The SEAL Next Door (Alpha SEALs Book 5) (8 page)

He watched as she reached for an empty glass across the table, her breasts bouncing in the low-cut dress, and he felt an unfamiliar stirring inside his chest.  Possessiveness.  Protectiveness.  Which was completely crazy considering he didn’t even know the woman.

Brent finished chatting up the redhead and followed his gaze across the room, his mouth breaking into a wide grin.  “You got your eyes on that pretty blonde?  Because her tits are spectacular.”

Matthew’s gaze swept to the side.  So what if Brent commented on the woman he’d noticed?  That dude hit on every female in sight.  But he didn’t like that Brent’s attention was now fully focused on his woman. 
His woman.
Yeah right.  He didn’t know this chick, and she sure the hell wasn’t his.

Matthew’s fist clenched as she stood, and her blonde hair swung to the side.  It was impossible, but from this angle, she looked exactly like Brianna.  Same height, same hair, same gorgeous figure.  She started to walk away with her full tray when a man from another table grabbed onto her waist.  She turned in surprise, balancing her heavy load, and Matthew’s chest tightened as his blood ran cold.

What the fuck was Brianna doing here?

Brianna almost stumbled in her high heels, balancing the heavy tray of plates and glasses, as some drunk idiot grabbed onto her waist, attempting to pull her over to his table.  Jesus.  It was only, what, six?  He must’ve been downing beers for hours to already be in this state.  Couldn’t he wait patiently for her to get to his table like everyone else?

She plastered a smile on her face.  “I’ll be right with you.  Let me go drop this off first.”

“A round of shots for my buddies and me,” he said, his gaze slightly unfocused.

“Sure thing.”

“Tequila,” he added.

“No problem.  I’ll be right back with your shots.”

She tugged away, somehow maintaining her hold on the tray, and carried the dirty glasses and plates back to the kitchen.  She dropped the tray onto the counter, listening to the loud clatter echoing in the already noisy kitchen.  A few people glanced her way, and she rested her hands on the counter, blowing out a sigh.  She’d asked Frank if she could leave early, feigning illness, but he’d all but implied her job was as good as over if she left tonight.  She knew she was leaving him in a lurch by asking to duck out on the busiest night of the week, but she’d never left early before.

The stress of circumnavigating the room to avoid Matthew was grating on her nerves as well.  Her arms had shook as she’d carried the heavy tray clear around his general area to avoid detection, which was ridiculous.  She had customers to attend to, drinks to serve.  She couldn’t spend her whole night trying to avoid him—which was exactly why she’d wanted out of here.  Pronto.  Maybe she could get her parents to call, saying she was needed at home or something.  Yeah right.  And explain to them why she was working here?

She walked back out to the bar, exasperated, and requested a round of shots.

“Sure thing, hun,” the female bartender said, sending her a sympathetic gaze.  “Someone giving you problems?”

“No, just a long night.  Afternoon.  Whatever.”

“Does it have anything to do with those guys over at table 20?”

“What?  No,” Brianna said, feeling herself flush as she thought of Matthew and his friends.  Good God.  Was it that obvious that she’d been watching them?

“One of them keeps glancing over here like he’s seen a ghost.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” she mumbled, feeling her heart rate speed up.  Crap.  Had Matthew seen her?

“I’ll get those shots for you.”

Brianna’s gaze slid over the people talking and laughing too loudly, and it was all she could do not to turn around and leave despite her manager’s warning.  This job sucked.  At the moment she wanted nothing more than to simply disappear.

The bartender nodded at her, indicating her shots were ready, and Brianna lined up the glasses on a round tray.  Six shots for six assholes, she thought wryly.  She turned, weaving her way between all the tables, and suddenly felt a pair of eyes boring into her.  A shiver raced down her spine, and she paused, scanning the restaurant.  The men at the table who’d ordered the shots were distracted, talking to some women nearby.  Her eyes discreetly swept to the side, a feeling of dread washing over her.  She was supposed to be sticking to the edges of the restaurant, avoiding attention.  And she knew, without even looking directly his way, that he’d spotted her.  In her haste she’d taken the quickest route to her table—and walked right into his line of sight.

