Guarding Her Heart (Hibiscus Harbor: Prequel)

1. Ethan

Chapter 1

Ethan

T he bar is buzzing with energy tonight, but I’m barely aware of the noise around me. The laughter, the clinking glasses, and the low hum of conversations all blend into the background as I stare into my drink, lost in thought. It’s been a few weeks since I got back home to Hibiscus Harbor, and the reality of what I’ve left behind is starting to sink in. I’m officially a former Navy SEAL, medically discharged, and my life in San Diego is nothing more than a memory now—one I’m mostly trying hard to forget.

“Ethan, you still with us?” Declan’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look up to see him watching me with concern.

“Yeah, I’m here,” I say, forcing a smile as I lift my beer to my lips. The cold liquid goes down smoothly, but it does little to ease the knot of tension in my chest.

Declan isn’t buying it. “You sure, man? You’ve been staring into that bottle like it holds the secrets of the universe.”

I let out a chuckle, “Just got a lot on my mind.”

“Like what?” Hudson asks, leaning forward with interest. “You’re back home, starting a new chapter of your life, and we’re finally talking seriously about opening Hooplas. What could be better?”

“I’m with Hudson on this one,” Jax adds, nodding. “We’ve been dreaming about opening this bar since we were kids. It’s finally happening, dude. You should be pumped.”

“I am pumped,” I say, injecting some enthusiasm into my voice. “It’s just… a lot to process, you know? I spent years in the Navy, thinking that was where I would be the rest of my life. Now, suddenly, it’s over, and everything’s changed. And on top of that, there’s the shit with Amber.”

The mention of her name makes everyone at the table groan. They all know what happened, though I haven’t gone into too much detail. Finding out Amber was making porn behind my back was a blow I never saw coming. I was blindsided, and the wound is still fresh, still raw.

Reid, who’s been nursing his beer in silence at the other end of the table, finally speaks up. “That bitch is not worth your time, Ethan. You know that, right? You did the right thing dumping her ass.”

“I know,” I say, though the words feel hollow. “It’s just hard to shake off three years like they meant nothing.”

Kane leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “You can’t dwell on the past, man. What she did was fucked up, and you’re better off without the skank. Now you’re back home, with the people who matter – friends and family. And we’ve got a new adventure ahead of us.”

“Hooplas,” Declan says with a grin, raising his bottle. “We’re finally going to make it happen.”

I can’t help but smile at that. The thought of opening Hooplas, a bar and restaurant, has been a dream for all of us since we were kids. Now that the Navy is behind me, it feels like the right time to finally make that dream a reality.

“You’re right,” I say, clinking my bottle with Declan’s. “Hooplas is going to be the best damn spot on the east coast. Let’s do this.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Jax exclaims, giving me a high five. “We’ll find the perfect location, get all the permits, and design a place that’s gonna blow everyone away.”

“Plus, we’ve got all our connections in town,” Hudson adds. “We can get the best suppliers, the best staff… this is going to be epic.”

“Hell, yeah,” Reid agrees, a rare smile crossing his face. “People are going to come from all over just to hang out at Hooplas.” The energy at the table shifts as everyone starts throwing out ideas, talking over each other in their excitement.

As the conversation continues, my gaze drifts around the restaurant, searching for something to latch onto. That’s when I see her.

She’s sitting alone at a table in the middle of the restaurant, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She’s not looking at her phone, not reading a menu, just sitting there, calm and composed, like she’s waiting for someone. But there’s a tension in the way she holds herself, a tightness in her posture that tells me whoever she’s waiting for is not someone she’s looking forward to seeing and they’re late. Or maybe not coming at all.

Curiosity gets the better of me. Without really thinking about it, I stand up, grabbing my beer as I push back my chair.

“Where are you going?” Declan asks, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll be back,” I say, already moving toward her table.

“Ethan’s on the prowl,” Hudson teases, earning a chuckle from the others.

“Give him a break,” Jax says, though he’s grinning too. “After what he’s been through, he deserves a little distraction.”

