Page 70 of Until Joy

“Worse? I’ve seen the drill sergeants in movies, they’re awful.”

“Joy, these senior chiefs are training us to be Navy SEALs. Our BUD/S training which stands for Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL, is six months long. I’ve heard of classes where only ten percent of the men who start end up finishing.”

“That’s just wrong.”

“No. That’s good. We have to put our lives in the hands of one another. We want only the best of the best working with us.”

“How often did you⁠—”

“Nope, we’re not going there. I told you all of this so I could let you realize why you shouldn’t be embarrassed about a little snot between friends. I wanted you to know the embarrassing reason that for the last four months of my Navy SEAL training I was known as Crack Operator. Now, do you realize that there is nothing you can do that will be more embarrassing?”

I grinned. “I see your point.”

“However, I am going to go change my shirt.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I said quickly, before I begged to watch.

He put one arm around my neck, then kissed my temple. “Meet you on the deck?”

I nodded. “You really need furniture in here.”

He rolled his eyes.

Graham was talking as soon as I walked out onto the deck.

“I’ve called Jax Mayson. He’s going to pull a few strings and see what the folks in London have to say about your stalker.”

“Mayson?”

“Yeah, he’s July’s cousin. There’s Maysons crawling all over Murfreesboro. He has his own private security business. He said that one of his men has an in with Interpol, so he’s going to find out what happened with your case.”

Graham held out his hand and I sat down next to him on the outdoor couch.

“I can’t afford to pay, Jax.”

“He doesn’t want payment. This is just a friend helping out a friend. His guy is just asking a few questions.”

I looked him dead in the eye and could see he wasn’t trying to pull a fast one like he did with Miss Laverne, but still. “Graham, I need to make something very clear.”

He grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. That was something I noticed about him. He always liked to be touching me. I loved it.

“Okay, Doll. Spit it out.”

“I pay my own way. Yeah, on a date, I’ll let you pay, but I enjoy picking up groceries for the meals I make for you. And I’ll definitely want to pay for any security firm that is working on my behalf.”

He pulled my hand so that our tangled fingers rested on his rock-hard thigh. “I see we need to talk this out.”

I sat up straight. “There’s really nothing to talk out. I have a job, I live within my means. However, if something big comes up, I’ll find a way to pay for it. I won’t be relying on my new boyfriend.”

“Joy, I’m not just your boyfriend. I’m your man. We’re building something here. Something strong. I will never trample over you or your feelings. Your self-worth means the world to me. But you need to understand, when it comes to your safety, I need to put everything I have and everything I am on the line for you. You come first in my world. That’s just the man I am. Are you going to deny me this?”

Shit, when he put it like that, how could I let my pride stand in his way?

I reached out and cupped his jaw, his beard tickling my hand. “I understand, Graham. Okay, for this, you get to take the lead.”

He gave me a grateful smile, and I snuggled even closer. “So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Besides that,” I laughed. “Anyway, you have to be at work pretty soon.”