Protecting Jessyka (SEAL of Protection) (Volume 6) (3 page)

“Is that your real name or nickname?”

“Real name.”

After a beat, Jess asked, “Are you going to tell me your nickname? I know you all have them.”

“No. I don’t like it, but I earned it fair and square. The guys call me by my nickname, but you won’t.”

“But . . .”

“Are you all right?”

“Kason . . .”

“Don’t lie to me, Jess.”

“Jessyka!”

She turned to see the bartender gesturing at her then to the drinks he’d lined up at the waitress station.

“I gotta go.”

“When do you get off tonight?”

Jess stared at Kason for a moment. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. Hell, if she couldn’t trust a Navy SEAL, she couldn’t trust anyone. She was just still confused about why he was there. Jess didn’t actually believe it was because he was worried about her. Yeah, he probably did notice all those things about her, but he didn’t know her. So he couldn’t
really
be worried about her.

“Two.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Kason . . .”

“I said, I’ll wait.”

Jess looked at him for a beat, then turned abruptly and headed for the drinks she had to deliver. She didn’t have time to worry about Kason. He’d get tired of whatever game he was playing and bolt. She had more important things to worry about. Namely, where the hell she was going to live and how she was going to come up with enough money to find a place of her own in nine days.

Chapter Three

Benny watched as Jess worked the rest of her shift. Focusing one hundred percent of his attention on her, he could see she was definitely not the same person as he’d met when they first started coming to the bar. Oh, she was still efficient and good at what she did, but she was different.

She used to touch people all the time. She’d lay a hand on their arm, or she’d touch their hand briefly when they handed her money. She used to laugh more and flirt more. She didn’t smile as much and she didn’t flirt at all.

She was completely focused on the job at hand . . . getting drinks to patrons and collecting money. The more Benny thought about it, the more he was bothered by her clothes as well. All waitresses knew in order to increase tips, it was good to wear clothes that showed a little skin. Benny couldn’t see any skin on Jess except for her face and hands.

Benny knew Jess was uncomfortable with him being there, but he didn’t let it stop him. He joked with the bartender and rebuffed every woman who approached him. He was here for Jess, nothing else. He wasn’t even tempted by any of the ladies that came on to him. In the past, he probably would’ve jumped at the chance to spend a sexually charged night with any of the women that were there, but not tonight. He was completely focused on Jess.

Benny watched as two o’clock came and Jess cashed out. She shoved her tips into the front pocket of her jeans and disappeared down the hall where the office was. She came back a moment later with her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door, without looking around for him.

Benny quickly followed her and gave a chin lift to the bouncer. “I’ve got it. I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

The bouncer nodded, he knew Benny, had seen him around and knew he was a SEAL.

Benny came up next to Jess as she walked into the parking lot. “Can I take you home?”

Jess stopped in the middle of the lot and turned to Kason. “Why are you following me?”

“We’ve already been over this, but I can rehash it if you need me to.”

Jess shook her head impatiently, at the end of her rope. “Look, Kason, I’ve had a bad week. Hell, a bad month, and I don’t need you fucking with me. I’ve seen your friends. I’m too young for all of you. I don’t do one-night stands. I’m not looking for a military guy. I’m broke, crippled, and too tired to deal with whatever it is you want out of me tonight. So just back off and let me go. Okay?”

As if he didn’t hear a word she said, Kason simply said, “Let me take you home.”

Jess sighed and looked down at the ground. She looked back at the bar then turned to Kason. “I usually take the bus.”

“Please.”

“Fuck. All right, Kason. You can take me home.”

Benny took Jess’s elbow in his and steered her the other way to his car. He clicked the locks as they were walking up and opened the door for her. He waited until she was seated before closing the door and walking around to the other side. Still without a word, he started the engine and pulled out of the lot.

“Where to?”

Jess startled. Duh, of course he didn’t know where she lived. “I live in the Pinehurst townhouses over on Sunshine Way. Do you know them?” Jess watched as he nodded.

“Put your head back and close your eyes, gorgeous. Relax. I got this.”

