Page 17 of Rescued by a SEAL

“It sounds dangerous,” she said.

He nodded. “It can be, just like any other job in the military. But that’s why we train hard and drill together. We have to be prepared for anything. And like I mentioned before—sometimes we do have to up and leave at a moment’s notice. We have hours to be wheels up. So, if you don’t see us around, or you haven’t heard from me for some reason, it’s not because I’m avoiding you.”

“I understand,” she said softly.

“You haven’t been around Anchors much either though lately. I haven’t seen you there since we got back from our last op aside from tonight. I have to ask, is everything all right?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. It’s just…complicated.”

She turned to look at him as they pulled to a stop at a red light, taking in his strong profile. His eyes briefly met hers in the dim light.

“I know we don’t know each other well,” he said, his voice gruff. “Hell, I’d like to get to know you better. I think you know that. But if you’re having trouble of some sort, you can tell me about it. Whatever it is, I’ll do my best to help you.”

He glanced over at her again as he pulled forward, and she sighed. “It’s just kind of a weird situation,” she admitted. “I didn’t really want to drag you into it.”

“Try me,” he said easily. “Can I go with you to pick up your car? If it’s a money issue or something, I can talk to them. You paid way too much for that tow a few weeks ago. If anything, they can take that off the cost of the repairs.”

“No, no, it’s not money,” she said flushing as waves of embarrassment washed over her. At least it was dark inside Mason’s SUV. He was a Navy SEAL for goodness sake. He probably got hazard duty or some kind of bonus every time he was sent out on a mission. She was just a waitress—granted, she loved her job and the freedom the evening shift gave her. She had free time to pursue her passions like photography and just enjoy life by the beach. It wouldn’t be the first time someone thought she couldn’t afford something though.

“So, there’s a problem with your apartment?” he hedged. “You’re staying with a friend….”

“It’s my ex,” she said, nervously wringing her hands together. “He’s at my apartment right now.”

“He lives with you?” Mason asked, his voice tight.

A beat passed.

“No, no, nothing like that. We broke up a month ago, but he keeps showing up. He came over earlier, completely wasted, and wanted to crash there. I called out from work at first because I didn’t think I should leave.”

“What do you mean?” Mason asked. His voice sounded dark. Dangerous. She was used to him flirting with her, but this was a new side of him. Suddenly he was all business, and he didn’t sound happy about what she’d said.

“He showed up drunk earlier. It’s not the first time,” she admitted. “I just—”

“Does he have a key?”

“No, and if he did, I’d change the locks. I don’t want him around at all, actually, but he’s been coming over more and more. I just didn’t want to make him angry and refuse to let him inside.”

Mason didn’t say anything, and Taylor glanced over in his direction. She couldn’t fully see his profile in the moonlight, but his jaw was clenched, his fists gripping the steering wheel. He took a deep breath, and for a beat, she worried that maybe she shouldn’t have told him.

That he was mad at her.

“Are you…upset?”

“At you? Hell no. Taylor, sweetheart, if he shows up when you don’t want him around, you do not have to let him in. You broke up, and he needs to accept that. No matter what he says or what he tells you, you have the right to tell him no. Call me next time, and I’ll be there immediately. I don’t care what I’m doing, who I’m with—I’ll drop it and come.”

Taylor blinked, slightly flustered as a feeling of warmth spread through her. Mason wasn’t angry at her, he was angry on her behalf. Because of her asshole ex.

Just like her best friend had been.

She had to admit that Mason was a lot more intimidating than Bailey though. If Bailey had mouthed off to Eric, he’d probably just laugh in his drunken stupor and push past her.

But Mason?

She didn’t doubt that he could handle Eric. The trouble was, Mason was gone a lot of the time. She helplessly shrugged. “I don’t know when he’ll come, and you’re not always around. Not that you have to be,” she hastily added, “I just mean sometimes you guys disappear for a while, so I figure you’re out of the country or something….”

Her voice trailed off. Mason hadn’t explicitly told her what they did when he left, but she could put two and two together just like anyone else. He didn’t just disappear—his entire team did. And then a few days or few weeks later, they’d be back as if nothing had happened.

He didn’t have to say that they were traveling overseas on missions for her to figure that one out.

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