Lucky SEAL (Lucky Devil #2) (2 page)

“Let’s go help with the final setup for Thanksgiving dinner. There’s a line of people waiting outside for a big meal. Pastor Davis needs all hands on deck, sailor.”

“Aye aye, captain, reporting for duty.”

Rourke was so damn glad to be back on home soil. Not even working in a hot kitchen on a holiday could darken his mood. This was where he belonged.

Rourke was helping clean up in the soup kitchen an hour after the homeless people in the area surrounding the parish had a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. Each person left with a generous care package that was provided by Luc and assembled by Dolce. It was great to see so many smiling faces and even better to be home on American soil after a long deployment.  

Rourke was glad Luc volunteered him for kitchen duty, in spite of his earlier grumbling. He spent time with his best friends on a holiday, and he met someone new. Bonus. Rourke eyed the too-sexy blond-haired woman with the succulent ass and even more luscious lips from the other side of the kitchen.

Maybe it was his dog-tired mind playing tricks on him, but Rourke was suspicious of the woman. She was very polite but quiet ¬– too quiet. She kept her face down and avoided eye contact with everyone but Pastor Davis and the homeless people who wandered through. Her outfit was ridiculous for the situation. It was a good thing she’d found an apron to protect that dress. Rourke truly appreciated the way those heels made her ass and legs look in the expensive outfit, but why would anyone dress that way to cook and serve food all day?

Luc and Dolce had gotten the impression that Jennifer was a wealthy woman doing her bit to help the church, but that didn’t sit well with Rourke. People with money didn’t help in the soup kitchens of the world. They sent big checks to the church and wrote off the donation in their taxes.

“If you don’t stop scowling at the poor woman she’s going to run screaming from the building. It’s no wonder she’s so quiet. I can’t decide if you want to shoot her or fuck her,” Luc said from his side.

“There’s something off there, and I’m trying to figure it out,” Rourke explained.

“Do you think your super SEAL vision is going to look through that dress and find a villain hiding underneath?” Luc teased him. “You’ve been on duty for too long, man.”

“You don’t think it’s odd that a wealthy person who isn’t a politician smiling for the cameras is serving food at the soup kitchen?” Rourke asked.

Luc gave him a sardonic grin.

“Alright, so you’re wealthy. That’s different. This is your hometown, your church.” Rourke had to smile. Luc was teasing him, and it was good to see the old Luc in the sober man he’d become since the passing of his grandmother.

“Very wealthy,” Luc added. “I could make a donation, which I have, or pay people to do this, but I’m still here doing it myself.”

“Really? Very wealthy, huh?” Rourke knew things were looking up for the hotel and casino since Luc took over the business, but he’d assumed the renovations would have Luc strapped.

“Let’s just say I’ve made some sage . . . investments.” Luc looked away, avoiding Rourke’s eyes. “The woman is shy. That’s all. She doesn’t know us. Maybe this is her hometown, too. We don’t know her at all, but the pastor does. That’s good enough for me.” Luc shrugged. “There’s something vaguely familiar about her. I’ve seen her around somewhere. I just can’t put my finger on where.”

Looking away like that and quickly changing the subject was a tell of Luc’s. Luc had just tipped his hand, just like an amateur at the card table. It was a sure sign that Luc didn’t feel right about whatever investments he’d made that brought in so much capital.

Rourke was too distracted by Jennifer’s sweet ass as she bent to return pans to their home on the shelf to pursue that line of thought. Damn, that woman had curves in all the right places. Her ass was high and tight. Her breasts were generous handfuls but not overly large. When she bent over like that, he admired hips a man could wrap his hands around and . . .

She turned around and caught Rourke staring. Rourke looked away. Pretending he hadn’t just been fantasizing about holding her steady while he fucked her hard and fast. Jennifer would be gorgeous in nothing but those heels with all that golden hair flowing down her naked back. He’d like to have those heels up around his ears.