Her heart pounded as Matthew’s green eyes drilled into hers.  He looked angry enough to crush the tumbler of whiskey he was currently holding and about ten seconds away from marching across the room and hauling her out of there with him.  Waves of embarrassment washed over her, and she shakily carried the tray of drinks over to her table, finally pulling her eyes from Matthew’s steely gaze.  She knew he was watching her every move, and that made her even more nervous.

Finally she reached her table and hastily handed placed the first shot down.  The sooner she delivered their order, the sooner she was out of here.  Consequences be damned.

“Is there a private room here, sweetheart?” the drunk guy who’d ordered the tequila shots asked.

“No, this is a cocktail lounge.”

“I’d love some time alone with you,” he slurred.

She nearly dropped the tray as his hand slid up her short skirt and he palmed her bottom, covered only in satin panties.  She jumped a foot in the air, trying to ease away from him, but the room was crowded and she had nowhere to go.  He tried to guide her closer to him and flustered, she turned away, pushing through the crowd, drinks spilling over on the tray.  She caught the look of alarm on Matthew’s face as she headed back in his direction toward the bar, but she ignored him, shoving her tray full of drinks across the bar and rushing into the private hallway that led to the offices and employees’ locker room.

The hall was dimly lit, and the sounds from the restaurant faded into the background as her hands shook and she struggled to catch her breath.  Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, and she willed herself not to cry. 
God.
First Matthew had seen that she
worked
here, that she’d been lying about her marketing job, and then some creep had just groped her.  She cringed as she recalled the feel of his large hand covering her panties.  As he’d tried to guide her even closer to him.  She’d been in a room full of people yet felt trapped—too shocked to even scream.  There just wasn’t any way today could get any worse.

She heard the thumping of footsteps behind her and knew that Matthew had followed her down the secluded hall.  She’d have to talk to him sooner or later, but now wasn’t the time.  All she wanted to do was get out of there and go home.  Change out of this God-awful outfit and burn it or something.  Matthew would just have to—

“Well, this looks promising,” a deep voice slurred from behind, and she froze, her blood running cold.

That wasn’t Matthew.  Which meant that some asshole had followed her back here.  Back where she was completely alone.  Where even if she screamed, she wasn’t sure if anyone would hear.  The thumping of music from the main bar area sounded dull in the hallway, and her stomach churned.  Cameras were mounted discreetly on the walls, but with a big Saturday night crowd, Frank was likely out working the floor, not monitoring the feed from his office while he did paperwork.  And would he really come to her rescue anyone?  With the creepy way he always looked at her, practically undressing her with his eyes, he’d probably enjoy the show.

Her mind raced through her limited options.  She could run into the locker room, but what if he followed her?  That was even more secluded unless someone walked in on them.  She could try to shove past him back into the restaurant where all the people were.  No, her best bet was to run out the emergency exit.  It would sound the alarm, but at least she’d get away.  The back patio wasn’t far from there, and she could find someone to help her.  Her head swung toward the door, the red “EXIT” sign hanging above.  She could do it.  She could run.

Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway, and she heard ringing in her ears as her pulse raced in a panic.  She turned and started to run, but the drunk guy was behind her in an instant, his hands roughly gripping her upper arms as he pushed her against the wall.  She cried out, her face and breasts pressing against the rough brick, and one large hand covered her mouth as she struggled against him.  He gripped her arm tighter, to the point where she knew she’d have bruising tomorrow.

“Take it easy, sweetheart.  You know you’re asking for it in that skimpy little outfit you have on.  You’re lucky I didn’t rip it off you right at the table.”

