Page 35 of Huck Frasier (Seals on Fraiser Mountain #5)

Fraiser

I tried to get her to wait in the truck. I really did.

“Marley, you’re staying here,” I growled, adjusting the rifle strap across my chest while keeping her pinned with my best Navy SEAL death glare.

She snorted. Actually snorted . “That’s adorable, Huck. Truly. But no.”

“Mar—”

“ No. You vanish for two weeks, I track you through backwoods Arkansas, and now you want me to just sit here and do nothing? While you get shot at? Nope. Not happening. I’m coming.”

She swung the diaper bag over her shoulder like it was a tactical pack. Half the zipper was open and I caught a glimpse of granola bars, a can of ginger ale, and her bright pink pepper spray. God help me.

I ran a hand down my face. “You are the most infuriating—”

“Compliment accepted. Let’s move it, soldier.”

Thirty Minutes Later

Marley trudged behind me, huffing every few steps, grumbling about bugs and roots and the fact that this was not how she pictured ‘tracking down her fiancé in the wild.’

“Do you want to rest?” I asked for the fifth time, scanning the tree line for movement.

“Do you want to deliver this baby in the bushes, Fraiser? Keep walking.”

I barked out a laugh before I could stop it. She shot me a glare that promised holy hell if I didn’t shut up.

Ten Minutes After That

We finally reached the old service trail leading to the exfil point. Cyclone’s signal flickered on my earpiece: “ETA five mikes. And tell your woman to quit yelling about bears. She’s gonna attract them.”

I turned and clamped a hand gently over Marley’s mouth. “Stop telling the Ozarks about your bear phobia.”

She yanked my hand away. “If a bear shows up, I’m throwing you at it and running for my life.”

“Good to know where I stand.”

She stuck her tongue out at me. Adorable. Infuriating. Mine.

Moments Later

We broke through the tree line just as Cyclone’s truck skidded to a stop on the dirt trail. The back hatch flew open, revealing two more of my team, armed to the teeth and rolling their eyes at my personal chaos.

Cyclone leaned out the driver’s window. “Hey, Marley. Next time you feel like rescuing your SEAL, just text first, okay?”

Marley flipped him off sweetly, then turned back to me and poked my chest — hard. “Next time, you stay home.”

I kissed her before she could keep talking.