Page 6 of A Very Grumpy Navy SEAL (Wolf Valley: Grumps #10)

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Koa

The second my phone lights up with Ledger’s name, I know that this is the conversation I’ve been dreading.

My heart threatens to burst out of my chest, and I feel sick to my stomach as I pick up my phone. I swipe to answer and press the phone to my ear, bracing myself.

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual.

“Don’t ‘hey’ me. What the hell is going on?” Ledger barks.

I wince. He sounds pissed.

So much for easing into it.

“Lula called me just now,” he continues, his tone sharp. “Pissed off, emotional, and dodging my questions like I was the enemy. You know what she asked me?”

“I have an idea?—”

“She asked me if I warned off all of my friends from dating her!” he continues over me. “What did you do?”

I blow out a breath and scrub a hand over my face. “It’s not what you think.”

“So, you didn’t upset her?”

“No, I did... I just didn’t mean to.”

Ledger exhales roughly, and I can practically hear him pacing.

“What did you mean to do?” he growls.

I swallow hard. “I don’t know.”

I sink onto the edge of my bed and hang my head in my hands.

“Talk to me, man. Tell me what happened.”

I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling like the answers might be up there.

“I want her,” I admit finally, and it’s the hardest three words that I’ve ever had to say.

I wait for him to say something, but he’s silent.

My voice is low, rough with the truth as I say, “Your sister. Lula. I want her in a way I’ve never wanted anyone. But I haven’t touched her. Not like that. Not beyond a hug. I wouldn’t disrespect you like that. Not ever.”

There’s a long pause on the line.

Then Ledger sighs. “Koa.”

“I know,” I say quickly. “She’s your little sister. I should’ve walked away the second I saw her. But I can’t. It’s like... she’s already under my skin.”

“Koa—”

“Fuck, man, you know me. You’re my brother. I would never do anything to hurt you or our friendship. I didn’t touch her. I swear.”

“I know, Koa! Just shut up for a second,” he shouts. “Jesus, you two,” he grumbles.

I swallow down what I was about to say.

The phone crackles as Ledger heads inside and out of the wind. “I trust you. I know how you are. You’ve never paid any attention to women. So, if you’re into Lula, I know it means something. Besides, you wouldn’t have answered the phone if you were just screwing around with her.”

I close my eyes. “I’m not screwing around at all. She means something to me.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

I blink. “What?”

“You just told me you care about her and she’s already important to you. So why the hell aren’t you making a move?”

I sit up straighter and frown. “Because she’s your sister.”

“Koa,” Ledger says, voice softer now, “she’s not a kid. She’s an adult. A smart one. She can make her own decisions. I’m not her gatekeeper. I’m not going to beat the shit out of you. Well, not unless you break her heart. Then I have to. You understand.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

“Good. Then fix this thing with Lula. The next time she calls me, I expect her to be happy and not close to tears.”

I nod even though he can’t see me. “She will be.”

“And we will never discuss sex.”

“Dude, no.”

“Good. Go get your girl.”

I feel such a sense of relief at how this conversation went. “Thanks, Ledger.”

“I didn’t do anything. I’ve got to go, but I’ll talk to you later.”

The call ends, and I sit on the edge of the bed for a full minute, just breathing.

I have Ledger’s blessing. Nothing is standing in my way now. I have no excuse not to go after her.

I grab my keys and head out, determined to pick up something she’ll love.

The local pizza place is still open, and I remember her moaning over a cheeseburger like it was a five-star meal.

She’s a comfort food kind of girl. I order a large pizza with pepperoni, grab a bottle of root beer, and return to the hotel.

My stomach twists with nerves as I stop outside her door. I’ve been practicing what I’ll say for the last half an hour. I take a deep breath and knock on her door.

I wait. No answer.

I try again.

Still nothing.

I shift from foot to foot, my heart racing with something besides nerves. No, this is…worry.

“Lula? It’s me.”

Nothing.

I pull out my phone and call her.

Straight to voicemail.

Something is wrong.

I call her name again, louder. Still no answer. I press my ear to the door, but it’s silent on the other side.

Did she leave her room? What if she fell or something happened? What if she’s hurt?

Fuck it.

I take two steps back and ram my shoulder into the door. The wood cracks and the door bursts open.

Steam spills out from the bathroom, warm and heavy, and hits me in the face.

“Lula?”

The bathroom door swings open, and she barrels out, wrapped in a towel, dripping wet, blonde hair plastered to her skin. A few soap bubbles slide down her arms, and I swallow hard as my body reacts to the sight of her.

“Fuck me,” I mumble.

I’m ready to throw her down on the nearest surface and make her mine, but one look at her face, and I can see that we’re not on the same page.

“What the hell?” she yells, eyes wide as she takes in the busted door and me standing there like some lunatic with a pizza box in hand.

“I thought something happened,” I say, turning my back quickly so no one in the hall sees her. I force the door closed behind me, chest heaving.

“I was taking a shower!”

“You didn’t answer the door. Or your phone. I got worried.”

She stares at me, furious and flushed. Water drips down her chest, sliding along her curves. I groan as I try not to look, but fuck, it’s impossible.

She’s glorious. All tan skin and full curves, her towel barely hanging on. I can still see bubbles clinging to her collarbone.

“Turn around,” she snaps.

I obey instantly. I hear her rummage for clothes, muttering curses the whole time.

“Did you have to break down the door?” she huffs.

“I thought you were hurt.”

“Well, I wasn’t. Just... wet.”

I groan at her word choice.

When she finally says, “Okay,” I turn back around. She’s in an oversized T-shirt and shorts now, her cheeks still pink, but her eyes calmer.

“What do you want, Koa?”

I step toward her, setting the pizza box on the desk. “I talked to Ledger.”

Her eyes widen.

“He called me a little bit ago. Told me you called him.”

“I didn’t rat you out or anything,” she says quickly.

“I know. I’m not upset. You just forced me to do what I was putting off.”

“Which was what?”

“Tell him the truth.”

Hope shimmers in her eyes. “What truth?”

I swallow hard, vowing never to hurt her. Never again. “That I want you. That I can’t stop thinking about you. That I haven’t touched you or asked you out because I respect him. And you.”

She swallows hard, hugging her arms around herself. “And what did he say?”

“He said that he trusts me. That he’s not your boss or bodyguard. And that if I care about you, I should do something about it.”

She stares at me like she’s not sure she heard me right.

“So...” I take a step closer. “Unless you tell me to leave, I’m not going to keep pretending like I don’t want you. Because I do. So much it hurts.”

“Koa,” she whispers.

I move in front of her. “Tell me to stop, and I will. But if you feel even half of what I do, let me show you. Let me love you.”

She doesn’t speak. She leans up on her toes and wraps her arms around me.

And I know.

I’m hers.

And she’s mine.