He laughed too loudly and swayed slightly behind her from the alcohol he’d been drinking.  She tried to move away but his body pressed closer, pinning her to the wall. She felt the hardness of his erection behind her, digging into her lower back, and choked out a sob.  His hand sank into the ruffled skirt of her dress.  Tears streamed down her face as she tried to push back, to push him away, but he was too strong.  His large body caged her in, and she felt his warm breath on her neck just as his clumsy fingers skimmed against her inner thigh.

“I’ve been wanting to have some fun with you all night long,” he leered, pulling her head back against his shoulder, his hand still drowning out her whimpers.  “Should we do it here or in the back of my truck?  I want at least an hour with you.”

“Get off her!” Matthew suddenly shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

Brianna began struggling again, waves of relief washing over her.  Matthew was here.  He wouldn’t let this asshole hurt her.

“Wait your turn,” the drunk guy slurred.  His hand rose higher up her inner thigh, edging closer to her panties, but he released his grip on her mouth just enough so that Brianna bit down on his hand.  Hard.

He screamed as he jumped back and then he was crashing against the wall, thrown down by Matthew, who’d charged at them like a raging bull.  Her attacker crumpled to the ground as Matthew roughly grabbed the man’s shirt, pulling him up and tossing him down again as he cursed.  Blood came gushing from a gash in his forehead where skin had scraped against exposed brick.  The other men from Matthew’s table came rushing down the hall a second later, and the dark-haired one restrained the drunk man on the ground while the blond guy pulled out his cell phone and called the police.

“Brianna.”

Matthew gently reached out to her, and shaking, Brianna collapsed against his broad chest. She didn’t want him to see her like this, but at the moment, she needed him more than she needed her next breath.  She inhaled his warm, musky scent as his shirt became damp with her tears.  He shucked off the light jacket he was wearing, wrapping it around her.  Brianna trembled, and Matthew’s muscular arms tightened as he held her in his firm embrace.  “God damn it, Bri, I swear my life just flashed before my eyes when I saw that asshole touching you.  Do you know what could’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten here in time?” His voice cracked with emotion, and Brianna let her sobs escape.

All the pent up frustration from the past few weeks, all the fear she’d experienced in the last few moments, escaped as she clung to Matthew like he was her lifeline.

“I know…I didn’t—I couldn’t….”

“Shhh,” Matthew soothed.  “You’re safe now.”

His large hand moved up and cradled the back of her head as the other securely held her to him.  Brianna felt dizzy and weak as the adrenaline that had been surging through her moments before all drained away.  If it wasn’t for Matthew holding her up, she didn’t think she’d still be standing.  And if he hadn’t gotten here in time—she shuddered, not even wanting to think of the end result.

Humiliation and embarrassment washed over her now that she was safe.  She could hear Matthew’s friend—probably his SEAL team buddy—calmly relaying the information to the police dispatcher.  What would his friends think of her now, she wondered?  They’d flown down to Pensacola to support her brother, and she sure as hell hadn’t intended to meet them like this—being attacked by a drunk guy as she’d been waitressing in the very cocktail lounge they decided to stop by.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” the drunk guy shouted, and Brianna jumped in Matthew’s arms.

“Don’t give me a reason to break your neck,” the SEAL holding him down growled.  Matthew guided her away from the scene as the guy further dug his knee into the attacker’s back, causing him to wince in anguish.

“The police are on the way,” his other friend called out.  “ETA is under five minutes.”

“I’m taking you home,” Matthew said quietly, his voice deep as his lips hovered by her ear.  “I need to make sure you’re safe—that he didn’t hurt you.  And then I want you to tell me exactly what the hell you’re doing here.”

Matthew’s jaw tightened as he leaned against the exposed brick wall, waiting for Brianna to finish changing in the locker room.  The scent of stale cigarette smoke hung in the air, drifting in the vents from the patio out back.  A light flickered above him, and he resisted the urge to pound on the door, hauling Brianna out himself.  Just so he could assure himself that she was unharmed.

