Cowboy Seal: A Navy Seal Romance (The Navy Seal Collection Book 2)

by Angela Blake

  In his little child mind, that was equivalent to torture and he sighed, a dramatic release of breath, forcing Ivy to blink hard at the ceiling.

  By the time Fabian was brought back, two slices of cake were on the table, along with two glasses of milk.

  Pleased with his afternoon snack, Andy savoured the cake. Lily had been been a horrible cook, but while she had been around, she had kept the entire ranch together, making it feel more like home. With her gone, the main house had become quiet and looking at the emptiness that surrounded it had instilled a sense of deep loss in each and every person working on this ranch.

  But with Ivy here, although it had been a week or so, the men had at first been curious about her, but she had been on bed rest and drugged so nobody had gotten the chance to see her, except the men who had been there when she had been brought to the house.

  But after word had gotten out that she had made Sam’s safety priority in the blackout the other day, they had started dropping by with one excuse or the other just to see who the little lady was.

  She was a little surly, like their boss, but inside the prickly exterior she was as soft as goo. And she had a nurturing streak a mile wide, whether she knew it or not. It was common knowledge the boss had a thing for her and the ranch hands had a pool going on, on how soon Zack would win her over.

  As he chewed the cake, Andy wondered how he could speed the process up. He had twenty bucks on Zack and Ivy getting together in two weeks and from the boss’s face, it didn’t look like he had gotten laid.

  “So, Miss Ivy.”

  “Hmm,” She raised a questioning brow, but didn’t look up from the laptop she had just opened.

  “Do you have any ex boyfriends, or husbands that we should know about?”

  That got Ivy’s attention, and she stared at him, “Please tell me you’re not hitting on me and that all this getting banged up consistently has just rewired some of my brain cells.”

  Andy immediately straightened, waving his hands in horrified denial, “No, no! Of course not! Zack would- I mean, you’re awesome, but the boys were just curious.”

  Ivy studied him through narrowed eyes, “And is Zack included in those boys?”

  Andy drank some milk to wet his suddenly dry throat, “No, ma’am. We were just wondering.”

  She looked at him for a few seconds, before turning her attention back to the laptop, her reply short, “No. I don’t.”

  He fiddled with his glass, intimidated, but not defeated, “So, do you plan on sticking around here after your little problem is all sorted out?”

  Everybody knew that Ivy was in trouble with some people but aside from Zack or Billy, nobody knew the exact details of the matter, and they had been warned from asking Ivy. All they had been told was to keep an eye on her and let no stranger on the ranch, and not to let her leave with a stranger.

  Ivy stilled at his question.

  Where would she go after this whole issue was resolved?

  She didn’t have any place to call home. And now that she officially didn’t exist in any system, this could be her chance to start over.

  But she had no place she particularly wanted to go.

  “I don’t know.” She murmured, staring at the laptop screen, blankly. She really did not know.

  Despite Zack flirting with her, she had told herself he couldn’t possibly be serious about her. And if his actions contradicted her assumption, she just told herself too much was going on for her to even consider this man.

  While the truth was that she had uprooted her entire life, the sense of insecurity which surrounded her, she wasn’t ready to face it. And giving into Zack’s tempting kisses might force her to evaluate her future.

  Besides, what did she know about family? She’d never had one for long enough. Always too old to be adopted, and the foster homes she had been in, the men had grabby hands and the women were harsh and unforgiving.

  No.

  She knew nothing about families.

  And Zack needed someone who would look after and raise Sam as well.

  Andy saw that Ivy was lost in her thoughts, and so he quietly slipped out.

  It was only when Sam tugged at her sleeve and pointed outside that Ivy was dragged out of her mind.

  “You want to go out?” She asked him.

  He shook his head and grabbed her hand, tugging at it.

  Oh. He wanted her to go out.

  Ivy stood up slowly, careful of the stitches, despite being able to move more freely. She exited the house, followed by Sam and Fabian, and she sat down on the edge of the porch which was not hindered by the railing, letting her legs dangle from the edge, and watched Sam throw a stick for Fabian.

  The boy and dog played at it, and Ivy wondered why Sam wasn’t in school. Maybe being around children would convince him to start speaking again. Then again, she swung her legs, it was July. Maybe he did go to school and it was summer vacations.

  Her mind drifted off towards Zack.

  It seemed that’s all it ever did.

