Her Vigilant Seal (9 page)

“Now sleep.” Sophia melted against his hard body and knew there was no way she could ever fall asleep, until she did.

Mason was on his second cup of coffee when Sophia came into the kitchen. She was wearing her sling with her normal outfit of jeans and a long sleeved T-Shirt. Today’s was pink flannel and it looked as soft and touchable as she did.

He pulled out a mug and poured her a cup, moving to the fridge to get the milk. “The sugar is over there,” he said. She arched her brow. “I saw how you took it at the diner.” She took a sip and sighed.

“You make a good cup of coffee.” She stared into her mug.

“I kind of live on the stuff.”

“Well it’s really good.”
Damn, this is awkward
.

“I loved sleeping with you last night.” His voice was warm.

She continued to stare into her coffee like it contained the answers to the world’s problems. She bit her lower lip, and he about groaned aloud.

“Thank you,” she finally said.
Yep, awkward.

“Did you look around the house? Would you like to hear about the renovations I’ve been doing?”

Her eyes sparkled. “That would be great. I can’t believe you did the work yourself. I know Drake said you did, but I never knew people who could do that.”

Giving her a tour, he pointed out where he had pulled up the carpets and sanded down the hardwood floors and re-stained them. He showed her how he restored the ceramic tiles around the base of the fireplace and re-bricked it so it all matched.

“Did you do the crown molding?” She pointed near the top of the wall.

“Part of it was damaged so I had to match that as well.” He guided her hand so it was pointing to an area over a window.

“It all looks the same. That’s amazing.”

“I’m not nearly as good at this as my father. He’s the one who really has a talent for restoring old houses. When I was thinking of purchasing this place, he came down from Portland and looked it over with me.” He saw her wistful expression and wrapped a gentle arm around her.

“I think this brings me closer to my dad the same way baking brought you closer to your mom.” She nodded her head.

“So when are you going to call DHCS?” Mason kept his tone neutral.

“I called the Bard’s the night we found Billy. I knew they’d be worried. I really like them. So does Billy, actually.” He waited.

“They told me there’s a big test he needs to study for so I need to get him back home tomorrow. I’ll tell Billy today that we have to call DHCS.”

“I was thinking maybe he’d like to go surfing with me tomorrow morning.”

“Really?” She jerked with excitement and her coffee sloshed over the rim of the cup. “Oh my God, let me get a paper towel.” She rushed to the kitchen and came back with a towel and wiped up the spill.

“So what are the chances of getting Billy up at the butt crack of dawn?” Mason asked.

“Oh. Yeah, well there’s no point. His wetsuit doesn’t fit anymore. He’s outgrown it.” Mason followed her back into the kitchen as she threw away the soiled paper towel. The wetsuit was going to be a problem. Those didn’t come cheap. But…

“Sophia, I’m pretty sure we can go rent one today that way he’ll have one for tomorrow morning.” Mason gave a mental fist pump at the solution.

“Do you think so? What about Moonlight Beach? Isn’t it kind of over his skill level?”

“I’ll check out the swells. If it’s too much we can go surf San Onofre.”

“He’d be out of his mind. I can’t thank you enough.” Her face flushed with excitement.

“Let’s get some breakfast. Maybe the smell of bacon will wake him up.”

“Oh, you understand how it works, huh?” She laughed.

“I was a growing boy once.” Mason chuckled as well.

He was amazed how fast Sophia acclimated to using her left hand. She was chopping the green pepper damn well. When he told her that she smiled.

“I work in a diner. It’s not the first time my right hand’s been out of commission because of a cut or something.”

Mason started the bacon frying and as anticipated, Billy came into the kitchen.

“Hey,” the boy said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“Good morning,” Mason said in return. He was still amazed at how much the two Andersons looked alike.

“Cool, can I have French toast too?”

“I think that can be arranged,” Mason said. Soon there was a mound of food on the kitchen island and they were eating. When Mason told Billy about his idea of surfing, Billy almost choked on the spicy scrambled eggs. He took a huge swallow of orange juice and then wiped his mouth with his sweat shirt.

