KissedByASEAL (19 page)

Wishing he could believe her, he said, “Prove it.”

She moved in closer and pressed her mouth to his.

He leaned back and shook his head. “No. Not with sex. We’ve done that. It didn’t mean anything to you. You made that clear.”

“But it did mean something. I didn’t want it to because I really didn’t believe you were the kind of guy who could settle down. But it did mean something.” She reached up and touched his face.

God, how he wanted to believe her. He let his eyes drift closed and absorbed the feel of her hand against his skin as well as her words. He opened his eyes as saw the sincerity in her gaze.

She continued, “Everything you do means something to me. I like when you make me laugh. I love how you knew exactly what to say and do to calm my nerves. I like that you can fly a plane. And how you take off your guns as casually as if they were your socks or your belt. I love how you make me feel safe and protected. And it was amazing how you always made me feel wanted. How you couldn’t be alone with me without taking me to bed. I miss that.”

She talked pretty good when she wanted to. Every word out of her mouth was like another light being turned on, chasing away the darkness that had eclipsed his heart.

“Yeah, I miss that last part too.” Feeling lighter than he had all week, Chris smiled and teased her.

Darci frowned. “I’m pouring my heart out to you and you’re joking?”

“Hey, I thought you like when I make you laugh. Come here.” He pulled her closer. She let him wrap her in his arms.

“Did I prove I want to be with you for you and not from guilt or whatever?” Her words were muffled by his shoulder, but he heard them.

“Yeah. You proved it.”

“And?” She pulled back enough to look at him.
 

“And, I’ll let you kiss me now.”

She opened her mouth and drew in a breath, about to launch into a rant, he was sure.

He laid one finger across her lips and said, “And we can watch a movie here and order dinner in, or anything else you want to do but we’re gonna tell Rick and everyone else we know that we’re dating. Seriously and exclusively dating. I’m all in or not at all. You agree to that?”

“Yes.” Darci met him in the middle for a much too brief kiss before she pulled back.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Brody’s here. We can’t get too, you know
involved
with him in the next room.”

Chris blew out a laugh. If she only knew how many times he heard his brother getting busy with some woman through the wall. He angled his head and yelled, “Brody!”

“Yeah.”

“You need to make yourself scarce for tonight.”

“Chris!” Darci slapped his arm. “Don’t say that to your brother.”

“Too late, darlin’. It’s already done.”

Brody came out of his bedroom and stopped by the sofa. “I see you two are getting along fine.”

“Yup.” Chris smiled.

“Brody, you don’t have to leave—” Darci began.

“Too late. I already made plans to hang with Thom tonight. He gets all lonely when he can’t visit his new girl up north. It’s my good deed for the day.” Brody’s gaze cut to Chris. “And I left you another present in the bathroom cabinet.”

“Thanks.” He needed what Brody had left him, since he’d used up the last of the gifts in Florida.
 

“See you.” Brody grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

When he was gone, Darci turned to Chris. “What present?”

“Nothing. Just him cutting up. So, what do you want to watch?”

Darci pursed her lips. “I think I’d like to watch you showing me your bedroom.”

He was surprised but not about to object to her suggestion. He stood and pulled her up with him. “That sounds good to me. But I’m taking you out to a real dinner soon.”

“Okay.” She let him lead her down the hall.

“And we’re going to the movies too. Some real sappy chick flick that you’ll love and I’ll hate.”

“Really? Why?”

He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Because that’s what women make the men in their lives do. I’m in for the full boyfriend experience. All of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Darci smiled. “All right. You got it.”

“Good. Oh, and tell me next time you’re about to have PMS so I can bring you chocolate and ice cream.”

She laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“Yup. I’m crazy about you.” And he’d never been happier. “But actually, don’t bother telling me about the PMS. The way Rick complains about you every month, I’ll be able to figure it out by myself.”

“What?” Her voice rose high.

He grinned just as Darci’s cell phone rang. She glanced down and said, “Oh, look. It’s my loving brother.”

“Give me that.” Afraid she’d get him in trouble with Rick, when they were already going to have enough issues thanks to his being with Darci, Chris grabbed the phone out of her hand. He hit to answer. “Hey, it’s Chris.”

“Chris? Did I dial you? I was trying to call Darci.”

He drew in a breath and braced himself. “You did. This is her phone.”

“Why are you answering it?”

“She’s here with me.”

“Where’s here?” Rick asked.

“My place.” Chris saw Darci fold her arms and watch him. Apparently he was on his own.

“Is something wrong? Christ, she’s not having PTSD from the assignment, is she?”

“No, she’s good. Um, we’re together.”