  The man was built, in a way that her eyes could appreciate his muscular build. She just hated that every time she admired his physique, he would somehow catch her and then give her one of those smiles, that warned her that playing with him would be akin to playing with fire. Because Zack didn’t seem the kind of man who did casual anything.

  He hadn’t waited, or eased her into the idea of wanting her.

  No.

  He had just decided and then told her.

  How was she supposed to know that he had been watching her at Lily’s wedding? Or that he had been remotely interested in her? And to think he still held feelings for her.

  Ivy scoffed, half heartedly, more for her own benefit than anything. There was no way he still held a torch for her. That was the most stupidest, insane idea that she had ever-

  But what if he did? The innermost part of her whispered. The part that had wanted Zack from the moment she had seen him, not here, but from six years ago.

  Ivy forced her thoughts away from this dangerous line of thinking.

  Fabian’s excited barking didn’t register on her, as she imagined Zack’s body walking towards her in the sun, shirtless. He would be clad in just those ass hugging jeans, those cowboy boots, and that ridiculously sexy hat.

  Her heart stuttered in her chest when she realized she was actually seeing him walk towards her, his shirt crumpled in his hand.

  She didn’t have much time to process him before he had reached her and was studying her dazed look with a hint of concern, “You all right there?”

  “Huh?” Ivy shook her head. “Yeah. Why aren’t you wearing your shirt?”

  The last part was said as she averted her eyes, trying not to stare at the body of a Greek god, if said Greek god had a few misshapen scars on his body.

  Zack grinned, unable to help himself, “Why? Does it bother you?”

  Ivy opened her mouth and closed it, turning her head to the side, “Will you please put on a shirt?”

  However, Zack had other plans.

  Ivy stilled when his shadow fell across her, and she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes. Even sitting on the high porch, she was still shorter than him.

  Those green eyes glinted with humor and an emotion that she was too wary to identify. He was leaning into her, his face mere inches away from hers. It was then that she realized that both his hands were at her sides, making escape an impossibility.

  “What are you doing?” It was supposed to be a hiss, but she breathed out the words, her eyes trapped in those beautiful green eyes. They were truly stunning and at such close proximity, she could see the specks of gold that were usually shaded under his hat.

  Was it possible for someone to have such mesmerizing eyes?

  When Zack’s smile slid off his face, morphing into a darker, more hungry look, Ivy didn’t protest as his mouth slid over hers. Her hands remained at her sides, as Zack skilfully plundered her mou
th, his tongue playing with hers, making her tremble.

  Her eyes slid closed and she found herself responding in heated demand as she gave into the desires of her own body. She kissed him back with just as much hunger and felt his lips curve against her lips, triumphantly, before her fingers were in his hair and she tugged at the strands, a punishing grip.

  Zack hadn’t expected her to finally give in.

  Sure, a few days of teasing her, stealing kisses, and riling her up, he had thought she would hold out for a little longer. But it seemed, she had hit her limit. He wanted to put his hands on those soft curves, squeeze them, memorize them till he knew each spot by heart, but he could feel Sam’s eyes burning holes in the back of his head, and reluctantly he pulled away.

  Ivy’s breath was hard, but he could see the lust in her eyes.

  Maybe she was giving into her carnal desires, Zack thought. But either way he would make this work for him. By the time he was done with Ivy, she would have his ring on her finger.

  “Boss?” A strained voice from behind him, made him turn around, shielding Ivy’s flushed face and swollen lips from sight.

  “Yeah?”

  The look on Cory’s face was grim and he held a piece of paper in his hands that he held out to Zack, “You want to take a look at this.”

  Zack narrowed his eyes and his eyes moved over the contents.

  He stiffened, “When did you get this?”

  Cory had his hands in his pockets, wariness on his face, “I went into town to pick up some supplies and the police were stationed everywhere and they were checking all the vehicles. When they found out I was from Belle Creek Ranch, they took me aside and started asking questions about her. I denied everything. But they said they had a source tell them she was hiding in our ranch. I took the poster from them and said I’d keep an eye out for this woman if I were to ever see her.”

  Ivy tried to climb off the porch, but the drop was a little too much for her to risk, “Zack.”

  Without even blinking, Zack turned around and taking her arms, he put them around his neck, gently lowering her to the ground. Ivy blushed a little at the close contact but when her feet touched the ground, she released him, holding out her hand for the paper, “Can I see that?”