“Really? You mean it? God, it would be rad!” Then his face fell. “I don’t have a wetsuit.”

“It’s fine. I’m going to rent one for you at a surf shop Mason knows about.”

“That’s too much money, Soph,” Billy objected. “Mason thanks for thinking of me. Maybe some other time.”

“William Robert Anderson, I have more than enough money to cover this. Now if you want to argue about it you can call it an early birthday present.” Billy gave his sister an assessing look and then got off his stool and threw his arms gently around her.

“This present rocks, sis.”

“Yeah, well, enjoy it while you can. Because tomorrow you’re going back to the Bard’s. You have a math test you have to study for. Rumor has it this is a big one.”

“Leslie likes it when I keep my grades up.” Billy grinned.

“She’s not the only one. Now go finish your food, you’ve only had enough for two people so far.”

Mason watched Billy finish his second plate of food. He mulled over what he’d just seen. Granted, he was an only child so he didn’t have any experience with siblings, but it seemed to him the scene between Billy and Sophia was more like a mother and son than a brother and sister. He was really touched how fast Billy was willing to give up his adventure so as not to put a financial burden on his sister.

“I have to go to the base today but tonight I was going to grill some steaks and invite some of my teammates over. How does that sound?” He watched Sophia carefully. He wanted to make sure she was comfortable with the idea of having so many men invading her space. She seemed fine.

“Cool, are they SEALs too?” Billy asked.

“Yep.”

“How often do you guys go out on missions? Do you go overseas? Do you have nicknames? Do you carry a gun all the time? Was the training hard?” The boy couldn’t sit still to save his life.

“How can I help with dinner?” Sophia asked, clearly trying to stop the avalanche of questions.

Mason answered Sophia’s question first, “I’ve got everything in the fridge. I’m just going to throw it on the grill. Maybe you can help me with the salad and the baked potatoes.” She gave a happy smile.

“How many guys are coming over? What are their names? Are you all the same rank? Did you all go through training together? Have any of you ever been injured?”

“Billy, how about you wait until the team comes over tonight, and then we’ll talk to you about what it’s like to be a SEAL, okay?” Sophia handed her brother his empty plate and pointed him towards the sink.

“This is going to be great,” Billy said as he took his dish to the sink.

****

Sophia got a call from the police department about the case against the two men who had assaulted her. Dooley and Krill had bonded out. They still hadn’t found the young prostitute so her and Mason’s testimony would be needed. She was told to expect a call from the D.A.’s office. At the rate things were going she was never going to get to work again.

She called Margie and let her know Billy would be going home tomorrow and she would be coming home to San Clemente, and could open the diner Wednesday morning.

“That’s good. I’ve got to tell you, Sophia, I kind of got spoiled sleeping in for the last few months.”

“I think that’s wonderful,” Sophia enthused.

“What about you? Have you been spoiled lately?” Sophia felt her cheeks heat.

“We had a great breakfast this morning and it’s been wonderful to spend time with Billy,” Sophia said.

“That’s not what I was asking about. Tell me about Mason. He really has taken a shine to you, and if I’m not mistaken you’re smitten as well.”

“We’ve only just met.” Part of Sophia really wanted to talk to someone about Mason, but another part just wanted to hoard every little detail to herself.

“That’s how it was with me and my Stan—love at first sight. Of course that was outside of gym class.” Margie giggled. Sophia laughed too.

“Okay, if you’re not going to tell me what’s going on with your hunky SEAL, then tell me how you’re feeling.” Sophia moved her shoulder a little bit and winced. But it wasn’t as bad as the day before, which she told her boss.

“That’s good, but no carrying trays for you. You’re on hostess stand duty.” Margie’s voice was stern.

“You know Brenda likes to seat people,” Sophia protested.

“Brenda is lazy. She’ll just have to step it up. Anyway she’s always saying she needs more money so she can wait tables. I need you to rest. I don’t want to see you doing anything but manning the hostess stand.” Sophia smiled at the care Margie was showing her.

