Page 3 of Casey's Hero

That didn’t bother him. Well, not the way she intended. If anything, it turned him on. He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the tip of her finger. “I like a feisty woman.”

Her eyes rounded.

Kalea chuckled. “Casey is feisty enough for two people. I’d take her into any fight with me.”

“Hello,” Casey said. “I’m standing right here in front of you. You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here.” This time, when she tugged to free her hand, he let go. She rubbed it down the side of her trousers. With her hand safely behind her back, she lifted her chin. “Just do what I said. Two things. That’s all, and we’ll get along just fine.”

Jacob crossed his arms over his chest. “I think I can get my friend to his wedding on time. Especially since you’ve got everything pre-arranged.”

Casey snorted and glanced down at her clipboard. “You would be surprised by how many grooms don’t make it to their wedding on time, even when everything is laid out for them. They either get too drunk to haul themselves out of bed, or they forget how to get to the church.”

“I’ll be there,” Hawk said. “I’m not letting this amazing woman get away. I love her.” He bent and kissed Kalea again.

Kalea cupped his chin and returned the gesture. “I just know things are never boring around us. Something always happens.”

“Rest assured, your groom will be there—and not a minute late,” Jacob said, giving Casey a challenging glance.

“Okay then,” she said and checked off a box on her list. “Then we’ll leave you men to have fun with the bachelor party. I’ve got it all planned.”

“Just not too much fun.” Kalea gave her fiancé another kiss. “I’d like you there tomorrow in one piece.”

“I’ll be there.” Hawk kissed her again and finally let go.

Jacob was happy for his friend, even if marriage and weddings weren’t his own thing. He’d do his part and make sure Hawk made it down the aisle to the woman he loved.

The ladies headed for the exit, pausing at the door for a mini conference.

Casey spoke to the tall potential client, pointed back toward the bar full of former military guys, now working for Hawk as Brotherhood Protectors, and waved toward the rear exit.

Jacob turned toward that exit but didn’t see anything to look at but a door. He shrugged and clapped a hand on Hawk’s shoulder. “Can I buy you a beer?”

“Make it a pitcher,” Hawk said. “I think I’ll need more than one mug to get me through the evening.”

“Let’s join the others. They look like they can’t wait to razz you about getting married. I don’t want you to miss out on any of that.” Jacob steered him toward the Big Wave’s back patio, where the rest of Hawk’s team was already partaking of the beer.

As they approached, beer mugs rose, and the men shouted in unison, “Hip, hip, hooray!”

Hawk sank into the seat at the end of the table.

Reid Bennett, the former Navy SEAL Jacob had worked with on active duty, passed Hawk a mug full of beer. “Drink up, buddy. It’s your last night of freedom.”

“You mean, the last night on the meat market,” Hawk corrected him. “I don’t envy you single guys. It’s hard to find just the right woman who’ll make you happy.” He chuckled. “I went through a few doozies before I found Kalea.”

Jacob glanced around the bar. “Hopefully, none of your doozies show up here tonight.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to your stalker?” Teller Osgood, former Delta Force and the self-proclaimed best-looking guy on the team, asked. “Never understood why your stalker went foryou when she could’ve had me.” He spread his arms wide. “She was hot. I’m hot. It could’ve been a match made in heaven.”

“She was hot and crazy,” Hawk said. “Trust me, you don’t want that kind of attention.” Hawk glanced around the bar. “She used to hang out at McP’s in San Diego, waiting for me to show up.”

“I remember,” Jacob said. “Didn’t she hide out in your Jeep one night?”

Hawk nodded. “I didn’t know she was there until I got to my apartment, and she jumped me from behind.” He shook his head.

Jacob grimaced. “How did you get rid of her?”

Hawk grinned. “I separated from the military and went to Hawaii on my first assignment for Hank Patterson.” Again, he glanced around the bar.

“Expecting her to show up?” Jacob laughed.

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