Page 11 of Stranded with a SEAL

He frowned slightly, not liking what was in all effect true. She did in fact probably deal with drunken men every night—every bar on the strand did. Nature of the job, indeed. That didn’t mean he liked the idea of strange men hitting on her. Letting their eyes wander over her tempting curves.

He wondered how Mason handled having Taylor serve food and drinks to all the men who came into Anchors. Hell, he and his buddies always loved flirting with the waitresses there.

So who was he to fault the guys that were probably hitting on Bailey?

Didn’t mean he liked it though.

And he’d seen her hold her own last night dealing with the crowds at the bar. She bantered with them but kept her distance. Save for his following her outside, he didn’t think she’d let anyone else get that close to her.

He ordered a beer and burger when their own waitress came over a moment later.

“That’s not very brunch-ish,” Bailey said. “A burger and beer? What happened to eggs benedict or omelets?”

“I’m not really a brunch kind of guy.”

“Meat and potatoes,” Mason agreed. “Can’t go wrong with that. Besides, we’re SEALs, not swimsuit models.”

“But you could be,” Bailey pointed out. “You guys have to stay in good shape. Maybe a Navy SEAL calendar for charity, like all those firefighter ones?”

“Oh right, can you see any of them doing that?” Taylor asked with a laugh. “I mean, some of them would love the attention, I’m sure, but I don’t think so.”

Noah chuckled. “Sunshine, as much as I love the idea that you want to see me shirtless, we don’t want the whole world knowing who we are. Kind of presents a problem when our job is to sneak in and sneak out. We don’t exactly want our faces broadcast everywhere.”

“That does present a bit of a challenge. You can pose and just pretend to be firefighters.” She looked over at him triumphantly, and he resisted the urge to slide his chair closer to hers. To brush some of that hair back off her shoulders, just to feel her bare skin.

Just to see her react to his touch.

“Duly noted,” he quipped, clearing his throat.

Bailey took another sip of her mimosa, Noah’s eyes again drawn to her glossy pink lips. “Are you saying women wouldn’t pay good money to see a bunch of shirtless Navy SEALs? Please. I’ve seen the women fawning over all of you at Anchors and my own bar.”

Noah held up his hands in mock surrender as the waitress arrived with food for the others, telling Noah she’d put a rush in on his burger.

“What is that?” he teased Bailey, glancing over at her plate. “Bird food?”

“An egg-white omelet, smoked salmon, and fruit. How many birds do you know that eat that?”

“If you’re going to eat brunch, you at least have to go all in—sausage, bacon, eggs—”

“These are eggs,” she said, cutting him off. She crossed her legs, spearing a piece of fruit and lifting it to her mouth. He shook his head, trying not to chuckle.

“Here’s your beer,” the waitress said. “Your burger will be out in a few minutes.”

“Fantastic, thanks,” he said, taking a long pull. He caught Bailey watching him and grinned. “A beer, the beach—beautiful women. Can’t complain.”

“Except about my food,” she said.

Noah chuckled, leaning closer. Inhaling some of her coconut scent. “Sunshine, you can eat whatever you want. Wherever you want. I just like riling you up.”

“So I noticed. Is this how you act around all the ladies?”

“Just you,” he confirmed. “Because I know you won’t put up with it. Which makes it all the more interesting when you let me get under your skin.”

“Do you ladies want to walk down on the dock after brunch? It’s gorgeous today,” Mason said. “And Taylor doesn’t have to work for a few more hours, right?”

“Absolutely, but I wish I’d brought my camera,” she said. “The sky is such a perfect shade of blue, I could’ve gotten some amazing photos.”

“We’ll come back another time,” Mason promised her. “Stay up all night and you can take some pictures of the sun coming up.”

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