SEAL Brotherhood 06 - SEAL My Destiny (23 page)

“Luke?”

She melted.
This is what you told yourself you wouldn’t react to.
She knew it wasn’t going to be possible to just forget about him and move on. He’d be a permanent fixture in her tight family unit.

“No. Not Luke. Someone else.”

“Things not work out between you two? You seemed pretty close to me. Mom said—”

Julie had to stop him. “No, Colin. You got the wrong impression. He’s fun, and, yes, we had a good time. I’m sorry we created such a public spectacle.” She chose her words carefully. “Colin, he has some things to work out, emotional stuff, you know?”

“Yeah. A lot of those guys do.”

“I’m guessing he has more of a past than you know. Perhaps it just never came up, but he is a sweetheart, just not the type of guy I can spend very much time with. That’s all.”

“He’s been one solid guy with me.”

“Oh, I would expect nothing less. This has nothing to do with it. In matters of the heart, he has some healing to do. I don’t think either of us is ready to jump into anything long term, despite what it looked like. But it was a fun wedding. And Stephanie looked radiant.”

“Thanks. So, who is this guy you didn’t want to be alone with.”

“The father of a student I’m having difficulty with. He’s a little high strung. I should never meet him alone, and now I’ve fixed that. But yesterday I needed him to know I had allies. Those guys bailed on me, were supposed to be at the meeting. Like I said, I’ve fixed it, Colin. It won’t happen again.”

“You sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. I’m good at what I do, just like you are.”

“Maybe Luke can run protection for you.”

“No. I’m afraid I have to distance myself from Luke for the foreseeable future. He wants nothing to do with me, trust me.”

“I’m sorry to hear it. I thought you two were perfect for each other.”

“Like I said, matters of the heart are different from knocking down a few beers at the local bar, or surfing together.”

“Guess so. But we’ve had some heart-to-hearts. I consider him the brother I never had. That close.”

“I’m happy for you. But you have to stop thinking of Luke and me as a couple. I’ve moved on. I’m sure he has too.”

“So this father is your new guy? You’re dating?”

“Are you kidding? I just said I didn’t want to be alone with him. Absolutely not. He’s an overbearing parent. I’m going on a trip to Vegas with my girlfriend during summer break. Then I’ll see about dating. But right now I’m focused on getting ready for the summer session.”

“Gotcha. Well, I’m still glad I called. Stephanie and I were very worried, sis.”

“Thanks. How’s the Caribbean?”

“God, I could live here. Love to get a little turquoise house down by the beach somewhere here. Just a place to go to relax and forget the world. We met this guy who does these cottage vacation rentals. Next time, no tourist packages, even though the bridal suite at the Grand Caribbean is outstanding. They have this huge aquarium which takes up the whole lobby, and another beautiful saltwater tank in our room. Unbelievable place.”

“Sounds nice.”

“You’d love it.”

“I’m sure I would. Well, don’t want to run up your cell phone charges. Have a safe journey back.”

“Thanks. Wish it wasn’t nearly over. We’ll have you over to the house when we get back.”

“Sounds great.”

They hung up and she made herself a cup of tea and slipped into bed with one of her favorite romance novels. She fell asleep, seeing a white beach somewhere, and feeling Luke’s kisses on her flesh. In her dream state, she saw their fingers entwined, saw him lift her fingers to his lips and kiss them. She asked him all the same questions she’d had before and he smiled and nodded, as if he’d answered them just with his gaze.

Just before she fell asleep she heard him say those words he’d spoken to her just five short days ago.

“I love you, Julie.”

Julie dialed Annalise
first thing in the morning. She’d finished her classroom setup yesterday, and she was feeling restless and a bit bored. She had four days until the summer session began, and wondered if they could work in a trip to Las Vegas earlier than planned.

“I’m at work now. Perhaps I could come down with the flu. We’d have to drive.”

“Exactly what I was thinking. Annalise, I’m so glad you’re able to do it with me. For some reason, I just need this.”