Damn, it had been far too long since he’d had a woman if he couldn’t keep is head around one beautiful and very distracting woman for longer than a few minutes without thinking about sex. Every time she nervously licked those full lips, his dick twitched. He was an operator. A Navy SEAL, for the love of God. He should not be this distracted by those muscular calves. Rourke was willing to bet her thighs would be just as toned when she wrapped them around his neck while he . . . 

“And now you look like you’d like to eat her whole,” Luc said next to him.

Rourke cleared his throat and discreetly adjusted his interested dick. He didn’t respond to the comment. There was no sense in denying the truth, He would eat her up if she’d let him, his suspicions be damned. The woman was an awful temptation. 

Dolce finished wiping down the tables and came to help Jennifer put away the last of the dishes. They were just about done. It was finally time to get a good night’s sleep, but Rourke suddenly didn’t want to go home to his empty bed any longer. He was trying to think of a reason to talk to the shy beauty.

“We’re all done here,” Dolce said from the other side of the kitchen.

“Good,” Luc said and looked at his watch. “I’m meeting someone for dinner.”

Rourke knew what that expression meant. Luc was meeting someone for more than dinner. Luc was going to burn off some of that restless energy buzzing around him. He’d make some woman very thankful, indeed, right before he dismissed her. Luc was not the relationship type. He was very clear about that, but the women he took to his bed too frequently walked away shocked that he hadn’t wanted more than one evening.

“Can I ride home with you?” Dolce asked Luc. “I got a cab here. I’d like to find my own turkey dinner and enjoy what’s left of my day off on the sofa with a good book.”

Dolce had a permanent suite at Luc’s hotel. Luc said it was a benefit of her employment, but none of his other pit bosses lived in. The truth was that Luc was taking care of their little sister without making her feel beholden to him. Rourke, for one, was glad Luc was watching out for her when Rourke couldn’t.

“Of course, I’m ready when you are,” he said to Dolce before turning to Rourke. “Would you like a ride to your place? I’m sure you’re exhausted. Thank you for coming straight from the boat to help.” Luc smirked.

“The boat?” Dolce asked with a laugh.

“Yes. Apparently, Rourke’s a sailor. So much so that he even takes a boat to the desert.” Luc explained to Dolce. Rourke wanted to punch Luc in his smart mouth, and the jerk knew it. “Go get your bag sailor. This ship is sailing,” Luc said to Rourke.

“No,” Rourke replied too loudly. He moderated his tone before continuing.  “I, ah, thought I would catch up with Pastor Davis and see if he needs anything done around here while I’m home. You know, so I know when to come back.”

Luc raised an eyebrow and struggled unsuccessfully not to smile when his eyes quickly drifted in the direction of the hot blonde trying to look busy on the other side of the kitchen. “Alright, after you’ve had time to unwind, I’d like to speak to you about a business matter. I have a proposition for you. Call when you have time to get together. If the pastor can spare you, that is.”

Rourke pulled his attention away from Jennifer again to give Luc a questioning look. What business matter could Luc possible want to discuss with him? The only business Rourke knew was the business end of a Mk-16.

“We’ll talk after you’ve cleared your head a bit,” Luc insisted, unwilling to say more. 

The direction of Rourke’s thoughts must have been clear. His head was, indeed, foggy. It was clouded with a mixture of lust and exhaustion, and Luc knew it.

Dolce looked back and forth between Jennifer, who appeared to be ignoring them as she hung her apron on a peg by the door, and Rourke, who was trying not to watch her do it. She’d also caught on to Rourke’s interest in the gorgeous blonde socialite. She smiled and shook her head before stepping into Rourke and wrapped her arms around his waist for another hug.

“Call me after you get some rest. We need to catch up. I’ve missed you so much.” She squeezed him even tighter.

“I missed you, too,” he whispered in her ear and kissed her temple.

Rourke looked up to find Jennifer watching them. She turned away as if embarrassed to be caught staring. Jennifer was a shy little thing, but he could tell she was interested in one of them because he kept finding her covertly trying to check them out. Was she interested in Rourke or Luc? He didn’t like that idea at all. Jennifer looked like Luc’s type: gorgeous and manicured. On the other hand, though, Jennifer was too timid for Luc. The man didn’t pursue women. They fell in his lap. Rourke found himself giving Luc a glare he hadn’t earned.

