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“OH MY GOODNESS. HOW much food did you buy?” Everly asked with a laugh on Saturday afternoon, watching as Ace hauled multiple bags full of groceries into his kitchen, lifting them onto the counter.
“Enough to feed a hungry SEAL team,” he joked.
“Do you want me to grab anything?” Addison asked, looking up at her boyfriend. “It looks like you carried a ton in one trip.”
“I gotta exercise my muscles,” he joked, ducking down to give her a quick kiss. “I’ve got drinks and a case of beer to bring in, but I’ll do it. You can help put some of the food into the fridge.”
“Let me know if I can do something to help you guys get ready,” Everly said. “I’d feel bad staying here and not offering to help.”
“I think we’re good,” Addison assured her. “Maybe you can mix a pitcher of margaritas later on, closer to the barbeque.”
“Yeah, sure,” Everly said. “Whatever you need.” Her phone buzzed with an incoming call, and she swiped the screen, wandering into the living room to answer the unknown number.
“Hi hun,” a woman gushed over the line. “This is Bev. We’re all set for tomorrow’s sessions. The weather looks fantastic, so we’ll do several days of shooting and be right back on schedule. Can you get there by five a.m.?”
“Sure, no problem,” Everly said. “We’re still starting at Pacific Pier?”
“You got it. We’ll do sessions with some of the beachy clothes there and then move on to other locations around the city. Two other bloggers will be modeling the clothing as well. Both of them are already at the hotel. Are you planning to check back in there?”
“Probably not. I’m staying with some friends,” she hedged, glancing toward the kitchen. Laughter erupted from where Addison and Ace were putting groceries away, and she felt a small pang of sadness. Everly was the third wheel. Although they’d been nothing but welcoming to her, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit like an outsider. She’d basically barged into their life. Spending several days here hadn’t stopped the creepy text messages either. Maybe the guy didn’t know where she was, as she hadn’t posted any updates online, but he still had texted about older photos, saying he couldn’t wait to strip her bare.
Reading over them made her want to vomit. The annoying comments on her social media feed saying ‘nice tits’ or something similar felt innocuous compared to these. She hadn’t posted a thing since the red bikini shot on the pier.
What was she supposed to do during the photoshoot though? She’d already announced it ahead of time on her blog. The man stalking her could show up and watch. Even if the set was closed, who was to say he wouldn’t be lurking somewhere nearby? Even with Ace going through the blocked social media followers in the evenings, they weren’t closer to finding out who the texts were actually from. Ace had assured her he’d be able to find him eventually, but she wasn’t sure.
“Okay, let me know if you change your mind,” Bev said. “The other girls have been enjoying their time together at the hotel and sightseeing around San Diego, but it’s all good. You do you. We’ll have our own photographer there tomorrow, as you know. You can post sneak peeks to your own social media feed, and we’ll get you the high-res images to post and share later. Each blogger will have different shots. I’ll send out the schedule as to when everything should be shared publicly. We’ll do one collection at a time.”
Everly nodded, listening to the woman go on about the shoot. She’d been so excited to come here to San Diego, but now it felt like the entire experience had been soiled by the texts she’d been getting and the person following her. Ace had even offered to hold onto her phone, deleting the messages before she saw them. He’d probably keep a record of them somewhere, she supposed. Weren’t they needed for evidence, if it came to that?
She needed her phone for a few more days though. Her blogger friends and the people coordinating the shoot needed to be able to reach Everly. It would be a pain to give everyone a new number. What if she missed important calls and messages? Sure, Ace could monitor things, but he was on base most days. He couldn’t carry around her phone like her own personal call screener.
Anxiety roiled through her. This was supposed to be a big week. She had her sketches to share with the designer when she stopped by, and the photoshoot itself was exciting. It would be fun to get glammed up with hair and makeup and try on some new clothes. What could be better than modeling in sunny San Diego?
Her stomach churned.
They finished up the phone conversation, saying goodbye. “Everything okay?” Ace asked as Everly walked back into the kitchen.
“Yeah, it’s good. I’m just nervous about tomorrow I guess.”
Ace’s gaze locked with hers. “We’ll make sure you’re safe, Everly. Tyler and Mark will be there, and I know for a fact that Tyler contacted the hotel and spoke with their security.”
