Saved by the SEAL Read Online Free PDF Page A

place it on her lower back to make sure she’s steady as she settles herself.  The warmth emanating from her is addictive; I don’t move my hand right away. I hear her quick intake of breath as my hand smoothes across her shirt, cupping her tiny waist. I pull her toward me, and her stool scrapes against the floor. When she meets my stare under long, dark lashes, I grin.
    “Much better.” She clamps down on her bottom lip, and my eyes are drawn there instantly. God, she’s sexy. It takes everything I have to tear my eyes away from her mouth and focus on my food.
    I cut a piece of chicken and stick the bite into my mouth. “Oh…damn, girl. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in…I can’t even remember how long. This chicken is delicious.”
    Her face breaks into a true, ungrudging smile that steals my breath away. “Thank you. That makes me feel good. Don’t you ever go home and have dinner with your parents?”
    I snort. “Yeah, occasionally if I can’t avoid it. But having dinner with my parents means going out or ordering in. My mom doesn’t cook.”
    She gasps, her fork frozen halfway to her mouth. “Never?”
    “Never.”
    “I mean…nothing? Like, not even grits for breakfast?”
    I burst out laughing. “Of all the things…grits? Is that something you have to have? My parents are both originally from Illinois. So no grits.”
    She nods, quick and passionate. “Oh my word , yes. I need my grits. And I like to make ’em with plenty of butter. And cheese…ohhh, yeah. Definitely cheese.”
    Still laughing, I wipe my mouth with my napkin. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest southern girl.”
    We eat in silence for a few minutes before I think about what she said and start laughing all over again. She smiles over at me, her face shining with pure light. I reach over and brush her cheek with the back of my hand, because I can’t not touch her in that moment. Her pupils dilate at the contact, and I can see the breath hitch with a quick rise in her chest. I’m lost in the deep blue of her eyes for a moment, and the connection between us pulls taut.
    “Grits.” My voice is hoarse with lust as I chuckle, shaking my head.
    “You won’t be laughing in the morning when I make them for you.” She fires it right back at me, which causes my grin to grow.
    “No, I’m sure I won’t. But I do like the idea of you cooking for me again in the morning.”
    I wait for it…and there’s the blush.
    This is going to be a really entertaining night.
      
    After dinner, it’s still pretty early, so we settle onto the couch. Greta sinks into the cushions on one end, and I settle down in the middle not too far from her. My body lists in her direction, itching to move closer, but I don’t want to crowd her.
    This isn’t a date , I remind myself.
    “Want to watch a movie?” she asks. Her voice is like velvet. I just want to wrap myself up in it.
    Her mouth pops open in a yawn, and I laugh. “Are you sure you’ll make it through a movie?”
    “If I don’t, my knight is here to wake me up in exactly two hours.”
    “Knight, huh?”
    Her head tilts to the side, and she looks at me. Really looks.  “Didn’t you save me on the beach today?”
    “Anybody would have.”
    Her bright blue eyes don’t falter as she answers, “No, they wouldn’t have. But you did.”
    A hard lump forms in my throat. Swallowing it down, I tear my gaze away from hers and hand her the remote. “Movie night is lady’s choice.”
    One side of her generous mouth tilts up in a crooked smile. I want so badly to lean in and taste it, but instead I lean away from her and zero in on the TV.
    “Why, thank you, sir. ”
    I glance at her again, and we both burst out laughing.
    It feels good, laughing. Growing up, laughing and having a good time were discouraged by my strict dad. I was taught that hard work is what pays off, not goofing off and having a good time. His harsh hand was always something I feared, and I never felt safe enough to