Read Online Hot SEALs: Protecting Julie (Kindle Worlds) (SEAL of Protection Book 0) by Susan Stoker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Stoker
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in your sleep and called out ‘I’m sorry,’ over and over. You only stopped when I sat next to you and took you in my arms. You never even woke up until later, when I purposely shook you awake so I could take you home.”
Julie stared at Patrick in dismay.
“It’s eating you up inside. You need this.”
She looked down, sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and stayed silent, not knowing what to say.
“What’s holding you back?”
Julie didn’t want to tell him, but he was a good guy. He’d been nothing but decent. He’d encouraged her when she doubted both herself and what she was doing with the store, he supported her, he laughed with her, he was a good kisser, and he never, not once, made her feel like the bitch she’d been in what seemed like a previous life.
Most importantly, Julie liked Patrick. If she wanted any kind of real relationship with him, she knew they had to get past this. He was the SEALs’ Commander, for Christ’s sake. She’d have to see them sooner or later if she and Patrick stayed together. It was a miracle they hadn’t already, but she knew that was probably all Patrick’s doing.
“What if they don’t accept my apology?”
“They will,” Patrick said immediately, knowing exactly who she was talking about.
“Fiona didn’t,” she admitted in a small voice. “Why would they?”
“What do you mean, Fiona didn’t?” Patrick asked with concern. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “I know you saw her that one time, and I know there was some shit said.”
Patrick had talked to the guys about the incident, and while he knew it wasn’t a sunshine-and-roses meeting, he hadn’t been aware any of the girls had said anything over-the-top mean. He didn’t think it was in them, not after everything they’d been through.
Julie shook her head, lying. “Not really. Look, I don’t blame her friends. I was mean to Fiona in the jungle, and she and her friends have the right to not want to talk to me.”
“Julie, I talked to the guys. I don’t think you know this, you might suspect it, but Fiona is married to the SEAL who got you through the forest. I talked to him. Cookie knows you saw Fee and that you apologized. He would’ve told me if she was still harboring ill will toward you.”
“I figured they were married,” Julie said softly, feeling the pit in her stomach grow bigger and bigger, “But I guess I didn’t realize it until I saw her that she was married to the SEAL that saved us.”
“Yeah,” Patrick confirmed.
“I’m not talking to him, or any of the others,” Julie stated resolutely.
“Julie, you—”
“No!” She struggled to get off Patrick’s lap, relieved when he let her go. “I can’t. She was upset to see me. I know her husband has to be pissed at me.” Julie paced as she continued. “I can’t face him. I thought I could…before. But knowing they got together? That they bonded so completely while we were in that fucking jungle that they fell in love and got married?” She spared a glance at Patrick, not knowing how to put into words what she was thinking.
Julie didn’t really think if she’d been less of a bitch, she might have ended up with the handsome SEAL instead of Fiona, but the thought wouldn’t leave her brain. “I’m assuming that’s what happened, right?” she finished somewhat lamely.
“Basically, yeah.”
“Yeah. So I’m not doing it.”
“They’re my men,” Patrick said in a low, sad voice. “I want you to be there when we have company picnics. I want you to be a part of my Navy life. If you won’t see them, you can’t be.”
Julie felt her heart breaking. She was losing one of the best things to happen to her before she’d even truly had it. But she really was a coward. She couldn’t face Fiona again. Couldn’t face the censure she saw in all of her friends’ faces. Could not face the man who loved Fiona, who’d been there in Mexico to see her at her worst. She couldn’t do
Julie stared at Patrick in dismay.
“It’s eating you up inside. You need this.”
She looked down, sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and stayed silent, not knowing what to say.
“What’s holding you back?”
Julie didn’t want to tell him, but he was a good guy. He’d been nothing but decent. He’d encouraged her when she doubted both herself and what she was doing with the store, he supported her, he laughed with her, he was a good kisser, and he never, not once, made her feel like the bitch she’d been in what seemed like a previous life.
Most importantly, Julie liked Patrick. If she wanted any kind of real relationship with him, she knew they had to get past this. He was the SEALs’ Commander, for Christ’s sake. She’d have to see them sooner or later if she and Patrick stayed together. It was a miracle they hadn’t already, but she knew that was probably all Patrick’s doing.
“What if they don’t accept my apology?”
“They will,” Patrick said immediately, knowing exactly who she was talking about.
“Fiona didn’t,” she admitted in a small voice. “Why would they?”
“What do you mean, Fiona didn’t?” Patrick asked with concern. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “I know you saw her that one time, and I know there was some shit said.”
Patrick had talked to the guys about the incident, and while he knew it wasn’t a sunshine-and-roses meeting, he hadn’t been aware any of the girls had said anything over-the-top mean. He didn’t think it was in them, not after everything they’d been through.
Julie shook her head, lying. “Not really. Look, I don’t blame her friends. I was mean to Fiona in the jungle, and she and her friends have the right to not want to talk to me.”
“Julie, I talked to the guys. I don’t think you know this, you might suspect it, but Fiona is married to the SEAL who got you through the forest. I talked to him. Cookie knows you saw Fee and that you apologized. He would’ve told me if she was still harboring ill will toward you.”
“I figured they were married,” Julie said softly, feeling the pit in her stomach grow bigger and bigger, “But I guess I didn’t realize it until I saw her that she was married to the SEAL that saved us.”
“Yeah,” Patrick confirmed.
“I’m not talking to him, or any of the others,” Julie stated resolutely.
“Julie, you—”
“No!” She struggled to get off Patrick’s lap, relieved when he let her go. “I can’t. She was upset to see me. I know her husband has to be pissed at me.” Julie paced as she continued. “I can’t face him. I thought I could…before. But knowing they got together? That they bonded so completely while we were in that fucking jungle that they fell in love and got married?” She spared a glance at Patrick, not knowing how to put into words what she was thinking.
Julie didn’t really think if she’d been less of a bitch, she might have ended up with the handsome SEAL instead of Fiona, but the thought wouldn’t leave her brain. “I’m assuming that’s what happened, right?” she finished somewhat lamely.
“Basically, yeah.”
“Yeah. So I’m not doing it.”
“They’re my men,” Patrick said in a low, sad voice. “I want you to be there when we have company picnics. I want you to be a part of my Navy life. If you won’t see them, you can’t be.”
Julie felt her heart breaking. She was losing one of the best things to happen to her before she’d even truly had it. But she really was a coward. She couldn’t face Fiona again. Couldn’t face the censure she saw in all of her friends’ faces. Could not face the man who loved Fiona, who’d been there in Mexico to see her at her worst. She couldn’t do
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