Read Online The SEAL Next Door (Alpha SEALs Book 5) by Makenna Jameison - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Makenna Jameison
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dance where he’d held her closer than any man had a right to, and finally realized she was talking about before then, when they’d both let loose on the dance floor to the thumping music.
“Who do you think taught him his moves, darlin’?”
Brianna laughed, but Matthew cringed as he realized his error. Dancing. Wheelchair.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” Brianna assured him. “You guys always had a trail of girls chasing after you. It’s no wonder.”
Matthew glanced down at her in surprise, but she was already reaching for the door handle. He eased open the car door for her, helping her to settle inside. She let out a soft sigh as she nestled into the seat, and Matthew resisted the urge to bend over and buckle her seatbelt, brushing a kiss across her forehead. Hell, he’d always watched out for her when they were kids. Kept an eye on her from afar as they grew older. But this? Damn. He wasn’t cut out for what he was feeling now. Wanting to care for her, protect her. Make her his. He’d been home a few hours, and it felt damn near like his whole life had been turned upside down.
What would it be like cruising around Virginia Beach with Brianna in his pickup truck? Having her be a constant part of his life? They’d grab dinner, laugh over a few drinks. Then at night they’d pull up to the dunes tucked away on the beach, watch the sunset, and make love on a blanket under the stars.
Hell. Since when had he become so sappy?
He wasn’t the type of man to “make love” to a woman. He enjoyed sex and giving the women he bedded pleasure, but it was for his satisfaction and theirs. Not some happily-ever-after type shit.
And even if he was the relationship type, he had no doubt Beckett would kick his ass for chasing after his younger sister. Missing leg be damned. He smirked at the thought. That was the first time he’d thought of his friend as “whole” again. Not felt sorry for him, not felt guilty over what he still had that Beckett didn’t, but just imagined his buddy for what he was—a man. A brother. A Navy SEAL. And fucking hell if that didn’t feel pretty damn spectacular. Maybe he could face everyone on Sunday without guilt eating him up inside after all. Maybe he could be there for Beckett—and Brianna.
“Thanks for driving,” Brianna said sleepily as he slipped into the driver’s seat.
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart.
Where the hell had that come from? Somehow over the course of the evening he had started seeing her as something more. Something that never could be. He knew he’d run into her during his weekend home, but he’d half expected the little girl in pigtails—not the woman who looked so delightfully soft nestled into the car beside him. Not a woman he wanted to kiss and fuck and tease with pleasure all night long.
He shook his head, trying to get a grip. After adjusting the mirrors, he backed out of the parking space and turned on the radio, trying to drown out the muddled thoughts swirling in his head. Thank God Brent was flying in tomorrow. He’d go out with him and Evan for a drink or five. Watch Brent flirt with all the women and remind himself why starting anything up with Brianna would be pointless. A night out with his buddies was all he needed to get his damn head on straight. To remember his work. His mission. His duty as a SEAL.
Matthew muttered a curse under his breath as Brianna drifted off to sleep in the passenger seat.
He hadn’t even been back in Pensacola one full day, and suddenly everything he’d been missing in his life was right here beside him. Trouble was, he couldn’t have any of it.
Chapter 6
Brianna yawned as she stood in line at the coffee shop down by the beach the following morning. The aroma of roasted beans filled the air, the Saturday morning crowd trickled in, and she wished it was a weekend in her former life—when
“Who do you think taught him his moves, darlin’?”
Brianna laughed, but Matthew cringed as he realized his error. Dancing. Wheelchair.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” Brianna assured him. “You guys always had a trail of girls chasing after you. It’s no wonder.”
Matthew glanced down at her in surprise, but she was already reaching for the door handle. He eased open the car door for her, helping her to settle inside. She let out a soft sigh as she nestled into the seat, and Matthew resisted the urge to bend over and buckle her seatbelt, brushing a kiss across her forehead. Hell, he’d always watched out for her when they were kids. Kept an eye on her from afar as they grew older. But this? Damn. He wasn’t cut out for what he was feeling now. Wanting to care for her, protect her. Make her his. He’d been home a few hours, and it felt damn near like his whole life had been turned upside down.
What would it be like cruising around Virginia Beach with Brianna in his pickup truck? Having her be a constant part of his life? They’d grab dinner, laugh over a few drinks. Then at night they’d pull up to the dunes tucked away on the beach, watch the sunset, and make love on a blanket under the stars.
Hell. Since when had he become so sappy?
He wasn’t the type of man to “make love” to a woman. He enjoyed sex and giving the women he bedded pleasure, but it was for his satisfaction and theirs. Not some happily-ever-after type shit.
And even if he was the relationship type, he had no doubt Beckett would kick his ass for chasing after his younger sister. Missing leg be damned. He smirked at the thought. That was the first time he’d thought of his friend as “whole” again. Not felt sorry for him, not felt guilty over what he still had that Beckett didn’t, but just imagined his buddy for what he was—a man. A brother. A Navy SEAL. And fucking hell if that didn’t feel pretty damn spectacular. Maybe he could face everyone on Sunday without guilt eating him up inside after all. Maybe he could be there for Beckett—and Brianna.
“Thanks for driving,” Brianna said sleepily as he slipped into the driver’s seat.
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart.
Where the hell had that come from? Somehow over the course of the evening he had started seeing her as something more. Something that never could be. He knew he’d run into her during his weekend home, but he’d half expected the little girl in pigtails—not the woman who looked so delightfully soft nestled into the car beside him. Not a woman he wanted to kiss and fuck and tease with pleasure all night long.
He shook his head, trying to get a grip. After adjusting the mirrors, he backed out of the parking space and turned on the radio, trying to drown out the muddled thoughts swirling in his head. Thank God Brent was flying in tomorrow. He’d go out with him and Evan for a drink or five. Watch Brent flirt with all the women and remind himself why starting anything up with Brianna would be pointless. A night out with his buddies was all he needed to get his damn head on straight. To remember his work. His mission. His duty as a SEAL.
Matthew muttered a curse under his breath as Brianna drifted off to sleep in the passenger seat.
He hadn’t even been back in Pensacola one full day, and suddenly everything he’d been missing in his life was right here beside him. Trouble was, he couldn’t have any of it.
Chapter 6
Brianna yawned as she stood in line at the coffee shop down by the beach the following morning. The aroma of roasted beans filled the air, the Saturday morning crowd trickled in, and she wished it was a weekend in her former life—when
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