Read Online SEAL for Her Protection (SEALs of Coronado Book 1) by Paige Tyler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Paige Tyler
Ads: Link
Kitchen on the Bay then took in the movie at Waterfront Park.”
On the far side of the room, the platoon’s lieutenant, Dean Hanley, let out a low whistle. Unlike the rest of the Navy, on a SEAL Team, the OIC—officer in charge—was one of the guys. “That place is pricey. You must have really been trying to impress her.”
“More than I would normally spend for dinner,” Chasen admitted, especially including the bribe he’d slipped the hostess. “But I figured Hayley would be worth it.”
Logan raised a brow. “So you see her as something more than the usual temporary thing?”
Chasen knew what Logan was asking, even if he didn’t say it in so many words. He was politely asking if Hayley might be a SEAL groupie—better known as a frog hog. While there weren’t many women who could handle being in a serious relationship with a SEAL, there was never a shortage of women who simply wanted to bed one.
Chasen had tried that route when he was younger, but these days, that kind of thing didn’t hold any interest for him. He’d never admit it to the guys, but he was getting older and looking for a woman to be more than a bedmate. He wanted someone to be there when he got back from training and missions and long, hard days at work. His gut told him there was a chance Hayley could be that someone. Mostly because she wasn’t looking to bag herself a SEAL for bragging rights. She was a brilliant investigative journalist who was brave as hell and took risks doing what she believed in. She was the kind of woman he could respect, the kind of woman he could see himself with long term.
“No, I’m not thinking temporary here,” he finally confessed. “Hayley’s special.”
The guys fell silent at his announcement. They might rag him about going out and spending a lot of money on a date with a woman he’d just met, but they all knew firsthand what it was like to fall for a girl and have her bail when she realized what being a SEAL truly entailed. If he thought Hayley might be different, that changed everything.
“I get that you like her,” Logan said slowly. “But don’t you think you should be cautious? You saved her life and all. Don’t go mistaking gratitude for something it’s not.”
Chasen had thought that angle through too, that she’d agreed to the date out of a sense of obligation because he’d rescued her in Nigeria. But after last night, it didn’t feel that way between them. He could sense the spark there. She liked him, maybe as much as he liked her.
“I won’t, even though I don’t think that’s the case,” he said.
“You sure?” Dean pressed.
“I’m sure.” He finished cleaning the bolt on his weapon and slid it back into the upper receiver group then glanced up. “Is it so hard to believe a woman could be interested in me simply because she finds me attractive and enjoys the fact I can carry on an intelligent conversation about something other than military tactics?”
Dalton snorted. “Yeah, that is hard to believe. I mean, if it we were talking about me, I could see it. But you? No. There has to be some other rational reason. Maybe you should have one of our medics check her out. She might have sustained a head injury during the rescue and thinks you’re way more attractive than you are.”
Everyone laughed, including Chasen. The guys might appreciate that he was trying for something more than a weekend hook-up, but that didn’t mean they weren’t going to rag him about it anyway.
“Why don’t you bring her to the cookout this afternoon? Melissa would love to meet her.” Chief Petty Officer Kurt Travers jerked his head in Dalton’s direction. At forty-five, Kurt was the oldest guy in their platoon and had forgotten more about being a SEAL than any of them would ever know. “If Hayley passes the Melissa gauntlet, maybe these idgets will stop giving you so much grief.”
Chasen grinned. “Already invited her, Chief.”
“Good deal,” Nash said. “I’ll make
On the far side of the room, the platoon’s lieutenant, Dean Hanley, let out a low whistle. Unlike the rest of the Navy, on a SEAL Team, the OIC—officer in charge—was one of the guys. “That place is pricey. You must have really been trying to impress her.”
“More than I would normally spend for dinner,” Chasen admitted, especially including the bribe he’d slipped the hostess. “But I figured Hayley would be worth it.”
Logan raised a brow. “So you see her as something more than the usual temporary thing?”
Chasen knew what Logan was asking, even if he didn’t say it in so many words. He was politely asking if Hayley might be a SEAL groupie—better known as a frog hog. While there weren’t many women who could handle being in a serious relationship with a SEAL, there was never a shortage of women who simply wanted to bed one.
Chasen had tried that route when he was younger, but these days, that kind of thing didn’t hold any interest for him. He’d never admit it to the guys, but he was getting older and looking for a woman to be more than a bedmate. He wanted someone to be there when he got back from training and missions and long, hard days at work. His gut told him there was a chance Hayley could be that someone. Mostly because she wasn’t looking to bag herself a SEAL for bragging rights. She was a brilliant investigative journalist who was brave as hell and took risks doing what she believed in. She was the kind of woman he could respect, the kind of woman he could see himself with long term.
“No, I’m not thinking temporary here,” he finally confessed. “Hayley’s special.”
The guys fell silent at his announcement. They might rag him about going out and spending a lot of money on a date with a woman he’d just met, but they all knew firsthand what it was like to fall for a girl and have her bail when she realized what being a SEAL truly entailed. If he thought Hayley might be different, that changed everything.
“I get that you like her,” Logan said slowly. “But don’t you think you should be cautious? You saved her life and all. Don’t go mistaking gratitude for something it’s not.”
Chasen had thought that angle through too, that she’d agreed to the date out of a sense of obligation because he’d rescued her in Nigeria. But after last night, it didn’t feel that way between them. He could sense the spark there. She liked him, maybe as much as he liked her.
“I won’t, even though I don’t think that’s the case,” he said.
“You sure?” Dean pressed.
“I’m sure.” He finished cleaning the bolt on his weapon and slid it back into the upper receiver group then glanced up. “Is it so hard to believe a woman could be interested in me simply because she finds me attractive and enjoys the fact I can carry on an intelligent conversation about something other than military tactics?”
Dalton snorted. “Yeah, that is hard to believe. I mean, if it we were talking about me, I could see it. But you? No. There has to be some other rational reason. Maybe you should have one of our medics check her out. She might have sustained a head injury during the rescue and thinks you’re way more attractive than you are.”
Everyone laughed, including Chasen. The guys might appreciate that he was trying for something more than a weekend hook-up, but that didn’t mean they weren’t going to rag him about it anyway.
“Why don’t you bring her to the cookout this afternoon? Melissa would love to meet her.” Chief Petty Officer Kurt Travers jerked his head in Dalton’s direction. At forty-five, Kurt was the oldest guy in their platoon and had forgotten more about being a SEAL than any of them would ever know. “If Hayley passes the Melissa gauntlet, maybe these idgets will stop giving you so much grief.”
Chasen grinned. “Already invited her, Chief.”
“Good deal,” Nash said. “I’ll make
Similar Books
