Redeeming The Billionaire Seal. Lauren Canan

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СКАЧАТЬ know, Naval Intelligence could use your talent.”

      “It isn’t that I’m snoopy,” she countered. “All that much,” she qualified. “People just like to blab. Especially men.”

      “I’m going to let that pass.”

      “That might be wise.” A frown covered her face, an indication of sincerity.

      “So tell me about your clinic.”

      “It’s there. You saw it. We’ve had this conversation. I’d rather talk about you.”

      “I’m sure I’ll regret this...but what about me?”

      “Exactly.”

      She sounded pleased that he understood. He didn’t understand a damn thing except the need to adjust his pants. He turned his head and looked down into her eyes. Their faces were separated only by the width of their shoulders. He watched as her eyes dipped to his mouth. And stayed there. Her teeth were so white against her slightly open lips. His ability to remain indifferent dropped to below 2 percent. Give or take. With jaw-clenching determination, he looked away. “What can I tell you?”

      When she didn’t immediately answer, he turned back to her, noting how she’d again lowered her gaze to his mouth.

      “I’m not exactly sure how to put it.” She chewed her lower lip. Then let it slide from between her teeth until her mouth was again slightly open. Moistened. Full. Ready for kissing. Her soft honey-brown eyes looked directly into his.

      “Is it hard?”

       Three

      Chance froze as a flare of heat once again surged to his groin. He cleared his throat and tried to weigh the question. He’d been around the men in his platoon too long. They all tended to break the tension and stress by intentionally putting the wrong connotation on something another said. This was Holly. Especially after what just happened, it was better to be safe.

      “Is what hard?”

      “What you do. For a living. Being a SEAL.” She looked down at her hands, fiddling with a piece of straw. “I know you guys are the best, but even then, sometimes... Sometimes bad things happen. Like...what happened to Jason. I know you were hurt. Wade told me. I hear about an accident in Iraq or Afghanistan, like a chopper going down or our men being killed by some hidden bomb, and it’s all I can do to take another breath. I know what it’s like to get that phone call from a near hysterical wife who is calling to tell you your brother—her husband and the father of their baby—is dead. I can’t imagine what it must be like on the other side. To actually see someone killed or badly injured.”

      He felt her struggle to not break down.

      “After Jason... It became so real. It was no longer just a news report that happened to someone else. They could be talking about you. I pretty much held my breath every time they announced another casualty or bombing involving our guys, only relaxing when Wade didn’t call to tell me anything after a few days.”

      That surprised him. He’d never considered that Holly would follow the news reports from that part of the world out of concern for him. He sensed she needed to know more than she’d probably been told. “It’s a job, Holly. One that needs doing. I try not to think any further than that. I trust my team. I know they’ve got my back and in return they have confidence in me and we get it done. Sometimes bad things happen. But that’s true wherever you are, whatever you’re doing.” They all prepared for that moment; they all knew the next breath could be their last, especially in SEALs. But he refrained from saying that out loud.

      She was quiet for a long time.

      “I wanted to write to you.” She shrugged. “Especially after Jason was killed. Wade offered an address.” She shook her head. “I was afraid I would say something that might cause you to lose your focus.”

      “Nah. You should write. I’d enjoy hearing from you.”

      She looked up at him. “Really?”

      “Well, yeah.”

      She settled back against the board wall and he felt her relax. One of the horses nickered; another answered.

      “The horses are always ready to go. Night or day. I love their spirit. So eager to be saddled and taken on an adventure. I think they enjoy it as much as the riders do.”

      “I would have to say you’re right. The biggest problem I used to encounter was holding them back when they wanted to tear ass and run.”

      “Do you think you can still do it?”

      Chance had to get a grip on this. There were so many ways this question could go.

      “Do what?”

      “Ride a horse.” This time she looked over at him, frowning. “What did you think I meant?”

      He shrugged and hoped she would let it go. Distraction was the key. “Hell, yeah, I can still ride. It’s like a bicycle. Once you learn...”

      “Isn’t that what they say about sex?” she asked. “I suppose it fits both scenarios.”

      Sex? Did she bring that up on purpose? He glanced over and saw the look of pure innocence on her face. Nah. “What do you know about sex anyway?” It was out before he could stop it.

      The cool look she gave him didn’t require words. But she answered anyway.

      “Really. Are you honestly going there?” A look of disbelief covered her fine features. Her mouth was open in awe. Again. “Chance, I’m twenty-four years old and a year shy of being a doctor. I probably know more about sex than you do.”

      He absolutely refused to take up that challenge. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

      “What way did you mean it? That I’m just a dumb little girl who never left the farm?”

      “Your intelligence has never been questioned. I know you’re smart,” he murmured, adjusting his jeans in the most unnoticeable way he could. “You always have been.”

      “Okay. Well, that kinda narrows the options.”

      Chance didn’t like where this conversation was going. He didn’t want to think about Holly in another man’s arms let alone his bed. Hell. It was none of his business. Holly was an adult and she could date whom she wanted. But he still didn’t like it. Those bullets had done more than knock out his knee and shoulder. Apparently they had severely screwed with his head.

      “Who is your boyfriend? Maybe I know him.” Safe subject.

      “Don’t have one. Once the clinic caught on, I barely had time to breathe. That’s when we hired Jolie to run the office, take the calls, set up the appointments.”

      “You said Kevin Grady is the co-owner?”

      She nodded.

      “I remember him. Red hair? Thick glasses?”

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