“Don’t be an asshole to the distraction, though,” Kane calls after me, his tone half-joking, half-serious. “We’ve got big plans, remember?”

I wave them off, not bothering to respond. As I approach the woman’s table, I notice the details I couldn’t see from a distance—the way her fingers tap lightly against the table, the way her eyes flicker toward the entrance every few seconds. She’s beautiful, in a way that’s both striking and understated, like she doesn’t need to try to turn heads, she just does.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask, stopping just short of her table.

She looks up at me, surprised, her eyes a bright, captivating green. For a moment, I think she’s going to tell me to fuck off, but then she smiles, a small, playful curve of her lips.

“Not at the moment,” she says, gesturing to the chair across from her. “But I’m not sure if you’re up to the task of keeping me company.”

I grin, sliding into the seat with an easy confidence I haven’t felt in quite a while. “I’ve been told I’m pretty good at making conversation. What about you? Are you up for a challenge?”

She laughs, a soft, musical sound that makes me want to hear it again and again. “Depends on what kind of challenge you have in mind.”

“Well, for starters,” I say, leaning forward a bit, “how about we see who can make the other laugh first?”

“Oh, you’re on,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “But I should warn you, I am undefeated.”

“Is that so?” I raise an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Well, I guess I’ll have to bring my A-game then. I’m Ethan West, by the way.”

“Jenny Dalton,” she replies, shaking my hand with a firm grip. “And just so you know, Ethan, I don’t go easy on anyone, not even big, strong men like you.”

“Good,” I say, matching her smile. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

We trade a few more playful jabs, the conversation flowing effortlessly. There’s a lightness between us that I haven’t felt in a long time, and I can’t help but be drawn to her easy confidence.

“So, Jenny, what brings you to this fine establishment tonight?” I ask, taking a sip of my drink.

She shrugs, but there’s a hint of something deeper in her eyes. “I was supposed to meet someone, but it looks like they had other plans.”

“Someone who doesn’t realize what they’re missing out on, clearly,” I say, shaking my head in disapproval. “Their loss is my gain.”

Jenny laughs again, and it’s the kind of laugh that makes you feel like you’ve known someone for years. “Smooth talker, aren’t you?”

“I try,” I admit with a grin. “But seriously, if you’re being stood up, I’d say you deserve better company.”

“And you think you’re the better company?” she teases, leaning back in her chair resting her arms on her lap.

“I know I am,” I reply, my tone light but sincere. “I might not know what brought you here tonight, but I do know you deserve someone who shows up when they say they will.”

Her playful demeanor falters for a moment, and she looks down at the table, her fingers now tracing the rim of her glass. “Yeah, well, sometimes people let you down. You just have to roll with it.”

There’s a hint of sadness in her voice, and I find myself wanting to know more, to understand what she’s been through. But I also don’t want to push too hard. Instead, I lean forward, catching her eye again.

“How about we make a deal?” I suggest. “You forget about whoever didn’t show up, and we focus on having a good time. No strings attached, no pressure. Just two people enjoying the night.”

She considers it for a moment, then smiles, the spark returning to her eyes. “I think I can handle that.”

“Great,” I say, lifting my bottle in a toast. “To new friends and unexpected conversations.”

“To new friends,” she agrees, clinking her glass against mine.

We spend the next hour talking and laughing, sharing stories about our lives, our family, and everything in between. Jenny is easy to talk to, her wit is sharp and her laughter is infectious. The more we talk, the more I find myself drawn to her, not just because of her beauty, but because of the way she makes me feel—like maybe there’s still something good to look forward to, even after everything that’s happened to me in the last year.

“So, tell me,” Jenny says, her tone turning teasing again, “how does a Navy SEAL end up back in his hometown, chatting up strangers in a bar?”

I chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “How do you know I’m a SEAL?”

She points to my tattoo on my right shoulder that’s peeking out from under my muscle shirt. “No one gets a SEAL tattoo without actually being a SEAL.”

I nod. She’s perceptive. “Well, it’s a long story. But the short version is, I’ve just been medically discharged. I came back home to figure out what’s next.”

“And have you figured it out?” she asks, her gaze curious but gentle.