Her dick of a manager had come by a few minutes ago, and it was all Matthew could do not to slug him in the face.  What the hell kind of place was he running, having the women prance around in skimpy little outfits without any type of security?  Maybe they were only serving drinks, but hell, they were asking for trouble mixing alcohol and scantily clad women.  Some guys had no self control—no respect for women.  A bouncer or two at the door could have prevented some of what had happened tonight.  If Matthew hadn’t been there, who knows what the hell that asshole would have done to Brianna.

Scratch that.

Matthew knew, and he shuddered just thinking of it.

Just seeing that asshole slipping his fingers up Brianna’s dress had made him see red, and the way that the tears had streamed down her face as he’d held her against her will had nearly slayed him.

He pounded one fist into his open palm impatiently, wondering what was taking Bri so long.  He hadn’t want to let her out of his sight, and the only reason he’d let her go into the locker room without him by her side was that she had a friend with her.  That willowy college-aged girl that had followed Bri in there didn’t look like she could harm a fly, but she also didn’t look like she could protect Brianna from any danger.  At least she wasn’t in there alone.  But what was the hold up?  Was she…crying?  Scared?  Afraid to come out?

His chest clenched at the thought.

Damn.  It was a good thing Beckett wasn’t in town, because as much as Matthew had wanted to inflict more bodily harm on her attacker, there probably would’ve been no stopping Beckett.  Missing leg or not.

Matthew glanced back down the hall, watching as the police finally led the attacker away in handcuffs.  About damn time.  At least that asshole wouldn’t be here when Bri finally emerged.

Evan and Brent walked up to him, both looking madder than hell.  “How’s Brianna?” Evan asked, his brow creasing.  “Is she still changing?”

Matthew blew out a sigh.  “Yep.  I’m still waiting for her.”

“It’s too bad the police got here so quickly,” Brent spat out.  Matthew raised his eyebrows, waiting for the kicker.

“I would’ve taken that mother-fucker out with my bare hands,” Brent continued.

Matthew grimly nodded, not doubting for a second Brent’s anger.  Brent’s own sister had been killed by a jilted ex-boyfriend, and of all the men on his team, he didn’t take that sort of thing lightly.  Hell, none of them would stand for a man harming a woman.  Ever.  And the fact that it had been Brianna in danger?  Well, that affected Matthew even more than he wanted to admit to himself.

“Who’s the dude in the suit?” Matthew asked, nodding at a slick looking older gentleman that had arrived and was currently talking to a uniformed cop.

“The asshole’s lawyer,” Brent said.  “He hasn’t even been hauled off to prison yet, and his lawyer shows up.”

“Figures,” Matthew muttered.  “He probably keeps him on retainer for all the trouble he causes.”

“Aren’t there cameras?” Evan asked, eyeing the discreet sensors mounted on the walls.  “He shouldn’t be able to get away with anything if the attack is on tape.”

Matthew nodded, his gut churning.  They very last thing he ever wanted to see was a replay of the night’s events.  It would haunt his nightmares as it was.  He’d seen a lot of hell in his days in the military, but to see the woman he love—wait.  What the hell was he thinking?  He wasn’t in love with Brianna.  He cared about her, yes, and he’d die if anything had happened to her.

He swallowed, realization slowly dawning on him.

The discussion Evan and Brent were having on the security footage faded into the background as Brianna finally emerged from the employee locker room, eyes red, her large handbag clutched in her trembling hands.  Matthew’s heart clenched as he crossed the hall toward her.  She looked younger than usual, her face scrubbed free of the heavy makeup she’d been wearing.  Now in jeans and a lightweight tank top, her blonde hair floating around her shoulders, she looked young.  Fragile.  He wanted to pull her close and protect her.  Keep her safe.  Never let her go.

Her lower lip trembled as she met his gaze.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, ducking his head down to meet her eyes.  Who cared if his buddies were watching?  He didn’t care if the whole damn world saw his concern for Brianna—as long as she was safe.  That was all that mattered right now.

