Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Bree’s face hurt from smiling. Which was weird, because it felt as if it had been years since she’d been this carefree. Oh, her life was still a shitshow. She could practically feel she was still being hunted. But for right this second? She felt free.
Smiley hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he wasn’t letting her out of his sight. She figured it was mostly because he was worried about whoever was after her…but also a little because he didn’t completely trust she wouldn’t take off again.
She wasn’t going to do that. For one, she’d promised. But more importantly? She’d be a complete idiot to not take the help Smiley was offering. She needed his assistance and wasn’t about to do something idiotic…like think she could hide out for the rest of her life.
And for the moment, she was having more fun than she’d had in years.
Smiley had woken her up at the ass crack of dawn and dragged her out to his Ford Ranger, bringing her to the naval base, where he’d met up with the rest of his team for their morning PT workout.
It was a little awkward meeting the team officially, especially since she’d been stalking them for quite a while now.
She knew where they all lived, what they drove, what their girlfriends and wives drove.
She’d followed them to Aces Bar and Grill, and to what she assumed were some of their other favorite restaurants in Riverton.
Hell, she even knew where Addison and MacGyver’s kids went to school.
Everyone was polite, and Bree expected there would come a time when they’d want to ask her questions. They were all extremely protective, and she figured they’d want to make sure she wasn’t a danger to their teammate—which was funny, as she was certainly no harm to anyone.
Well…maybe everyone except MacGyver and Flash would question her.
After making sure she was all right with it, those two men had actually given her long, heartfelt hugs, which had felt amazing.
But she hadn’t helped their loved ones for any kind of thanks.
She’d kind of been on autopilot, only doing what instinct told her to do.
She was relieved that her actions had helped save others…
but the fact remained, she’d only been in the right place at the right time because she was stalking Smiley and his friends.
Figuring she’d have some explanations to make later, Bree was relieved when Kevlar announced it was time to start. To her surprise, Smiley led her over to an ATV parked next to one of the lifeguard towers. He’d handed her the keys and told her to keep up.
He hadn’t asked if she’d ridden an ATV before, or if she knew how to operate it—she hadn’t and didn’t, but managed to figure it out pretty fast—just gave her a look she couldn’t interpret and turned back to his friends.
That’s how Bree came to be cruising down the beach as the sun came up, watching seven incredibly in-shape men run, skip, and even crawl through the sand and surf.
They took their workout very seriously, and it wasn’t a hardship to watch their muscles flex and strain as they did what they needed to do in order to stay in shape, ready to save the world.
She had no idea how Smiley had gotten permission for her to use the ATV the lifeguards obviously used while they were on duty, but she was grateful.
There was something so freeing about racing over the sand this early in the morning, without having to worry about running over any sunbathers or swerving around little kids who weren’t paying attention to their surroundings.
She was currently sitting still, soaking in the breathtaking morning sunrise and watching the team do some sort of sadistic burpee combination that involved pushups, rolling in the sand to the right, jumping jacks, and then more rolling—when Smiley abruptly stopped what he was doing and jogged toward her.
Sitting up straight, Bree frowned and looked around. Was something wrong? Why was he stopping?
He walked over to where she was sitting on the ATV while his teammates continued their workout and asked, “You good?”
Bree frowned. “Uh…yeah. Why?”
“Just wanted to check in. This probably wasn’t what you had in mind for your morning. Getting dragged down to the beach and being bored out of your mind, watching me and my teammates work out.”
Bree couldn’t stop the small chuckle. “Oh, yeah. It’s tough, but I think I can manage,” she said sarcastically.
Smiley tilted his head as his brows furrowed, clearly trying to figure out what she meant.
“Smiley, it’s fine. Trust me. Watching you and your friends roll around in the sand and flex your muscles isn’t a hardship. Not at all.”
She could practically see said muscles relaxing at her words.
“Other than wishing I had a cup of coffee, this is the perfect way to start the day. The sunrise, the beach, the beautiful weather, and watching guys I admire and respect put their bodies through hell, simply to stay in the best shape possible so they’re ready at a moment’s notice to go off and save people? Yeah. It doesn’t suck.”
“I’ll see what I can do about the coffee thing tomorrow. We’ll stop on the way back to my place and get you one this morning though.”
“That’s not—”
“You want coffee, you’ll get coffee,” he interrupted. He wasn’t smiling, was still staring at her with the same intense look he always wore. “I just wanted to make sure you were good. I know this can’t be all that exciting.”
“Smiley, I’ve been living in my car. The only thing to do was people watch—and those people rarely looked like you guys. That was boring as hell. This is perfect.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” she echoed.
“Have to say…I’d do just about anything to see that carefree smile on your face every day. Just wanted to come over and see what caused it, so I can replicate it in the future.”
Bree was stunned. She wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Shit. And now it’s gone,” Smiley muttered.
“Smiley! Get your ass back over here!” Kevlar shouted. He was standing with the rest of the guys near the surf. “We’re gonna do some shuttle sprints before heading back.”
“Oh joy,” he sighed.
Bree’s lips twitched.
Smiley’s gaze locked on her lips. He gave her a chin lift, then turned to head back to his morning workout. He turned around after a few steps and warned, “We’re all on watch, but keep an eye out, just in case.”
That sobered Bree up. He was right. Here she was, pretending she was on some sort of vacation or something, when in reality there was a reason her ass was on this ATV and Smiley didn’t want to let her out of his sight.
Looking around, she saw nothing but a few die-hard morning runners along the beach and the beautiful coastline. His words were a good reminder that her life could change in a split second. She knew that better than anyone.
PT that morning was shit. Smiley hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything except the woman riding the ATV alongside them as they ran. Every time he looked over at Bree, she was smiling as if she was having the time of her life.
By all rights, she should be a mess. Someone was after her, wanted to lock her up and force her into a life no man, woman, or child should ever live. And yet, she was able to find pleasure in the smallest things.
And when Smiley had stopped on the way back to his apartment and gotten her a vanilla latte, she’d acted as if he’d bought her a freaking diamond or something. But again, that smile on her face was enough to ensure she’d have her sugary coffee drink every morning from here on out.
He’d slipped up that morning with his comment about seeing her smile every day.
On top of his assertion last night that they’d have a future together…
he was pushing her too hard, too fast. Shit, she’d only known him for a fucking day.
But he felt as if he’d known her forever.
He’d spent so much time looking for her, finding out as much as he could about her life, being with her in person felt like the natural progression.
Thank goodness she hadn’t questioned him.
Or told him that he was being ridiculous.
Or obsessed. He was, of course…but he was relieved she hadn’t called him on it.
With every second he spent with her, it was getting harder to keep his hands to himself.
To not throw her onto his kitchen table, his couch, up against the nearest wall, and beg her to give him a chance.
To let him love her the way he ached to after all these months.
Taking a deep breath, Smiley tried to ignore the small sighs of satisfaction she made while drinking her latte…the memory of hearing his shower this morning, and knowing she was naked inside…the thought of her addictive smiles.
He assumed once he’d found this woman, his obsession would go away. Instead, it had only increased tenfold.
“Why are we meeting with your commander again?” Bree asked, as she and Smiley walked down a long hallway toward the room the team usually used for conferences and meetings.
“Because he knows all about you and your situation. I’ve kept him briefed over the last several months,” Smiley told her.
“He has the ability to take me out of deployment rotation, and I need him to agree to do so. The best chance I have of getting him to do that, is by letting him hear your story firsthand.”
Bree stopped dead in the hall and turned to him. “Wait—why would you not want to be deployed?”
Smiley couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I already told you, until this asshole is caught, I’m not letting you out of my sight. And if I get deployed, I can’t make sure you’re safe.”
“I’m not your problem, Smiley. I mean, yes, I’d like your help but in the end, what happens to me isn’t your responsibility. We don’t even know each other!”
“You once made a three-layer birthday cake for your neighbor’s five-year-old daughter because she couldn’t afford to buy one.”
Her brows instantly scrunched down. “Huh?”