look my way and smile, raising their beers.
“You know them, I take it?” Grace asks.
“Yeah. Mostly military guys.”
“I was expecting them to at least yell ‘surprise.’”
I glance around the room, noting my sister is heading our way. “Well, it’s not usually the best idea to jump out and scream at a soldier.” And I assume she catches my drift because as my eyes land back on hers she nods.
“The look on your face is priceless!” Bella is in front of us now, but she’s quickly averted her gaze to the gorgeous woman at my side. “Oh. Hi, Grace. Wh-what are you doing here?”
“Noah invited me,” Grace says, hesitation in her voice.
I feel my sister’s gaze burning through me, but I can’t look away from Grace. My heart is skidding around, and the brakes don’t seem to be working.
“Ahem.” At the sound of a voice approaching, I finally pull my eyes away from Grace. It’s Luke.
“Hey, man.” I give him a quick one-arm hug. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, you too,” Luke says.
“How’d you pull this off?” I ask Bella.
She wraps an arm around Luke’s then nudges his side a little. “Luke, Jessica, and a few others helped me. Everyone’s here. Well, everyone who isn’t currently overseas on duty.”
A lot of my old SEAL buddies are now civilians, but many of them are lifers. They’ll serve until they’re booted.
“Noah!” Owen and Sam come up next to Luke. We were in BUD/S training together, but we ended up on different SEAL teams.
I’m still standing near the entrance, and I notice Grace has gone further inside and is talking to Jessica. At least she won’t feel totally out of place in a room full of a bunch of SEALs.
But what the hell am I so worried about Grace for? She’s not exactly some meek and shy woman. And she’s not mine to worry about.
“Been too long, brother.” Owen grips my shoulder. He’s about my height and build, but with lighter hair and darker eyes. “At least you haven’t let yourself go to shit.” He laughs as he taps me in the arm with a right hook.
“Like you,” I say. “How’s life in Charleston? You staying out of trouble?” Owen and Sam work at one of Luke and Jessica’s security firms there.
“Hell no. Why would I go and do that?” Owen brushes a hand through his dirty-blond hair, which he’s let grow longer since I saw him last. He was always the wild card amongst us, getting in trouble at training, almost getting kicked out. But the guy’s a lot of fun, and he’ll take a bullet for you. And he did, in fact, for one of his team members.
“You know Owen.” Luke flashes a smile. “The offer still stands if you want to come and work with me.” He rubs his hands together. “Like good old times.”
He’s been asking me to join Scott & Scott Securities since my feet touched the ground after my last deployment. “As tempting as that sounds—”
“Hell no,” Bella interrupts. “I need him for my business. You have almost all the guys working for you. Don’t go stealing him on me.”
She chuckles, but I know she’s not kidding. I wouldn’t join Luke and Jessica’s company anyway. I’d have to work for their cyber division here in New York so I could stay near Lily, and I’d lose my mind behind a desk. The alternative is to do what Owen, Sam, and the other guys do—protect people and whatnot. That could be fun, but I left the SEALs to be here for Lily, and I can’t go running off again. Although Cindy would love that, I’m sure.
Owen claps his hands together. “So let’s get this party started. There are a lot of fuckers here who want to see you!”
God, I need this. I really do. To be around friends who know how it feels to be swimming in the dark. Trying to adjust to a new life, one that doesn’t involve a sniper rifle.
When I move through the crowd of people gathered here to see me, I can’t help but look at Grace. She’s talking to one of my buddies now. Her eyes find mine across the room, and I swear the music and the loud chatting dims at that moment.
She takes a sip of a cocktail and finally looks back at my friend, Sam.
I think my heart skips three beats, but I know my body is just reacting to a hot woman. I haven’t had sex since those random hookups I barely even remember months ago—God, I need to, though.
I need to get this woman out of my system.
I notice the subtle breath she takes before bringing her drink back to her lips. She wants me too.
