Tempted by a SEAL (20 page)

Night with a SEAL

Saved by a SEAL

SEALed at Midnight

Kissed by a SEAL

Protected by a SEAL

Loved by a SEAL

Tempted by a SEAL

Wed to a SEAL

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WED TO A SEAL

In his career as a Navy SEAL, Rocky Mangiano has been called a 
Jersey boy
, and a Y
ankee
, and a few other choice names he shouldn’t repeat in mixed company, but never in his life has anyone called him 
Daddy
. If the bundle of joy he finds on the doorstep is any indication, things are about to change and he has no clue what to do about it.

When the baby’s single mother enters the picture things get even more crazy, but given the fringe benefits that come along with the complications of their marriage of convenience, Rocky’s not complaining. Not one little bit.

Please enjoy this excerpt from
Wed to a SEAL

Rocky emerged from the shower in his room in the bachelor barracks a tad hung over but at least he was feeling a little more awake now.

Too many beers, and two ill-advised shots of whisky last night, had him staying at the club later than he’d intended. That resulted in him waking up late today. But if no shit hit the fan in the terrorist world that would require his team’s immediate attention, he had a well-earned day off.

Now all he needed was his truck so he could get on with enjoying his day. That, unfortunately, was still parked at the club where he’d left it last night. Even if he could have driven home safely, checking in at the gate while behind the wheel with alcohol on his breath would be a good way to fuck up his career. Elite SEAL or not, command took that shit seriously.

So, step one, get his truck. Step two, figure out what to do with his day.

The bachelor occupied housing on base was cheap and pretty nice as far as these things went, but no way was he spending his day off inside in a space that consisted of two small rooms sporting two windows total.

Nope, not Rocky’s idea of fun.

Brody and Mack were both busy, but with any luck, Thom was around. And he was conveniently located in the same building.

After shoving his feet into sneakers, Rocky pocketed his keys and headed out the door. One flight down the stairs and he was knocking on Thom’s door.

Thom answered with his cell phone pressed to his ear and motioned for Rocky to come in as he spoke. “Ice. Got it. Anything else?”

After a moment, during which Rocky closed the door behind him and had time to wonder who in the world Thom was talking to about ice, Thom nodded. “Okay. See you in a few.”

Once Thom had disconnected the call he turned to Rocky. “Hey, you got plans for the day?”

“Nope, not really. Why? What’s happening?”

“Rick’s throwing some stuff on the grill at his place and watching the game. Jon is gonna be there, and maybe Grant, and supposedly Chris and Brody are on the road and should be back from Alabama by dinnertime.”

“Sounds good. You sure it’s okay if I come?” Rocky knew Rick through the other guys but they weren’t especially close. Not like how friendly Rick was with the Cassidys and Thom since they’d all served together. Rick had already left the team when Rocky joined.

Thom’s dark brows drew low in a frown. “Of course. Rick’s parties are always open door.”

“All right. If you say it’s okay.”

“Dude, definitely. The more the merrier.”

Rocky nodded. “I’ll pick up some beer to go along with your ice.”

 
“Then he’ll be even happier you’re there.” Thom grinned.

 
“All right. It’s a plan. Which brings me to the reason I stopped by. Can you drop me at my truck on the way?”

“Sure thing. Where is it?”

“Strip club out the back gate.”

Thom laughed. “All right.”

“What’s so funny? I would’ve invited you but now that Ginny has your balls in a jar in Connecticut, I figured you wouldn’t be allowed to come.”

Thom cocked a brow. “You want to walk to your truck?”

As true as Rocky felt his statement about Thom’s balls had been, he decided to back off. “No.”

“Didn’t think so.”

“So when we leaving?” Rocky asked.

“When are you ready to go?”

Rocky lifted one shoulder. “Now.”

He was as ready as he was going to get. He’d shoved some breakfast in his mouth before he’d showered. He had his keys and his wallet.

“Okay. Let’s go. We can stop at the ice machine first, then the commissary on the way off base. We’ll grab your truck and then you can follow me to Rick’s.”

“Sounds good.” Rocky was all about being agreeable if it meant he could get his truck without having to call a cab and he had plans for the day.

Football. Beer. Barbecue. Life was good. That was reaffirmed when Thom pulled his SUV into the parking lot of the strip club and Rocky saw his parked truck, safe and sound right where he’d left it.

Rick’s house wasn’t too far from the base. A short while later Rocky followed Thom as he pulled up along the curb in front of the small but neat house sporting a neatly trimmed lawn.

With Thom toting a bag of ice and Rocky holding a case of beer, he had to hit the doorbell with his elbow.

“I got it!” The sound of Rick’s booming voice came through the door shortly before it whipped open to expose the man himself. “Hey. Come on in.”

When Rick stepped back Thom asked, “Where you want the ice?”

