Page 12 of SEAL’s Paradise (Alpha SEALs Hawaii #6)

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S AWYER’S GAZE RAKED over the back of Riley as she stood at the bar, no doubt looking for him.

He’d told another waitress—her nametag had said Chelsea—that he was here for Riley.

And now he’d found the woman herself. Her dark hair trailed down the back of her Coconuts tee shirt.

Once she turned and he caught her profile, he knew he’d see it skimming over her breasts.

Even though she wore shorts and a Coconuts shirt tonight, he knew her sexy curves were hidden beneath.

The image of her in tight jeans and a tank top standing beside her convertible was now permanently emblazoned in his mind.

He approached her without hesitation, his body already pulsing with adrenaline. Something about this woman had him all sorts of worked up, and he was dying to explore the chemistry between them.

Convenient that he’d be marrying her in a few short days.

Sawyer paused at her back, loving how much bigger he was than Riley. She was svelte and toned, but he had pounds of muscle on his frame. He could easily lift her into his arms and carry her the hell out of here tonight. Wouldn’t she love that, he thought with a smirk.

“Fancy seeing you here tonight,” he murmured.

Sawyer breathed in Riley’s sweet scent as she turned toward him.

It was floral and sexy and so damn enticing.

His blood heated, his body reacting to her on a primal level now that she was mere inches away.

Riley looked gorgeous. Sure, she was in uniform, but it was her face and reaction that caught his attention now.

She was surprised to see him here. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted, face flushed.

Something in his stomach did a funny little flip.

He took her hand, Riley’s breath catching at his touch.

He stared at their joined hands for a beat, noting there was something strangely right about it.

He didn’t necessarily stroll around hand-in-hand with a woman, but he could almost picture himself doing that with her.

Sawyer liked having Riley close. Avoiding any more thoughts of whatever that meant, Sawyer moved in—ducking to brush a kiss across those perfect pink lips.

Riley tasted sweeter than sugar, and she was soft and pliant as he pulled her into his arms.

The kiss was over almost before it began, and she looked slightly dazed as he pulled back, making sure she was steady on her feet.

“Whoo-hoo!” a waitress cheered as she walked past. “You get him, girl!”

Sawyer grinned and gave the waitress a mock-salute as Riley’s cheeks flamed. “Surprise.” He didn’t say anything else, just waited for her to absorb what had just happened and form some sort of response. She often seemed flustered around him, and hell if Sawyer didn’t love catching her off guard.

“Umm—wow.”

“Agreed. Just thought I’d kiss my future wifey hello,” he joked.

Riley grabbed him, her fingernails digging into his forearm, and tugged him to the side, pushing open the glass doors that led to the large deck overlooking the water.

It wasn’t much quieter out here, but no one in this area had seen what just happened.

That kiss, brief as it had been, had drawn plenty of notice from everyone around them.

“Sawyer,” she chastised. “We were supposed to meet later. I’m working—both jobs,” she stressed, looking at him pointedly.

He sobered. “What’s going on?”

Riley quickly filled him in on the newest messages, and Sawyer stiffened. One of the pricks selling out his country would be here tonight? As in, breathing the same air as Riley and Sawyer, existing in their space? Acting as if he was a real servicemember and not a damn traitor to his country?

“Hell no,” Sawyer said. “You’re not doing this alone. Lucky timing that I showed up when I did. If this meeting is about to go down, we’re going to find this asshole.”

She looked at him, exasperated. “Well, that’ll be hard to do out here.”

“You’re the one who dragged me away from the action at the bar, kitten. I was mighty happy standing there and kissing the hell out of you.”

She flushed again, nervously licking her lips, and glanced away for a beat.

It took everything in him not to take another taste of the sweetness that was Riley.

Now was hardly the time or place. “It was a damn fine way to say hello,” he told her.

“I certainly didn’t mind having you in my arms. But come on.

