Page 21 of Stranded with a SEAL

Noah watched as Bailey shivered slightly as the winds picked up. She zipped up the hoodie she was wearing, standing there wearing that and her bikini bottoms, holding the fishing pole.

“I’m not catching anything,” she said. “So much for my good luck yesterday.”

“It’s probably the pending storm,” Noah said. “The fish all swam deeper where the water is calm. They’re not biting today.”

“Not at all,” Mason said with a chuckle. “Good thing we grilled extra yesterday. We can have leftovers tonight or go out if you ladies prefer. There are supposed to be some great restaurants nearby.”

“I’m good with either,” Taylor said. She reached in her bag and pulled out her camera, adjusting the lens.

“You’re taking pictures today?” Noah asked. “The sky is overcast.”

“The sun was so bright yesterday, there was a glare on the water. I should actually be able to get some better photos today with the cloud cover.”

“Makes sense,” he agreed, his gaze drifting toward the whitecaps in the distance.

Mason glanced over at him, raising his eyebrows. He’d noticed the same thing. Although the forecast wasn’t predicting the storm to roll in for another couple of hours, the seas were getting rough.

“Is that rain?” Bailey asked, looking at the clouds in the distance. There was a distinct line on the horizon where the rain had started—darker gray than the rest of the sky. She reeled in her fishing line, resting the pole against the stern. “I’m going to put my shorts back on—it’s getting kind of chilly.”

Noah watched as she stepped into her cut-off denim shorts, trying not to bemoan the loss of the sexy hot pink bikini she’d had on. Bailey seemed to love bright colors, and hell if he didn’t love watching her in them.

She’d look equally sexy in nothing at all, but that long blonde hair and the dresses and bikinis she’d worn on the trip worked for him. She slid on her flip-flops, and Noah noticed that even her toenails were painted hot pink. She took off her sunglasses, stashing them in her bag. Her tiny little eyebrow ring gleamed as she turned, and he resisted a groan.

He was dying to peel off her clothes and discover all her secrets.

The low boom of thunder in the distance sent her jumping, and Mason and Noah exchanged a glance.

“Yep,” Noah said. “That’s rain. We should probably head back to shore. Let’s pull up the anchor.”

Taylor lowered her camera, frowning. “Are we going to make it back in time?”

“We should, sweetheart,” Mason assured her. “We might get wet on the dock running back to the car—oh damn. I think I left the top down on the convertible.”

Noah chuckled. “A bit late to realize that. You took out extra insurance on the rental though, right?”

“Absolutely. Why don’t you ladies stash the fishing gear. We’ll start the engine and pull up the anchor.”

“On it,” Bailey said, moving around the boat. Noah grabbed his tee shirt from his bag, slipping it over his head. There was a bolt of lightning in the distance, and he frowned. He pumped the shift lever to prime the engine and then turned the key in the ignition, listening to it sputter.

“Oh hell,” Mason muttered, crossing over toward him. “The engine won’t start?”

“Let me give it another try.” He turned the key again, listening to the engine turn but not start.

“Check the kill switch,” Mason said.

“Nope, it’s good,” Noah said, glancing down. “Let me try pumping the gas.”

“What’s going on?” Bailey asked, walking over. Thunder boomed in the distance, and Noah glanced over, hating to see the fear in her eyes. He pumped the gas a few times, his hand on the key.

“Just trying to start the engine. Let me give it another go.” He turned the key in the ignition for the third time, and it finally roared to life. The wind picked up, blowing a spray of water onto them, and she squealed in surprise.

“Why don’t you both sit down!” Mason called out over the engine. “We’re going to head back more quickly than we got here.”

Bailey nodded, looking nervous.

“No need to worry, sunshine,” Noah said, lightly grabbing her arm to pull her closer before she walked away. “We’re used to being out in bad weather. We train in all kinds of situations.”

She nodded, and he brushed her hair back, ducking to give her a quick kiss on her forehead. He was trying to reassure and calm her, and he didn’t like that she trembled slightly beside him.

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