Page 27 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
He raises his hands innocently, eyes twinkling as he settles back comfortably on the couch, one arm flung dramatically over his face.
“Okay, okay,” he concedes easily, laughter still coloring his voice. “No need to bite my head off. Just making an observation.”
“Keep your observations to yourself,” I mutter darkly, turning away from him.
The embarrassment burning through me refuses to fade. It’s absurd—I'm a grown-ass man, not some teenager incapable of controlling myself around a woman. And yet, there’s no denying the visceral, powerful reaction Ava managed to provoke in mere seconds of physical contact. I shove the thought violently aside, refusing to analyze it further. I’ve got enough shit to worry about without adding misguided attraction to the mix.
I pull my phone from my pocket, grateful for the distraction, thumbing through messages. Morales has updated me again. According to his contacts, closely watching Randy, the bastard still hasn’t figured out where Ava and Eli are hiding. Good. But that doesn’t mean shit to me. Men like Randy don’t stay ignorant long. He has resources and patience, which are dangerous qualities combined. We need to stay ahead of him, get moving again before he closes in.
I pace across the room, my thoughts spinning rapidly. We need to get out of here as soon as Cole returns. I dial his number swiftly, lifting the phone to my ear.
From the couch, Jax cracks one eye open, glancing lazily toward me. “Who are you calling?”
“Cole,” I reply shortly, irritation creeping into my tone. “Need to figure out where the hell he is and how long before we can get moving.”
Jax grins again, stretching his arms leisurely above his head, completely unbothered by my sour mood. “You know, Ava probably could’ve told us exactly where Cole went if you hadn’t decided to take your sexual frustration out by yelling at her.”
My jaw clenches so tight I’m surprised my teeth don’t shatter. I turn to face him fully, glare darkening my expression.
“I don’t have sexual frustration toward a woman I just fucking met,” I snap angrily. “It’s barely been forty-eight hours traveling together. There’s no attraction.”
Jax laughs loudly, utterly unconvinced. “Sure, brother. Try telling that to your dick. It seems to have other ideas.”
Before I can retort, Cole’s voice comes through on the third ring, muffled as if he’s balancing the phone. “Yeah?”
“Cole,” I bark into the receiver, still glaring daggers at Jax, who’s now smirking in triumph. “Where are you?”
“Getting breakfast,” Cole answers, unfazed by my curt tone. “Figured everyone could use food before hitting the road. I’ll be back soon, so go ahead and get everything packed up.”
“Roger,” I reply, ending the call without another word. Jax raises an eyebrow, expression mocking.
“Cole doing alright out there?” he asks casually, deliberately needling me further. “Hopefully his morning’s going smoother than yours.”
“Jax, I swear to God—” I began irritably, but he just laughs again, holding his hands up defensively.
“Alright, alright. I’ll let it go. For now,” he concedes, eyes still twinkling with amusement. “Just remember, denial ain’t healthy, Liam.”
I roll my eyes, turning away from him. I refuse to dignify that comment with a response. Instead, I focus on the task at hand, which is packing our few belongings, prepping for another day of travel, and staying vigilant. It’s easier to concentrate on tangible tasks than to acknowledge the confusing storm of emotions swirling beneath my maintained surface.
Despite my determination to ignore it, my thoughts keep drifting back to Ava. Her startled gaze, the warmth of her body pressed intimately against mine, the involuntary sound she pulled from deep within me, and none of it should affect me the way it clearly has.
Frustration tightens my chest. I don’t have room in my life for distractions, and Ava—with her vulnerability, quiet strength, and inexplicable draw—is rapidly becoming one I’m not prepared for. I shove those thoughts violently away, forcing myself to concentrate solely on the mission at hand.
Because distractions, no matter how tempting, are dangerous. That’s something I learned with the SEALs, and I’ve never forgotten it. Distractions on a mission get people killed, and I’ll be damned if these two die because of my incompetence and inability to keep my fucking cock under control.
Several minutes later, the silence in the room is broken as the bathroom door creaks open quietly. My attention snaps toward the sound, body tense with an anticipation I refuse to acknowledge.
Ava steps out cautiously, eyes trained on the worn carpet beneath her feet. Her face is no longer the deep crimson it was earlier, but a lingering, soft pink still colors her cheeks, betraying her lingering embarrassment.
My chest tightens, a flicker of guilt twisting uncomfortably. She won’t look at me—her gaze pointedly avoids mine—and as much as I want to deny it, a quiet part of me already misses the warmth of her eyes on me. Even though she avoids my eyes, I can still feel her, like static clinging to my skin. The way she moves, cautious and collected, draws me in more than anything loud or showy ever could. She doesn’t even realize the power she holds, and that’s the worst part.
From the couch, Jax sits up on his elbows, eyes tracking Ava as she moves across the room. The oversized t-shirt hangs around her slender frame. The faded fabric stops just above mid-thigh, revealing smooth, toned legs that seem to stretch. Unwantedthoughts flicker through my mind, loaded with images of exploring every hidden inch beneath that thin cotton barrier, but I force them away with my jaw clenched tight.
Ava sits down on the edge of the bed beside Eli, softly brushing hair away from his small forehead. My heart squeezes as she whispers to him. Her voice is tender and patient.
“Baby,” she murmurs, fingertips stroking his dark hair. “Time to wake up, sleepy head.”
It's becoming a familiar routine to witness now, after only two days.