“I got your back, Jules. You know that,” Annalise sighed. “Okay, now I gotta do sick. Meet you at your house in, say, an hour? I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”

Julie drove the
two of them the four hours to Las Vegas. They’d gotten a complimentary room at one of the large casinos thanks to Annalise’s club points from previous gambling trips. The room was huge.

“They love you here Anna.” The strip looked dusty, but would ignite the area with neon at dusk.

“I usually make money every time I come.”

Julie knew it wasn’t true, but let it slide for now. They went downstairs and wandered along the slot machines until they found their favorites. They drank watered-down drinks, and then decided to check out some of the local shops. At one of the sports bars, Annalise stopped.

“This place has great burgers, and seems to attract all the cute guys,” she said. “You hungry?”

“Kinda starved.”

They went inside, having to let their eyes adjust before trying to find a table. Big screen monitors covered the walls. No matter where a person sat, they could watch horse racing with tabletop features for online betting. Several basketball and baseball games were on the monitors, and the bar mostly filled with men.

Boisterous whooping and hollering were coming from the corner where about ten muscled guys appeared to be celebrating a basketball game. Someone tossed a basket of popcorn over someone else’s head.

A head that looked familiar.

Luke!

Julie noted how different the men were. Some were dark and tanned, others red-headed and light-skinned. But they were all built. Huge shoulders, relatively the same age, and all extremely attractive. They had the full attention of a group of girls at a nearby table, but the SEALs seemed not to notice.

What am I going to do?

Annalise was quick to look over where Julie’s attention had gone. “Whoa! I get your drift. Nice! I think we should make a trip to the ladies’, and take a closer look. What do you say?”

“No. I’ll watch your things. I’m staying here.”

“You crazy?” Annalise asked her.

“No. I’ll hold the table down. You go on ahead.”

Julie decided not to tell her who she’d seen. She wasn’t sure what would happen if he discovered her. She decided to just avoid looking in that direction.

She ordered a burger for both of them, and two beers. She considered switching places so she wouldn’t risk another of those furtive glances in his direction she couldn’t seem to help, telling herself each time it was some action she’d seen out of the corner of her eye on the monitor which made her look up. But her eyes always landed on the back of Luke’s head and the curly hair she had loved sifting her fingers through.

In spite of what her head said, her body responded to the sight of this warrior and his strong shoulders, and the brotherhood of the men around him who loved him better than she probably ever could. The ache in her chest was more than just missing the steamy sex, it was because she knew, if he gave her half a chance, which was a big if, she could heal him. Or better said, she’d be able to find a way to help him heal. Because the healing had to come from him. She also knew that unless he was willing, he would not get better, and she would not be able to do more than be a distant bystander.

And yes, she wanted more. She believed she would never find another man who affected her so positively, as though they had some ancient chemistry. Once she’d tasted him she was dead for any other.

The room got blurry and she realized she’d teared up.

Damn.

So no one would see streaks on her face, she turned to stare down at the tabletop and let the droplets land there. And then she wiped them away.

Another burst of easy laughter came from the table in front of her. Suddenly she was too close. Was she somehow smelling his scent? That was just crazy. She tried to look out the window at the ridiculous display of odd tourists walking past the large windows, such a collection of humanity, it could almost be a bar scene from a science fiction movie. Every excess, both beautiful and depraved, paraded past. Her life seemed so ordinary and dull in comparison.

Another wave of laughter filled the room and this time she recognized Annalise’s voice in the middle of it. She looked up, and, with horror, saw her talking to the seated men. She had her palms pressed onto the table in front of them, she was leaning, squeezing herself together the way she liked to do, giving them a hefty dose of her womanly gifts. It was something Julie used to laugh about, but right now, the thought of her friend attracting the young men drove her into a panic. What if she got Luke to come over to their table, or, God forbid, made him turn around?

Frowning, she and Annalise made eye contact, and Annalise motioned for her to come over and join her.

Julie felt sweat prickle across her back while her palms got clammy and her throat dried. She tried to deliver a terrified look to Annalise, who was laughing, talking, and flirting, and not paying much attention to her reaction. It took her some seconds before she realized what Julie had been trying to communicate.

