Aaron snorted.
“You’re no gentleman,” Emersyn protested, laughing.
“Well, shit.Don’t tell my mama that,” he joked.His eyes landed on the bar area, a smile creeping over his lips.“And on that note, there’s a pretty brunette over there who needs to meet me.Stay out of trouble, kids,” he joked before sauntering away.
“Some woman is going to grab him by the balls one day,” Aaron said with a chuckle.“Dude won’t even know what hit him until it’s too late.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Avery agreed.
Ryan watched his friend go, his gaze briefly landing on Riley again as she crossed the restaurant holding her now empty tray.She moved confidently, weaving in and out of tables with practiced grace.Her gaze briefly swiveled to Sawyer, locking on him for a beat, before she pushed open the doors leading to the kitchen and disappeared.
Chapter 6
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TWO DAY LATER, AVERYlaughed, watching as Ryan came toward her balancing two huge cups of shave ice.He looked good in a dark green tee shirt and shorts, the color of his shirt setting off his light green eyes and suntan.His dark sunglasses were propped atop his head, and his muscles stood out in a way that made her stomach flip.The man was hot.Ryan was sweet, funny, and protective as well, but she’d be lying if she said her heart didn’t flutter every time she saw him.
Ryan had managed to get the afternoon off, which Avery knew was rare for him and his teammates.The men trained hard, but with her leaving Hawaii soon and then moving out of the country, Ryan must’ve sweet-talked their commander into allowing it.Or agreed to do a million push-ups or something.Despite having a brother on Ryan’s SEAL team, Avery knew little about how the Navy worked.She’d only met Commander Harrison “Harley” Madden once.In the military, you didn’t fraternize with your superiors, so it was only by chance that she’d met him when she was out with her brother one day months ago.
Their commander was a good-looking, fit man.She’d peg him to be in his early-to-mid forties.He was slightly intimidating, although fair, judging from what Aaron and Ryan had said.At the moment, however, she only had eyes for the guy heading straight toward her.
Ryan had a huge grin on his face as he sank down onto the bench beside Avery, and she breathed in his clean, masculine scent.“Here you go, Av.One passion fruit shave ice, just for you.”
“It looks so good.”She shivered as she took the cold cup from him, and he chuckled, giving her thigh a quick squeeze.Avery’s pulse spiked every time he touched her that way.Ryan’s big hands on her bare skin were all too appealing, and he seemed to know exactly the effect he had on her.
“Thanks,” she said, trying to ignore the heat now licking through her.His hand remained on her thigh for a beat, and she swore she felt the imprint from it burning into her skin.“I’m impressed you carried both cups without spilling anything along the way.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement.“How do you know I don’t train for this daily?”
She laughed.“Because you’re in way too good of shape to be indulging in a treat like this every single day.”
“Touche.”He caught her eye, leaning over for a brief kiss.Avery’s heart swelled.Ryan tasted of mint and man.Of something dark and deliciously male.He was clean-shaven today, no doubt because he’d gone into base this morning for a briefing before swinging by her hotel to get her.While he looked good with or without stubble across his strong jaw, she missed the feel of his whiskers against her skin.
“You changed clothes,” she said when he broke off the kiss.
His lips quirked.“Yep.Can’t be seen around town kissing you while in uniform.”
