Page 7 of Stranded with a SEAL

“He’s got friends you know.”

“Uh-huh. And they’re all the biggest flirts imaginable. Not that I’d mind that if I was interested in a one-night-stand type of thing, but with one of Mason’s friends? No way. Because as much as I love hooking up with a hot guy for a night, I’d prefer it to be one I never see again.”

Taylor rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious. I tag along to one of your beach bonfires and see the guy I slept with snuggling up to someone else?” She shrugged. “No thanks.”

The waitress walked over, and the two women ordered mimosas. “Sorry for the wait,” the waitress apologized. “It’s filling up early today. Warm Saturday and all that,” she said, looking frazzled.

“No worries,” Bailey said. “I bartend further down the beach, and Taylor’s a waitress over at Anchors.”

“Believe me when I say we understand,” Taylor agreed.

“Thanks ladies. I’ll bring your drinks right out and then get your orders,” the waitress said.

Bailey pulled off her sunglasses, wiping them with a cloth napkin. She put them back on, eyeing her best friend. “So aren’t you going to ask about last night?”

“Let me guess. You went home with some random guy from the bar.”

“Actually, I didn’t. What I was going to say was a group of tourists gave me a $100 tip. Pretty sweet, right?”

“Were they drunk?”

“More like rich. Hey, I’ll take it. Most people are good about tipping their bartender, but there are definitely still some cheapskates around. Guys who drink too much and can’t calculate a decent tip if their life depended on it. And now I can splurge on those new shoes I wanted.”

“Sounds good to me. I was off last night—Mason said some of his buddies were there, but we went out to dinner alone. He would’ve gone with them if I was working.”

“It’s cute that he still shows up there all the time.”

Taylor shrugged. “The guys hung out there long before they knew me. It’s some kind of tradition with the SEAL teams.”

“Are you and Mason still trying to plan a trip together soon? I know his schedule is super iffy.”

“That’s the understatement of the millennium,” Taylor said. “Nature of the job, I suppose. They go when and where the military tells them.”

“I was at the grocery store the other night and saw one of the guys from the other SEAL team. Patrick, I think? He had a few kids with him.”

Taylor nodded. “He’s the Alpha SEAL team leader. Hunter leads Mason’s team.”

“Yeah, I met them both at the bonfire a few weeks ago. I remember distinctly because they both have wives or girlfriends and weren’t trying to hit on me all night long.”

Taylor laughed. “You’re single, some of them are single. What’s the problem? You should go out with one of the guys sometime.”

“Oh please,” Bailey said. “They were flirting with all the women there. And no one asked me out. Besides, I wouldn’t spend the night with one of Mason’s friends anyway.”

“Who said it had to be just one night?” Taylor asked.

“Uh-uh. No way.”

“Anyway,” Taylor said, rolling her eyes. “Speaking of the other guys—Noah wants to tag along on our Florida trip for the fishing and boating.”

“Oh, I ran into him last night. His friend was having drinks at the bar. Noah stopped by to see him and have a beer.”

“He came into your bar?”

“Yeah, to meet his friend. It took me a second to recognize him—he wasn’t at that bonfire I went to. I know I’ve seen him around though.”

“You’re right, he wasn’t there that night. He must’ve had something else going on. But he heard Mason and me planning our trip. He wanted to come along but wouldn’t if he was going to be the third wheel, so….”

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