SEAL for Her Protection (SEALs of Coronado Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

escape.
    “I ran into the Navy SEAL today who saved my life over in Africa,” she said, eager to change the subject.
    Jillian’s green eyes went wide. Hayley hadn’t told her friend much about her capture and confinement, but she’d told Jillian a lot about her rescue and the SEAL who’d saved her life.
    “Where?” Jillian asked.
    Hayley explained about the story she was doing on the SEAL construction on Imperial Beach and how she’d met Chasen after the briefing.
    “Oooh, I’ve never met a SEAL before,” Jillian said. “What’s he like? Is he as hot as they are in the movies?”
    Hayley dumped the popcorn in a bowl and set it on the island between them. “Nah.” She grinned as she tossed a piece in her mouth. The perfect combo of salt and butter immediately melted on her tongue. “He’s hotter.”
    Jillian’s face lit up and she leaned forward. “Do tell!”
    Hayley laughed and filled her friend in on her conversation with Chasen, including his dinner invitation.
    Jillian reached for another handful of popcorn. “You said yes, I hope.”
    “Of course I said yes. It’s not every day I get asked out by a Navy SEAL.” Hayley nibbled on another piece of popcorn. “You know, Chasen has some cute friends. Maybe I could set you up with one of them.”
    Jillian slowly ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “Actually, now that you mention it, there is someone I wouldn’t mind if you set me up with.”
    “Who?”
    “Brad.”
    Hayley blinked. “Seriously?”
    “Yeah. I’ve had a thing for him since the first time you introduced us. He was sitting on your couch intent on some photos on his laptop, scrunching his nose and looking completely adorable.” Jillian made a face. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice I liked him?”
    Honestly, she hadn’t noticed. Brad was sweet, and as loyal a friend as any girl could want, but she’d never pictured him as boyfriend material. She guessed that was because he was like her brother.
    “He’s not seeing anyone, is he?” Jillian continued before she could answer.
    “No.”
    Come to think of it, Brad hadn’t dated anyone in a while. That wasn’t surprising. They were always off on assignment somewhere or other. And even when they were home in San Diego, they were working all hours of the day and night on one story after the next.
    “I’ll see what I can do about setting you up with him.” Hayley picked up her glass and the bowl of popcorn. “Come on. Let’s go watch those movies you brought.”
    The chick flicks were the perfect diversion. Hot guys. Spunky girls. Romance. Even some adventure. By the time they finished the second one, it was almost midnight, and with Jillian in the guest room, maybe Hayley could actually get a full seven hours of sleep.
    Considering how tired she was, she should be out like a light, but the moment the apartment got quiet and she climbed into bed and pulled up the covers, she was once again transported to the dirty hovel where she’d been held captive in Africa.
    It didn’t make sense, really. Her apartment was about as far from that place as you could get—and not only geographically either.
    She burrowed into the pillow and pulled the blanket higher. She’d been on assignment in a lot of dangerous places and seen some horrifying stuff, most of which she’d rather not remember. But being a victim of the violence she wrote about had affected her, there was no denying it. She liked to believe the flashbacks would disappear when she chased down another story. That was one of the reasons she wanted to go overseas again so badly. But what if this paranoia she felt never went away? What if she went into a war zone and lost it? Or worse, simply froze?
    Hayley took a deep breath and closed her eyes, forcing herself to think about something—anything—else. Images of Africa, her captivity, and life chained to her desk at the newspaper because she was too paranoid to go anywhere slowly disappeared to be replaced by