Page 24 of Summer with a SEAL

Amy was off at another yoga class and Michelle was inside taking a nap. She might as well rest a few minutes, too. They’d probably be out late tonight for drinks, and she could use a little nap. Her hammock swayed some more, and the gentle ocean breeze began to lull her to sleep.

“Hello! Anybody home?” a deep voice called out.

Jessica yelped in surprise, nearly falling out of the hammock as she tried to sit up. Strong arms caught her, and then Jacob was apologizing as he helped her to stand up. “Sorry, angel, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that. We got back last night, and I thought I’d drop by and surprise you.”

She flushed as embarrassment washed over her, realizing his hands were still at her waist, and she took a step back, putting some space between them.

Jacob gazed down at her, all tanned and muscular, wearing a cotton tee shirt over his cargo shorts. He had dark stubble covering his jaw and chin, and she noticed a hint of dark circles beneath his eyes. His gaze locked with hers though, and she relaxed as he grinned at her, looking completely at ease.

“You scared me,” she admitted.

“I’m sorry about that. We just got back late last night. I was going to text you and see if you wanted to meet up, but then I thought I’d surprise you. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He shrugged, having the decency to look a tiny bit sheepish.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she said, her skin prickling with awareness as he edged slightly closer. “I’m glad you came by. I was just reading and fell asleep in the hammock. You startled me is all—I wasn’t expecting anyone. Amy’s gone, and Michelle’s upstairs taking a nap.”

“That hammock does look pretty relaxing,” he said. “Can I try it out?”

“Uh, sure,” she replied, watching as his large body sank down into the hammock. He stretched out, practically taking up the entire length, and rested one arm beneath his head, looking far too sexy for his own good.

What was a gorgeous man like him doing showing up at her beach house, stretched out in her hammock like some sort of Greek God?

“Come join me,” he said, his brown eyes warm.

“Um, we might fall out,” she replied, suddenly feeling shy. Nothing sounded better than curling up next to Jacob, but she’d practically be lying on top of him in that tiny thing.

“I won’t let you fall,” he said, his voice deep. “Come on.”

Hesitantly she walked over, and Jacob put one foot down on the ground to steady it. She sat down beside him and then practically rolled into his muscular body, the hammock pushing their bodies together as it sunk inward.

“That’s it, angel,” he said as she nestled against him. “Hell, you feel good next to me.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her, and she let herself relax into his embrace. Jacob smelled clean, of spice and man, and she wanted to bury her face into his shirt and warm skin, inhaling his intoxicating scent.

It should’ve felt strange lying here in Jacob’s arms, a man she barely knew. But there was also something comforting and right about it, too. Like she was somehow exactly where she belonged.

He let out a deep breath, relaxing, and she let one hand rest lightly against his muscular chest. “God it feels good to be back,” he said quietly. “And even better to be here with you.”

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You seem…different somehow.”

A beat passed before he answered. “It was a rough mission,” he admitted. “Things didn’t exactly go as we planned.”

His jaw clenched, and she wished she could take away whatever burden he was carrying.

“I’m sorry.” She didn’t say anything else. He couldn’t tell her the details anyway even if she asked him.

“How was your week?” he asked quietly, letting his fingertips trail over her bare arm. Electricity surged straight through her at his light touch. Jacob was so muscular and strong—it seemed like he should be invincible, with nothing able to harm him. Something seemed to be weighing on him though, and she wished she could help him.

“Nothing like yours,” she admitted. “I’m on summer vacation, remember? We hung out on the beach, relaxed. I got mani/pedis with the girls. The weirdest thing that happened to me was a creepy guy we saw at the bank, and Michelle has convinced me I’m overreacting.”

“You should always trust your gut,” Jacob said.

“I guess. He didn’t really do anything though—just a weird vibe I got.”

“One thing I learned with being a SEAL? You need to always trust your instincts. Be aware of your surroundings. Situational awareness has served me well more times than I can count.”

“I thought your being a SEAL was some sort of secret,” she said.

Jacob glanced down at her, the expression in his dark eyes impossible to read. “My being a SEAL? I don’t exactly go around announcing it to the world. I mean, shoot, most people realize my buddies and I are military though. It’s kind of an open secret around this town I guess.”

“Rebecca told me the other night.”

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