I’ll take you back in so we can scope out the place. ”

Riley looked confused by the abrupt change of subject but followed him back through the doors, leaving the balmy night air behind them. “Do you get any breaks tonight?” Sawyer asked. “Or am I going to be hanging out at the bar all by my lonesome?”

She shot him a disbelieving look. “You’ve got to be kidding. There’s usually an entire Sawyer Fan Club of women surrounding you.”

His loud laughter filled the area. “Didn’t think you noticed,” he said with a wink.

Riley brushed some of her hair back behind her shoulders, clearly flustered by his remark. “I have a break soon, but I usually hang in the break room, not out front.”

“Well, it’s your lucky day. You can enjoy the pleasure of my company tonight,” he teased, angling his body toward hers as they moved back through the crowded bar area.

They passed Chelsea, and she shot Riley a grin, clearly having seen them kissing earlier. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend.”

“Fiancé, actually,” Sawyer said with an easy grin.

Riley nearly choked as she tried to stammer out a response.

“Fiancé?” Chelsea asked in surprise. “Girl, I had no idea that you were even dating anyone let alone getting married. Way to keep it a secret. Congratulations! We all knew it would take a special sort of woman to tie this guy down. Where’s the ring?

” Chelsea asked, glancing down at Riley’s left hand.

“We’re picking one out together this week,” Sawyer said smoothly. “Gotta make sure the future wifey gets exactly what she wants. Guess I should’ve waited to propose until I had the rock, but when you know, you know.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet! I love this for you. I want all the details later on, lady. You’ve been holding out on me!”

“Sawyer,” Riley chastised as Chelsea hurried away, pulling him toward her.

He raised his eyebrows, glancing down at her hands on his forearm. Not that he minded her hands on him at all. Anywhere she wanted to put them was damn fine with him. “Shouldn’t we be more subtle about this?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Dunno. I’ve never been fake-engaged before.”

Riley huffed out a sigh, raising her arms in exasperation. He had to admit he already missed her touch.

“I’m gonna park myself over there at the bar, kitten. And I was thinking about that whole stripes and whiskers thing. What if it’s a tiger? It could be a mascot for a sports team. Maybe the guy will be wearing a tee shirt or ball cap with the team logo.”

“Huh. That does sort of make sense.”

“Course it does,” Sawyer said with a grin.

“You’re impossible.”

“Impossible to resist,” he agreed. “Which is why you agreed to marry me.”

“You’re really milking this,” she muttered.

He chuckled. “Gotta shoot my shot.”

Ignoring him, Riley quickly glanced at her watch. “I need to go check on my tables. Don’t do anything crazy while I’m gone. I’ll come sit with you in half an hour.” She leveled him with a look. “And if you find our guy—come let me know. Do not make a scene or attempt to handle this on your own.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, giving her a mock-salute. Sawyer could tell she was getting annoyed. “You act like I’ve never run an op before, kitten,” he said in a low voice as he met her gaze. “It’s sweet of you to worry about me though.”

“I’m not—” She cut off, shaking her head. “I’ll see you in thirty.”

“It’s a date.”

She turned on her heel and walked away, her ass swaying in those little shorts she had on.

Sawyer was tempted to chase after her, pull her close, and give her a scorching kiss.

But Riley was right. She was working. Waitressing and doing the spy game thing, which he had to admit was pretty hot.

This girl was a mystery. He wondered how she was at handling weapons.

Fighting in hand-to-hand combat. Riley hadn’t told him anything about her training, but no one would be sent overseas to run assets for the Feds without same basic self-defense knowledge.

She glanced back at him at the door to the kitchen, her glossy hair swaying with the movement and her dark eyes meeting his. Damn, she was pretty. He felt that weird little thump in his heart again, almost like he needed to go to her. Keep her close. Make sure she was safe.

They were in a restaurant though—the same place she worked many a night.

Sawyer would order a drink at the bar, get settled in, and help Riley find the traitor.