Page 14 of A Very Grumpy Navy SEAL

I wince.He sounds pissed.

So much for easing into it.

“Lula called me just now,” he continues, his tone sharp.“Pissed off, emotional, and dodging my questions like I was the enemy.You know what she asked me?”

“I have an idea?—”

“She asked me if I warned off all of my friends from dating her!”he continues over me.“What did you do?”

I blow out a breath and scrub a hand over my face.“It’s not what you think.”

“So, you didn’t upset her?”

“No, I did...I just didn’t mean to.”

Ledger exhales roughly, and I can practically hear him pacing.

“Whatdidyou mean to do?”he growls.

I swallow hard.“I don’t know.”

I sink onto the edge of my bed and hang my head in my hands.

“Talk to me, man.Tell me what happened.”

I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling like the answers might be up there.

“I want her,” I admit finally, and it’s the hardest three words that I’ve ever had to say.

I wait for him to say something, but he’s silent.

My voice is low, rough with the truth as I say, “Your sister.Lula.I want her in a way I’ve never wanted anyone.But I haven’t touched her.Not like that.Not beyond a hug.I wouldn’t disrespect you like that.Not ever.”

There’s a long pause on the line.

Then Ledger sighs.“Koa.”

“I know,” I say quickly.“She’s your little sister.I should’ve walked away the second I saw her.But I can’t.It’s like...she’s already under my skin.”

“Koa—”

“Fuck, man, you know me.You’re my brother.I would never do anything to hurt you or our friendship.I didn’t touch her.I swear.”

“I know, Koa!Just shut up for a second,” he shouts.“Jesus, you two,” he grumbles.

I swallow down what I was about to say.

The phone crackles as Ledger heads inside and out of the wind.“I trust you.I know how you are.You’ve never paid any attention to women.So, if you’re into Lula, I know it means something.Besides, you wouldn’t have answered the phone if you were just screwing around with her.”

I close my eyes.“I’m not screwing around at all.She means something to me.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

I blink.“What?”

“You just told me you care about her and she’s already important to you.So why the hell aren’t you making a move?”

I sit up straighter and frown.“Because she’s your sister.”

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