The Navy Seal's Rescue. Jo Leigh

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СКАЧАТЬ was a knock on the door. A banging, actually.

      “Dammit, I told you guys to stay away today,” Ronny yelled, and goodness, his voice hadn’t weakened a bit.

      “Ronny,” some guy yelled back. “Don’t be like that. Hector said your daughter’s hot. We want to meet her.”

      “Beat it!”

      “Besides, there’s a sweet two-foot swell coming in, and you’ll be sorry if you miss it. Come on, man.”

      “You want to escape, now’s the time,” Ronny said, inclining his head. “I bet you can still crawl out through your bedroom window.”

      Cricket grinned. “You knew about that?”

      His look told her more than words.

      “No. I’d actually like to meet these young hooligans. Make sure there are no unsavory characters.”

      “Except me?”

      “Except you.”

      The front door, never locked to her knowledge, squeaked open. “So, it’s okay if we come in? It’s just me, Ted, Igor and Wendy. The rest of the guys are still out there.”

      Cricket mouthed, “Igor?”

      Her dad just laughed as the door opened farther. “Ronny?”

      “Fine. But you don’t touch. Anything. Especially the fresh coffee. You want some, you heat up the stuff in that pot by the microwave.”

      The boys and Wendy came in a rush, as if they’d all been huddled by the door. Wendy was a pretty girl in a very small bikini top and boy’s trunks. Her long hair was pulled into a braid down her back, and she was tan with bright green eyes and the pink lips of a teen. There had been a time when Cricket had looked a lot like that. Not the eyes so much as the innocence.

      The boys were a range of heights and ages. One kid looked no more than fourteen or fifteen, and one might have gotten into the bar without a fake ID. But they all looked like surfers, as close to the California stereotype as they could get without a Malibu tattoo. It felt as if they’d all looked like that, from the time she’d learned to surf herself, at the tender age of nine.

      Someone whistled. “You are hot.”

      “Thanks. Also, too old and wise to get mixed up with surfers.”

      “Hey.” That came from a chorus of voices.

      “Besides,” she said, finishing her coffee. “I’ve got to get back to the hotel and meet the gang.”

      “Who came?” Ronny asked.

      “Everyone but Meg.”

      “Jade?”

      “Yeah. Even Jade. It’s great. Anyway, I’ll come by tomorrow, if you don’t have any charters or surfing lessons.”

      “I’ve got an early evening charter, other than that I’ll be here.” He stood up and wrapped his arms around her again. “You be careful with those hill people, all right?”

      She refrained from reminding him he’d married one of them. “I’m always careful.”

      “Don’t go yet,” the taller surfer said, moving in closer. “We haven’t even been introduced.”

      “Let me guess. You’re a surfer from New York or New Jersey who’d heard about the great surfing at Temptation Bay, and about Ronny Shaw in particular, and this is your first season on the beach, probably sharing a room at the motel with three or four of your new friends?”

      “How’d you know I was from Jersey?” he said, in an accent so thick it could paint walls.

      Cricket smiled. “You take care of him,” she said, nodding at her father. “And listen to what he says.” It was time to get away. Now, before the rest of them screwed up their courage. She wanted to take her time walking back to the hotel, and with any luck, she just might run into Wyatt.

       Chapter Six

      WYATT WOKE WITH a start, his hand reaching under his pillow for a gun that wasn’t there. “Shit,” he said, his mouth dry and his eyes blurry. It was later than he normally woke, but now, as thoughts started forming, he knew exactly why he felt like a war was at his door.

      It was Adam’s birthday.

      He needed coffee. After throwing off the sheet, he stumbled to the coffeepot that had been programmed to brew three hours ago and managed to pour himself a mug. He put it in the microwave and hit the button before he went to the bathroom. After he’d splashed his face with ice-cold water and taken care of business, he retrieved the blessedly hot coffee. Leaning his hip against the counter, he sipped from the mug, hoping his head would clear some more before he made any decisions.

      By the time he finished his second mug, he knew he was going to have to go for a run despite the late hour. It was already hotter outside than he liked it, but there was no getting around the fact that he’d think more clearly after he’d done a few miles. He’d stayed up till three listening to Sabrina, while trying to hide just how much he wanted to beat the crap out of her worthless boyfriend. Luckily, Tiffy, who also knew the problem, had stuck around and offered Sabrina a safe place for the night. No denying she’d go back to the bastard. She always did.

      Wyatt pulled on a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt, then stuck his key in his pocket, grabbed his cell to put in the other one, but stopped as he noticed the text message.

      It was from Peter, Adam’s grandfather. Wyatt didn’t need to open the text to know what it was about. They wanted him to come to dinner tonight. To celebrate.

      He put the phone in his pocket and left his apartment, stopping when he saw Becky halfway up the stairs.

      “You’re going running now?”

      He nodded. “Got up late. Bad night.”

      “Sorry about that.” Becky looked polished, as if nothing could possibly be wrong with the day. Her strawberry blond hair was up in a neat twist, her dress a pale floral, sandals with a moderate heel. Of course, her makeup was perfect for a Navy officer’s wife. Except when she got close, he could see that even makeup couldn’t quite hide the red tinge along her lower lid. “I’m sure they’ve called already.”

      “Texted.”

      “They’re learning. They want to be experts by the time the kids are old enough to have their own phones. Or at least can spell.”

      “Josh can spell.”

      Her anxious expression needed no translation.

      “Hey, he writes his name like a champ.”

      “You don’t have to go tonight,” she said softly. “Unless you’ve said something to the contrary, I’ve already told them you have to work.”

      “Do you СКАЧАТЬ