Page 3 of The Princess and the SEAL

“You aren’t a bother. I’m happy to help.”

“I appreciate that, but I’ll be fine. Thank you again for getting my luggage.” She grabbed her bag from me, walked a few feet away, slumped on a bench, and clutched her book.

After a few moments, she began to cry.

Fuck. I couldn’t leave her alone after she had just been mugged. I wasn’t that much of a dick.

Fine, Ryan. Just get her situated and then go on your way.

I walked to the bench and sat beside her. “What are you going to do? I have a cell with international minutes. Would you like to call someone? Maybe your fiancé?”

She bit her plump lower lip and fidgeted with the diamond on her finger. “Oh, you noticed my ring. It’s not what it seems.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure it isn’t, lady. Tell that to him.”

“I mean, it is. I’m technically engaged, but we’re not together romantically. It’s more of . . . a business arrangement.”

I leaned in closer. What was her story? I didn’t know her at all, but something in her voice and her eyes made me curious about her. Normally, I didn’t give two shits about other people’s personal lives, but she intrigued me. I had to get to the bottom of this.

“An arrangement? That’s sexy.” What year was it? Who still had arranged marriages?

“It’s not meant to be sexy. It’s meant to be practical.”

I wasn’t even going to go there with her. Marriage and practical should never be used in the same sentence.

“Where are you staying?”

“At the Château La Chenevière. But without my documents, I’ll be unable to check-in. I could call my father, but I’m too embarrassed. He warned me about traveling alone. He’ll just tell me, ‘I told you so,’ and I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Daddy’s girl. An engaged daddy’s girl. Even so, she spoke with an innocence I found refreshing. “I get it. You want to be independent.”

She looked up at me. “It’s not just that. Now I realize he was right. It was foolish of me to travel alone. This is none of your concern—I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

But she didn’t look fine. She forced a smile like she was trying to keep everything together and not break down.

I studied this woman next to me, who didn’t seem to blend in with either the casual locals or the sloppy tourists. Even though I was on vacation, I was a Navy SEAL twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to her. She’d already been mugged, and though I’d retrieved her luggage, she didn’t have her purse. So far, she’d been sweet, shy, and was surprisingly open to answering all my questions. Nothing like the other women I’d hooked up with. Definitely a challenge.

And I never backed down from a challenge.

“Let me take you to dinner first, and after we’re done, I’ll walk you to your hotel and make sure you’re settled.”

Her brow furrowed. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I don’t want to ruin your night with my troubles. Furthermore, I don’t even know you.”

I needed to assure her that I wasn’t some psychopath. I scooted away from her. “Then get to know me. My name is Ryan Shelton, I’m a Navy SEAL.” I reached into my back pocket and flashed a military ID at her.

Her eyes widened. “A Navy SEAL? I read once that Navy SEALs were trained to kill in over three hundred ways. So, you’re a killer? That’s supposed to make me feel more comfortable with you?”

Not the reaction I was going for and definitely not the one I was used to. Back in the states, many women dropped to their knees and opened their mouths when I told them I was a SEAL.

I put the ID back in my pocket. “I protect people like I protected you. I’m one of the good guys. What’s your name?”

“Giselle. Nice to meet you, Ryan.”

“Would you like to join me for dinner or not?”

She played with a lock of her hair and stared at me. After an uncomfortable pause, she finally said, “I’d love to.”

“Great. Let’s go.” I took her luggage and walked down the street with her right beside me, her heels clicking on the cobblestones. I took a moment to stare at her luscious ass, which sent a jolt to my cock.