Page 4 of Summer with a SEAL

He’d seemed to appreciate the fact that she’d noticed him.

And she’d turned away, blushing like a school girl.

She popped the cap off her beer bottle and took a swig, stretching her tan legs out in the sand. She adjusted her green bikini top, loving that little ruffled flounce that accentuated her breasts. She was fit and in good shape—she ran down on the beach every morning, took classes at her gym back home.

But seeing a good-looking guy like the one from the bonfire looking at her certainly sent heat coursing through her entire body.

Not that she’d planned to have a summer fling like her friends. Renting the house for the summer was one thing—same with flirting harmlessly with a cute guy or two. But sleeping with one? Having a fling and letting her heart get broken when she went home at the end of the summer?

No thank you.

A seagull swooped down overhead, and she smiled, feeling content. Evening was her favorite time to come down to the beach—the sun sinking into the horizon was breathtaking, the air was warm but not oppressively hot, and the crowds from midday had died down.

The sudden sound of jets overhead startled her, and she looked up to see one splitting off from the other in some sort of training exercise. It was always a surprise to see the fighter jets screaming across the sky, even though she knew there were a few naval bases nearby.

They didn’t exactly have military jets flying over the mountains near Blacksburg.

“It looks like we’ve got company!” Michelle said, waving at the two men walking toward them.

Jessica’s heart fluttered as she saw that one of the guys was the man she’d noticed earlier. “I’d say offer them a beer, but it looks like they’re bringing their own.”

“That dark-haired one is smoldering,” Michelle said. “The one with the sexy scruff on his jaw? Meow.”

“Yeah, he’s hot,” Jessica said, her eyes not leaving the other one.

A moment later, they were there. Jessica stayed seated on the beach towel as her friends walked over to greet the two guys. “I’m Jacob, and this is Ryker,” her guy said.

“Michelle, Amy, and Jessica,” Michelle said, pointing at each of them. She batted her eyelashes at Ryker, and he eyed her appreciatively.

“Oh, there’s that guy I met last night!” Amy said, suddenly waving at another man walking along the beach. “I need to go say hi. I’ll be right back!” she said, hurrying over toward him.

Jacob chuckled and then strode right toward Jessica as she felt her skin heat. Just as she was wondering if she should stand up and introduce herself, he dropped down beside her in the sand, acting as if he joined women he didn’t know every single night.

Heck, maybe he did.

“I’m Jacob,” he said, holding out a muscular hand.

She shook it, flushing as his gaze slid over her. She suddenly felt naked in her green bikini. Jacob had on khaki cargo shorts and a tee shirt. His long legs stretched out before him, and she could see the dark springy hairs on them. He had a faint scent of soap and aftershave, and she could feel the heat radiating off his muscular body.

“Jessica,” she said, reluctantly letting go of his hand.

Heat had surged through her at his touch. Her whole body felt alive at his closeness, at the electricity surging between them. He wasn’t even touching her anymore, but she could swear she still felt his hand burning into her skin.

“Do you ladies want to join us at the bonfire? We’ve got plenty of food and drinks to share. Our friends are all over there, too, so you wouldn’t feel strange being the only women with us or anything.”

Jessica’s gaze slid toward the group. Some of the women were holding babies or helping their kids. Others were clearly standing beside their boyfriend or husband. “You don’t have a girlfriend?” she blurted out.

Jacob chuckled, the deep sound doing something funny to her insides. He took a swig of his beer and smiled at her. “Negative, angel. Ryker and I are both one hundred percent single. The rest of our team?” he said, cocking his head in the direction of the bonfire. “They’ve all got wives and girlfriends. They can vouch for us if you’re worried about two guys you don’t know.”

“Your team?” she asked, confused.

His brown eyes met hers. “We’re military. Our base isn’t too far from here.”

She nodded, getting the feeling he was being purposefully vague. “Are you in the Navy or something?”

“Yes ma’am,” he confirmed.

“Ma’am,” she said, laughing. She brushed another strand of hair back as the ocean breeze blew in and nervously turned her beer bottle around in her hands. “Now I feel like I’m a million years old.”

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