Page 5 of Summer with a SEAL

His lips quirked. “I’m just being polite. But I didn’t want you to worry about coming over to the bonfire. You’ll be perfectly safe with us—there are families over there, kids.”

She nodded, still feeling shy. They’d met men at the bars and restaurants all week. She hadn’t gone home with any, but why did Jacob suddenly make her feel so nervous? If anything, this was less of a pick-up scene than the bars she’d been at. She was sitting on the beach in her bikini for crying out loud. Sure, he’d come over to say hi, but it’s not like he was asking to buy her a drink and take her home for the night.

“Some of your friends are watching us,” she said, noticing some of the muscular men looking her way.

“So they are,” he said, his voice deep. “Don’t worry about them. If anything, they’ll just give me a hard time if you shoot me down. But no worries. I can handle them,” he added with a chuckle.

“Hey, Jess, Ryker just asked if we want to hit up the bonfire. What do you say?” Michelle asked.

“Sure, I’m in,” Jessica said.

Jacob jumped to his feet in a movement so quick she barely saw it. A beat later, he was reaching out a muscular hand to her, pulling her up right along beside him. She hadn’t realized how tall he was until they were standing side by side, but he positively towered above her—all beef and brawn compared to her slender frame.

She was only five-foot-four, and since Jacob had to be at least six feet, he seemed massive compared to her. That and the fact that with his muscular frame, he could probably bench press her and her friends if he wanted.

“Let me just grab my cover-up,” she said, flushing slightly as his appreciative gaze slid over her.

“Sure thing, angel.”

She ducked down, feeling his gaze on her ass, and pulled her sundress from her tote bag. Jacob took another swig of his beer. “Let me hold your drink,” he said, reaching out and grabbing it before she could respond. His warm fingers brushed against hers, sending shivers racing down her spine.

She pulled the dress over her head, instantly feeling more confident, and Jacob handed her beer back.

Michelle snaked her arm through Ryker’s and pranced right over in her bikini without a second thought.

Feeling more comfortable in her sundress, Jessica started walking along beside Jacob. Although her friend and his were already flirting like crazy as they walked toward the bonfire, Jessica made sure to keep space between her and Jacob.

Sure, he was sizzling hot, but she didn’t want him to get the wrong impression or something. Michelle would probably be more than happy to spend the night with Ryker, but Jessica didn’t sleep with men she just met.

Kissing a guy she didn’t know would be wild for her. And she wasn’t about to kiss him either. Not when she’d known him for mere minutes.

She blushed, shocked at where her line of thought was going. What made her think he’d want to kiss her anyway? They’d asked her and Michelle to join their friends.

For all she knew, he was interested in Michelle or Amy, not her.

“So are you here for the week?” Jacob asked, his voice low.

“The summer, actually. We’re renting a house.”

Jacob let out a low whistle. “Sounds pretty sweet. Are you students or something? Not many people get the entire summer off.”

“Teachers, actually,” she said with a laugh. “Usually I tutor kids over the summer or teach summer school, but this year my friends and I decided to go all out and live a little. You’re only young once, right?”

“Absolutely,” he agreed. “Hell, I’m thirty-four. Does that qualify as young? I don’t know,” he said with a wink.

“Definitely not,” she teased.

Jacob shot his crooked grin at her. “Ouch. I’m wounded. Don’t worry, I’m too much of a gentleman to ask you your age.”

She shrugged, flushing at his appreciative look. Her sundress blew in the wind, and she took another step in the sand toward the bonfire. “I’m twenty-five. I feel really old though compared to the high school kids I teach.”

“Aw, you’re just a baby,” he quipped, winking again. “I’m just teasing you. That’s awesome you and your friends came for the summer. So you’re really not working at all?”

“Michelle’s parents helped pay for the rental. Amy and I are just chipping in. Otherwise we’d never be able to afford this on a teacher’s salary.”

She blushed furiously as he glanced down at her. Why was she babbling so much anyway? She didn’t owe him an explanation.

“Sounds like a sweet deal. Where are you from?”

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