“Not yet,” I admit, shrugging. “But I’m working on it. My friends and I have always had this dream of opening a bar here in town, so we’re finally putting that plan into action.”

Her eyes light up with interest. “That sounds amazing. What’s the place going to be called?”

“Hooplas,” I say, smiling at the thought of it. “It’s going to be the best spot on the coast, I can guarantee that.”

“I’ll have to check it out when it opens,” she says, her tone warm. “What makes you guys call it Hooplas?”

“When we were kids, we told Reid’s dad about our idea and he said that it was just a bunch of hoopla,” I say, my smile widening. “So, the name stuck.”

Jenny rolls her eyes playfully. “That’s a great story. I love it.”

Before I can say anything, a shadow falls over the table, and I look up to see a man in a cheap suit with his tie loosened standing there, his expression dark and instantly my instincts tell me to watch him.

“Jenny,” he says, his voice cold as he places his hand on her upper arm to pull her out of her seat. “We need to go.”

The tension in Jenny’s body returns in an instant, and she straightens in her chair, all traces of the easy conversation we were just having gone. She doesn’t respond to the man, just looks at him with a mix of defiance and resignation.

“I think you should leave,” I say, my tone more forceful than I intended, the SEAL coming out of me. I don’t know who this guy is, but I don’t like the way he’s looking or touching her, like she’s something he owns.

“This doesn’t concern you,” the man snaps, his eyes narrowing at me. But I don’t back down.

“Maybe not, but I’m making it my concern,” I say, standing up slowly. I’m taller than him by a couple of inches, and I can see him sizing me up, trying to decide if I’m a threat.

“Ethan, it’s okay,” Jenny says, her voice calm but strained. “This is just… something I need to deal with.”

Her words are meant to diffuse the situation, but they only make me more determined. There’s no way I’m letting her go with this guy, not when she clearly doesn’t want to.

“Look, I don’t know who you are,” I say, keeping my voice steady and low, “but it seems like Jenny’s made up her mind. So why don’t you just walk away before this gets ugly?”

The man’s jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he’s going to try and take a swing at me. But then he steps back and lets her arm go, his lips curling into a sneer. “This isn’t over, Jenny. You know that.”

With that, he turns and walks away, leaving a trail of tension in his wake. I watch him go, my fists still tightened like a predator ready to strike, coiled at my sides, but I don’t relax until he’s out of sight.

“Are you okay?” I ask, turning back to Jenny.

She exhales slowly, her shoulders slumping as the tension drains out of her. “Yeah. Thanks for that.”

“Who was that guy?” I ask.

She looks defeated, “My ex-husband, Richard. He’s having trouble… moving on.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I sit back down in my seat.

Jenny shakes her head, a rueful smile on her lips. “Not really. But I appreciate you stepping in.”

There’s a silence between us, heavy with unspoken words. I can tell she’s holding back. Part of me wants to push, to find out what’s going on, but I know better than to pry. We’ve only just met.

“Well, if you ever change your mind, here’s my number,” I say, grabbing her phone off the table and sending a text from her phone to mine while trying to keep the mood light. “I’m always available.”

She gives me a grateful smile, and for a moment, the tension eases. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Jenny stands up and collects her things. “I should get going.”

“Okay.” As I stand up, I can’t help but feel like there’s something unfinished between us. Something that’s just beginning. I glance back at my friends, who are watching from the bar with curious expressions, and I give them a small wave to show I’m fine. They go back to their conversation, but I know they’ll ask me about Jenny later.

“It was nice to meet you, Ethan. Good luck with Hooplas.”

“It was nice to meet you, too, Jenny. Can I walk you out? You know, in case that guy is still out there?”

She shakes her head, “No. I’m fine, really. Thank you, though, for offering.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.” I offer again hoping she’ll take me up on it, but she holds her hand out.

“It was really good to meet you, Ethan. Maybe you can call me some time.” She says and I shake her hand.

“You can count on that.” I smile as she turns and walks away.

And for the first time in weeks, I feel like maybe there’s something worth looking forward to.