“Cooler is on the back deck. Beer can go in there too.” Rick nodded to Rocky. “Good to see you, man. Glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for having me.”

“Not a problem. The more the merrier.”

Thom shot Rocky a cocky glance as Rick closed the door behind them. “Told you so.”

Rocky rolled his eyes and followed Rick and Thom through the living room. They passed the kitchen on the way to the sliding glass door in the back of the house.
 

“Ladies.” Thom nodded to the three women inside as they passed.

“Hey, Thom.” A blonde called out the greeting as they passed.
 

As Rick went ahead to open the door, Thom stopped and leaned close to Rocky. “Did you see who was in the kitchen?”

Rocky paused too. “You mean the blonde who said hello?”

“No, that was Rick’s sister Darci. She’s dating Chris Cassidy. And next to her was Jon’s girl Ali, but Sierra Cox is here. She’s Rick’s girlfriend.”

Rocky frowned as he remembered Brody mentioning something about Rick dating the academy award winning actress a few months back. He supposed he didn’t believe it, but if she was in the kitchen cooking with Rick’s sister it must be true. “How the fuck did he get with her?”

“I guess taking a bullet for a woman has its benefits.” Thom laughed and moved toward the open door where Rick was waiting for them.

Outside, Rocky could see that while the women all seemed to be in the kitchen huddled around the food, the men were going to be on the deck by the beer. At least until the game came on television that afternoon.

Jon was there, leaning against the railing with a longneck in his hand.

“We have arrived and we brought provisions.” Thom dumped the bag of ice on the deck and reached to open the lid on the giant blue cooler.

As Rocky set the beer down on the deck, Jon stepped forward. “Thom. Rocky. Good to see you both again so soon.”

Rocky’s SEAL team had spent a couple of weeks with Jon’s private security company, GAPS, in Nigeria working a mission. The team had only just gotten back when they’d been called out again, this time to Turkey, for a few weeks more.
 

Finally home once again, Rocky could only hope it would be for more than a few days this time. He expressed that sentiment now. “It’s good to see you on US soil.”

Jon grinned. “That too.”

Rick let out a huff. “I can’t believe I missed that Nigeria job.”

Jon cocked one dark brow. “You were in New York, no doubt staying at some fancy hotel and working security for People Magazine’s Sexiest Woman on Earth.”

Thom snorted. “While we were in the frigging Sambisa Forest. Even if it wasn’t summer, you know how hot and buggy Africa is.”

Rocky had to laugh as Rick continued to scowl and look unhappy about missing the op. “I gotta agree with them, Rick. You get no sympathy. We were fighting Boko Haram and frigging snakes at the same time. I almost got bit. If I’m gonna die on an op, it better not be from a damn snake bite.”

Thom jumped up from his knees. “Oh my God. Rick, you have to picture this. There are four of us, in position, laying on our stomachs sighting the path out of the target’s camp with our rifles when I look over and there is this huge snake like six inches from Rocky’s nose . . .”

Shaking his head at Thom’s retelling of the snake story for what had to be the tenth time, Rocky kneeled down and took over loading the beer and ice into the cooler.

Finally, when they’d all had a good laugh at how he’d been afraid of the snake, Rocky could settle into a chair with a beer and try to enjoy the day.

“So, what have we missed around here lately?” Thom asked.

“Big guy here made a lot of changes, actually.” Rick hooked a thumb in Jon’s direction. “Did you hear he asked Ali to move in with him?”

Thom’s eyes widened. “No. He didn’t mention it. Wow, dude, are there wedding bells in your future?”

Jon glanced at the door of the house and then back to Thom. “Don’t rush things, okay?”

Rick laughed. “Yeah, Jon’s not one to do anything fast. Took him over a year to finally rent an office for GAPS and he still won’t hire a secretary.”

Jon rolled his eyes. “I know you and Zane have images of us having some James Bond-worthy Miss Moneypenny answering our phones, but it’s not gonna happen. We also don’t have Q and all his toys and none of you are getting a rocket-fueled BMW either. GAPS is a private contractor. Not MI6.”

“I know that but I really do think we need a plane. Chris has his pilot’s license. Think of all the money you’d save on flying commercial.”

“Sure. Why don’t we get a CH-53 too? That way we won’t have to bother the Marines when we need a helo.” Jon snorted. “And what do you care anyway? Sierra has you all sewn up as her head of security. When are you going to be available to work a job with GAPS again?”

“Personally, I think a Blackhawk is more versatile than a CH-53.” Thom always was one to stir the pot.

Ignoring Thom’s unsolicited comment, Rick frowned at Jon. “I’m gonna work more jobs with you. I’ll have time between her movies. And I saw you ordered company logo shirts. I want one.”

Jon blew out a derogatory sounding snort. “I didn’t order those. Zane did.”