“And baking. I can still bake one handed.”

“Only half pans. If I see you baking full pans of cinnamon rolls or anything else, you’re fired.”

Sophia laughed at the empty threat, secure in the knowledge Margie liked and appreciated her too much to fire her.

“Okay I might not fire you but I’ll be checking up on you. I don’t want you putting undue strain on that shoulder, all right?”

“I promise, Margie.” It felt odd having so many people concerned about her. “So I’ll see you on Wednesday.”

“I can’t wait and I expect details.”

“Seriously, there aren’t any details.” And Sophia’s cheeks heated again.

“The man wanted to take you for a date, what about that?”

“Supposedly we’re going this weekend but I don’t think we’re a good fit.” Maybe if they had met when she was more stable. When she’d been going to college and working her part time job at the cable company but not now.

“You sure don’t know how to read men. You talk to me when he makes his move, but something tells me he already has. I’ll get my info on Wednesday when I see you in person. You can’t hide anything with that fair complexion.” On that note Margie said good-bye and Sophia went to go get Billy so they could rent the wetsuit.

****

When Mason came home with his friends he found the steaks had been marinating, and the baked potatoes were in the oven. All that needed to be done was finish putting the ingredients together for the salad.

He’d left his friends in the backyard and come into the house to get Billy and Sophia and bring them out for introductions.

Sophia was cutting up vegetables, she’d also made fresh guacamole and enough queso to feed an army, or at least four SEALs and a preteen boy.

“I said I was cooking dinner,” he said as he put his hand around her, easing his thumb a slight bit under her shirt. Her skin was so soft. She looked at him with startled green eyes as if his little touch came as a surprise.

“You had to work today and this was easy enough for me to do. Anyway, I left the steaks for you to grill.” He didn’t want to stop touching her, it was addicting, so he stole pieces of carrots and peppers as she chopped.

“Shouldn’t you be with your friends? Or offer them something to drink?”

“If they’re thirsty they’ll come inside.” He moved his hand a little higher so it was totally settled on the naked flesh of her lower tummy. Her hand trembled so he plucked the knife away from her and set it down.

“We don’t want a kitchen mishap,” he explained. She bit her lip.

“You need to stop touching me and go out with your friends. I need to finish up in here.” He pulled his hand away and stroked up her arm and then cupped her cheek.

“I don’t want to stop touching you. I thought of nothing but touching you all day, except when I was thinking about kissing you. Then when I thought about kissing you, I thought about making you come,” he said in a husky whisper.

She whimpered, and he pressed his lips to hers drawing in the sound, and taking in all of her. She didn’t part her lips this time, and he knew she was worried someone would see, so he wooed. Licking and lavishing her with brushes of his tongue until finally she succumbed with a sigh.

He thrust his fingers into the silk of her hair and he tilted her head so he could sink in a little further, reveling in her taste, and loving her response. Sophia might have been slow to react but once she did he was a moth to her flame.

“Hmm, hmm,” Drake cleared his throat.

He was careful of her arm and ribs as he pressed against her, loving the feel of her slight curves. He slid his hands out of her hair to her lower back. Then further downwards to her ass.

“Little brother coming this way,” Drake’s voice was low, but Mason heard it clearly. Sophia didn’t and wasn’t that a huge compliment. Mason eased his hands to her hips so he could edge them apart, loving how she clung to him.

“Sophia. Honey. Billy’s coming.” She gave him a sultry smile as her eyes focused, and she looked around him.

“Hey Billy.” She smiled shyly at her brother.

“Hey Soph. Are you guys dating?” Billy asked as he scooped up a mountain of queso on a chip.

“Uhhhh.”

“Oh, they’re dating all right.” Drake grinned opening the fridge. “Come on out and meet some of the guys, Billy.”

“Great. Did you know Mason’s taking me surfing tomorrow morning?”

“Yeah, he told me.” Drake handed him a soft drink as he pulled out some Pacifico beers and the steaks. “Hey Mason, since you’re busy working on the salad I’m going to start the steaks.”