“Don’t know what’s gotten into my friend. Hey! Julie, these guys are from San Diego too!” she yelled over the three or four tables between them.

Julie closed her eyes and squeezed her fists. She would have strangled her friend if she could have.

No. No. No! This is all wrong, Annalise. Don’t do this to me!

She repeated the words several times and then released herself to the inevitable. Opening her eyes slowly, she got a good look at Luke, who had turned to stare at her, and then swallowed hard. The sight of his face sent an electric jolt up her spine. His eyes seemed to envelop her in the blue gaze she’d lost herself in so many times. And then he stood up. The noise level behind him rose while he made his way toward her, past his buddies. His shoulders were swaying above the loose easy gait of his packed torso and thighs.

The air seemed to leave the room. He’d stopped so close to her his knee lightly touched her thigh. She could feel his heat. Her cheeks flushed when she stole a look at Annalise and saw they had an audience of more than just the ten at the table, everyone hanging on every tiny movement. The space between her breasts got damp and the hair on her forearms stood on end amid goose bumps.

But worse, a jumble of nerves and emotions came flooding in, hitching her breath and making her ache—the dull ache reminding her she missed him so much she could, really could, debase herself and ignore all the warning signs. Her will was dissolving more every second he waited for her to respond.

Though she knew it was a mistake, she looked up at him. He was examining her lips so she looked back down quickly.

“Julie, I—” He stopped himself, but the damage had been done. Hearing her name roll of his tongue stimulated every cell. Her body had never needed someone so much while her head was screaming she had to ignore it.

She knew what side was going to win. No question about it.

“May I sit down, Julie?” His gravelly voice was all man. All tender man, which was the biggest turn-on of all.

She could barely talk, so managed to squeak “Sure,” and moved to the side. She didn’t dare look up at her friend or the men who were still observing with great interest.

Luke did what he had no right to do. He put his huge muscled arm up on the top of the booth, so it just barely touched her shoulders and the top of her spine. His fingers were idle, not forcing themselves on her. But she so needed his touch, especially in the special places now coming to life. His thigh pressed against hers made something in her abdomen vibrate.

Inhaling, it was impossible not let the deliciousness of his scent fill her lungs, breathing life back into her, though logic was screaming, alarms were buzzing in the background. Being in his proximity was making all things possible again, promising he’d be focused on her and not wanting to run from her. In a terrible mixture of confusing wonderfulness, she dared to look back at him.

Big mistake. Huge mistake.

Their hungry eyes searched the other’s briefly before studying each other’s mouths, before she involuntarily licked her lips, and he bent so slightly it might not have been perceptible to the outside world, and she fell into the fantasy of meeting him halfway. As their lips touched, a little squeal burst from the back of her throat, followed by his low, rolling growl. His tongue requested entry and she opened to him, to all of him, drinking in his taste and the scent and heat coming from his body.

He adjusted his body to squirm slightly on the burgundy leatherette seat, turning his torso into her, gently kissing down the back of her jawbone, under her chin, and up the other side.

“Baby, we need to talk,” he whispered.

Her wary look made his eyes dance. She could see he liked that thought.

“Okay, whatever you want, then,” he whispered as his lips caressed hers and he sucked on her lower lip. “I’ve been thinking of nothing else but you for these past long days. Trust me, I’ve missed you.”

Her steely resolve had turned to tin foil, in spite of what she was telling herself, what her rational self was jumping up and down screaming. But she couldn’t resist him, wondering how long he would stay this way. Not sure where it was leading, but holding out hope. Somehow hoping she was coursing in the right direction, even without the words. Those would have to come later.

She rolled her head to the side and he covered her neck with kisses she now realized she was more than willing to get naked for.

“Come on, baby.”

He slid out of the seat, checked out his buddies with a quick mock salute, and made a grateful bow to Annalise with a hand over his heart. With his other hand he linked their fingers, slipping them together as comfortably as old friends. He squeezed her hand and helped her stand.