“Yeah.  Can you drive me home?”  She swiped a stray tear from her cheek, and he longed to thumb it away himself.  To caress her soft skin.

“Of course.”

Brianna’s friend followed her out of the locker room a moment later.  She’d also changed back into regular clothes and had pulled her long dark hair up into a ponytail.  “Should I tell Frank we’re outta here?”

“He knows,” Matthew said, his voice steel.

Evan and Brent crossed the hallway to join them.  “You need us for anything, Gator?” Brent asked.  “Otherwise we’re gonna split.”

“You’re leaving your lady friend?” Evan asked.

“Nah.  I’ll catch up with her later.  She gave me her address.”

“Christ,” Matthew muttered.  He glanced from Brianna over to his buddies.  “I’m going to drive Brianna home.  Think you guys can rustle up a cab or something?

Brent nodded, his eyes narrowing as he looked over at Brianna’s friend.

Matthew followed Brent’s gaze.  “Are you okay getting home…?” he asked.

“Ella,” she said, sticking out a slender hand.

“Matthew,” he replied, grasping her hand in his.  “This is Evan and Brent,” he said, gesturing to the guys behind him.

She nodded, looking at the men somewhat warily.  They did make an imposing group, but hell.  She should know she had nothing to be afraid of.  “Yeah, I’m fine.  My car’s out back, so I’ll walk out with you guys if that’s okay.”

“I’m in the front, but we’ll walk you out,” Matthew assured her.

A door slammed down the hall, and Frank came stomping out of his office, looking furious.  The two policemen that he’d been speaking with were already headed out the back emergency exit as Frank stormed in their direction.  “Why the hell are you back here?” he asked Ella as he caught sight of her.  “Why aren’t you wearing your uniform?”

She jumped a foot in the air, and before Matthew could confront their angry manager, Brent stepped in, blocking Ella’s small frame with his.

“Both of them are leaving right now,” he growled.

“But I need her—”

“If you have a problem with it, you’re going to have to deal with me first.”

Frank did a double-take, backing away from Brent’s imposing figure.  “Well, don’t expect a paycheck, Ella,” he snapped, storming off down the hall as he headed back to the restaurant.

“Jerk,” she muttered.

Brent moved to follow him, but Evan gripped his forearm, muttering, “Not now.”

“What the hell’s wrong with him?” Brianna asked, her voice wavering.  “He can’t expect you to stay here after what happened tonight.  And he has to pay you.”

Ella shrugged.  “Don’t know, don’t care.  But you’re not the only one quitting tonight.”

Matthew nodded tightly.  “Let’s get going then.  We’ll walk you out.”

He made a move to head toward the back door, but Brent stopped him.  “I’ll walk Ella to her car.  Then Evan and I can catch a cab back to the hotel.”

Matthew slid his gaze between Brent and Ella.

“Where are you guys staying?” Ella asked.  She didn’t look so frightened anymore, actually more relieved than anything.  Maybe it was good they were there to stand up to her manager, to show her not all men were jerk-offs.  That some guys actually respected women and would protect them, not harm them.

Evan swiped his phone and read the hotel’s address.  “That’s right on my way,” she said.  “I’ll drop you guys off.  I’d feel better not being alone right now.”

They agreed and all walked out the back together.  The cooler air outside felt refreshing, and without the noise from the crowd, TVs, and music, it was pretty damn peaceful.  Aside from the fact that they were still standing mere feet from where Brianna had been assaulted.  The sooner Matthew got her out of here, the better he’d feel.  After saying their goodbyes, Matthew escorted Brianna around the side of the restaurant to his car.  There was no way he was taking her back in there.

They rounded the side of the building to the front parking lot, walking over to his empty car.  He unlocked the doors as Brianna scanned the lot.  When she caught sight of the one remaining police cruiser, she immediately burst into tears.

