SEAL Endeavor Read Online Free PDF Page A

paused and then added, “Bay has been howling at the sunsets lately. I think that dog misses you something fierce.”
    A little pang of regret uncoiled in his stomach. His childhood best friend, the mutt who greeted him every day he came home from school as a teen, and who watched the boy become a man, was who he missed seeing the most.
    “Tell him I’ll be home before we take off. May not be for Thanksgiving, though.”
    “You tell him yourself,” his mother said.
    “Hey there, Bay. You being a good boy?” Cooper knew she’d put the phone down into the dog’s ear. He heard a whine and a bark, as Bay understood whose voice he was hearing on the other end.
    “He sits out on the kitchen stoop, watching the bus stop like you’ll be coming home one of these days. Kinda breaks my heart,” she said. Her words trailed off and Coop knew from the waiver in her voice she had teared up.
    “It’s okay, Mom. I miss you guys too. Maybe after the next deployment, if I get a house or apartment, maybe I can take Bay out to San Diego.” He knew Bay’s advanced age was a factor.
    “He’s no problem, Coop. But his whole day is focused on your return.”
    Coop could hear the subtle inference that Bay wasn’t the only one concerned about Coop’s return. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be around for a long time. You’ll see. Bay will be living the life of Reilly out here very soon. He’ll love the beach, and the water. Just be patient.”
    She brought him briefly up to date on what his sister and brother-in-law were up to, and their little daughter, Camilla, who’d just had her three-year-old birthday party. She agreed to send him pictures by email.
    Fredo was making crazy cross-eyes and Coop frowned, pushing him away. “Mom, I’ve gotta go. I’m looking forward to those pictures, though. Don’t forget to send them, okay?”
    “I will, son.” She hesitated and he heard a sigh.  “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Coop, met anyone special?”
    “Only in my dreams, Mom. Just in my dreams.”
    He had never lied to his mother.
                     
     

Chapter 4
     
     
    Libby exited the auditorium before the program had ended, and squinted at the bright natural light in the three story glass and chrome lobby entrance. Libby quickly put on her sunglasses. Megan dug through her purse and found hers as well.
    “I’m pretty much done. How about you, Meg?” Libby asked.
    “There are maybe better shows this afternoon.” Megan was scanning a printed guide.
    “What, the mating life of jellyfish? I think I’d rather watch couples in the library,”
    “You know, I think I’d like just to have a light lunch, and go tool around some of the shops downtown. What do you say? Maybe find a beach for an hour or so?”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Megan agreed.
    Once outside, they walked up several steps to the parking lot. A line of cars, waiting for a stoplight, stretched in front of them. The girls walked around the rear of an old green pickup truck. The light changed and the line of vehicles began to pour out onto the main drag.
    A muscled arm, attached to an enormous hand, was tapping on the passenger side door of the old truck, country music blaring from the open passenger window. Black marks on the underside below his elbow, looked like muddy bicycle tire prints. They ran down between his elbow and wrist.  Squinting in the sunlight, Libby realized the marks were an odd-shaped tattoo, like animal tracks.
    The truck turned uphill and to the right. From the side view, Libby noted the gentleman’s massive and very well developed chest. His torso turned, but his face above his nose was hidden in shadow. His full lips barely moved. She watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down beneath his clean shaven and square jaw. He was singing.
    Megan had seen him too. “I’m in lust,” she said as the truck disappeared from view.
    No kidding.
     
    Libby and Megan ate lunch and then pulled up to the Sea Cove beach