Read Online The SEAL Next Door (Alpha SEALs Book 5) by Makenna Jameison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Makenna Jameison
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she’d have the day off and not be getting ready to serve drinks all afternoon and evening. She moved forward in line, her hair tickling her bare shoulder as her loose sweatshirt slipped to the side. Her mom had laughed earlier, telling her she looked like she’d stepped out of the eighties, Brianna remembered with a smirk. It was early on a weekend morning though—a loose sweatshirt and cropped yoga pants were par for the course.
Ordering a cappuccino and croissant, she stepped aside to wait for her coffee after she paid. It was amazing how after one unforgettable evening out with Matthew she could already be back to reality—running her weekend errands, getting ready for another God-awful shift at the bar. Memories of dancing with Matthew filled her mind, of his broad body moving in front of her. Of the way it had felt when he’d pulled her close. What had that been about anyway? Friends didn’t slow-dance together—especially not when one of them was holding the other so tightly, it was almost as if he never wanted to let her go. She’d blame the alcohol, but Matthew had only had a beer at that point.
She’d actually fallen asleep on the short drive home, and when Matthew had gently rustled her awake, she could’ve sworn he’d called her sweetheart. Which really was crazy, because friends absolutely didn’t call one another that. She’d had a few drinks, yes, but not enough to imagine the words coming from his mouth. Not enough to ignore the shift in the way he’d acted around her. Even after they’d pulled into her driveway, he’d walked her to the front door like they were on a date or something. The old Matthew never would’ve done something like that. They’d each wave goodbye and go their separate ways. This had almost felt like it meant something.
Not that it did. Or could.
After her cappuccino was ready, she wandered out to the boardwalk to eat her breakfast and watch the waves crash on the shore. She’d always found it peaceful down by the water—uplifting even. One day she’d dreamed of a fancy marketing career in a high-rise down by the ocean. She’d kill for a corner office with a view, although at the moment, just about any damn job in her field would be nice. She’d told her parents that she’d be out apartment hunting later this afternoon, but how many weekends of her doing that would they believe? Apartments weren’t that hard to find. Night shifts at the bar were almost better because then at least she could claim she was out with friends or stuck at the office.
She took a sip of her drink, the warm, foamy confection seeping down her throat. A boat sailed by in the distance, and she felt a strange longing for that sort of freedom again—to pick up one weekend morning and do whatever she wanted. To spend the day however she chose. To have the money to actually afford such a luxury. As it was now, she was barely scraping by. And that was one thought she definitely did not want to linger on. Her old life had been comfortable. Cushy, even. She’d worked hard, but now something simple like grabbing gourmet coffee for breakfast felt like a splurge.
She sighed, watching some seagulls race over the water.
A shadow fell over her, looming large across the boardwalk, and she glanced back in surprise. The tall, hulking figure behind her caused her heart to race, but not in fear. Her breath caught, and she immediately felt her insides go molten.
Matthew’s dark aviators hid his eyes, but his wide grin spread across his face. Well hell. Now she wished she’d dressed a little nicer for her morning coffee run. His dark hair still looked damp from the shower, and he’d shaved, showing off his strong jaw and chiseled features. Brianna took in his loose athletic shorts, running shoes, and zip-up sweatshirt. He looked like he was either ready for a morning of errands like her or ready for a run. Since he was only in
Ordering a cappuccino and croissant, she stepped aside to wait for her coffee after she paid. It was amazing how after one unforgettable evening out with Matthew she could already be back to reality—running her weekend errands, getting ready for another God-awful shift at the bar. Memories of dancing with Matthew filled her mind, of his broad body moving in front of her. Of the way it had felt when he’d pulled her close. What had that been about anyway? Friends didn’t slow-dance together—especially not when one of them was holding the other so tightly, it was almost as if he never wanted to let her go. She’d blame the alcohol, but Matthew had only had a beer at that point.
She’d actually fallen asleep on the short drive home, and when Matthew had gently rustled her awake, she could’ve sworn he’d called her sweetheart. Which really was crazy, because friends absolutely didn’t call one another that. She’d had a few drinks, yes, but not enough to imagine the words coming from his mouth. Not enough to ignore the shift in the way he’d acted around her. Even after they’d pulled into her driveway, he’d walked her to the front door like they were on a date or something. The old Matthew never would’ve done something like that. They’d each wave goodbye and go their separate ways. This had almost felt like it meant something.
Not that it did. Or could.
After her cappuccino was ready, she wandered out to the boardwalk to eat her breakfast and watch the waves crash on the shore. She’d always found it peaceful down by the water—uplifting even. One day she’d dreamed of a fancy marketing career in a high-rise down by the ocean. She’d kill for a corner office with a view, although at the moment, just about any damn job in her field would be nice. She’d told her parents that she’d be out apartment hunting later this afternoon, but how many weekends of her doing that would they believe? Apartments weren’t that hard to find. Night shifts at the bar were almost better because then at least she could claim she was out with friends or stuck at the office.
She took a sip of her drink, the warm, foamy confection seeping down her throat. A boat sailed by in the distance, and she felt a strange longing for that sort of freedom again—to pick up one weekend morning and do whatever she wanted. To spend the day however she chose. To have the money to actually afford such a luxury. As it was now, she was barely scraping by. And that was one thought she definitely did not want to linger on. Her old life had been comfortable. Cushy, even. She’d worked hard, but now something simple like grabbing gourmet coffee for breakfast felt like a splurge.
She sighed, watching some seagulls race over the water.
A shadow fell over her, looming large across the boardwalk, and she glanced back in surprise. The tall, hulking figure behind her caused her heart to race, but not in fear. Her breath caught, and she immediately felt her insides go molten.
Matthew’s dark aviators hid his eyes, but his wide grin spread across his face. Well hell. Now she wished she’d dressed a little nicer for her morning coffee run. His dark hair still looked damp from the shower, and he’d shaved, showing off his strong jaw and chiseled features. Brianna took in his loose athletic shorts, running shoes, and zip-up sweatshirt. He looked like he was either ready for a morning of errands like her or ready for a run. Since he was only in
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