Page 4 of Protecting Kelli (SEAL of Protection: Alliance #6)

That’s right. She never did find out what he did for a living earlier that day. They’d been talking about sand and she’d guessed a few jobs, and then somehow the subject got changed. “Are you a spy?” she whispered, looking around furtively.

He burst out laughing. “No. But you did guess correctly earlier. I’m a SEAL.”

For a split second, the round, adorable, probably annoying-to-fishermen animal flashed in her mind.

“The Navy frowns on its special forces soldiers posting shit on the Net that could be a security breach. I’m not sorry though.

I can’t stand how some people use the platforms to bitch about every aspect of their lives, or only to show the good stuff.

Both ends of the spectrum are distortions of reality, and it’s annoying. ”

“You’re a Navy SEAL?”

“Yeah.”

Kelli was tempted to push back her chair right then and there. She’d felt out of her element earlier, but now? She was definitely not up to this man’s speed. But the moment she told her muscles to do their job and get her the hell out of there, the waiter returned.

“Do you drink wine?” Flash asked .

Kelli nodded. She needed about three bottles right now to find the courage to continue with this dinner.

Flash turned to the waiter. “I’m sorry, I know nothing about wine. Can you bring us a bottle of something light but local?”

“Of course. While you look over the menu, I’ll bring the bottle and you can see if it meets with your approval.”

The second the waiter left, Flash was leaning toward her. “Does it change things? My job? I can tell you’re two seconds from bolting.”

Kelli took a deep breath. She was being ridiculous. This was just dinner. That’s all. “No. I was just surprised. No wonder you don’t like the sand. I’ve seen the shows about Hell Week.”

Flash smirked. “Yup. And my team leader takes great pleasure in having us roll around in the sand during PT in the mornings too. He’s sadistic.”

Kelli laughed, and just like that, the tension between them broke.

Everything about Flash made so much more sense now.

Why his sister trusted him to keep an eye on her fiancé—he’d probably crush the man if he so much as made a move on another woman.

Flirting with the Three A’s was one thing, but there was little chance he’d risk anything else. Not with Flash around.

And now those muscles made sense. Flash looked like he could bench press…well…lots. Kelli had no idea what a good number was for bench pressing, but it had to be high.

He had an air of confidence that was impossible to miss. Being a Navy SEAL was a tough job. Mentally and physically. He probably had to make split-second decisions all the time, so he had to be smart and intuitive .

She couldn’t deny she was intrigued. And yes, attracted. What woman hadn’t had fantasies of being carried off by a hot man in uniform? And here she was, having dinner with one.

Deciding to enjoy every second of this night, Kelli smiled at Flash.

Then something else occurred to her…she’d felt safe with this man from the second she’d met him last night. It wasn’t a feeling she’d experienced often. In fact, when she’d met Rowan, Ben, and Seb, she’d felt decidedly uneasy. Felt their gazes running over her body when they’d met. Judging her.

But she’d immediately felt at ease with Flash—the excitement of his handshake notwithstanding.

She wasn’t an idiot. Not all military men were honorable. But something told her that Flash was someone she could trust. And that made her relax all the more.

The waiter returned with a bottle of wine and, after they both tried it and approved, poured them each a large glass.

The night went by way too fast for Kelli.

She found herself enjoying Flash’s company immensely.

He was easy to talk to, and they never ran out of things to discuss.

The sunset was everything she could’ve hoped for and more.

She took around a hundred pictures and loved that Flash did too.

He immediately texted one to his sister and showed Kelli the response… about a page full of emojis.

He even insisted the waiter take their picture together in front of the sunset, and that was a pic Kelli had a feeling she’d probably print out, in order to remember such an amazing evening.

When she pulled out her sweatshirt once it got chilly, Flash had laughed outright when he saw what was printed on the back.

Anti-social Wives Club .

She wasn’t a wife, and she wasn’t really anti-social, but she’d found the company not too long ago and the sweatshirts were perfect.

Roomy, not too tight at the bottom—she hated when sweatshirts had really tight elastic at the waist, making her look even heavier than she already was—and while none of the sayings fit her, she still loved the sweatshirt itself.

After they’d eaten, when Flash suggested a walk on the beach, Kelli didn’t hesitate to say yes.

They didn’t have too much beach to walk, as there were fences on either end of the property, but it was still a beautiful evening and after the delicious food, Kelli didn’t mind the slight bit of exercise.