But I’m the so-called safe one in my group of friends—the “good guy.” I wasn’t cheating or screwing around on Cindy. I wasn’t jerking off to Playboy magazines like most of my team. I loved my family. And now—now I kind of don’t want to be the good ol’ boy, the one who worries about everyone else first.
My body heats and my muscles tighten at the thought of abandoning my principles. But hell, I know I won’t do it. I won’t act on impulse.
I’m a father. I can’t be reckless. So, no matter how much I want to have a one-night stand with Grace, I know I won’t use her because that’s just not who I am.
“You still good with brunch Sunday?” Bella asks Jessica, who is now at her side.
I wonder if Bella’s already told Luke and Jessica why we’re meeting tomorrow. She’s been asking me for months to hit them up for an investment…now I have no choice. If we don’t make more money, I may not be able to win against Cindy in court.
“Yeah. And are we on for dinner tomorrow night?” Jessica directs her question to Grace.
“Definitely,” Grace answers.
It’s strange how we’re all connected. Then again, maybe not. If it weren’t for Jessica’s friendship with Bella and her friendship with Grace, my sister wouldn’t have landed the gig that brought us all together.
“I never asked, but how do you know Jess and Luke?” I look at Grace.
“I outfitted her office with the best cyber protection known to man,” Jess eagerly answers for her and nudges Grace in the side.
Grace smiles. “And I assume you and Luke met in the military?”
I nod.
“You’ve been out for, what, three or four years?” Grace asks Luke once he joins in on the conversation.
“Four,” Luke says.
“And thank God he’s out because my business would just be Scott Securities. Adding that extra Scott just spices it up so much.” Jessica chuckles.
“It’s so damn pretentious, don’t you think? Like we’re lawyers or some bullshit.” Luke shakes his head and drinks his beer.
“Well, we have six locations now, and we offer a lot more than cyber protection thanks to you.” Jessica nudges Luke in the side.
“You would’ve done fine
without him. You’re a computer genius,” Grace notes. “Wish I’d had you guys in Athens with me, though.”
“Like Athens, Georgia? Or the Athens?” I ask.
“Greece.” Grace touches her stomach and looks down into her now-empty glass. Her dark lashes splay across her smooth, golden skin, and I can sense the pain inside her. It makes me curious as to what’s upsetting her, even if I have no business knowing.
“What happened?” I prod.
“Nothing.” The word came from her lips so fast, I nearly missed it.
Jessica clears her throat in a not-so-subtle way to notify me that this conversation is off-limits. “Come on, this is a party. We should dance.” She grabs Bella’s arm.
There isn’t a dance floor, but that doesn’t seem to stop her.
“Oh, I’m not really—” Grace shakes her head, but Jessica snatches her glass and sets it down then reaches for her arm.
The guys step back so the women can dance. There’s a hip-hop song playing, and Grace begins to move her hips to the music. She’s laughing at something Jessica says to her.
I fold my arms and lean back against the bar, continuing to observe them as a slow smile creeps up on me. Grace holds the hem of her dress and mimics Jessica’s moves, then she begins to run her fingers down her chest as she dances. Grace looks up and shrugs at me, and my mouth broadens into a deeper smile.
“This place is a sausage fest. The few women here are mostly taken.” My cousin Cam slaps me on the shoulder. “Happy birthday, man.”
“Thanks, but don’t feel obligated to stay since there aren’t many women for you to hit on.”
“Shit. She looks familiar.” Cam’s eyeing Grace.
How could he ever forget her? The moment I saw her in the bar that night, her face became permanently etched in my memory. You don’t forget a woman like her.
“Bella and I are remodeling her place.”
“But…” Cam faces me, looking a little speechless.
“Ironically, she’s the same woman you struck out with the night we went out.”
He laughs. “So did you. But here she is now. You think I can take another shot?”
“No.” I didn’t mean to say it so fast, but the idea of Cam going near Grace isn’t something I’m comfortable with.
Someone Like You Page 6