Jess blew out a half laugh and did as Kason said. It wasn’t because he ordered it, it was because she was exhausted. She hurt. She was tired. She was stressed. The small break to let down her guard was unexpected, but appreciated.

Jess felt the car slow after a while, then stop. She opened her eyes and started in surprise. They weren’t at her place.

“Where the hell are we?” She demanded.

Benny turned in his seat so he was facing Jess. He’d driven to a local park that he knew wasn’t too seedy, and parked the car. He was going to talk to her whether she wanted to or not.

“I know we don’t really know each other, but you need a friend, Jess, and I’m it. I’m not fucking with you. You aren’t too young for me. Hell, we’re probably only like five years apart in age. I’m not looking for a one-night stand with you, I don’t give a damn how much money you have and you aren’t fucking crippled. If I hear you say that about yourself one more time, I’m gonna take you over my knee. And you’ll never be too tired to let me be a sympathetic ear for you. That’s what I want. Now talk.”

Jess just looked at Kason for a beat, thinking back to what she’d said to him in the parking lot of the bar. “Did you really just address every single thing I said earlier? How did you remember all of it?”

“Jess, focus.”

“I
am
focused, Kason!” Jess exclaimed. “Seriously! That was impressive.”

“Did you hear what I said?”

Jess nodded and rubbed her temples. “Yeah. I’m sorry. I was being honest when I said I’d had a bad day. I’m sorry for being a bitch.”

“You aren’t a bitch.”

“I can be.”

“I have no doubt.” Jess watched as Kason chuckled. “All of my friend’s women can be. It’s not a big deal. But I meant what I said earlier tonight. I’m worried about you. Talk to me. Please?”

“I don’t know what you want me to say. I feel awkward.” Jess picked at a thread hanging off the bottom of her shirt. “I’m not in the habit of spilling all my problems to people I don’t know.”

“I’m Kason. I’m a Navy SEAL. I’ve been in the Navy for about ten years. I love my friends. I’d give my life for any one of them and the same goes for their women. I love to cook and I’m good at it. I can pick a lock faster than anyone else on my team. I hate my nickname, but the guys won’t change it. It’s an inside joke between us now. Hell, if they
did
let me change it, I probably wouldn’t. My favorite color is brown. I’d love to own a piece of land someday where I could go days without seeing anyone. Most of the time I don’t like people, they’re rude and conceited and self-absorbed. I’ve seen more shit in my lifetime than any person has a right to. I love dogs and hope to have at least four when I get my piece of land somewhere. I’ll always be a bit rough around the edges, but if I ever find a woman who can put up with me, I’ll put her first in all things in my life. I’ve seen how my teammates are with their women and I want what they have. I’m the odd man out on my SEAL team right now and I hate it. I’ve been thinking about transferring, but haven’t told any of them yet.”

He stopped talking and Jess just stared at him. Finally she whispered, “Why did you tell me all that?”

“I want to get to know you, Jess. I’m spilling my guts to you in the hopes it’ll make you feel less awkward and so you’ll talk to me about what the hell is going on with you.”

Jess licked her lips and picked at her thumbnail. She thought about what Kason had said. He really had shared some pretty personal stuff with her.

“Jess,” Benny said taking hold of one of her hands so she had to stop picking at her fingernail. “Look at me.”

When she did, Benny continued. “I consider us friends. We’ve known each other for a while now. We might not be the type of friends to go and get a manicure together and spend all day shopping, but I’ve seen you around enough to know when something is different. Let me help. Or at least let it out. It’ll help. I promise.”

Jess sighed. She loved the feel of her hand in his, but knew she couldn’t get used to it. She decided to copy him, but start with the easy stuff first.

“My name is Jessyka . . . spelled y-k-a, not i-c-a. I think my parents were drunk when they filled out the birth certificate.” She smiled so he’d know she was kidding. “I grew up around LA and my parents are now living the high life in Florida. I like the color pink and I love dogs, especially hounds. I want a basset hound, a bloodhound, and a coonhound when I can get a place of my own. I’m currently a waitress and I make crap money at it, but interestingly enough, I like it. I meet lots of neat people.” She smiled at Kason, but stopped talking. Now for the hard stuff.