“He did? He didn’t mention that.”
Ace nodded. “Even though you aren’t staying there, he was questioning them about anything suspicious. The other bloggers are there, too, so it’s probably best to let them know what’s going on tomorrow.”
“You’re right. I feel silly. I hadn’t even considered they might be in danger. What if this creep is harassing them, too? Or is looking for me and gets them involved just because they’re there? Shoot. I told them I’d checked out of the hotel, but we’re not close friends or anything. Maybe I should’ve warned them.” She blew out a sigh.
“You’re doing everything right,” Ace assured her. “You didn’t check back into the hotel, you stopped posting on your social media feeds. I assume you’ll be posting stuff in the future, but you don’t need to do it immediately. Wait a few days until you’re in a new location.”
“Yeah. Mark mentioned that. It’s weird because I’ve gotten used to documenting my life. I should’ve been more careful I guess.”
“It’s a tough line to draw,” Addison said. “You have to be careful of course, but you also need to live your life. Did you know Ace and I met online?”
“What? No, I had no idea.”
Ace grinned down at Addison then looked over at Everly. “We met gaming.”
“You’re joking.”
They both laughed. “No, we’re really not,” Addison said. “And I had no intention of ever meeting him in person. Ace was my online friend. It’s a long story, but....” She shrugged. “It worked out. Even when we first met, it was supposed to be just as friends.”
“It was?” he teased, his eyes sparkling as he looked down at her.
Addison jokingly elbowed him. “We had fun gaming together and bantering online. I’ll admit I was curious about him, but did I think we’d start dating and that I’d move into his house? Not at all.”
“Geez. It’s hard to imagine meeting someone that way. I don’t game or anything like that, and even when I post things online, I’m not interacting with my followers too much. My best friend is a hairstylist. She loves doing lives, Q&A’s, and all that. I just prefer my privacy, I guess. I’m sure that sounds weird since I document my life for the whole world to see, but it’s just a few pictures, you know?”
Ace’s phone rang, and he took the call in the other room, leaving Everly alone with Addison. The other woman smiled at her, putting the rest of the groceries away. “It’s a little ironic that Tyler was excited to introduce you to all the guys when you were in town, and you’ve met most of them anyway.”
“Yeah, right? I think Tyler would’ve been happier if the original plan had stayed intact. Nothing like meeting his friends because some creepy guy was secretly following me around. And he didn’t seem thrilled that Mark came over to hang out with me before that.”
“He’s your older brother. You’ll probably always be his baby sister no matter who you end up with.”
“Mark and I aren’t going to end up together,” Everly hastily explained. “We’re just friends. Maybe.”
“Hey, you never know,” Addison said with a knowing laugh. “I never thought I’d be here either. And I don’t know Mark too well, but I don’t think he generally has female friends, Everly. If he was hanging out with you, he’s interested.”
She flushed, recalling their kiss. “Maybe,” she said lightly, crossing to the fridge to pull out a soda. “I’m going home next week though. I’ll admit he’s hot, and he did save me from nearly drowning. I don’t do one-night-stands though, so....”
“Ace only told me a little about everything that happened, but trust me. He’s interested in you. It sounds like your brother picked up on it, too.”
“Well, Mark only texted me once this week,” Everly said with a shrug. “I mean, I guess he replied when I told him about the photoshoot being rescheduled, but whatever. I’m not here to meet a guy.”
“They’re good guys,” Addison said. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
They heard Ace open and close the door, and a moment later, he came in carrying the case of beer and a shopping bag full of other drinks. “I grabbed some of those hard seltzers you ladies like. Some of the women are bringing wine, and I’m pretty sure the guys will bring beer. We’ve probably got more than we need.”
“We’ll save it for next time,” Addison said with a smile.
Everly just felt more out of place at hearing that. The next time her brother’s group of friends got together, she’d be long gone. Would Mark bring a date then? The idea bothered her more than it should. Her life was back home, but that didn’t stop the tiny tug in her heart.
***
EVERLY TOOK A SIP OF her hard seltzer, watching the crowd in Ace’s backyard later that evening. Ace was grilling steaks and chicken, the scents of the sizzling meat filling the air. Tyler had shown up late with Rachel and her daughter. They’d been at Keira’s soccer game that afternoon. Everly still couldn’t get over this domestic side of her brother, but he seemed happy. Clearly, both Rachel and her daughter loved him as well.
