Page 10 of Summer with a SEAL

Patrick excused himself, turning back toward his wife and kids, and Jessica was alone with Jacob once more.

“It’s not your fault they got swept out to sea—it was a bad choice on their part.”

“I know, I just can’t help but feel guilty.”

“No way any of that is your fault, angel, so don’t let it weigh on you. Listen, I know you didn’t get a chance to eat earlier before we rushed off,” he said. “You want to have anything? I might go grab a change of clothes from my SUV. I’m parked just on the street over there.”

“No, I’m not very hungry. You can change at our house though if you want.”

“Awesome. Wait here for a minute while I get my stuff. I’ll be right back.”

Jacob jogged off, looking like some sort of Greek God in the setting sun. Muscles rippled on his bronze skin, and she finally forced herself to stop staring at him and turn toward the others. He was way too tempting for her to be spending a lot of time with—especially since she’d already decided she wouldn’t be having any flings this summer. Michelle and Amy could do what they wanted, but as for her?

She wasn’t willing to play games with her heart.

“Are you all right?” a woman with a baby asked, walking over to her. “I’m Rebecca by the way—you just met my husband Patrick.”

“Oh, yeah, fine. Just feeling frazzled about everything that happened.” She ran a hand through her waves, realizing she probably looked awful.

“You look fine,” Rebecca said, apparently sensing her nervousness. “Jacob seems pretty interested in you—I know you two just met, but with the way he’s acting? It’s obvious.”

Jessica laughed. “He’s a nice guy—and who am I kidding? Totally gorgeous. He’s not really my type though.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said when I met Patrick. I was a single mom and a busy lawyer—pretty independent. Then Patrick came along and swept me off my feet before I even knew what was happening.”

“He seems like a good guy.”

“The best—they all are. I don’t know if Jacob told you what they do, but you probably figured out that they’re military.”

“That part would’ve been obvious even if he hadn’t mentioned it,” she admitted. “The muscles, the cropped haircuts.” She flushed, thinking of how attractive Jacob was. Goodness, a guy like that could have any woman he wanted. What did he see in a plain school teacher like her?

“They’re Navy SEALs—no better group of men, really. They fight hard for the country, but they fight hard for the women in their lives, too. If they want something, they go after it.”

Jessica smiled, feeling her cheeks redden. “I’m just here for the summer, so it’s not like anything would happen. I mean, sure, we could hang out a few times, but….” She shrugged as she trailed off.

“Hey! Rebecca!” a woman’s voice shouted. “We’re heading out.”

Jessica glanced over to see a strawberry blonde woman and guy holding a toddler headed their way.

“That’s my best friend Alison,” Rebecca explained. “That’s Evan. They just had a baby last year.”

“Wow. It seems like all of Jacob’s friends are married with kids,” Jessica mused.

“A lot of them are,” Rebecca agreed. “I think he wants that, too, even if he won’t admit it. Give him a chance,” she said with a smile. “He’s a good guy.”

Jacob came jogging back with a change of clothes in one hand. He flashed her his trademark crooked grin as he came to a stop beside her. “What’d I miss?” he joked. “I assume Rebecca was talking me up while I was gone,” he said, watching as she walked over to say goodbye to Alison and Evan.

“That she was,” Jessica said. “I still haven’t decided if I should give you a chance though,” she teased.

His eyes heated as he looked down at her. The air practically crackled with the electricity surging between them, and she resisted the urge to reach out and touch those solid muscles and tanned, toned flesh. He was so big and masculine, her body alighted any time he was near. He held her gaze a beat longer, and then his lips quirked in a smile. She imagined them brushing over hers as he ducked down for a kiss.

Which wouldn’t be happening in front of all his friends at the bonfire.

“I rescued your friend from the ocean earlier—that’s gotta count for some brownie points in my favor, right?” he said with a wink.

“Maybe….”

“Let’s go, angel. I’ll haul your friends’ stuff back and change into some dry clothes. Then we can head on over to the local hospital.”

---