have called Ray to help her train, but she didn’t want him to know until she’d made the cut. Harley knew the mind games to push her past her limits. After four miles, they crested the dune in front of the cottage.
Ray stood on the running board of his truck unhitching his surfboard.
“Yo, man.” Harley raised a dark brow coming to a halt.
Ray nodded, eyes shielded beneath his shades. “How’s business?”
His hard-edged tone made Jo flinch. Tension rolled off the men in waves.
“Steady, haven’t seen you in for a beer lately. Hope my new bartender didn’t piss you off. She’s got a tongue like a razor.” He glanced at Jo, baring a grin.
Ray cocked a brow and peeled off his T-shirt. “Yeah, I’ve got the scars to prove it.”
After a beat, both men broke into laughter.
“Hello…right here.” She joked, glad things between them had cooled down.
“Later,” Harley called back, climbing into his four-by-four truck.
“How’s the surf?” Ray leaned his board against one of the house pilings.
“Picking up.” She debated telling him why she went running with Harley.
“Sorry, I should’ve called first. You did say to stop by this weekend and ride a few.”
She smiled. “No, it’s fine. Let me get on a suit.”
Upon her return, she found Ray buffing a fresh coat of wax on their boards. His tanned chest and the deep cleft between his pectorals drew her attention. Her gaze wandered to his rippling abs and happy trail below. His low-slung trunks accentuated chiseled hips, making her mouth water.
How much she wanted him scared her. She’d loved him like a brother until her interest in boys changed to more than just being surfing buddies and friends. He said he’d be patient and if she made it into the academy, she’d barely have time for a relationship.
Neither spoke until they straddled their boards in deep water, waiting for a set.
“What’s with you and the SEAL?” His monotone advertised his displeasure.
“He’s helping me.”
“With what?” Ray lanced her with a hard stare.
His jealousy thrilled her until guilt quelled her high. If she didn’t fess up about the academy, he might think she had intentions for Harley. “Train for the CPAT.”
His mouth dropped open. “Shit, Jo. It’s not like I haven’t done it.”
“I didn’t want to tell you until my application had been accepted. I still won’t know for a few more days, but I’ve got to be ready.”
“Does this have something to do with your dad?” His brows furrowed.
“Did it for you?” She mimicked his expression.
His jaw tightened. “With your physical education degree, you could go into teaching, or physical therapy.”
“I’d have to be willed a job in P.E. in this county and you know it. Physical therapy will take another year or more, and I don’t have the patience to baby-sit rehab patients. I’ve done the math. This is a logical answer.”
He scanned the beach appearing lost in thought.
“So what do you think? Be honest. Can I cut it?”
He scrutinized her. “You’ve hauled quite a few out of the drink. Including me, once. You’re stubborn as hell and you never back down from a challenge. Yeah, I’d crawl through a burning building with you.”
His subtle wink almost melted her bones. “That sounds kinky.”
“You have no idea.”
“Sounds like something for Nancy Nurse.” He had never confirmed or denied the allegation and she wanted, no, needed an answer.
His blue eyes darkened in warning. “She’s my captain’s daughter. Plus, having lunch is not sex or even dating. I’m waiting for you. And don’t believe Harley is helping you from the goodness of his heart. SEALS never retire, and they always have an agenda.”
“What’s with you two, anyway?” She leaned toward him and punched his arm like she used to do when they were kids. Harley had been mute on their history, as well. “A big dog pissing match?”
“He has dark tastes, and female employees are at the top of
Ray stood on the running board of his truck unhitching his surfboard.
“Yo, man.” Harley raised a dark brow coming to a halt.
Ray nodded, eyes shielded beneath his shades. “How’s business?”
His hard-edged tone made Jo flinch. Tension rolled off the men in waves.
“Steady, haven’t seen you in for a beer lately. Hope my new bartender didn’t piss you off. She’s got a tongue like a razor.” He glanced at Jo, baring a grin.
Ray cocked a brow and peeled off his T-shirt. “Yeah, I’ve got the scars to prove it.”
After a beat, both men broke into laughter.
“Hello…right here.” She joked, glad things between them had cooled down.
“Later,” Harley called back, climbing into his four-by-four truck.
“How’s the surf?” Ray leaned his board against one of the house pilings.
“Picking up.” She debated telling him why she went running with Harley.
“Sorry, I should’ve called first. You did say to stop by this weekend and ride a few.”
She smiled. “No, it’s fine. Let me get on a suit.”
Upon her return, she found Ray buffing a fresh coat of wax on their boards. His tanned chest and the deep cleft between his pectorals drew her attention. Her gaze wandered to his rippling abs and happy trail below. His low-slung trunks accentuated chiseled hips, making her mouth water.
How much she wanted him scared her. She’d loved him like a brother until her interest in boys changed to more than just being surfing buddies and friends. He said he’d be patient and if she made it into the academy, she’d barely have time for a relationship.
Neither spoke until they straddled their boards in deep water, waiting for a set.
“What’s with you and the SEAL?” His monotone advertised his displeasure.
“He’s helping me.”
“With what?” Ray lanced her with a hard stare.
His jealousy thrilled her until guilt quelled her high. If she didn’t fess up about the academy, he might think she had intentions for Harley. “Train for the CPAT.”
His mouth dropped open. “Shit, Jo. It’s not like I haven’t done it.”
“I didn’t want to tell you until my application had been accepted. I still won’t know for a few more days, but I’ve got to be ready.”
“Does this have something to do with your dad?” His brows furrowed.
“Did it for you?” She mimicked his expression.
His jaw tightened. “With your physical education degree, you could go into teaching, or physical therapy.”
“I’d have to be willed a job in P.E. in this county and you know it. Physical therapy will take another year or more, and I don’t have the patience to baby-sit rehab patients. I’ve done the math. This is a logical answer.”
He scanned the beach appearing lost in thought.
“So what do you think? Be honest. Can I cut it?”
He scrutinized her. “You’ve hauled quite a few out of the drink. Including me, once. You’re stubborn as hell and you never back down from a challenge. Yeah, I’d crawl through a burning building with you.”
His subtle wink almost melted her bones. “That sounds kinky.”
“You have no idea.”
“Sounds like something for Nancy Nurse.” He had never confirmed or denied the allegation and she wanted, no, needed an answer.
His blue eyes darkened in warning. “She’s my captain’s daughter. Plus, having lunch is not sex or even dating. I’m waiting for you. And don’t believe Harley is helping you from the goodness of his heart. SEALS never retire, and they always have an agenda.”
“What’s with you two, anyway?” She leaned toward him and punched his arm like she used to do when they were kids. Harley had been mute on their history, as well. “A big dog pissing match?”
“He has dark tastes, and female employees are at the top of
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