Page 17 of SEAL's Temptation
She swallowed, knowing it was true.Ryan put himself in risky situations all the time.He could just as easily be hurt as her.
“Hey,” he said softly, clearly trying to lighten the mood.“Risks are a part of life.Like, you agreeing to let me cook you dinner tonight, for example,” he joked.
“Oh stop,” she said, playfully pushing his arm.“You’ve managed to survive all this time, presumably cooking somewhere along the way.I know you’re not eating mess hall food every night.How old are you anyway?Thirty?”
“Thirty-one,” he said, those full lips quirking in amusement.
“I’m twenty-eight,” she told him.
“Already knew that.”
She playfully pouted at him.“So, what didn’t you ask my brother about me?”
Ryan’s laughter filled the space around them.“A whole bunch of things.Many of which I plan to discover myself,” he said huskily, and Avery felt herself blushing again.He stared at her for a moment, another smile playing about his lips.“What time do you want to head over to my place?I figure we can do the tourist thing for a bit, soak up some of the Waikiki scene, but I have to admit, the idea of being alone sounds good, too.”
“Being alone sounds perfect,” she agreed.
Chapter 7
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RYAN’S GAZE CAUGHTon Avery later that night as she moved around his kitchen like she’d done so every night of her life.She fit here.In his space.In his home.In his life.He’d felt slightly nervous as he’d brought her in the front door, which was unlike him.Ryan was generally a laid-back, easygoing guy.Her opinion mattered, he realized.Maybe more than he’d first thought.
His place was somewhat utilitarian.Neat.He preferred to be out seeing the world, not vegging at home, so it was comfortable but sparse.Ryan spent time here in the evenings, but on weekends, he was out enjoying the Hawaiian beaches and sunshine.Hanging with his buddies.
Or hiking with a pretty girl, he thought, recalling Saturday morning’s adventure.
Avery brought the bowl of fruit over to the kitchen table, setting it down in the center.She had cut up fresh fruit while he’d thrown steaks and veggies on the grill, and they worked together effortlessly.He’d planned to do everything himself, but when Avery had insisted on helping, he’d found he couldn’t deny her anything.
“I’ve been meaning to get a patio table for the deck,” he admitted.
She glanced out at the nearly empty space, overlooking the lush yard.The people he’d rented the property from had enjoyed landscaping, and he didn’t mind keeping it up.Again—time outdoors, not stuck inside.Ryan would never be the type of man who’d enjoy a desk job.He needed to be out in the world, fully living his life.With Avery’s adventurous nature, she was somewhat the same.That was partly what had drawn him to her in the first place.
“You should get a patio table.The grill looks awfully lonely out there,” she teased.
He met her gaze, amused, then paused for a beat to really take her in.Avery had put on some type of eye makeup before their date today.It was more natural than what many women wore, but it still made her eyes smolder.She’d worn sunglasses when they were strolling around Waikiki Beach earlier, and since they’d been walking hand-in-hand, it’s not like he’d been staring directly at her right then.Damn, she was pretty.Several tiny gold earrings were in each ear.A dainty necklace showed off her neck.And her sundress.Holy hell.It looked amazing on her, the material hugging her breasts and hips perfectly.The tiny little straps had been tempting him all afternoon—one little tug, and they’d slip right off her shoulders.He had half a mind to lift her up onto the counter and kiss the hell out of her right now.
