Tempting the SEAL (Tidehaven SEAL Romance #11)

Chapter 1

ONE

Fern

For the millionth time in the last year, I wonder how I let myself get roped into all of this.

I barely talked to my family before my cousin, Valerie, got engaged. Then suddenly, my job as a wedding planner was no longer embarrassing—it was useful. I was happy that my family was finally taking an interest in me and my career, which was why I agreed to be Valerie’s wedding planner. For free.

It’s my gift to the couple, though I’m sure she’ll be expecting an actual gift.

I step forward, wincing as I’m jostled by an angry-looking man who’s also moving to grab his bag from the luggage belt. He doesn’t apologize. I bite my tongue, doing the math in my head to calculate how many hours remain until I fly out of this city and back home.

Just six more days. One hundred and forty-four hours. You can do this, I tell myself as I grab my bag and head toward the rental car counter.

Truthfully, I feel like I won’t make it through the week without having a mental breakdown.

It’s been a full year of constant calls and demands.

Valerie is a total bridezilla, the worst I’ve ever worked with.

Her fiancé isn’t much better. All he cares about is looks.

Does it look luxurious? Will it photograph well for social media? Will his friends all be jealous?

Gross.

There are no loving looks, no romance, no passion.

It’s all about image. In that way, Valerie and her fiancé, Paul, are perfectly suited.

He’s a big-shot finance bro, and Valerie’s goal in life is to be a trophy wife.

They look great together, but every time I’m in the same room as them, all I can think is that it could never be me.

I want someone who is obsessed with me. I want someone who loves me, all of me. I want someone who supports me, is interested in my dreams, and wants to hear about my day.

Unfortunately for me, that’s been hard to find. I’m about to turn thirty, and in that time, I’ve had one boyfriend. It was in middle school, and we dated for a day, so I’m not even sure that I could call him my boyfriend. We never kissed, didn’t even hold hands.

My family loves to remind me of my single status every chance they can get, and I’m already preparing myself for those types of comments—that and them scrutinizing every bite of food I put into my mouth and reminding me that I could lose a few pounds…or more than a few pounds.

I look down at my curvy stomach as I stand in line to pick up my rental car and shake my head. I tried to lose weight before I came here. I managed to shed about ten pounds, but I know that my family won’t notice or care. I’m not a size two, not even close, and I never have been.

“Next,” calls the bored attendant.

I smile politely as I step up to the counter.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m loading my suitcase into the back of my rental car and driving out of the lot and toward the small coastal town of Tidehaven, South Carolina.

I take the long way to the hotel, driving along the coast and admiring the views. The town is so charming. The beaches look like a postcard with their white sands and crystal-clear blue water. I wonder if I’ll have time to sit out and watch the waves while I’m here.

As if Valerie can sense me planning for some peace and quiet, my phone rings, and I force a smile as I answer her call.

“Where are you?” she snaps.

My smile drops. “Headed to the hotel now. It took longer than I expected to get my rental car.”

She snorts, and I can hear her start up a treadmill and begin to run.

“I need you here now! The family is arriving, and they have all these questions. I’m paying you to handle all of that,” she says.

“Actually, you’re not paying me,” I remind her.

She goes on like I never said a word. “There’s something going on with Uncle Roger’s room, Aunt Linda wants to talk about gluten-free options for the kids, and the staff need to know something about the rehearsal dinner.”

“Okay, I’m almost there—”

“You need to handle all that. It’s my wedding week, and I can’t be stressed out.”

“Got it. I’m almost at the hotel now.”

“Good. They’ll be waiting for you in the lobby.”

She ends the call, and I squeeze the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turn white.

What if I just kept driving? I could turn off my phone and ignore everyone for the week. I could actually use this time as a vacation.

I sigh wistfully as I make the turn to the hotel. That’s not who I am. I follow through on my commitments.

Right now, I hate that about me.

I pull into the parking lot, skipping over the valet line, and find a parking spot. Taking deep breaths, I grab my bags and walk toward the hotel. I know it’s going to be one headache after another as soon as I step inside, and I drag my feet the closer I get to the front doors.

“Hello, welcome to The Rosewood,” an attendant greets me as he opens the door.

“Thank you.”

“Enjoy your stay.”

I won’t, I think, but I force myself to smile as I head inside.

Where I’m instantly greeted by eight angry family members.

“There you are!” my mother says, looking annoyed. “Did you have a nice break?”

Great to see you too, Mother.

“What? I landed and drove straight here,” I tell her.

She scoffs. “We need help.”

“Okay, I—”

“Uncle Roger is in a room on the bottom floor. Can you believe that?” she asks as she grabs my elbow and steers me over to the group.

“And Aunt Linda says there are no good gluten-free options anywhere. Caroline says the airline lost her bridesmaid dress, your Uncle Josh is already drunk, and we lost your cousin Courtney and her boyfriend.”

I nod, making a mental list as I set my suitcase out of the way. Guess I’ll be checking into my room later.

“I’ll talk to them about moving Uncle Roger,” I say.

He nods, folding his arms over his chest.

“Aunt Linda, the staff knows and has gluten-free options. There’s also a list of restaurants nearby that can accommodate. Here you go,” I say, pulling the list out of my purse.

She turns and leaves without saying a word.

“I’ll call the airline about Caroline’s dress and see if we can’t get another one sent overnight in case it doesn’t arrive in time. And I’ll look for Courtney and her boyfriend,” I promise my mom.

She purses her lips at me until Uncle Tony comes in with his family, and she turns to greet him.

It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that no one welcomed me here.

No one said it was great to see me or asked how I was doing.

I’m the help to them this week, but they’ve always been like that.

I’m the black sheep in my family. I liked school, I liked working and earning my own money.

I’ve always been plus-size and kind of shy.

Everyone else is skinny, with perfect white smiles and an air about them that screams country club.

I paste a smile on my face as I grab my things and head up to check in. I ask them about Uncle Roger’s room and end up trading with him so he can be on the fifth floor and stop whining.

Taking my key, I escape to my room. I’m not looking for Courtney and her boyfriend. I’m sure they’re at the beach or in their room. Once I’m settled, I’ll deal with the bridesmaid dress.

I unpack my things, hanging up my dress in the closet. The bed looks big and comfy, but I know that if I lie down now, I’ll be out for the rest of the night.

My stomach growls, and I decide to sneak out for some food before I have to come back and put out more fires.

Grabbing my keys and purse, I leave my room, keeping an eye out for any sign of my family. I debate taking the stairs since it’s only one floor, but I’m too tired.

I hit the button for the elevator and send up a silent prayer that my family doesn’t catch me as I step on and ride it down to the lobby.

The doors open, and I rush out, intending to make a hasty exit to my car, and run smack dab into someone.

“Oomph!” I grunt, rubbing my sore nose.

“Easy.”

The deep male voice sends goosebumps racing over my arms, and a shiver tingles down my spine.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize as I look up into the face of the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

My mouth drops open as I stare up at him. He towers over my curvy frame. For the first time in my life, I feel… dainty. His green eyes look so soft, but he has an intensity I can’t ignore. His dark hair is cropped short on the sides, but longer strands fall across his forehead.

“Sorry,” I say again when I realize I’ve been standing there staring at him and blocking the elevator.

My face heats with a blush as I sidestep him and practically sprint to the exit.