Page 4 of Playboy

“I’ve worked with him and a couple of the others a few times.”

She scrunched her eyebrows together, trying to guess who he worked for since the MSRT works with several groups.

He must’ve seen the question churning in her head because he continued. “I’m a SEAL,” he said casually, but Gabby’s eyebrows shot up.

She shouldn’t have been surprised, given the way he carried himself, but still, it threw her off. She took a moment to process that. A SEAL with the call sign Playboy? Yeah, her instincts were screaming at her now. This guy was probably a heartbreaker. Just as she was about to say something else, a woman’s voice interrupted them.

“There you are, Playboy! We’ve been looking for you,” a strawberry blonde-haired woman called out as she walked down the stairs and practically draped herself over his arm. She looked Gabby up and down, unimpressed, before turning back to him. “Come on, everyone’s waiting inside.”

Gabby felt a pang of irritation.Too bad that damn board couldn’t have tripped her.She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but it wasn’t this. Playboy looked at the woman, clearly uncomfortable.

“I’ll be there in a few, Vicky,” he said, prying her octopus arms off him and gently steering her back towards the stairs. The woman did not appear happy being brushed off. She looked over her shoulder and gave Gabby a little sneer before sashaying herself back up the stairs where she came from.

Turning to look at Playboy, she met his intense eyes. Something had shifted in them in a matter of seconds because that playful gleam they had held earlier was gone, only to be replaced by what she considered guilt or frustration. His jawtightened, and he swallowed hard. He looked like he was at war with himself.

Gabby took that as her cue to leave. She shrugged off his jacket and handed it back to him. “Thanks again for, you know, saving me,” she said, forcing a smile. “But I should go. It was nice meeting you. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Gabby…wait—” He started, but she didn’t let him finish. She was already walking away but gave him a quick wave over her shoulder.

As she walked back to her car, Gabby couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions—embarrassment for nearly face-planting, relief for being caught, and confusion about her reaction to Playboy. Part of her had been intrigued by him—those eyes, that smile—but then the woman showed up, and it was clear what kind of guy he probably was—aPlayboy!

Typical. A guy named Playboy? I should’ve trusted my instincts. Handsome, sure, but probably nothing but trouble. And I’ve had enough trouble for one night.

She unlocked her car and slid into the driver’s seat, shaking off the cold. As she drove away, she couldn’t help but think about those eyes one last time.Fuck me!

???

Playboy watched as Gabby walked away, the cold air stinging his cheeks, but he barely noticed. His eyes followed her until she disappeared into the front yard, and he couldn’t shake the disappointment settling in his chest.

Damn, she’s something else—quick reflexes, a sharp tongue, and those blue eyes. Hell, she’s a little dynamo.

He hated that Vicky had shown up when she did. The woman had been chasing him for months, always showing up at events, trying to cozy up to him. He wasn’t interested, though. Vicky andother women like her only liked the idea of being with a Navy SEAL. However, they never looked deeper than that. He wasn’t some playboy, despite his call sign.

But Gabby? She was different. She had that confident, no-nonsense vibe, and finding out she was Leo’s teammate had impressed him more than he’d expected. A woman in the Coast Guard’s MSRT was impressive. She had to be tough, capable, and fierce. They were all things Playboy found incredibly attractive.

Never in his thirty-one years had his body ever reacted to a woman like it had with Gabby as he held her petite frame in his arms. He couldn’t deny the intense attraction he felt towards her. However, his heart about jumped out of his chest when he saw her falling backward down the stairs. Thank God for his quick reflexes. His instincts had kicked in with lightning speed. He didn’t want to imagine what would have happened had he not been there to catch her.

He glanced back at the house, where the party was still in full swing, then back in the direction Gabby had left. He had no desire to go back inside. Not anymore.

He wanted to know more about Gabby because he was definitely interested.

He’d give Leo or one of the others a call and get the scoop on her.

With that decision made, he turned away from the party, hands in his pockets, and walked off into the night.

CHAPTER ONE

9 Months Later

The choppy waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashed against the hull of the Coast Guard cutter, sending sprays of salty mist into the air. The sky was an inky black, plunging the vast ocean into darkness.

Gabby stood on the deck alongside her teammates, awaiting confirmation from their colleagues in the air that the yacht they were tracking was the vessel that was suspected to be involved in prostitution, human trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs.

The cutter was filled with people from various government agencies who were all taking part in the operation. However, Gabby’s team had the most challenging task with the initial boarding and search and, hopefully, the recovery of innocent victims on board.

The idea of women trapped on board, being held against their will by wealthy men, disgusted her.

She adjusted her tactical vest, ensuring her equipment was secure. The mission was critical, and she knew that every second counted once they boarded the yacht. She felt a mix of anticipation and determination coursing through her veins.

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