Page 47 of Rescued by a SEAL

Chapter 12

Taylor carried a tray of drinks across Anchors the next night, her gaze sweeping to the door every time it opened. She chastised herself for being so fixated on watching for Mason. For expecting him to come strolling in the front door every couple of minutes. They’d just spent hours together on Sunday. A romantic picnic on the beach, running through the rain together, making love back at his apartment.

And though she’d had the day off yesterday, with plenty of time to replay the weekend again and again in her mind, he was back on work. Busy with the guys on his team.

Mason was a freaking Navy SEAL. Those guys trained hard on base every single day. Drilled out on the water. Conducted scenarios and simulations she couldn’t even imagine. It’s not like he had a desk job where he could sit around and day dream.

Mason and his buddies usually came into Anchors once a week or so for drinks, but it’s not like he was here every night with his friends and hadn’t shown up. Just because they’d slept together didn’t mean he’d be here all the time. It didn’t mean they were together. They still hadn’t even made plans for another date yet. Mason had sent her a couple of flirty texts last night, but he was occupied at work. And rightfully so.

“You okay?” her friend Amy asked, pausing on her way across the restaurant with an empty tray in her hand.

“Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just distracted.”

Amy shot her a knowing look. “So is a second date in the works?”

“Not yet,” Taylor said with a smile. “Mason’s been texting me though. You know how some guys follow that ‘wait three days to contact the girl’ line of thought? He’s not like that at all, which is refreshing.”

“I haven’t seen them in here since Friday night.”

“Nope,” Taylor agreed, a tiny kernel of doubt seeping in. “They’re busy with training and stuff on base.”

“Oh yeah, I believe it. I just thought he’d be in here more now with you two dating or what not.”

Taylor nodded, pressing her lips together. Amy didn’t mean anything by that—she was just making an innocent comment. Taylor hated to admit that she’d had that exact same thought though. Wouldn’t it be romantic for him to just show up out of the blue and surprise her? Drop by for a visit just to say hi? He was probably tired after a long day on base though. And he wasn’t exactly her boyfriend.

Not really.

Although he had said they were dating. Why did things have to be so complicated?

She blew out a sigh and carried the drinks to the table. A young group of guys was seated around it, and she couldn’t help but wonder if Mason and his friends were like them years ago. They were all in their early twenties and flirted with every female in sight—including her.

Taylor got the distinct impression they’d take home any willing woman. They weren’t after a relationship, they just wanted a warm body in bed with them. Goodness, probably not even for the whole night.

She took their food orders and then crossed the restaurant to put in their order. A couple seated at a table across the bar area gestured for her to come over, and she held up her hand, indicating she’d be there in a minute.

A deep male voice calling out her name had her turning in surprise, and she froze in place as she spotted Eric walking toward her.

He swayed slightly, and she could tell he’d been drinking again. He had several days’ worth of stubble on his jaw and a rumpled shirt tucked into his jeans. He was nearly as tall as Mason but not quite as muscular.

That didn’t stop her from wanting to back away as quickly as possible.

His hand landed on her upper arm, gripping it just a little too hard.

“Eric,” she said, pulling away in surprise.

He frowned, looking puzzled that she’d backed away from him.

What had she seen in him all those years anyway? He was handsome, she supposed, when he was sober. But he couldn’t hold down a job. Couldn’t even manage to get through an entire day without drinking.

“You weren’t home,” he said, stumbling slightly as he stepped closer. His breath reeked of alcohol, and she cringed.

“I’m busy working. You shouldn’t be here.”

“You don’t need to work; I’ll take care of you, baby. Come back home so we can be together.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You don’t have a job, Eric. The entire time we were together you were constantly getting a new job and then promptly getting fired a couple of months later. Besides, that doesn’t even matter. We broke up. It’s finished. Over. Go home to your own apartment and stay the hell away from mine.”

“I just want you back, Tay.” She cringed slightly at the nickname he’d given her. All of her friends called her Taylor, Mason included, but Eric insisted on shortening it. “I know I probably made some mistakes, but I miss you. I want you.”

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