AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“True.” He gave her a sad smile. “Let me walk you up to the house. I noticed Hays and Paul disappeared.”
“Good guys.”
“For sure.”
She turned, and they plunged through the sand side by side, but they weren’t touching and they weren’t speaking and she felt even more unsettled and uncertain than she had when she’d come down here.
Reaching the beach path, she picked up her extra flip-flops and slid into the other ones. The sand was gritty between her feet and the sandals. It was good to have something annoying to focus on so she didn’t break down and cry. She glanced askance at Jagger, admiring everything about him but having no clue how they could ever be together.
“Do you think you’ll ever retire from the SEALs?” she asked as they reached the patio. She could see Hays and Paul finishing their dinner through the huge windows. They both looked their way and then focused on their plates.
“Not until they force me to retire from active duty,” he said, studying her. “If I’m not a commanding officer by then, I want to train special forces. What else would I do?”
She’d always told him she’d support him in his Navy dreams, but she could understand why her dad had repeatedly worried that it was a hard life for marriage and families. She’d love Jagger by her side every moment, but she’d still support him in his career and his dreams.
“I’m sure you’re brilliant at it. Just what I saw yesterday … you were incredible.” She shivered at the memory. She’d watched men die in front of her. Though they were awful men, it had been terrifying. How much death had Jagger seen? How many people had he killed?
Jagger wrapped his arms around her and cuddled her close as if she were a small child. Belinda was instantly safe, happy, loved, and exhilarated. She slid her arms around his bare back and rested her cheek against the firm skin of his chest. She was worried about him and he unselfishly comforted her.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. Do you want to talk through anything? I know that can be traumatic.”
“I’m okay. I’ll talk to my dad when I get home.”
His muscles tightened at that. She tensed as well. Her dad was a hot button for him, and she didn’t blame him, but her dad was a huge part of her life—her champion, her father, her pastor, and her confidant.
“I’m just so grateful you came for me,” she said.
“Are you?”
She glanced up at him. His expression was a little teasing but mostly confused.
“You were pretty mad at me last night.”
“You said you liked me mad,” she reminded him.
“Only when I get sweet honey after.” His gaze dropped to her lips.
“I gave you sweet honey before,” she sassed him. “You can’t have honey all the time. You’d have cavities.”
Jagger chuckled. “Ah, Bee.” He ran his hands up her back, and she quivered under his touch. He framed her face with his hands and studied her. She loved how his towering, strong form surrounded her. “You think we’ll ever figure us out?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, miserable just thinking about it.
His dark eyes were sad. She wanted to arch toward him and kiss him, but she knew that wouldn’t be fair to him.
Releasing her, he backed up a few steps. “I hope you can rest.”
“Have a good swim,” she managed, her heart ripping apart, but she couldn’t blame him for backing away or walking away.
He only tilted his chin up to her and then spun and strode off the patio, his large frame disappearing in the thick vegetation lining the trail.
She spun and rushed into the house. “Hi.” She waved and hurried past Paul and Hays. They were probably as confused as she and Jagger were.
“Hey.” Paul smiled. “We saved you lots of dinner.”
“No thanks. Goodnight.”
“Night,” they both murmured.
