Hot SEALs: SEALed For Life (Kindle Worlds Novella) (4 page)

Gower narrowed his gaze. Two could play the military stand-off game. Technically, he outranked her. Didn’t he?

“No need to worry about my ego, Gunny Angel, because I don’t intend to let you turn down my help. It’s my turn to stand guard. Now if you want to go home, that’s fine. I’ll see you get there. I’m driving and that’s probably going to be a lot faster and a lot more comfortable than how you got here originally. Plus you won’t have to explain your bloody jeans to a bunch of nosy strangers. But the broken crutch? That’s on you, honey.”

Melina ignored his teasing about the crutch and thought about traveling back. She didn’t relish the thought of riding the Metro while business commuters stared at her. Her sigh was loud as she realized she was going to give in.

“I guess you’ve got a good point about the bloody clothes. Okay. I’ll take you up on your offer of a ride back to Virginia Beach, but I pay for gas.”

“No need. Dillon and I live there too. Keep your ass planted on this bench and we’ll leave when I get back. I’m parked in a public garage not far from here. And don’t try to run either. I will chase you down. I can’t have you giving me a bad report.”

Melina choked on a giggle. “Gee, that’s real macho of you, Beckett… chasing down a woman hobbling away on a crutch. Bet all your SEAL buddies would love to hear about how you had to chase me down.”

Gower grinned. Gunny Angel had a fun sense of humor. He’d heard that about her. He’d heard a lot of things in fact. They’d all been good. He just hadn’t thought they concerned him.

And Chris had glared at anyone who asked for more details than he’d wanted to give about the woman.

“If I told them
who
I was chasing after, they might at least find it a good beer drinking story. Now be a good girl while I’m gone and I might buy you dinner on the way home.”

Melina stared at Gower Beckett’s very nice backside as he strode away. He collected his son who was playing with his backpack and they headed to the wall.

She didn’t know which statement was funnier to her—Gower Beckett ordering her to be good or him calling her a girl. The man was barely thirty. At forty-one, she was his senior in several ways. Still… the idea of letting someone that masculine tell her what to do when she was tired and hurting had its appeal. She couldn’t deny it.

Which is why she wanted to refuse the ride home even if it seemed contrary and on the verge of bitchiness. She was physically attracted to the younger man, but she wasn’t dumb enough to think it meant anything.

Her attraction was the result of too many months of celibacy making themselves finally known. Or maybe it was her discussion with Chris yesterday. Or maybe it was left-over adrenaline from her fight with the punks.

Whatever the case, she couldn’t deny Gower Beckett was hot by any woman’s standards. That still didn’t mean she was going to jump him, even if he did seem interested back. Now if the man had been a random stranger, then she might have indulged her urges without any second thoughts, even knowing he came with a kid… because Dillon Beckett was very cool.

But Gower Beckett wasn’t a random stranger. Not long ago he’d been one of the SEALs she’d supported. The last thing she needed to do was tie herself up in emotional knots over another unpredictable male who didn’t know how to be faithful. Not even a sexy, hardship retired one was going to tempt her into acting that stupid again.

And even if the man’s former work connection to her hadn’t been an issue, Beckett’s age would have been. She just couldn’t see herself being with someone who’d had so much less life experience than she’d had.

God—she needed a change of scenery. SEALs were everywhere and the east coast was rife with military men. Maybe her promotion would come with a transfer somewhere she could meet some non-military people.

Melina had stayed far too long in one job and way too long in one place. With her aging mother moving from North Carolina to Florida to be near friends, there was no longer any need for her to stay in Virginia.

Her bottom line?

Gower Beckett’s attractive backside was not going to be enough reason to change her reality. Best just to enjoy the scenery the hot former SEAL would be providing for her ride home and then let the fantasy go.

“Look Beckett, I’m fine. Truly. You and Dillon can go home now.”

Melina heard herself being rude, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. Gower carrying her up her own sidewalk had made her feel a little too vulnerable. Not a feeling she was used to having or tolerating.

She cleared her throat hoping to get clearer in her communication with him. “I rescued you and then you rescued me back. You bought me lunch and brought me home. We’re as even as possible under the circumstances. You don’t have to stay.”