“I scored a goal!” Keira shouted from near her mom. She’d told anyone and everyone about her soccer game, and her enthusiasm was practically contagious. It was hard not to smile when talking to the little girl. She wasn’t shy in the least and loved talking to all of Tyler’s teammates.
Everly heard bickering over to the side of the patio area and saw an Asian woman with one of the SEALs. Havoc, if she recalled. Although they were arguing about something they were standing awfully close together. He seemed into her, not that the gruff SEAL would probably ever admit it.
Another woman crossed the patio area carrying a Caesar salad. Everly wondered if it was Addison’s other friend. Two women had arrived together, but Everly hadn’t actually met them yet. The dark-haired one had certainly made a beeline for Havoc, she noticed in amusement.
The only person missing at the barbeque was Mark, and she couldn’t help but wonder where he was. It was silly. He’d show up at some point, and if not, well, she’d see him tomorrow. She was here today because of her brother. She didn’t like that she noticed Mark’s absence though. She’d barely heard from him this week and was already feeling nervous about seeing him. Why had she let him kiss her anyway?
Now she just felt awkward since he was clearly distancing himself from her.
Addison came walking over, dragging her friend away from the bearded guy she’d assumed was Havoc. The two women approached Everly, Addison introducing her to Olivia. The outgoing woman immediately began peppering her with questions. Everly didn’t mind sharing the details of being a blogger, but her mind was elsewhere.
She took another sip of her drink, brushing her hair back behind her ear. The sundress she’d worn blew in the gentle breeze. The bodice was fitted, hugging her breasts, and it flared slightly from her hips. She felt feminine and pretty. It had been weird not snapping a picture of her outfit and immediately sharing it online, but she’d been off social media for several days now. Chloe had texted her asking when she’d post again, but at this point, Everly was fine with waiting until after the photoshoot was over.
“Cute dress,” Olivia said, looking down at her own outfit. “I just can’t pull off girly stuff like that.”
“You’re edgy,” Addison said.
The women started talking about different clothing styles, Everly only partly listening. The warm air kissed her skin every time the breeze blew. She liked this weather, she realized. Maryland was fine some of the year, but she could see herself here in California. Why that thought had suddenly sprung to mind, she wasn’t entirely sure. It’s not like she was going to switch coasts.
She felt Mark’s presence before she saw him. One moment she’d been standing there talking, and the next, her entire body was on alert. It made no sense, but it was like she was somehow attuned to him. Even without hearing his voice, she immediately knew he was there. Warmth washed over her skin, and then she heard the patio doors close as someone came out of Ace’s house. Had he been watching her from inside?
“Yo, Mayhem!” Havoc called out. “About time you got here.”
Everly heard some of the other guys talking to him behind her. She wanted to turn around and watch, but she could already feel her cheeks warming. Plus, what would she say? He’d kissed her, said he wanted to take her out, then basically blown her off all week. It stung.
“Grab a beer!” Ace’s deep voice called out. “I’ve got steaks on the grill.”
“The food smells great.”
And then Mark was there, striding across the patio, looking far more tempting than he should have. He hadn’t shaved today, and the scruff on his jaw was masculine and appealing. He had on dark jeans and a white tee shirt, somehow giving off the vibe of the guy next door, which he certainly wasn’t. He might’ve looked approachable, but that didn’t stop her heart from racing and palms from sweating. There was a gruffness to him as well. The dark stubble. The swagger as he moved.
Mark was comfortable in his own skin, and she swore she couldn’t look away.
Goodness.
This was silly. He was here to see his friends, and she happened to be here, too. They weren’t really anything to one another. Mark popped the cap of his longneck and took a pull, his dark gaze landing on her. She felt his eyes briefly skim over her body, taking in the way her dress clung to her breasts and fell gently from her hips. With the way he was looking at her, she was surprised she didn’t burst right into flames. It was obvious he was attracted to her.
Why had he barely spoken with her all week then?
“Ladies,” he said as he approached them, nodding hello. Addison began telling him about the food, and Olivia wandered over to say hi to her friend Cassie. Suddenly, Addison rushed over to help Ace get the food off the grill, and then they were standing there alone.
