The big question in his mind was if that was what she wanted too. That, and what they were going to do about the miles between her life in Alabama and his in Virginia.
He wrestled his spinning mind back to Ashley, realizing she’d been quiet. Reaching out, he captured her hand in his. “Something wrong?”
She laced her fingers through his. “I’m not sure I want to talk.”
He frowned, confused by her answer. “Why not?”
“Things are going so well. I’m afraid talking might mess it all up.”
Brody had to admit that it had been a pretty great day, starting with Nana’s muffins hot from the oven and ending with him and Chris surrounded by family eating the welcome home supper of chicken and dumplings she’d insisted on cooking for them.
And of course there had been spending the day with Ashley. Even after being together all day, he’d snuck out of the house to see her tonight.
Hopefully that would be the final time and after this there would be no more sneaking around. He would be able to proudly tell his family he and Ashley were more than friends. But he wanted to talk to her first to define what exactly they were as a couple before making some grand revelation to his family.
Of course, there was a part of him that really enjoyed her shock when he crawled through her bedroom window after dark. Maybe he’d keep doing it just for fun.
He pulled her closer, hoping to alleviate her concern. “Our talking can’t ruin anything. I promise.”
She paused for long enough before she spoke that he didn’t think she was going to say anything at all. “Why didn’t you call me right away when you got home?”
A fair enough question for a person not used to military transportation. “Communications were horrible while I was traveling. Then by the time we got back and I’d finished doing everything I needed to do it was already getting too late to call.”
“I wouldn’t have minded.”
“I know, but I woke you up once in the middle of the night. I didn’t want to do it again. So when I got home I talked to Chris. We decided to drive right here and surprise y’all.”
Flying commercial with Jon and Zane had gotten Chris home a full four days before Brody, whose life and travel were dictated by the whim of the military.
Zane had gotten the three of them bumped up to first class, to boot. But the good news was, since Chris had gotten to spend those days with Darci, he was more than willing and able to come with Brody on this trip home without causing havoc with the girlfriend.
Brody’s parents were surprised, all right, as he and Chris came busting into the house before dawn.
One glance at her face told him she was holding in something. She used to get the same expression when she was little and had a question she wanted to ask but was afraid to.
He brushed one hand across her cheek. “What you thinking about, darlin’?”
“That phone call. The one in the middle of the night.”
“I’ll be more careful about the time zones from now on. Promise.” Though that call was less about his math being faulty than his grasping for something to hold on to for those hours that Chris was technically missing.
It didn’t matter Chris was fine the entire time he’d been in pursuit of the tango, since Brody hadn’t known that.
“It wasn’t the time.” Ashley shook her head. “What did you mean . . . you said . . . at the end when you said you loved me.” She drew in a breath and finally raised her gaze to meet his.
He lifted one shoulder. “I do.”
An adorable crease formed between her brows. “But how? Like how you love Chris? Or Nana?”
She was perfectly serious and this was an important conversation, but Brody couldn’t help the laugh that burst from him. “No. I definitely don’t want to do to Chris or Nana the things I want to do to you.”
“So it’s just about sex.” She tried to put on a brave face, but her disappointment was pretty clear in her tone.
“No, Ash. It’s not. This is new to me too . . . and at the same time old, which I won’t deny is kind of strange. I’ve loved you since I was little, then I loved you differently when we got older. Now . . .” He shrugged again. “I’m ready to see where this thing between us can go. If you are.”
Brody didn’t usually suffer from insecurity but today he sure was. He’d bared his heart to her before, had offered her his name and his life, for as long as he was lucky enough to have it, and she’d turned it all down.
Her answer was to lean in and plant a big kiss on his lips. He’d take that response any day.
He let himself enjoy the feel of her lips against his for a good long while. Still, the fact remained they weren’t done talking.
He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “We’ll work it out. Take things slow. I’ll come home when I can. You visit when you can.”
“Okay.” She nodded against his head.
He wasn’t going to make the same mistake as last time by asking her to abandon her life there and move. That wouldn’t be fair to her or to Nana, who’d no doubt gotten used to having Ashley around again.
Maybe the answer was simpler than he thought. “And you know, I won’t be in the military forever—”
“No.” She shook her head so adamantly he had to pull back a few inches to give her space. “I would never ever ask you to get out of the military just for me. Or for us. Your job is too important—”
The complete change in her attitude about his being in the military was a shock, but he nodded. “Okay. We’ll deal with it. Together.”
It wasn’t going to be easy, but they’d just have to make the most of the time they had for now.
Then, eventually, maybe he would go shopping for another diamond ring. He had to believe her answer would be different this time. They were different people now.
Hell, he was a different person than he’d been just a month ago before coming home to the shock of finding her standing at the front door.
“Brody?”
“Yeah.”
“Can we be done talking for now?” As she raised her big warm eyes to meet his, she ran one finger down his chest.
Her hand landed at the waistband of his pants, which gave him a pretty good idea of what she wanted to do instead of talk.
Brody could be completely on board with that plan. Smiling, he said, “Yeah, we can.”
Next up in the Hot SEALs series… Mack’s story, Tempted by a SEAL, and Rocky’s story, Wed to a SEAL. Never miss a new release! Sign up at catjohnson.net/news for new release email alerts.
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Night with a SEAL
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SEALed at Midnight
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Loved by a SEAL
Tempted by a SEAL
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Before Cate ~ John’s Story
Cat Haus (Part 1)
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A New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Cat Johnson writes contemporary romance featuring sexy alpha heroes, men in uniform, and cowboys. 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.
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LOVED BY A SEAL
Cat Johnson
Copyright © 2015 by CAT JOHNSON
All Rights Reserved
License Statement
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT