SEAL’s Secret (Alpha SEALs Hawaii #4)

Chapter 1

One month ago

Layton O’Connell nearly stumbled, trying to heft the large box from the back of the moving truck parked on the busy street in Oahu. Cars drove past, the sun shone brightly above, and the salty air from the Pacific wafted over her. Usually, she was closing on sales, getting buyers the home of their dreams back on the East Coast, not hauling boxes and furniture into a leased apartment in Hawaii.

She staggered back, bumping into a rock-solid chest, and one of the guys helping her sister move easily grabbed the heavy box before it teetered off the back of the truck, flashing Layton a sexy grin. His muscles bunched with the movement as he lifted it into his strong arms, and her eyes briefly caught on his bulging biceps before trailing back up to meet his gaze.

“I got it,” he said easily, his deep voice husky and dark eyes twinkling with amusement. A hint of stubble covered his strong jaw, dark brown, just like his shortly cropped hair. And shoot. He’d absolutely noticed her checking out his muscles, judging from the expression on his face. Not that he wasn’t worthy of drooling over. The man was freaking hot.

“Thanks,” she said, brushing back a strand of blonde hair and not missing the way his own eyes moved over her. She wasn’t exactly dressed to impress in running shorts and a snug tank top, her hair up in a messy, high ponytail, but from the look on his face, he didn’t seem to mind at all. His gaze fell to her lips, briefly raking down her body.

No, his very male interest in her was obvious, and Layton felt her pulse speed up.

“Go ahead,” he added with a nod toward the doors of the apartment building. The others continued to move around them, not seeming at all bothered that she was essentially standing in the way. “We’ll haul everything upstairs. You can help Emersyn get organized and tell us where to put things.”

“Yes, sir,” she joked, causing the guy’s lips to quirk.

Not just any guy. Hudson. She’d noticed him amongst the other men on the beach a few days ago, too. How could she not? Layton had been terrified, panicked at her sister’s near-drowning while they’d been kayaking in the Pacific Ocean. While several men had helped Layton as she’d been guided back to solid ground, it was Hudson’s strong hand that had gripped hers as she’d faltered in the shallow waves, her heart racing and body trembling. The sparks that had shot between them had been a shock, and she’d clung to him in a brief moment of panic, his deep voice murmuring, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Then everything had happened at once—sirens, CPR, a crowd gathering around Emersyn’s limp body lying on the sand.

Layton tried to clear her thoughts.

Everyone had been focused on resuscitating her sister, and Layton had been too distracted to pay Hudson any attention after that. She’d been frantic, making sure Emersyn was all right. Alive. Breathing. Yet here they were again mere days later, Emersyn’s rescuers moving her into her new apartment in Honolulu.

Somehow, Layton ended up in the elevator alone with Hudson, the other guys passing them on their return trip as they’d headed back outside to grab more furniture and boxes. She pressed the button for Emersyn’s floor as the doors closed, and then it almost felt like Hudson was sucking up all the air in the small, enclosed space, his big body taking up far too much room.

Hudson was taller than her by a good eight inches. Big and broad. Strong. He was around her age, maybe a couple of years older. Competent. Confident. Not to mention absolutely mouthwatering. The man was in peak physical condition. She admired the corded muscles of his forearms as he shifted the big box he was holding and noticed the faint scent of clean soap mixed in with something else musky and male. The woodsy scent appealed to her, a contrast to the scent of coconut sunscreen and salty ocean air that otherwise permeated the space. He was tanned from days spent in the Hawaiian sun, no doubt training frequently with his teammates, and while she knew he was one of the good guys, there was something dark and dangerous lurking beneath his fun-loving personality.

“This isn’t much of a vacation for you,” he noted as the elevator began to rise, the side of his mouth hitching up. “Helping your sister move, that is.”

“I’m in sunny Hawaii,” she countered. “The kayaking thing didn’t quite work out, but we’ve got plenty of time to hit the beach again before I fly home, maybe try some of that famous Hawaiian shave ice. Now, if Em had been moving to a cornfield in the middle of Kansas, I might’ve had other ideas about her needing my help.”

“You got me there,” he said with a low, sexy chuckle. “Oahu’s a gorgeous place. The view’s not bad in here either,” he said with a wink, causing her to blush. His grin widened. Hudson was a flirt.

“Well, what about you?” she asked, trying to regain her composure. “You and your teammates barely know Emersyn, yet you’re helping her move. I’ve got the familial ties that practically make it my sisterly duty to fly out to this gorgeous tropical island.”

His lips quirked. “Point taken. But if you haven’t noticed,” he said conspiringly, “Aaron’s a bit smitten with your sister. I doubt he could’ve stayed away.”

“A bit?” she joked. “He showed up at her hospital room.”

“Guess she made one hell of an impression on him. It seemed to be love at first sight,” Hudson said with a husky laugh.

“Don’t believe in that?” she asked.

“I mean, lust at first sight? Sure. Two people can immediately be attracted to one another. Do I think you could fall in love with someone the second you meet? That’d be a no.”

“You’re a pessimist,” Layton said. “I mean, you’re not wrong….”

“No?” he raised his eyebrows, looking amused.

“Negative, ghost rider. Of course, you can’t fall in love with another person the moment you meet. It’s just chemistry. Pheromones.” The elevator stopped, the doors opening, but no one was waiting to get on. She frowned, pushing the number for Emersyn’s floor again. “I obviously don’t think they’re head-over-heels in love. Besides, I’m divorced, so I’m rather skeptical of the whole love is forever thing.”

“Wow. Your ex must be an idiot,” he noted.

She felt warmth flood through her. Hudson’s attention was flattering if no doubt leading exactly nowhere. Maybe her sister would start something with Aaron, but Layton was flying home in a matter of days. “My ex ran off with his secretary,” she explained, rolling her eyes. “And get this—then he cheated on her as well. No, if I meet anyone during my week on the island, it’ll be for an illicit night of fun, not forever.”

Hudson’s whoosh of breath and low chuckle made her pulse skitter. There was something extremely sexy about his deep voice and the way those dark eyes focused on her. “If you need a partner to…tango with…let me know,” he said. “I’m always up for a tough assignment like that.”

She flushed, not oblivious to the chemistry between them. While Hudson seemed like a decent guy, she wasn’t actually about to jump into bed with a man she’d just met. She barely knew the first thing about him. The elevator dinged, and she held her hand out to make sure the doors stayed open, gesturing for him to go first. A weird feeling of déjà vu washed over her as they walked down the hallway, like she’d done this exact same thing before. She was comfortable with him, she realized. Yes, Hudson was deliciously sexy, but he also had an easygoing personality that made her feel at ease.

“I explained why I’m here,” Layton said, “but you still didn’t share how your entire team ended up helping Emersyn move into her new place today, Aaron’s interest in her notwithstanding.”

“The rest of us don’t mind helping out. We all saw her on the beach that day,” Hudson said, his face darkening. “Aaron cares about her, and he’s like a brother to us. We go where he does. And hey,” he added, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “It’s not every day that I get to impress a beautiful woman by hauling around heavy boxes.”

Her jaw dropped.

Hudson’s easy laughter filled the hallway as he looked at her pointedly.

Yep. He was absolutely talking about her. And he’d volunteered to be her vacation fling. She felt her cheeks heat again. “You’re a flirt.”

He lifted a shoulder, somehow making it look easy despite the heavy box in his arms. “The guys and I are busy training most of the time or deploying on missions. Sure, we go out and have fun, but I don’t know. You seem more real than most of the women I meet.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, curious.

“Just that you’re down-to-earth, I suppose. Genuine. Don’t get me wrong, you’re beautiful, but some women have to be fully made up every second of the day with tons of makeup on and not a hair out of place. They’re putting on a show, more worried about impressing everyone around them than just being themself.”

Layton laughed, giving him the side-eye. “I’m helping my sister move. It’s not like a sexy little dress and stilettos would be appropriate—not that I brought those on a beach vacation anyway, where most of my time will be spent in a swimsuit.”

He chuckled. “That’s what I mean—you’re real. You were trying to kayak with Emersyn, not strutting around in a skimpy bikini afraid to even get wet. I totally think you could pull off that little bikini look if you wanted though,” he teased.

Layton’s heart fluttered as she felt his appreciative gaze on her once more. Layton had to admit his attention felt good. She’d been out of the dating scene for a long time, and while Hudson’s attention was flattering, deep down, she also sensed that he was a good guy. The entire team was helping her sister, who was for all intents and purposes, practically a stranger to them. They’d not only rescued her days ago but were getting her settled in to her new place as well.

“Your sister was lucky to find a good rental in Honolulu,” Hudson commented.

“She was. The market is hot here,” Layton agreed. “I could probably make a killing if I switched up my real estate business and moved to Oahu.”

“Where are you from again?” Hudson asked conversationally.

“Virginia. D.C. area,” she quickly amended. “Things are bustling there, too, but this is different. There’s limited inventory on an island.”

“Can’t say I’ve been to D.C. before,” Hudson admitted. “Norfolk area, yes. Little Creek.”

Ah yes. The hunky guy walking beside her wasn’t just a protective, alpha male who happened to be in the military. He was a freaking Navy SEAL. As were the rest of the men helping today. Emersyn was a DEA analyst here on TDY for six months. Layton was just a real estate agent. A divorcee. A single mom.

Not that she’d shared that with Hudson.

She’d fly back home to her real life in a matter of days. If he wanted to flirt with her, Layton saw no harm with that. She deserved to have a little fun, too, and it’s not like she’d see him again after she returned to the East Coast. Layton had joked with her sister that she needed a vacation fling, and she could certainly do worse than Hudson. The man was funny, charming, and practically looked like a movie star with his good looks and muscled frame.

“Where are you originally from?” she asked as they walked into the commotion of Emersyn’s new apartment. Wyatt “Wildcard” Miller was with Austin “Storm” Eckhart, hefting a sofa into place. Some of the others were no doubt already bringing up another load of boxes or furniture. And she heard her sister’s voice mixed in with Aaron “Anchor” Nielsen’s, coming from down the hallway.

“Iowa,” Hudson said, following her into the kitchen. “I moved around a lot as a kid. Ended up in foster care. I joined the Navy at eighteen and got the hell out of there.”

Layton frowned. While her own situation wasn’t ideal, what with an ex-husband who’d cheated on her and four-year-old daughter being constantly shuffled between homes, she knew Caroline’s upbringing was more stable than many kids. “I’m sorry. That sounds rough.”

“It is what it is,” he replied, clearly not wanting to elaborate on his upbringing.

Hudson set the large box on the counter with a thump as Layton glanced around the sunny yet empty space. The counters were bare. The fridge was empty. There wasn’t even a coffee maker or toaster on the counter. Hopefully some of those necessities were inside the box, because Layton absolutely needed her caffeine fix first thing in the morning.

It was hard to believe her sister would be living here now, thousands of miles away. Layton would help her get settled in, then go back to her own crazy life. To reality. She swallowed. While she missed Caroline like crazy during the weeks she was with her father, being in a different place helped to some extent. She wasn’t distracted by her daughter’s empty bedroom or her complete change of routine, not having a child to drop off at daycare in the morning, prepare meals for, or tuck into bed every night.

While Layton was here on vacation, she could almost pretend that a piece of her heart wasn’t missing every time Caroline had to leave to go to her father’s house.

“I’ll open the box for you,” Hudson said, jarring her from her train of thought. He clearly had noticed the kitchen’s lack of everything. There wasn’t even a pair of scissors in sight. “You can start unpacking while I haul some more boxes upstairs with the guys.”

She stared in surprise as he pulled a large K-bar knife free.

“Hazard of the job,” he explained, noticing her watching him. “We’ve got all kinds of weapons and gear. I figured it was best to be prepared what with moving your sister in.”

“I thought it was boy scouts who were always prepared,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Hudson’s low laughter filled the kitchen, and he eyed her. “I’m definitely no boy scout.” Their eyes locked for a beat, and she felt a shiver snaking down her spine. No, he certainly wasn’t a boy. Hudson was all man, much to her girly delight.

He neatly sliced through the packing tape that sealed the box, then efficiently sheathed his knife again. It was slightly unnerving to know how absolutely lethal these men were. They no doubt deployed on secret missions all over the world that she could never know the first thing about. Lived secret lives. Took out evil men.

They’d also known exactly how to rescue her sister.

“I’ve learned a thing or two from being a Navy SEAL,” he joked, lifting a small appliance surrounded in bubble wrap from the box. He pulled out a few more of the heavier items for her, neatly lining them up on the counter.

“Yeah, I’m sure the military has taught you a few tricks,” she said, flashing him a smile as she worked at a piece of tape holding the bubble wrap in place. “I actually deal with government and military officials all the time in my line of work. I’ve had clients that worked for every three-letter agency out there, not to mention the Pentagon. The White House. I’ve even signed nondisclosure agreements for several people. It takes a certain level of trust to allow a realtor to show off your home to potential buyers. I assume none of them have classified materials lying around, but that doesn’t mean they want their homes or home offices open and available for just anyone to peruse. Sometimes we’ve even got a security detail there, hovering around during special showings to ensure nothing is disturbed.”

“I’d imagine that’s necessary for certain high-level government officials. You don’t want foreign adversaries posing as buyers to bug the place.”

She nodded, having wondered the same thing herself on a couple of occasions. “I doubt I’m privy to most of it—all the layers of security.” She shrugged. “As long as they’re not obnoxious, ruining my showing with excessive safety measures, I don’t mind. Business is business.”

“I suppose you get all types of people, what with your proximity to D.C.,” he commented.

“It’s a very different clientele than home buyers here in Hawaii.”

“Are you thinking of moving to Oahu like your sister?” he asked. Hudson hadn’t shifted away from the counter, just stood in the kitchen chatting with her. Voices carried from the living room, but at the moment, they were still alone.

Layton crossed to the fridge, grabbing them each a bottle of water. The open case of twenty-four bottles was literally the only thing inside it. She’d have to grab some groceries later on from the store—once she figured out the closest one. She turned back around, realizing that Hudson’s eyes had been on her, and felt a flush heating her cheeks. Had he been checking out her ass? His gaze trailed down her bare legs, and she swore she could feel his heated look almost like a caress. Layton knew she looked good in her shorts and tank top given the hours she clocked at the gym. Her choice of outfit today had been about practicality, not impressing a man. Hudson, however, seemed to have zero complaints.

Layton tossed him a bottle of water, trying to pretend she hadn’t just caught him ogling her. “Thanks,” he said as he easily snagged it out of the air, twisting off the cap. He had big hands, with interesting veins trailing across them and up his forearms. The dark tee shirt he wore showed off his muscled chest—broad pecs, wide shoulders. And those biceps. Good God.

She tried not to shiver in delight.

What would it feel like to have those big hands on her, moving over her body, trailing across her bare skin? She could almost imagine the weight of Hudson’s body above her own, his muscled arms caging her in as he pinned her to the bed, his lips hot and insistent on hers as he drove her absolutely wild.

He was watching her intently, no doubt waiting for her response. She swallowed, then uncapped her own bottle of water. “No, I couldn’t leave my life back home,” she finally said. “I’m just here on vacation before it’s back to reality.”

Hudson took a long pull of water, his Adam’s apple bobbing with the motion.

“You’re in town for a few more days, right?” he asked, his voice low and deep. “I have it on good authority that Aaron plans to ask your sister out. What do you say I take you out one night as well? Dinner. Drinks.” A beat passed, and she felt the implication that there could be more fun afterward if she wanted. “However you want the night to go,” he added with a sexy grin, his dark eyes mischievous.

And how would she want the night to end?

Alone with Hudson.

In his bed.

Naked.

Not that she was willing to admit that out loud.

“How I want the night to go?” she asked him as she hesitated in her response, her heart fluttering. Goosebumps covered her skin, and she felt her nipples pebbling against her bra. A date with Hudson could be dangerous. He was looking at her right now like he wanted to positively eat her up. And God, how she wanted to let him.

She licked her lips, and his dark eyes flared with interest.

“I’ll bring you back home after dinner if that’s what you want. If you’d rather come back to my place? I’m good with that, too.”

A nervous huff of laughter escaped her. “You’re good with my staying over at your place?” she asked.

“Gotta shoot my shot,” he quipped. “You’re pretty as hell, Layton.”

She felt warmth washing over her again. His interest in her was flattering. Her ex-husband hadn’t given a crap. He’d literally been having sex with another woman while they were still married. He’d lied on countless nights about where he’d really been. The chemistry between Hudson and her was obvious. With him, there’d be no strings. No complications. No worries about a future.

They’d have one amazing night together, and then she’d be gone.

He moved closer, slowly, so as not to spook her. “No pressure,” he promised, his deep voice doing something funny to her insides. “Hell. Even if you come back to my place and change your mind, I’m a good cuddler,” he teased, flashing her another grin.

They were interrupted as a female voice suddenly called out from the other room. “Layton! Are you up here?”

Her gaze swung toward the living room. “I better go see what Em wants. Be right there!” she called back to her sister.

She looked up at him once more, and Hudson reached out to brush back a stray piece of her hair. His hand lingered a moment, his thumb lightly caressing her temple. It was an intimate gesture given they hardly knew one another, but she could feel the heat between them even now, the air practically crackling with electricity.

His gaze briefly dropped to her lips, and she wondered what it would feel like to have his mouth on hers. He’d kiss her slowly, she decided, before taking control as he moved down to her neck. Her cleavage. Her heart raced as she imagined the scruff of his whiskers on her bare skin.

He dropped his hand and stepped back, and Layton sucked in a breath. Her heart was pounding, and Hudson had barely touched her. The man overwhelmed her. The heat from his large body, the scent of him, even the gentleness of his touch. Everything about Hudson called out to her. Made her want him. He was the exact opposite of her ex, and she needed something different and good for a change, even if for only one night.

His voice was low and husky, soothing her frazzled nerves. “I’ll get your number before we finish up today.”

“Okay.”

Emersyn poked her head in the kitchen door, causing Layton to jump in surprise. Her sister glanced between the two of them, shooting Layton a questioning look.

“That’s my cue to head out,” Hudson said gruffly. He paused to speak in a low voice as he moved past Layton, his mouth hovering by her ear. “I love how you blush. Makes me want to see what other ways I can make that flush come over your skin.”

She swallowed, knowing she was probably beet red by now, and he moved away, leaving both sisters standing there. Emersyn raised her eyebrows expectantly.

“I’ll explain later,” Layton said, her mind moving in a million different directions. “Maybe. What did you want my help with?”