Page 5 of A Very Grumpy Navy SEAL (Wolf Valley: Grumps #10)

FIVE

Lula

What a long day.

I’ve been all over town looking for any places that are hiring. Koa has trailed after me from store to store, my trusty shadow. It’s been good having his company, but I feel bad that he’s spending his vacation like this.

The bell above the hardware store door jingles as I step inside, and I offer the older man behind the counter my most hopeful smile.

“Hi! I was wondering if you're hiring?”

He squints at me like I’ve asked him to donate a kidney. “You know how to fix a leaky pipe?”

“Um... I could learn?” I offer weakly.

He chuckles, not unkindly, and shakes his head. “No openings right now, sweetheart. Sorry.”

“No worries. Thanks anyway.” I back out of the store with Koa on my heels.

“That’s six now,” I mutter as we continue along the sidewalk. My feet are aching from the cheap flats I threw on this morning, and the sun is beating down on my head like it has a personal vendetta.

“Seven, if you count that weird vape shop.”

“You mean the one you wouldn’t let me go into?”

“You can’t work in a place like that,” he says with a dark scowl.

I roll my eyes. “If they pay me, then yeah, I can work in a place like that.”

“No,” he says sternly.

We keep walking, hitting another cafe, a bookstore, and a gift shop that sells handmade soaps and crystals. No one is hiring. Or at least not hiring someone like me—a recently laid-off data analyst with no retail experience and no references in town.

“Hey, what do you say we grab lunch? My treat,” Koa suggests as we near the burger place Cameron told me about yesterday.

My stomach answers before I can. Loudly. My face heats with a blush.

He smirks. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The diner-style burger joint is cool and shaded, with red booths and checkered floors. We grab a booth near the back, and I slide into the seat with a grateful groan.

“Hey, there. What can I get you?” asks a frenzied server.

I’m not surprised she’s frazzled—this place is packed.

I grab the menu and quickly scan it. “Double cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake,” I order without shame.

"Same," Koa says.

While we wait for our food, I try not to stare at him, but it’s hard not to.

His broad shoulders stretch the fabric of his black T-shirt, and his forearms—good Lord, his forearms—are distractingly veiny and muscular.

He’s relaxed now, lounging against the booth like he’s got all the time in the world. I envy that.

“Are you always this helpful?” I ask casually.

He shrugs. “Only when my best friend’s little sister is in crisis.”

My stomach flips at the way he says it. No teasing. No pity, either. Just a steady, calm energy that makes me feel safe even though everything else in my life is chaos.

Hope sparks, but then I replay his words.

Best friend’s little sister. That’s all I am to him. I need to remember that, I remind myself.

Our food arrives, and for a few minutes, the only sounds are happy chewing and the occasional moan of appreciation.

"This is so good," I groan, licking melted cheese off my thumb. “If I weren’t broke, I’d eat here every day.”

“Maybe they’re hiring,” Koa suggests, eyes locked on my mouth.

“Oh! That’s a good idea. I should ask.”

I look around for our server and spot her heading out the back. I turn back to my food, noticing that Koa’s gaze is still on me. I swallow hard when I notice the heat in his eyes as they drop to my mouth. My cheeks warm, and I quickly reach for my milkshake to cool down.

We eat in silence for a bit, and I stare out the window, taking in the charming town and the people walking past.

I try to look professional as our server returns, giving her my best smile. “Hey, you guys wouldn’t happen to be hiring, would you?”

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “No. Sorry, sweetheart.”

My hopes crash and burn. “Thanks anyway.”

Once we finish eating, Koa insists on paying, and I don’t argue with him this time. I’m too full and too emotionally wrung out from another day of failed job hunting to care.

We walk back to the hotel in silence. It’s a comfortable quiet, the kind that feels like a shared secret.

When we reach the top of the stairs, I pause in front of my door. “Do you, um, want to come in? Just hang out for a bit? I could use the company.”

His whole body goes still, and he hesitates. I know he’s about to reject me.

Slowly, he shakes his head. “I shouldn’t.”

The words hit like a slap. I step back, embarrassed. “Oh. Right. Of course. I mean, why would you want to hang out with me?”

“Lula,” he says quickly, stepping toward me. “That’s not what I meant.”

I fumble for my key. “Right. Okay.”

He huffs out a frustrated breath. “It’s not what I meant, Lula.”

Something inside me snaps. Maybe it’s exhaustion, or maybe I’m sick of being rejected, but I turn on him and snap, “Then what did you mean?”

He exhales like the words are heavy. “I want to. Fuck, you have no idea how much I want to, but you’re Ledger’s little sister.”

I fold my arms over my ample chest and glare at him. “And? I’m not property. He doesn’t own me. I’m my own person, Koa. I can do whatever I want."

“I know that, but you’re important to him. And he’s important to me.”

“And I’m not important. Not to you,” I fill in.

His eyes flash with frustration. “Of course you are. That’s the damn problem.”

I turn away, my heart pounding. “You know what? Just... forget it.”

“Lula—"

But I’m already unlocking my door. I step inside and shut it, leaning against the wood as the tears I’ve been holding back all day spill onto my cheeks.

Why does this always happen? Just when I think something good might be starting, the universe yanks it away like a cruel joke.

I take a deep breath, toe off my shoes, and head to the bathroom. I need to wash today off. Then I’ll feel better.

The hot shower scalds away some of the ache in my chest, but not all of it. I stand under the spray for way too long, letting the water wash away my tears. By the time I turn off the shower, I’m wrung out and emotionally raw.

I wrap myself in a towel, dry my hair, curl up on the bed, and plug in my phone. Scrolling through my contacts, I land on Ledger’s name. I need to talk to him and find out what exactly he told Koa.

I press call.

He picks up on the second ring, and I know he must be eating. I can hear people shouting in the background and the clink of silverware on plates.

“Lula? Everything okay?” He asks, raising his voice to be heard over the noise.

“Did you tell all your friends to stay away from me? Like, warn them not to date me or something?”

“What? No. Why would I do that?” he asks, sounding baffled. “What happened?”

“I just…I’ve had a bad day.”

“With Koa?”

“What? No.”

“Why are you asking about my friends then?”

I sigh. “It’s nothing. Never mind.”

“Lula…”

"I don’t know. Maybe you give off big brother warnings or something. It doesn’t matter. It’s fine.”

"Did Koa do something?” he asks again.

I groan. “No! Forget I said anything.”

“Lula. Talk to me.”

I shake my head even though he can’t see me. “I’m just having a rough day. Job hunting sucks. No one’s hiring. I’m tired and stressed, and I feel like I made a huge mistake moving here.”

He’s quiet for a minute, and I check the call to make sure we haven’t been disconnected.

“You didn’t make a mistake, Lula. You wanted a fresh start, remember? And things might be tough now, but they won’t always be.”

His words calm me a little. That’s the thing about Ledger—he can annoy the crap out of me, but he’s always known how to bring me back to center.

“Thanks,” I whisper.

“Anytime, Lu. You need anything, you call me. Okay?”

“I will,” I promise. “Now, tell me what you’ve been up to.”

He laughs, and we talk a little more. He tells me about his current deployment and what he’s been doing. He asks me more about Wolf Valley, and I tell him about Cameron, the diner, and the bakery. I don’t mention Koa again.

After we hang up, I sit in the quiet for a long time.

I try not to think about Koa or the way he looked at me. Like he wanted me. Like he needed me. Like he felt this thing between us.

And I try even harder not to think about how much I want him, too.

But I do.

God help me, I do.