“How are you doing?” he asked quietly.
She shrugged. “Still getting texts, but I’ll deal with it.” His hand tightened around his beer bottle. Mark might be playing it cool, but she could see that the new information bothered him. “I didn’t hear much from you the past few days,” she said. It didn’t matter. There wasn’t really a reason for him to contact her.
“Yep. We’ve been busy with training, and...hell. I’m trying to do the right thing here, Everly.”
She tilted her head, looking up at him. “What exactly is that supposed to mean? You shouldn’t have kissed me?”
“Something like that,” he murmured.
“Well, no need to feel guilty. I’m a big girl. I’ll see you tomorrow I guess.” She turned, planning to go talk to someone less confusing than him, when his large hand landed on her arm. Everly froze, warmth coursing over her skin. She shouldn’t have liked the feel of his rough hand on her bare arm. Mark was hardened and muscular. The callouses on his hands were from hard work, trainings, and deployments to God knows where. He didn’t want to pursue anything with her, and that was fine, even though she had to admit it stung. She couldn’t help the way her body reacted to him though.
A single touch from him was sending all sorts of conflicting feelings through her. She looked up into his eyes, unable to avoid feeling hurt. He was blowing her off. She didn’t need to stand here and listen to his reasons why.
He still hadn’t removed his hand from her arm though.
“You know I’m interested in you,” he said in a low voice. “Tyler told me to stay away though. I’m trying to respect his wishes. You’ll have to go home in a week, and I’ll still have to work with him every day. He’s my teammate.”
“Sure. I get it.”
“You don’t,” he said, gently turning her to face him. The party continued on around them, with people talking and laughing, food being served, and the rest of the group all enjoying themselves. Everly felt completely disoriented and out of her element. She should be having fun and relaxing, maybe hanging out with Tyler and Rachel, not dealing with Mark. She wasn’t looking to date anyway, so why was she feeling like this?
“I’m an intense sort of guy,” he said. “Too intense. I’m not right for you, sweetheart.”
“And I don’t get to decide that for myself?” she found herself asking.
What was she saying? She wasn’t going to have some kind of relationship with him over the next few days. She wasn’t going to sleep with him.
Growing flustered, she took a step back.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and it was like she couldn’t even think of the right thing to say. Why did this guy make her feel so raw and unraveled? She was in San Diego for work. She’d certainly had plenty of men ask her out over social media. The creepy guys she blocked, but she was sure some of the others were decent human beings. She’d just never been interested. From the second she’d woken up on the beach with Mark hovering above her, she’d felt safe. Centered. He warmed her from the insides with the protective way he’d looked at her. He was pulling away though, and it was what it was. She wasn’t the type of woman to chase after a guy. She was attracted to him, yes, but she didn’t need to be with a man that wasn’t truly interested in her.
Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her pocket, shock coursing through her as she looked at the screen.
I’ve been looking at your red bikini photo all day, princess.
I love to imagine what you look like naked.
When we’re together, I’ll take all sorts of pictures of you.
Every inch of your body will be mine.
Bile rose in the back of her throat, and she turned away from Mark, shaking. Every time she blocked a phone number, this creep spoofed a new one and somehow was able to text her again. She should’ve just changed her damn number so she didn’t have to deal with this anymore. Clutching her cell phone tightly in one hand, Everly rushed back to the house, ignoring the party around her and Mark asking if she was okay. She fumbled with the doors on the patio, feeling foolish. No one seemed to even notice she was leaving, save for Mark, and she didn’t want to deal with him right now anyway.
Tears smarted her eyes as she finally wrenched open the doors and rushed into Ace’s home. The cool blast of the air conditioning washed over her skin, and she shook harder, breaking out in a cold sweat. Gasping for breath, she hurried down the hallway to the guestroom. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest, and it felt like her lungs were being squeezed by a vise. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe.
She had to get out of here, but Everly didn’t even have anywhere to go. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sank to the ground beside the bed, choking out a strangled cry.
There were so many people outside, and soon, they’d all wonder what was wrong with her. She felt like an idiot for running away, and her anxiety ratcheted up another notch. Her phone buzzed again, and she realized she was still clutching it tightly. Everly shoved it under the bed, wrapping her arms around herself and trying to catch her breath.
It buzzed again and again, and she started crying harder.
