Page 28 of Kidnapped By a SEAL

“Well, I’ll forever be indebted to all of you for saving me,” she said, taking another small bite of her food. Ryker was completely done, and she asked if he wanted another beer.

“Nah, I’m good. I assume your friend did your grocery shopping?”

“I ordered stuff from the hospital and had it delivered,” Emily admitted. “I usually do that anyway since I’m gone for long stints and then need a ton when I get back. It’s kind of a weird life sometimes.”

“I get that,” Ryker said, nodding. He stretched his long legs out, leaning back in the armchair. She tried not to let her eyes trail down his body, but damn, even his thighs looked muscular in the jeans he had on.

Ryker looked relaxed for the moment, but she didn’t doubt he could be up and ready to roll out in an instant.

“So what did the other guys think of you coming all the way up here?” she asked.

“My teammates?” He shrugged. “They got it. Each of them has a woman of their own. I’m single, but hell. I felt responsible for you.”

“That’s kind of crazy,” she said with a laugh.

He nailed her with a gaze. “I’m protective of people I care about. It goes with the job, I guess. But the idea of you alone here bothered me for reasons I can’t even begin to say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

A beat passed, and she felt a strange electric current surging between them. Her eyes trailed over his chiseled jaw, the scruff of his short beard. She met his dark gaze again. If this was a date, they might be moving closer to one another right about now. They’d at least be sitting side by side on the sofa, not looking at one another from several feet away.

But it wasn’t a date. And he’d leave in a couple days, with her probably never seeing him again. The danger he was worried about would blow over. He’d move on to his next mission. And she’d get on with her life and put this entire situation behind her.

“Who knows,” Ryker finally said. “Maybe both. It doesn’t matter, because I’m not the same as my teammates.”

“You don’t like women?” she teased.

Ryker guffawed. “Hell, sweetheart, nothing like that. But they’re all running home to their serious girlfriends tonight. Some of them already live with their woman.”

“And Hunter’s engaged,” Emily said.

Ryker nodded. “Engaged and they’re expecting a baby. I’ve never met a woman where I thought it could end with forever. That’s just not my thing I guess.”

“Mine either,” Emily said vehemently.

“You don’t want to get married someday?” Ryker asked, looking at her in disbelief.

“Married? I don’t know. I definitely don’t want kids. I love my career, and I’ve worked hard to get here. But I travel a lot—you get it, I know. If anyone understands, it’s probably you. I go off on TDYs of various lengths. I literally put my life on the line sometimes to protect others. I can take a stint for a year or two in another country if it sounds interesting. There’s nothing tying me down or holding me back. But having children to worry about in that equation? I’m just not interested.”

“Hmmm,” he said, still looking like he didn’t quite believe her.

“Why does that surprise you?” she asked, cocking her head as she looked at him.

“You’re different than most women I meet. I mean, sure, plenty are up for a night together or a good time. They don’t necessarily want anything serious right now. But all of them want to settle down someday in the future. Maybe not with me, but certainly with another man. They all want kids and the white picket fence.”

“Maybe you’ve just been around the wrong women,” she said. “Do you see any picket fences here?”

“Maybe so,” he conceded with a low chuckle.

Emily rose from the sofa, and she didn’t miss the way Ryker’s eyes trailed over her. She had on a tee shirt and slim jogger sweatpants. Both were a little bit loose, truth be told, thanks to her month in captivity. She had a thong on beneath her joggers but hadn’t bothered with a bra. Why risk irritating her injured ribs?

She gathered up her leftover food and moved to the kitchen, stashing it in the fridge. A loud car alarm outside made her jump, but she knew she was being foolish. Georgetown was always busy, full of cars and traffic and people. She’d have to get used to life in the city again. It sure as hell beat the solitude of a lone room with nothing but a dingy bed.

Grabbing her cell phone off the counter, she quickly texted both her parents and Caroline back. All of them had wanted to check up on her.

Another number beeped with an incoming text, and she saw it was from an agent she knew from work.

Hope you’re doing okay, Swenson. See you back in the office soon.

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