“It’s my roommate.”

Benny sighed in relief. Thank God, she was talking to him about what was really bothering her. He loved hearing more about Jess and her life, but he wanted to know more about what was going on with her. Hopefully he’d have time to get more into the easy stuff later. “What about her?”

“Not her, him.”

Benny tensed. A guy? She was living with a guy? He knew there was a guy involved somehow, but she was living with him? Fuck. “Go on. What about him?”

“Long story short, we met in high school, started dating while we were taking classes. After we graduated, we stopped dating, but were friends. I moved in with him because I needed a place to stay and he didn’t seem to care. We’re . . . having issues now.”

“Why the hell would he want to stop dating you?”

“Huh?” Jess couldn’t figure out how Kason’s mind worked. He never said what she was expecting him to.

“Why weren’t you dating? What the hell is wrong with him?”

“Nothing, I guess. We just didn’t have a spark anymore.”

“Moron.”

Jess wasn’t sure she heard Kason’s mumbled word right, but she continued on without asking him to repeat it. “So anyway, we’re having issues and I need to move out. But I’m worried about his niece. She’s . . . vulnerable, and I’m afraid if I move out she’ll do something rash.”

“Does she live there too?”

“No, but she lives in the same complex and I see her all the time. She spends all her time, when she isn’t at school and I’m not at work, with me.”

Kason squeezed her hand. “I know you’re leaving some important chunks out here, gorgeous, because I’m not seeing the problem so far.” He brought his other hand over and ran his index fingers over the material of her shirt at her throat. “But I’m guessing part of it is whatever you’re hiding under this.”

Jess jerked back away from his touch, afraid he’d pull down her turtleneck.

“Easy, Jess,” Benny murmured, drawing back and giving her some space.

“It’s . . .”

“Don’t tell me it’s nothing,” Kason growled out, not sounding like the easy going man she’d been talking to for the last fifteen minutes. Jess thought it was almost scary how he could change so quickly.

“And don’t flinch away from me. Fuck.” He put both hands on the steering wheel and leaned his forehead against his hands for a moment before turning his head, leaving his head resting on his hands, and looked at her.

“We were on a mission once. I can’t tell you where and I can’t tell you why, but suffice to say it was in a country that didn’t have the kind of women’s rights we have here in the United States. I’ve never been so disgusted in all my life watching the women over there get beaten, kicked, and berated openly. No one cared. No one stood up for them. Kids were married off at age twelve to men four times their age. You never,
ever
have to worry about me physically hurting you. I know you probably don’t believe me, but dammit, Jess. Try.”

Jessyka took a deep breath. “I know it Kason. I do. It’s just . . .”

“I know what it’s just,” Kason reassured her. “What can I do to help you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m your friend. What can I do to help you? Do you need help moving? Do you want me to get the girls to meet with your friend so she has some other good role models to look up to? Do you need money? Want me to beat up your roommate? Tell me what you need.”

“You want to help me?”

“Jesus, Jess,” Benny teased. “Pay attention! Yes, I want to help you.”

“I-I don’t know.”

“Okay, well, why don’t we start with exchanging phone numbers? That way when you figure it out, you can let me know.” Benny didn’t push, even though he wanted to.

“Uh, okay. Yeah. I’d like that.” The more Jess thought about it, the more she
did
like it. She needed time to think about Kason and his offer of friendship and help.

They exchanged numbers and there was silence in the cab as they punched in each other’s contact information. Jess startled when her phone vibrated with a new text. She smiled seeing it was from Kason, and looked up at him.

“Figured I’d make sure you didn’t give me a pizza delivery boy’s number.”

Jess just shook her head and looked down at the text he’d sent.

I’m always just a text away.

She looked up at Kason, not knowing what to say.

“I know we didn’t really solve anything, but I hope you know I’m one hundred percent serious when I say I want to be your friend, Jess. You aren’t alone and if you need anything, just call me. I’ll be pissed if you don’t. I sure as hell don’t want you going back to your place with that fucker there, but you don’t know me well enough yet to let me put you up somewhere. Use my number if you need it. Please.”