The bedroom door opened, and then Mark was right there, kneeling down beside her. He didn’t say anything, just pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his muscular arms around her. “Shhh,” he soothed, tightening his hold. She didn’t resist, just buried her face into his neck, her entire body shaking. Thick fingers wove through her hair, holding her head against him. Her tears dampened his skin, her breath coming out in tiny gasps against him, but she didn’t care. Mark was safe and warm. If he held her long enough, maybe she’d be able to breathe again.
Her phone buzzed once more, the sound muffled from under the bed.
Mark stiffened slightly. “I’m going to kill whoever is harassing you,” he muttered.
She blubbered incoherently, choking out words as she tried to explain what had happened.
“I know,” he soothed. “You don’t have to look at the messages anymore. We’ll get you a new cell number ASAP so you don’t have to see any of them. Hell. I’ll trade with you for now and give that asshole a piece of my mind.”
She whimpered and sobbed against him, struggling to take a full breath. Mark’s large hand slid through her hair so that he was cupping the back of her neck. It was tender and sweet. Gentle. He held her close against his muscular frame, not talking any further, just letting her cry. It felt good absorbing his strength and warmth—letting him shoulder part of her burdens.
She had no idea how long they’d sat there. Had the others come in to look for them and heard her crying? She felt dizzy and overwhelmed. “I need to get out of here,” she finally whispered. “I can’t be around all these people right now.”
“Sure thing, sweetheart.”
Everly didn’t ask why he was suddenly taking care of her so gently after blowing her off this week. She gasped as he rose from the ground with her still in his arms. One moment she’d been sitting in his lap, and the next, he was standing, holding her close like she was something precious to him. “I can stand,” she whimpered.
He gently set her down, but one arm snared around her, pulling her close. She settled against him, too emotionally drained to resist. “Where’s your cell?” he asked.
“I shoved it under the bed.”
“Leave it. I’ll text Trigger and let him know where to find it. And I’ll tell him we buzzed out of here for a while. He’ll be pissed, but fuck it. Get your purse or whatever you need. I’ll take you somewhere quiet. You’re safe with me, Everly.”
“Where are we going?”
“My place. You can rest for a while if you need to. You’re still trembling, Ev,” he said gently.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” she said, blinking. Unsteadily, she crossed the bedroom, grabbing her purse from the dresser. Her gaze landed on the floor by her bed.
“Just leave it,” he repeated. “I assume you got some more nasty texts?”
She bit her lip and nodded. Suddenly she felt chilled, like it was too cold in the house for her sundress. “I want my sweater.”
Mark’s gaze scanned the room, and he crossed over, grabbing her sweater from the chair. The lightweight cardigan looked dainty in his muscular hand, and he brought it to her, helping Everly to slip it on. His hand landed on the small of her back, and then he was gently guiding her forward. “My SUV’s on the street out front. Are you okay to walk there? I can pull right into the driveway.”
“No, I’ll be fine,” she said, although she still felt lightheaded.
Mark didn’t say anything but moved his arm around her waist, his hand securely gripping her hip. She liked his touch—maybe too much. She couldn’t begin to understand why he’d followed her inside the house, but she didn’t want to analyze that too much.
Suddenly, she stopped in the hallway. “Wait. What if he’s out there someplace?”
“You’re safe with me, Everly. I promise. If he shows up, it won’t end well for him.”
She relaxed slightly, realizing he was right. Mark wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He might not want to kiss her again or take things beyond where they were now, but she didn’t doubt he’d keep her safe.
He moved with her down the hallway, his hand still on her hip. It felt intimate walking this way. She felt guilty for leaving without saying goodbye to anyone, but what was she supposed to do? Everly couldn’t go back outside crying and shaking. She was barely holding it together right now. Mark got her out the front door and into his large SUV. He produced a sweatshirt from somewhere, and she gratefully draped it over her bare legs.
Mark watched her for a beat as he started the engine, and then they were pulling out of Ace’s neighborhood, heading toward his apartment complex. He lifted his phone, using the voice-to-text feature to let Tyler know they’d left. Maybe Everly should’ve been concerned, driving away with her brother’s friend like this, but she trusted Mark more than she trusted herself right now. He’d keep her safe, she thought, as her anxiety began to kick in again. But could he protect her from herself?