“Come on. We had this argument in the car,” Gower said softly, keeping his voice low.

“No. We had a
discussion
in the car, but I never agreed to let you be my personal medic,” Melina hissed softly, keeping her voice pitched low so Dillon wouldn’t think she was yelling at his father.

“Dad? Can I watch TV while you help Gunny Angel?”

Melina hung her head at the innocent question from Beckett’s son. The boy had been trying to come up with a superhero name for her. When she hadn’t helped with his search by offering suggestions, Dillon had resorted to calling her the title he’d heard his father use.

After finding Dillon something to watch on TV, Gower returned the remote to the coffee table and stared at her. “You’re going to have to put on a pair of shorts so I can work on that bleeding leg.”

Melina ran a hand over her hair. How in the hell was she supposed to get rid of him? Dillon was settled in on her couch blissfully watching cartoons while she and his father were locked into a staring contest. Both Beckett males were being pushy in her opinion. Her normally quiet apartment was now full of unexpected activity, not to mention personal drama as she fought her attraction to the stubborn, former SEAL.

Plus, Beckett looked mighty fine with all those six-pack ridges hiding under that shirt of his. Damn it. Child or not—a woman could only handle so much temptation.

“You know you really don’t have to do this, Beckett. I can clean and dress the wound myself. I had the same first aid training you did.”

Gower grinned at her, but didn’t take the argument bait.

“Do you want some help getting out of those jeans, Gunny? I can provide an assist if needed.”

“You getting me naked is never going to happen.” Her disbelieving snort was followed by an eye roll when he grinned wider. “Does that steam roller act really work for you?”

Gower’s shrug of unconcern both pissed her off and intrigued her. Her conflicted emotions only pissed her off more. She glared as he cleared his throat.

“Maybe I’m rusty. I haven’t had a lot of flirting practice in the last year. I am really trying to be noble with you. I promise I won’t even stare at your good leg, much less the wounded one, any more than I have to.”

“Right.” Melina listened to Gower laughing at her sarcasm. Her gaze ricocheted between father and son, then landed back on the man now staring down at both her legs which were still encased in denim.

“Can you even spell the word
noble
?”

“Sure. It’s S. E. A. L,” Gower replied, lifting one shoulder. “Why do you ask?”

Melina gave in to her urge to laugh. Beckett was as annoying as he was charming. “If I’d known you’d be this much trouble, I’d have let those punks rob you blind.”

Gower shook his head. “Nice try for sarcasm, but I know better. You broke a crutch for me and Dillon.”

Melina groaned. “You don’t give up, do you? Okay. Fine. If I let you help me patch up my leg,
then
will you leave?”

Gower pulled his gaze away from her legs and back up to her worried eyes. “Am I making you nervous, Gunny Angel?”

“Hell, yes,” Melina exclaimed, sweeping a hand around. “I’m not used to having my space invaded by strange males I just met.”

Gower’s knowing grin as he glanced at his oblivious son irritated her.

“No—I’m not flirting back. That wasn’t innuendo for your benefit, Beckett—nor was it an invitation.”

“Didn’t say it was. Maybe I was wishing, but I would never admit it with us barely knowing each other,” Gower declared, striding over to where she leaned tiredly on her one crutch.

He met and held her gaze for long moments. “Melina… you’re hurting and you need help. I’m here… and I owe you.”

Having seen how fast she could swing a crutch, Gower slowly reached out and took the remaining prop from under her arm. He laid it across the nearest chair and then brought his gaze back to hers. “Dillon has put me through a crash course in nurturing. I’ve gotten pretty good at taking care of people.”

“I’m not being stubborn for the hell of it, Beckett. I’m just used to being self-sufficient. No, I mean it. Stop laughing at me… you don’t have to…”

Her complaining drifted off in the ether as Gower scooped her up again and walked forward with her in his arms for yet a third time that day. Unlike the other two times, she wasn’t in the mood to be nice about it. She hooked a reluctant arm around his shoulders as he carried her from the living room into a hallway.

“This is totally unnecessary. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can. Which bedroom is yours? Or do you want me to guess?” he asked.

