Page 5 of The Moments You Were Mine

“You’re in town for a few more days, right? I’ll see you again before you ship out?”

I picked up her bag. “You’ll see me tonight. Let’s go.”

She huffed out a laugh. “You’re not the boss of me, Kermit.”

I just shouldered her bag, picked up her phone from the cup holder of the beach chair, and slid it into the sweatshirt I’d tugged on after giving her my shirt.

“Nothing here for you tonight,” I said, glancing around at the alcohol and entwined couples.

She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not twelve, Parker. No one sent you to watch over me.”

“One call, Ducky. One call, and I can guarantee Rafe willmake sure there’s someone here watching you permanently,” I growled.

Rae’s eyes shot back and forth between us, a frown appearing between her brows. Fallon’s face paled, and she stepped closer, mouth drawn tight at my mention of her dad. She leaned in and whispered, “You know I don’t talk about that here. No one knows.”

Instead of arguing with her, I simply picked her up and tossed her over my shoulder like the sandbags they’d had us haul in training.

“Parker!” she squealed, pounding on my back.

I looked at Rae. “You coming?”

Rae’s lips twitched, and she pointed to the guy sitting in a chair next to hers. “No, I’m staying with Joren tonight.”

“Be safe, Rae,” I said and turned on my heel to follow Will and Althea as they picked their way through the sand toward the parking lot.

Fallon was still pissed, hollering and spitting like a wild cat, her hands smacking my ass.

“You realize that’s going to hurt you more than me?” I said, and she gave out another snarl of irritation.

Will was laughing as he opened the passenger door of his sports car for Althea. “I’ll see you tomorrow on base, Baywatch. Have fun with that.” He waved at Fallon.

I wouldn’t have fun in the way he implied. That was the last thing I’d do.

At my truck, I set Fallon down. When she went to sidestep me, I caged her against the back door. “Stop.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. “You tossed Dad at me, but what would your father say if I sent him a text saying you were manhandling me?”

“If you told him the truth about the entire situation, he’d likely applaud.”

She blew out an exasperated breath.

Our gaze remained locked, heat zapping between us, and I felt that tug deep in my chest again. She wet her lips, and the simple motion sent a pulse through my groin. An unacceptable reaction.

She was the one who broke first, looking out at the ocean.

The sound of the waves mingled with the music. Heady and strong.

Whispering temptations I’d never give into.

“I don’t want you here as my bodyguard, Parker,” she said. Her voice was low and husky, and when she turned to face me, the look in her eyes almost brought me to my knees.

Desire. Wild flames of it. Enough to consume me with just a single glance.

The pulse in my dick pounded furiously.

I ignored it.

“I’m not here as your bodyguard. I’m here as a friend, and a good one wouldn’t leave you alone with a bunch of drunk guys who only have sex on their minds.”