“I know. At your place. What I can’t figure out is why.”

“No, I mean we’re dating.” Chris braced himself for Rick’s reaction.

“You? And Darci?”

“Yup.”

“You drunk?”

 
“No, I’m not drunk.” Chris laughed as Darci’s mouth fell open at what she heard.

“My sister, Darci. And you. Dating.” Rick repeated what he was obviously having trouble believing.

“Yes.”

Rick was silent for a second. “Since when?”

“Since today officially. But I guess it kind of started in Florida.”

“Did you get hit in the head on that boat?”

“No.”

“Huh. Does this mean you’ll be around my house more often?”

“I hope so.”

“All right. Good. Maybe we can finally stick to a workout schedule.”

That was it? All Rick cared about?

“Yeah, maybe. So we’re good?” Chris asked.

“Of course, we’re good. What did you think? I’d be mad?”

“Yeah.”

“Hell, no. It’s not like you’re Zane. And it’ll be nice to have the men outnumber the women in my house.”

“A’ight. You want to talk to Darci?”

“Nah. I needed to ask her if she’d throw my wash in the dryer but if she’s at your place, forget about it. I gotta get back to work. Talk to you later.”

“Later.” Chris disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Darci.

“What did he say?”

“He’s looking forward to having another man around so we’ll outnumber you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Great. Like there wasn’t enough testosterone in the house already.”

“Hey, you won’t be complaining about my testosterone in a minute.”

“Mm, we’ll see.”

“Yes, we will.” He scooped her up in his arms to carry her to his bedroom where he’d show her all the benefits of having him around more often. “Oh, and you have to finish doing Rick’s laundry when you get home.”

“What?” Her eyes widened. “He is such a—”

Grinning, Chris dumped her on his mattress and followed her down as his mouth covered hers, putting an end to her ranting, once and for all.

If you enjoyed
Kissed by a SEAL,
please leave a
review
. And look for Jon’s story,
Night with a SEAL
, Zane’s story,
Saved by a SEAL
, and Thom’s story,
SEALed at Midnight,
in eBook, print & audio.

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ALSO BY CAT JOHNSON

Hot SEALs Series

Night with a SEAL

Saved by a SEAL

SEALed at Midnight

Kissed by a SEAL

More Hot SEALs coming soon!

Red, Hot & Blue Series

Trey

Jack

Jimmy

Red Blooded (print compilation)

BB Dalton (bonus read)

Jared

Cole

Bobby

Smalltown Heat (print compilation)

A Few Good Men (a RHB novel)

Model Soldier (a RHB novel)

A Prince Among Men (a RHB novel)

Bull

Matt

The Commander

USMC Military Romance Series

Crossing the Line

Cinderella Liberty

Oklahoma Nights Series

One Night with a Cowboy

Two Times as Hot

Three Weeks with a Bull Rider

Fish Out of Water (
He's the One
anthology)

Two for the Road (
In a Cowboy's Bed
anthology)

Midnight Cowboys

Midnight Ride

Midnight Wrangler

Midnight Heat

Studs in Spurs Series

Unridden

Bucked

Ride

Hooked

Flanked

Thrown

Champion

Spurred

Wrecked

Maverick Ranch Series

A Cowboy for Christmas

Valentine Cowboys

Texas Two-Step Series

Texas Two-Step

Cowboy Shuffle

The Trilogy Collection

Opposites Attract

Nice & Naughty

Just Desserts

Sex, Lies & Wedding Cake

New Orleans

Private Lies

Gillian's Island

Billionaire Bad Boys

Cat Haus ~ The Complete Story (Parts 1, 2, 3)

Before Cate ~ John’s Story

Cat Haus (Part 1)

Cat Haus (Part 2)

Cat Haus (Part 3)

And More . . .
 

Olympus (
Bacchanal, Eros’s Valentine, Erato, Bliss
)
 

Cat Snips

The Ex Files

Beneath the Surface

The Naughty Billionaire's Virgin Fiancée

Rough Stock

Educating Ansley

Game for Love: Game On

ABOUT CAT JOHNSON

Cat Johnson is a
New York Times
bestseller and the author of the
USA Today
bestselling titles
Saved by a SEAL
(Hot SEALs)
and
One Night with a Cowboy (Oklahoma Nights)
. She writes contemporary romance featuring sexy alpha heroes. Known for her unique marketing and research practices, she has sponsored pro bull riders, owns a collection of camouflage and western wear for book signings, and a fair number of her friends/book consultants wear combat or cowboy boots for a living. She writes both full length and shorter works and is currently contracted with publishers Kensington and Samhain.