Page 6 of Protecting Clove (Loved by the SEAL #5)

B ud was surprised that Neo was so quick to pick up swimming. All he had to do was tell her about the physics of buoyancy. It made it easier to teach her because she was thinking about what her body was doing and not just the fact that bodies tended to sink in water.

After the lesson, they were drying off when some guy came up to Clove and started getting too close, touching her shoulder and trying to flirt.

He could see that Clove was uncomfortable, so he got Neo out of the pool with him and moved to Clove, not even trying to cover his muscles as he grabbed the towel from Clove and met the guy’s gaze.

“Everything okay?” He saw the way the man flinched and took a step back.

“Yeah, no, everything’s fine.” The guy turned and took off.

He hated how guys ignored women saying no and kept pushing them even when it was obvious she was uncomfortable. From across the pool he could tell that Clove wasn’t interested in the man, but he hadn’t left her alone.

With Neo right there, he didn’t want to mention what had happened. The girl was smart and already picked up on too much stuff.

“Neo did great. I think we need a few more sessions. And Neo, I don’t want you pushing yourself unless I’m here. You wear those water wings if you two come to the pool without me.”

She nodded and pulled her towel tighter. “Yes, sir. I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Now then, how about we all go home and grab some lunch? I have chicken that I was planning on grilling and some hotdogs if you’d rather have those.”

“Yea!” Neo cheered, then pulled her towel tighter around her waist.

He smiled and met Clove’s gaze. “Is that okay?”

She tried for a smile, but it fell flat. “Sure. Thank you.”

He wasn’t sure the thanks was only because of the offer for lunch. She’d been agitated by that guy creeping on her. Maybe that was why she said thank you. He wouldn’t press her on the issue. Maybe later they could talk.

The drive home didn’t take long, and Clove said she would come over once she and Neo showered. He nodded, not allowing himself to think of her in the shower.

Lunch was relaxed, and Neo ended up falling asleep in front of the TV. He didn’t want to make Clove wake her, so he suggested they sit in the kitchen while Neo rested.

They’d just sat down when her phone buzzed. She read the text, and her lips pressed together as her eyes narrowed.

“Bad news?”

She blew out a breath and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“Didn’t look like nothing.”

“I can handle it.”

He didn’t want to argue with her. Besides, he had no clue what was in that text. Maybe she would tell him, or maybe not. It wasn’t his business. They were just neighbors, maybe friends, but mostly acquaintances.

Clove couldn’t believe her ex had her phone number.

She knew sharing her new number with certain family members would open the possibility of him finding out how to contact her, but she hadn’t told that many people from her past about her new number.

She’d called her aunt because she’d heard that her cousin had fallen and was in the hospital. Now Keith had her number.

“Hey, you know, having someone to talk to helps. If you don’t want to talk to me, you could call Andie. I know she would be open to chatting.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it, it’s just—” she leaned in and lowered her voice. “I’m angry, and I don’t want Neo to hear me when I’m like this. She’s smart, and I don’t want her working out how upset I am.”

She was surprised when he took her hand and squeezed. She looked up and saw compassion in his eyes. It was more than she expected.

“Listen, after she goes to bed, you could meet me on the front porch. Just text once she’s asleep, and I’ll be out there.

Then you can tell me what’s going on. You look really worried.

Like you said, she’s smart and she might be able to figure out what’s going on if you have that worried look on your face once she wakes up. ”

Clove straightened up and drew in a slow breath. “Okay. After she’s asleep I’ll text you.”

Maybe it was a mistake to dump her problems on Bud, but he was here and willing to listen.

They were just friends, at least that’s all she would allow herself to believe.

She wouldn’t put pressure on him for more.

Heck, she couldn’t handle more. It was hard enough being a mom and working.

Dating had turned out to be way too much and she hadn’t even tried to go on a date in years.

Thinking Bud would be into her was just her ego taking over.

A man like him would want someone better looking, and someone with a much better body than she had.