Dolce smiled up at him with shining eyes. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me too.” Rourke gave her another squeeze. “I’ll call in a day or two.”

Luc appeared behind Dolce and helped her into her jacket. They left through the rear door after stopping to thank Jennifer for helping with the holiday meal.

Once Luc and Dolce were gone, Rourke was left alone in an awkward silence with Jennifer. He gave her a smile meant to reassure. She returned it with a bashful upturning of those full, luscious lips and a flutter of long eyelashes. It wasn’t a flirty come-get-me-big-boy look. No, she was just returning his gesture. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and relax considerably once Luc and Dolce had gone. Luc could be overwhelming, and he tended to treat everyone around as if they were his employees. Maybe Luc’s forceful presence was what had her on edge. The change in her demeanor reassured Rourke that Jennifer had no personal interest in Luc. 

“Do you help around the church often?” he asked as a conversation starter and strode to grab a broom to begin sweeping the already clean floor. If Jennifer thought he was flirting, she might leave before he had a chance to find out if she was single or if a man had bought that dress to show off her shapely legs. A woman as affluent as Jennifer might not be interested in a military man.

“I do.” She didn’t elaborate.

“I do, too, when I’m home. I grew up in this neighborhood. I went to Sunday school and even daycare here in the church.” He kept sweeping nonexistent dirt while she watched.

“It’s a beautiful church.” She looked around wistfully as if seeing the sanctuary and all of its holy wonder. “Pastor Davis has been so . . .” She paused and looked away as if rethinking what she was about to say. “He’s been very grateful for my contribution to the church.” She finished.

Pastor Davis backed into the kitchen carrying a large box awkwardly. Rourke put down the broom and hurried to relieve the pastor of his heavy load.

“Rourke, my boy! I haven’t had the chance to tell you how pleased I am to see you home in one piece! I’m so glad I didn’t miss you. I know there are times you get a break and blow through town without time to stop and see this old man.”

“I’m happy to be home, sir. Where would you like this?”

The pastor gestured toward the storage room in the rear of the kitchen. “I have a load of donations that were dropped off upstairs yesterday. I haven’t had the time to bring them down with the Thanksgiving preparations under way. People are very generous this time of year.”

Rourke carried the box into the storeroom and returned quickly.

“I can help carry down the donations,” Jennifer offered.

Pastor Davis looked to Jennifer. “Oh, my dear. I’m glad you’re still here. You are so very generous with your time. Are you sure you don’t want to get . . . home?”

No! Rourke hadn’t a chance to talk to her yet. Maybe now that Luc was gone, Jennifer would relax enough to chat. Was it Rourke’s imagination or had the pastor hesitated at the end of his question?

“I don’t have much else to do. I really don’t mind,” she responded, and her cheeks flushed with color.

She didn’t have anyone to spend the holiday with and didn’t want to be alone.  That must be why she volunteered to serve the meal on Thanksgiving. Rourke liked her even more.

“If you insist, my dear.” Pastor Davis gave her an understanding pat on the shoulder. Jennifer hurried off to help. There was nothing to be suspicious of here. Luc was right. The pastor knew Jennifer and genuinely liked her. There was no finer character reference than Pastor Davis.

“Does she help frequently?” Rourke asked. Maybe he could get some answers from the pastor.

Pastor Davis nodded and smiled sadly. His tan face was a stark contrast to the bright white hair that graced his head. Rourke could remember when the pastor was more pepper than salt. Time had marched on while he was serving his country. It was just another sign of how much Rourke missed during his time away.

“She’s been . . . around a lot lately. Jennifer is a fine woman.” He looked over his shoulder as if to assure he wouldn’t be overheard. “She’s had a hard time of it.”

Rourke hadn’t imagined it. The pastor wasn’t saying something. He’d definitely paused before finishing that answer.

“Really?” Rourke wanted to know more. There was a story here, and Rourke wanted to hear it, but Jennifer bustled back into the kitchen carrying another large box. She teetered on those sexy ass heels. Rourke took the box.