“So…you’re still going tomorrow?” she asked Flash. They were walking side by side, not touching but sharing the same space. “Going tubing, I mean.”

“Yeah. I talked to Chuck, and he gave me the deets.”

“Chuck?”

Flash grinned. “He hates that nickname, but I don’t give a shit. Until he proves he’s a good man who’ll treat my sister like the princess she is, he’ll be Chuck to me.”

“So until they’ve been married for fifty years or so?” Kelli joked.

“Pretty much.”

“I wish I had a brother. Or a sister, for that matter. My mom hoped Charlotte and I would be like sisters at one point, but that wasn’t meant to be. We’re just too different.”

“For the record, I think you’re perfect. ”

Kelli looked up at Flash in surprise. He smiled down at her, then looked in the direction they were walking once more.

“Um…thanks.”

They continued in silence, and Kelli was enjoying how comfortable she felt with this man.

She didn’t feel the need to babble, to fill the silence with conversation.

They reached the end of the property line then turned around to walk back.

To her surprise, Flash’s hand brushed against hers… then his fingers closed around her own.

“This okay?” he asked, looking down at her.

“Yeah.”

They walked for a bit, then he chuckled and said, “I can’t remember the last time I held a woman’s hand. It’s nice.”

Kelli smiled. It was. It was very nice. He had large hands that dwarfed hers.

Even if she hadn’t known what he did for a living, she would’ve felt safe with Flash.

Not that the resort was dangerous, but she had no doubt if a giant sea creature came up from the ocean, he’d beat it back with his bare hands.

Or if someone appeared on the sand with a knife, he’d kick it out of their grip like some sort of ninja, then keep walking like he’d done nothing special.

When they got back to the resort, Kelli was almost disappointed.

She was also confused. She’d told herself that this was just dinner.

That nothing would come of it. Flash was just being polite.

They didn’t even live in the same town. True, they’d discovered they lived shockingly close to each other, but still.

And now? After talking for four hours over dinner and wine, walking on the beach, and holding hands…something had shifted within Kelli. She wanted more. Wanted to get to know this man better. Wanted more meals, more walks, more hand-holding.

Hell, who was she kidding? She wanted much more than hand-holding.

But she wasn’t the kind of woman who jumped into bed with men on the first date.

Much to her dismay. It would be easy to invite him back to her room, or for her to say yes if invited to his.

But it would also be disappointing. He wouldn’t be the man she’d built up in her head if he did that.

Without a word, and without letting go of her hand, Flash walked them back to the lobby of the resort. It was late enough that no one was around. The lights in the lobby had been dimmed and there was only one employee behind the front desk.

“I had a good time tonight,” he said, turning to face her.

“Me too.”

“We’re meeting at ten tomorrow, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Kelli stared up at Flash. Wanting him to kiss her, but stressing about it at the same time. Butterflies were swarming in her belly and her heart was beating hard in her chest.

“You want to have breakfast with me before we head out tomorrow?”

Kelli smiled. “Yes.”

“Great. Meet you here in the lobby at eight-thirty? We can head over to the buffet together.”

“Sounds good.”

Flash stepped forward, leaning in, and Kelli held her breath.

He kissed her cheek chastely, squeezing her hand. “Thanks for an awesome night, Kelli. I’ll see you in the morning.” Then he took a step backward. And another. It was as if he didn’t want to leave her either.

“See you later,” she said.

“Later.”

With one last look she couldn’t interpret, Flash turned and strode toward one of the hallways that obviously led to his room.

Kelli couldn’t keep her gaze from his ass. It was perfect.

After he was out of sight, she headed in the opposite direction, toward her own room.

By the time she’d changed, used the bathroom, and gotten under the covers, Kelli realized she was still smiling.

She never wanted to come to Jamaica, but so far it had been a trip to remember.

Even if nothing came of her and Flash’s acquaintance, she’d remember their time tonight for the rest of her life.

He’d made her feel funny. Interesting. Wanted.

That alone made him leaps and bounds above the other men she’d dated in recent years.

Turning onto her side, Kelli snuggled into her pillow.

Tomorrow wasn’t her idea of a good time.

But she’d go because she’d promised her mom that she’d do her best to get along with Charlotte.

And with Flash there, Kelli realized she might just enjoy the outing.

She was actually looking forward to it now.

She fell asleep with a huge smile on her face, thinking of the man who’d made her night one of the best she’d had in a very long time.