Melina huffed in exasperation. “Last one on the right,” she said tightly. “You know… you have no room to talk. You’re being a stubborn bastard about helping me.”

“Yes, ma’am. I certainly am,” he agreed easily and politely.

The unmade bed in her room immediately prompted a fantasy, but one Gower couldn’t indulge as they passed it. Instead, he carried a seething Melina into the adjoining bathroom and lowered her feet gently to the floor. He put the lid down on the toilet so she could sit.

“Okay. I saw a pair of shorts on your bed. Let me get those for you.”

When he returned, she was glaring hard. The shorts were ripped from his hand. He turned his back and crossed his arms.

“Not happening,” Melina declared. “Get the hell out until I change.”

“Afraid I’ll peek?” Gower asked.

“Out!” Melina yelled, not dignifying his teasing with an answer.

Laughing, Gower left and closed the door quietly behind him without looking back.

***

Faster than he would have thought possible, Melina yelled for him to come back inside the bathroom. When he entered, he found her perched on the toilet. The bloody jeans were in a pile at her feet. He glanced at her nice thigh and the horrible gash in it. There was no time to appreciate her mile long legs or the vulnerability he suddenly sensed in her as the two of them filled up the small space.

“Stop staring at my legs, Beckett. Washcloths are under the sink. There are some old ones you can use to wash the blood away. Peroxide is in a plastic bin in the closet. You should find some gauze or cotton balls in the bin too.”

Gower gathered up the cleaning tools, following her orders without comment. He ran warm water on the cloth and then dropped down to his knees between hers. He dabbed at the dried blood on the gash. She hissed at the sting of water on the cut, and her leg shook in reaction. His free hand scooped under her thigh to hold it steady while he finished washing the wound.

Her thigh was smooth and toned in his fingers. It was an effort not to rub and stroke. It was also an effort not to raise his head and close the distance between their mouths. When he could clearly see the cut, he reluctantly turned loose of her leg and stood to rinse out the cloth.

Gower wasn’t surprised when Melina said nothing during the process. She remained silent as he doused a few pieces of gauze with peroxide over the sink. He returned to his kneeling position without meeting her gaze, mostly for fear she would read his mind and know he wanted to kiss her.

He heard her hiss as he dabbed the wound with the foaming antiseptic cleanser, but she didn’t call out, tell him to stop, or flinch away from his ministrations.

After all the complaining she did about accepting his help, the woman was amazingly stoic in the face of what he was sure was genuine pain. “You can swear if you need to. This cut is pretty deep. I still think it needs stitches.”

Something tugged in his gut as their gazes locked. He badly wanted to cover her lips with his and to tell her it would be okay.

Melina let out a ragged breath. “Just pull the edges together and put a few small band-aids over the cut to keep it closed. I’ll be careful for a few days until it heals shut. If it starts to bother me, or doesn’t look like it’s healing, I swear I’ll get it looked at on base.”

Gower scooped a hand under her leg again as he continued to dab at the wound. He wanted to make sure it was completely cleaned.

“Maybe I should come back by tomorrow and check to see how it’s doing.”

He grinned when Melina snorted at his offer.

“Yes. I know it’s a bit of an obvious ploy, but it’s all the game I’ve got at the moment. I’d like to see you again. Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”

He looked up then and met her surprised gaze.

“You look stunned. Let me clarify, Gunny. I’m asking you out—like on a date.”

Gower saw something hopeful flicker in her eyes before they dropped to her leg. He tightened his grip on her—tightened it with intent. “Come on. Talk to me. Are you still dating Chris?”

His answer from her was another snort… and then more silence. He waited another full minute before saying anything else.

“Melina—either tell me to go to hell or tell me I can come back,” Gower suggested. “I’m a big boy. I can take no for an answer. Plus I wouldn’t want to cut in on someone else’s girl. That’s never been my thing.”

Melina shrugged, then shook her head. She wondered what kind of stories Gower might have heard, but decided it was better not to ask. Retirement was too close and she’d hate to get evicted from the Corp for taking out a gossiping SEAL.

“Chris and I are nothing but friends. I don’t care what he’s said otherwise. We broke up months ago. But that doesn’t mean I want to date you.”