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“KNOCK-KNOCK!” A MALE voice called out, and a beat later, Jacob was walking barefoot into their kitchen, wearing dry shorts and a tee shirt. “I didn’t want to startle you,” he said with a crooked grin. “Ryker says they should be discharged in half an hour or so.”
“Oh, fantastic,” Jessica said. “I guess we should just wait here for them. I’m not sure where the hospital is, but by the time we drive over and park, they’ll probably be leaving.”
“Sure thing. He’ll let us know if anything changes.”
She nodded, her eyes landing on his damp hair.
“I figured I’d better rinse off. I don’t want to get sand and salt all over your place. I hope you don’t mind—I just grabbed one of the towels down there.”
“No problem,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat as his gaze tracked over her sundress. “It’s the least we could do after you guys rescued Amy. Shoot, we should have you guys all over for dinner sometime or something.”
“I wouldn’t turn that down,” he said with a wink. “And you look nice,” he said easily, looking around the open kitchen area across to the family room. She knew he wasn’t trying to freak her out by ogling her, but there was definitely something satisfying about hearing Jacob compliment her in his deep voice.
“Thanks. My other sundress was covered in sand, so I figured I should change, too. Can I get you a beer or something?” she asked.
“Sure thing, angel. That sounds fantastic.”
Jessica padded across the kitchen barefoot to the fridge and grabbed two bottles. Jacob chuckled beside her as he glanced in the open door. “Beer, fruit, diet soda.”
She shrugged, grabbing a bottle opener from the drawer. “We’ve been eating dinner out every night. We won’t all summer, obviously, but since this is our first week here, we were excited to try out some restaurants.”
“Hell, you’re on vacation,” he agreed. “Nothing wrong with that.” He took the bottle opener from her and popped both caps, handing her back a longneck. “Hell of a way to start a vacation though with your friend ending up in the ER after nearly drowning—make sure you tell her to be careful swimming.”
“Yeah, I think it was just an impulsive type of thing to take a dip with that guy she met. I doubt she’ll do that again—ever.”
“Let’s go wait on the deck,” Jacob said, cocking his head in that direction. “I know it’s dark out, but I’ll imagine the spectacular view.”
She giggled. “Listening to the waves is pretty damn—darn relaxing.” She shrugged as he glanced over at her, his lips quirking. “I teach high schoolers. I try to avoid swearing because they’ll never let me hear the end of it.”
“Fair enough. Can’t say I do the same, but I’m with a bunch of Navy guys all day training,” he added with a low chuckle.
“So swearing like a sailor’s a real thing?” she joked, crossing the room toward the door.
“That’s probably the understatement of the year,” he said. He reached out and pulled open the sliding glass door, gesturing for her to go first. Again, she marveled at how comfortable he was here. How at ease in his own skin. She felt like a nervous wreck just standing here talking to Jacob, and he was cool as a cucumber. Or whatever.
“This is fucking awesome,” he said as he followed her outside. She glanced back at him, surprised, and she sensed his smile in the darkness. “Sorry angel, I couldn’t resist.”
“I’m beginning to think you like teasing me,” she said, sinking down into one of the Adirondack chairs.
Jacob grabbed one and dragged it closer to her, folding his large body as he sank down. “Affirmative, angel. But that’s just because you make it so damn easy.”
She brushed a strand of her hair back, glancing over at him in the darkness. It felt weirdly right sitting out here on the deck together—odd, since they’d just met. But suddenly she didn’t feel nervous anymore. The sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore calmed her. And Jacob hadn’t done a single thing to make her uncomfortable. He teased her, sure, but he hadn’t gotten too close.
He stretched his long legs out and took a swig of his beer. “I should’ve gotten a place right on the water—it’s relaxing as hell.”
“Where do you live?”
“I’ve got an apartment near base—nothing fancy, but we’re gone a lot of the time.”
“Right. Because you’re in the military.”
