Page 57 of Covert Temptation

“Thanks,” he said, voice low.

“For what?” Her brows lifted.

“For noticing.”

* * * * *

Kennedy drew another sip of beer into her mouth, wincing at the taste.

Dante chuckled. “You just pretending to be a beer girl?”

“I’m more of an IPA girl.” She took another sip, and this one went down a bit easier. More importantly, the fire and the beer were having a calming effect on Dante.

When he left for his run, she didn’t think she’d ever seen him so stressed, and that was saying something about a man like Dante.

They sat in companionable silence, watching the flames and sipping their drinks. The hard planes of his handsome face were cast in shadows, with an occasional flicker of orange highlighting his bronzed skin.

“How are you feeling about things now?” she asked after several minutes.

He stretched out a long, muscled leg, resting his beer on his thigh. “I’m fine.”

“I understand why it’s difficult to hear that your team is on an op without you.”

She knew better than anyone what it felt like to be the outsider. She’d clawed her way out of a rough childhood, rebuilt herself from the ground up, and paid her own way through college—the hard way. No shortcuts. No handouts.

She might not have been the most experienced candidate to be Alyssa’s personal assistant, but she was the right one. Because she worked harder than anyone else to earn that spot.

Just like Dante had with the Charlie team.

“I’m sorry you’re stuck here, babysitting me.”

He issued a low huff. “They’re crawling through the mud. Look at me, drinking a beer in front of a warm fire…” His gaze traveled over her face. “Enjoying the company of a beautiful woman.”

She tipped her head toward the side yard. “I saw some mud over there if you’d like to take off your shirt and demonstrate.”

“You know, I’mreallynot used to being sexualized.” He took a sip of beer.

She gave him a coy look. “Shh. Don’t make it weird.”

They burst into laughter.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed on her. Next thing she knew, he jumped out of his chair and plucked her out of hers. When he settled her on his hard thighs, electricity arced between her lower belly and her pussy. The sensation made her squirm.

Dante captured her lips, drawing her closer into his warm, hard body. As he swept kisses over her mouth, soft, hungry moans escaped her.

When they broke away, they were both breathing heavily. He tucked her against him, and that was just as good as any tumble in the sheets with this man. In her SEAL’s arms, she felt perfectly safe and content.

Letting out a low sigh, she cuddled close, her head against his chest. He smoothed a hand down her spine, spreading enough warmth that she stopped thinking about the cold completely.

“How much do you know about my team?”

Surprised, she answered, “Only that you’re special ops.”

His hand swept up her back and settled on her nape, cradling her as if he didn’t want her to move. As if he had something to say.

Kennedy hadn’t felt a connection to anybody in such a long time, and those experiences were few and far between. Shewasn’t just rooted in this moment with Dante—she was intoeverymoment with Dante.

In a few days, they’d gone from hating each other’s existence to cuddling in the dark.

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