Page 4 of Stranded with a SEAL

“We have bouncers at the bar. They don’t exactly take kindly to customers refusing to pay.”

“I know. I’m just looking out for you.” His gaze locked with hers for a moment, and then he was turning away. Walking back toward the restaurant in a couple of long strides.

Looking out for her?

She didn’t need a guy to watch out for her at work. Especially a man she barely even knew. Maybe Mason was protective toward Taylor, but hell. She’d practically been kidnapped by her crazy ex-boyfriend’s friend. Everyone was protective toward her now.

Bailey walked back up to the deck, taking a deep breath. The cool night air blew around her, and she breathed it in, ready to get back inside. To get back to work.

There was an entire bar full of guys there tonight. No need to let this one stay on her mind.

Chapter 2

Noah muttered a curse as he walked away, trying to get the image of Bailey on the boardwalk out of his mind. Standing there in the moonlight, her hair pulled back, her eyes wide and innocent as she looked up at him?

Hell.

He was a goner, and he barely even knew the woman.

He’d seen her moving around the bar earlier, comfortable in her own skin, at ease with all of the patrons seated there. She was pouring drinks, collecting tips, and bantering with them like she was everyone’s best friend.

With her long, flowing blonde hair and silver eyebrow ring, she was a study in contrasts. Feminine yet with a bit of sass that he loved. Sweet with a touch of spice.

She’d looked almost vulnerable out there tonight on the beach with him though, which was ironic. She seemed like the type of woman who didn’t put up with shit from anyone. Then again, she probably hadn’t expected him—or any man—to come chasing after her on her break.

Not that he was chasing her. Just saying goodbye.

That pink tank top she’d had on had hugged her breasts nicely. Although she was petite, her breasts were full and gorgeous. A perfect handful. Her nipples had pebbled beneath the tank top in the cool night air, and he’d hardened instantly as he’d looked at her.

As he’d imagined what she looked like beneath those form-fitting clothes. The tight jeans she had on did wonders for her ass. Hugged her slim hips and curved over her rounded bottom.

The woman was just tempting as hell all over.

He’d had to back away before he did something foolish. Before he stepped even closer and ducked down for a kiss. He shouldn’t have been brushing her hair back, touching the delicate skin of her neck. Hell, he shouldn’t have been touching her at all.

Bailey was at work, about ready to head back inside and finish her shift. And as much as he loved chasing after a beautiful woman, even he wasn’t dumb enough to try to get the friend of his buddy’s woman into bed.

Not when his teammate would’ve been pissed as hell at him.

All of the single guys on his Delta SEAL team enjoyed a gorgeous woman, but the ones who’d met a woman of their own? Who were serious about their girlfriends? They wouldn’t let anything happen to their woman—or her friends.

And as tempting as Bailey was, that would’ve been playing with fire.

He crossed Atlantic Avenue, walking over to the parking garage on the corner. Anchors was on the other end of the beach, so he climbed into his Jeep, expertly backing out of the spot and pulling onto the road.

A few minutes later, he was sauntering into the popular bar, glancing toward the back where he and his SEAL team usually sat. Three of his teammates were seated at a table there tonight: Jacob “Joker” Olson, Ryker “Bulls-Eye” Fletcher, and Hunter “Hook” Murdock.

Jacob had a woman sitting close to him, his arm slung around her shoulders. Ryker was talking with two young blondes, facing away from the other guys, and Hunter was watching the entire scene, looking amused.

“Viper,” he said with a nod as Noah walked up. “Did you meet up with your old friend earlier?”

“Yep,” Noah said, pulling back a chair. He sank down into the seat, stretching out his long legs. “I had a shot of whiskey and a beer,” he said with a chuckle. “Those guys are doing a bar crawl along the strand. Hell, maybe they’ll end up here later on. They’re going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow.”

“Can’t say I miss that feeling,” Hunter said with a smirk. “Hangovers are brutal.”

The Delta team was at Uncle Sam’s beck and call 24/7. Although the men all enjoyed grabbing a beer or two at Anchors, the SEALs didn’t get wasted like some of the younger guys in the military. Or the tourists in town. They had to remain vigilant, in top shape in case they were called up on a last-minute mission.

“Hell, I haven’t done that much drinking since I was an eighteen-year-old kid,” Noah said. “And Owen’s wedding is tomorrow night. It’s going to be a hell of a day for him.”

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