Instead of walking, he looked around as though searching for a threat. Jerking on his arm, she brought his attention back to her face. “Please!”
This time he gave in and they battled through the crowd toward the exit. She breathed easier once they were out of the casino.
“Lynn, you’d better start talking. You scared the shit outta me back there when I couldn’t find you.”
“I’m sorry! It’s just that I ran into Errol and a woman when I was going into the ladies’ room. He introduced her as his sister, but she was not his sister!”
He opened his mouth, but she continued talking right over him. “I know it wasn’t his sister because Sally told us there were no children or siblings in case there was a death instead of divorce. But I also know it wasn’t his sister because his hands stayed on her ass!”
At that, his head jerked back, and he stared in incredulity.
Still not giving him a chance to speak, she continued, “When I came out I decided to follow them, and they stopped to talk to another couple. The two women walked away and I hid behind a plant to try to see if I could find out what they were talking about. Oh! I almost forgot that I snapped a picture of his hand on his not-sister’s ass! I thought maybe Nancy could use it. I turned on my phone recording and it sounded like the two men were talking about something important, but I just couldn’t hear enough of their conversation to know. That’s why I was trying to get you to not draw attention to me so that we could get out of there.”
She had not considered what Nolan’s reaction to her activities would be, but her eyes widened as he crossed his arms over his chest and stood to his full height, which meant she had to lean back to hold his gaze. And considering his gaze was more of a glare pinned straight on her, she regretted sharing. She opened her mouth to defend herself when he barked, and she jumped.
“What the hell made you think that was a good idea?” His hand came up in her face, when she started to talk over him again. “Oh, no, babe. You opened this can of worms so you can hear what I have to say. First of all, you never follow after somebody that you think is doing something wrong. You might have an instinct, but you don’t have the skills or the know-how to take care of yourself if the situation turns bad. Second of all, the last thing you want to do is have someone who’s doing something wrong catch you taking pictures or trying to record them. Any of those things put you at risk. Doing all of those things put you at an even greater risk!”
She sucked in her lips, hating that he was so angry at her, and her heart fell. He’s right. She sucked in a deep breath and placed her hands on his crossed arms. His tight muscles bunched underneath her fingertips and she squeezed. “I’m sorry.” Unable to think of anything else to say, she stood and forced her gaze to stay on his face.
His brows lifted as he lowered his chin. Now it was his turn to suck in his breath and let it out slowly. Uncrossing his arms, he snaked his hands around her, drawing her close. With her cheek resting against his heart, she breathed easier.
“I’m sorry, too, Lynn. This was my fault.”
At that, her head snapped back, and she shook her head. “How on earth do you figure that?”
“I should have never let you go to the ladies’ room by yourself—”
“Oh, good grief, Nolan. I’ve been going to the bathroom by myself for years—”
His arms tightened. “Don’t be a smartass!”
“Seriously? You offer a cavalier apology and then accuse me of being a smartass?” Heaving a sigh, she said, “Look, I was wrong. You were right that I took unnecessary chances and that wasn’t smart. I got caught up in the intrigue of seeing him with someone else.”
Nodding, he agreed. “Yes, but in a crowd of people, many who’ve been drinking, a lady alone is a target. Not that you can’t take care of yourself, but I don’t trust others.”
They stood, silently holding each other for another moment. She reveled in the feel of his strength and his heartbeat against her cheek. Finally, pulling back again, she smiled up at him. “Hey, sailor, you want to buy this lady a drink?”
Shaking his head, he grinned. “Come on, beautiful.” They turned in unison and walked to one of the resort bars, finding one that was filled with soft music and few patrons.
Lynn’s head lay on his shoulder and her soft snores indicated she had found sleep easily, but Nolan lay awake, the events of the past two days rolling over and over in his mind. The change in activities at the chapel. Sharing a room at the resort. Discovering how much he enjoyed Lynn’s company. Having the best sex of his life. And fuckin’ Errol Hightower.
It’s not too surprising that he’s got a piece on the side… just one more way to cheat on his wife. But to do so in a public place where someone could easily see him. And someone involved with him could see who might be interested. That was the thought that gave him the most heartburn. If Errol is laundering money through the casino, that means someone is helping him. Someone high up. Someone who doesn’t want to go to jail. And Lynn was following Errol, taking his picture, and trying to listen to his conversation. Fuckin’ hell!
Lynn shifted in her sleep, rolling to her other side, and he followed, curling his body around hers. It hit him that there was virtually no twinge in his abdomen. He was amazed at how much better he felt since getting off his parents' couch and doing more than watching TV. The easy hike and swim the previous day had made him tired, but at least he’d been able to do it. And even though her weight was slight, he had picked her up several times with no more than a slight uncomfortableness. I keep healing, there’s no reason I can’t rejoin my team in a few weeks.
That gave him pause, only because of the woman in his arms. This simple mission had become complicated. Feelings had developed for Lynn, but he had no idea what to do with those emotions. Her life is here. My life is wherever they send me. She has a business and clients here and can’t just pack up to move to California, especially when I would so rarely be home.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and focused on the soft, naked warmth of her body, the delicate scent of her hair as he nuzzled closely, and the steady beat of her heart that he could feel under his palm. But I won’t always be a SEAL and had already planned on coming back to Tennessee to work with my dad. His eyes flew open, and his heart beat a little faster. Would she wait for me? Would it be fair to ask her to wait on a man who can give her nothing right now other than a pledge to not be involved with anyone else and a promise that he’d do everything he could to stay safe?
He thought of his teammates, almost all in relationships now, a few already out of the service now and happily married. A few others still with him, also happily married. But how do they do it? How do they put their women through the fear of not knowing where they are, what they’re doing, or if they’ll come back?
When he was unable to locate Lynn earlier in the casino fear shot through him, and images of what might have happened to her filled his mind, erasing rational thought. So not only would Lynn not know what was happening with me, I wouldn’t know what was happening in her life.
She shifted again slightly, and he wondered if his tumultuous thoughts were somehow keeping her from finding complete peaceful sleep. She burrowed into him, then settled with a heavy sigh, never waking. His arms tightened around her again, the desire to keep her safe almost overwhelming. I won’t ask her to wait. But maybe, just maybe, if she’s still single when my time in the military is up and I move back home, we’ll see.