He nodded, meeting her gaze in the darkness. The only light was coming from the inside of the beach house, and it felt secluded and private out here on the deck. “We don’t deploy for long periods of time like most of the military does—we’re sent out on ops.”
“Okay,” she said, feeling confused.
“You know all the guys you met at the bonfire? We’re two different SEAL teams. It’s not exactly a secret or anything—I mean, hell, the locals all know who we are. But I tend not to go around advertising the fact, you know?”
“That makes sense,” she said.
Jacob reached over and rested a large hand on her bare knee, sending shivers racing through her entire body. His thumb lightly traced circles on her skin, and she resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. Because goodness if his touch wasn’t arousing as hell.
Her nipples pebbled beneath her sundress, and she was relieved it was dark out here.
“It’s possible we’ll get called up at any time,” he continued in a low voice. “We don’t always know where we’re going or for how long. But I’d love to take you out later this week. Why don’t you give me your number and we’ll make plans? Unless you just want me to show up unannounced one day.”
“We can exchange numbers,” she hastily said, flushing as he chuckled. He seemed to know just how much he affected her, and something about that was unnerving.
As was his large, muscular arm resting on her leg. The weight of it made her imagine his large body hovering over her—he was a man used to commanding attention. To being in charge. What would it be like sleeping with a guy like him?
Not that she was planning to fall into his bed or something. A little kiss goodnight, maybe. But he’d already told her that he and his buddies liked to hang out at Anchors—and that was a pick-up joint if she ever saw one. It had been filled with military men and flirtatious women. If Jacob hung out at a place like that all the time?
She certainly didn’t need to get seriously involved with him. Or involved in any way, for that matter. Dinner, yes. But after that?
Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest.
Jacob shifted in his seat, removing his hand from her leg much to her dismay, and pulled his phone from his pocket. She instantly felt the loss of his heat and strength. “Tell me your number, and I’ll text you right now so you have mine, too.”
She recited her number, watching as he thumbed it into his phone. He sent a quick text, but since her own cell phone was inside, she didn’t know what it said.
Jacob tucked his phone back into his pocket and took another swig of his beer. “Your friend seemed really into Ryker,” he commented.
Jessica laughed. “Michelle? She’s into all sorts of guys. Amy and I aren’t like that at all.”
“I can tell—and that’s a good thing, angel. You’re exactly my type.”
She looked over at him doubtfully. “What?” he asked with a chuckle. “I know what I like. There’s something to be said about the thrill of the chase, but I don’t need a woman who’s a total tease.”
“She’s not always like that,” Jessica said.
“I know—it’s part of the game. Ryker loves women like that. But me?” He shrugged, settling back into his chair.
Jessica shifted, crossing her legs, and took a sip of her cold beer. “We barely even know each other.”
“I’d like to remedy that.”
“Well, I’m only here for the summer—not that I mean this should go anywhere,” she added hastily. “I’m just not like that—I don’t go home with a man I just met.”
“And yet here we are,” he joked. “But I understand. And I respect the hell out of that. I’d never ask you to do something that made you uncomfortable.”
“I appreciate it,” she said softly.
The sound of car doors slamming outside drew her attention, and a moment later they heard the door opening. “It sounds like the cavalry’s arrived,” Jacob quipped, standing up. He reached over and held out a hand, and she took his much larger one in hers, letting him help her to her feet. Jacob smelled clean—like soap and saltwater from the ocean breeze. He held onto her hand a beat too long, and her mouth parted slightly in surprise.
“I know this wasn’t a date—but it was a hell of a lot better than plenty I’ve been on.”
She flushed, and he ducked down and quickly brushed his lips across her forehead. Heat began to seep through her, but he was already backing away and dropping her hand. Michelle burst into the front door, talking loudly, and whatever spell had been between them on the deck was broken.
She moved through the open door, feeling Jacob’s large frame behind her. Forcing herself not to look back, she hurried across the room to check on her best friend.
