Page 30 of Stranded with a SEAL

A hot tear slid down her cheek, and she hastily swiped it away.

She was being silly. She was safe here with Noah. They had food. A few basic supplies. The pending rain would be somewhat of a challenge, but they could move back beneath the shelter of the trees.

Her gaze tracked upward, focusing on the tall palm trees. Her eyes widened as she spotted some coconuts. They could drink coconut water, too, to stay hydrated. If they could somehow get one down.

Sniffling, she swiped at her eyes again as her stomach rumbled. She’d barely eaten anything all day—just the few crackers earlier. And breakfast this morning at the condo, which now felt like a lifetime ago.

Were Taylor and Mason out looking for them now? Had something happened to them, too?

“Hey!” Noah called out, suddenly appearing from the tree line. He looked tall and self-assured as he moved forward, barefoot and wearing his swim trunks and tee shirt. He frowned as he walked toward her, his eyes crinkling with concern. “Hell, sunshine, are you okay?”

He crouched down beside her, and she instantly felt foolish. Noah had been out here gathering wood and starting a fire while she slept. He’d probably been searching the skies and water for any sign of someone. She should be helping him, not sitting here feeling sorry for herself.

She could smell salt and sweat as he leaned closer. His gaze searched her face, and he wiped away some of her tears.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she assured him. “I’m just being silly.”

“It kills me to see your tears,” he said, his voice gruff. Despite herself, another one rolled down her cheek, and he gently wiped it away. “We’re going to be okay. There’s a storm in the distance, so it looks like we might be stuck here tonight. They won’t search in severe weather.”

“Have you seen anyone?” she asked quietly. “A boat or plane or—anything?”

“No,” he said gruffly. “And that does concern me. We don’t know if Mason and Taylor are stranded out there, too. They should’ve been able to radio for help, but we have no way of knowing what problems they encountered in the storm. The engine could’ve given them trouble again. And if they made it back or were able to radio the Coast Guard, we sure as hell would’ve seen someone out here looking for us.”

“What if they got washed overboard, too?”

“I don’t think they did,” he said, sitting down beside her in the sand. He stretched his long legs out, and she gazed at the springy hairs. He was the epitome of masculinity—strong where she was weak. Tall. Muscular.

Briefly she wondered if he was sorry he wasn’t out here with Mason. Not that either of them would want to be stranded, but at least Mason would’ve known what to do. Mason would’ve been able to help some.

“You were near the starboard side of the boat, but they were right by the steering wheel,” Noah said. “The entire boat would’ve had to capsize for them to go over.”

“I just hope they’re okay. Wow, it’s getting hot.” She started to pull off Mason’s sweatshirt as they sat in the sunshine, and then she realized she was wearing nothing underneath. Her gaze landed on her clothes, still drying under the driftwood.

“Your things should be dry by now,” he said. “I’ll grab them.”

He handed her the bikini top, shirt, and shorts, their fingers briefly brushing together. Something about seeing his masculine hand gripping her hot pink string bikini sent heat surging straight through her. Noah was handsome as hell, and she admired the way he’d handled himself during the whole ordeal.

He’d been calm and clear headed. He’d dove in after her in the middle of the storm to save her. And ever since they’d gotten here, he’d put her needs before his own.

Not every man was like that, she knew.

The guys on the team were all protective to some extent. Goodness, it was practically in their job description.

She’d seen a different side of Noah this afternoon than all the flirting and teasing though. They’d had fun before, yes, but now she knew she could literally trust him with her life.

It brought things into an entirely new perspective.

He eyed her skimpy bikini top with interest but then turned away from her so she could have some privacy. She tied the strings behind her, imagining those thick fingers of Noah’s working them. Flipping her hair to the side, she tied the top string behind her neck and then adjusted the triangle cups.

“I’m decent now,” she said, smiling as he immediately turned back around.

“Smoking hot is more like it,” he said with a low chuckle. “There’s nothing decent about it.”

“Very funny,” she said, sticking out her tongue at him. She shimmied into her shorts and then pulled her tee shirt over her head. Her skin felt dry from spending the day in the salt water and sun. There wasn’t much she could do about it now though. Noah might have emergency supplies, but she doubted moisturizer made his list.

“I’ve got a bottle of sunscreen,” he said, as if reading her thoughts.

“Awesome.”

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