“Hey,” Matthew said, pulling her into his embrace.  “It’s okay.  Everything’s okay now.”  Her small frame trembled in his arms, and he ducked his head low, inhaling the floral scent of her blonde waves.  He ran his fingers through her soft strands, wishing more than anything that he could comfort her.  Kiss her.  Take her tears away.

Brianna pulled back and swiped the teardrops streaming down her cheeks.  “It’s not okay.  Nothing’s okay.  I lost my job, all right?  The great marketing one that you keep asking me about?  I got laid off, which is why I’m working in this shitty place.  I had to move out of my apartment, Beckett’s injured, and now with Frank claiming we won’t even get paid, I won’t be able to make my student loan payments this month.”

“Is that why you’re working here?  Bri, I’ll loan you the money.  Hell, I’ll even pay the bill for you.  God knows I’m not spending all the money I earn from deploying all over the damn world.  Hazard pay for a single guy adds up quickly.”

“I don’t want your money,” Brianna said, crying harder.  “I want my old job back—my old life.  I shouldn’t need anyone to help me.”

Unable to stop himself, Matthew cupped her face in his hands, wiping away the tears that still fell.  “Bri,” he said softly.  “I wish I would’ve known—I know I haven’t seen you in years, but hell.  I’d always help you.  I hate that you were working here.”

Brianna nodded, her tears beginning to slow.  “So did Beckett.”

Matthew did a double take.  “Beckett knew you were working here?  And he didn’t try to stop you?”

“No, he thinks I quit.  Don’t say anything—he’s got enough to deal with right now.  He was furious when I told him.”

“I’m furious, too,” Matthew said quietly.  “I would’ve helped you.”

“Helped me?” Brianna scoffed.  “I haven’t even seen you in years.”  She pulled away, and Matthew instantly missed the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingertips. “Beckett offered to loan me some money, but then he was injured.  He couldn’t even speak let alone help me out.  Believe me when I say I’ve applied to job after job.  Finally, I decided I needed something just to tide me over—to pay the bills.  This place sucked, but I was just serving drinks.”

Matthew clenched his jaw, trying to control the rage seething inside him.  Brianna was far too innocent for her own good.  Maybe in her mind she was just serving cocktails in that skimpy little outfit, but to the men frequenting the place?  She was the main course.  She was lucky no one had tried anything before tonight.  They could’ve followed her to her car when she left for the evening, followed her home one night.  He was actually relieved she was living with her parents.  At the very least, she hadn’t been returning to an empty apartment at night with God knows who watching.

It made his gut churn just thinking about it, but a pretty woman prancing around like that wouldn’t go unnoticed by some men.  Her friend Ella was also lucky that nothing had happened to her.  God, Brianna had looked fucking spectacular in that skimpy little dress—and to think that other men were admiring her body, watching the way she moved, made him want to inflict bodily harm on any man who’d so much as looked at her the wrong way.  Didn’t she realize how lucky she was that nothing had happened before tonight?

The squad car in the parking lot suddenly turned on its lights and sirens, causing Brianna to jump.  It sped off in another direction, and he and Brianna watched it go. She shivered in the night air, and he grabbed his jacket from where he’d tossed it in the backseat, wrapping it around her shoulders.  She was so small and petite. Her head only came up to his shoulder, and his massive jacket completely enveloped her.  But he liked seeing her wearing it.  Liked feeling like she was his to protect and care for.

“I’ll take you home,” he said, suddenly feeling unsure.  Some asshole had just attacked her in the back hall.  Maybe she wanted to curl up in bed in the comfort of her own home and just be left alone.  Maybe she needed someone there with her. Hell.  What did he know?  How he wished he could be the one to hold her—to be there if she woke up crying and scared.  To be his to comfort.

“Matthew?” she asked, her voice quiet.

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Those two little words slayed him.  Was she thanking him for earlier?  For driving her back right now?  It didn’t matter.  The only thing he needed to worry about was getting her out of here—taking her home and making her feel safe and secure.  And he would do whatever it took for that to happen.