  Zack didn’t hesitate and when she saw a black and white picture of her, with a ‘wanted’ sign on top, she blinked, “Isn’t this like incredibly old fashioned?”

  She waved her picture in the air, “I thought this ‘wanted’ poster only happened in the old west movies.”

  She looked at the details and then her breath caught and she breathed out, “They want me for Noah’s murder.”

  She took a step back and studied the two men in front of her, “But I didn’t kill him!”

  “I know you didn’t,” Zack said, his voice calm, and Cory blinked, uneasily.

  “Boss, what’s going on?”

  Zack met Ivy’s eyes, “Cory, your fiancée works in a salon, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Bring her over tonight, and gather the men in an hour.”

  Cory closed his eyes for a beat and when he opened them, there was unflinching loyalty in them, “Sure thing, boss.”

  As he walked away, he hoped his boss knew what he was doing.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Zack?”

  Ivy swallowed, feeling that her world had been upended all over again. She mustered up her strength, “If I leave in the dark, there’s a good chance-“

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Zack told her, authority in his voice. His hand lifted and fingered her long hair, a regretful look in his eyes.

  “I can’t stay here. They know that I’m here!”

  Her eyes moved to the distance where Sam was playing and her voice came out a little broken, “I can’t stay here, Zack.”

  “You’re not leaving, Ivy,” Zack said, firmly. “I’m going to get in my touch with my previous commanding officer. Nobody can take you.”

  His hands moved to her right hand and he turned it over, palm up, his eyes on her fingertips, “When you said you removed your fingerprints from the system, did you also burn these off?”

  When Ivy met his eyes with that defiant look, he shook his head, amazed, “You’re insane. You’re a very dangerous woman, Ivy.”

  She tried to snatch her hand away, but he held fast, murmuring, “I thought there was something off about the skin of your finger tips. It must have been very painful.”

  When he bent down to kiss each fingertip, Ivy’s lips trembled. Each brush of his lips felt like a caress on her bruised heart that had scars dating back decades.

  “Don’t do that,” She whispered, in a heartbreakingly vulnerable voice.

  But he took his time kissing each fingertip and at the last one, he pulled her into his arms, enfolding her to him, and despite the fact that he was sweaty and had no shirt on, Ivy had never felt more secure.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Ivy.” He murmured in her ear, and she blinked back tears.

  Her head jerked in a movement that resembled a nod because she didn’t trust her voice.

  ***

  “Are you sure you want to make this trip down here, Sir?”

  The voice on the other end was grim, “I’ll be there in two days, Tanner. If the police are looking into this, that means that people with positions in the government are involved. Now, are you sure your friend had managed to encrypt the data?”

  Zack glanced at Ivy and she nodded, scribbling something down on the notepad in front of her and holding it up for him to see, “Yes. It’s got names of past victims, current, and even potential ones. It’s also got names of people on every chain of command and the role they play.”

  Silence on the other end, “Don’t trust anybody. If they know she is here, I’m surprised they haven’t made an attempt to extract her yet.”

  That was what was eating at Zack as well.

  “How well do you trust your men, Tanner?”

  “With my life,” Zack replied in a beat.

  A sigh, “Then I hope I’m wrong but there is a possibility that the reason they haven’t attempted to extract her is because they already have somebody on the inside.”

  “My men are solid, sir. They’ve all worked in the military in the past. They’ve got families, roots.”

  “Not all of them, Tanner. And with so many people under you, there is bound to be something you’ve missed. Isolate your friend till I get there. Don’t leave her alone. These people are cunning. You’ve seen their type. So, prepare yourself accordingly. And trust no one.”

  Ronald Trey had been his team lead when he had started out as a SEAL and then the man had moved onto becoming a supervising officer. And there was no one Zack trusted more.

  Ivy’s face was pale when he finally closed the phone.

  “Two days,” She whispered. “A lot can happen in two days.”

  Zack ran a finger over her cheek and cracked a smile, “I’m a SEAL, Ivy. I have been in worse situations.”

  Ivy was silent for a few moments, “There is something that’s been bothering me.”

  Zack raised a questioning brow.

  “Where is the hard disk? I mailed it here. But I’ve not seen it yet. Who received it?”

  Zack studied her, “Move aside.”

  Ivy frowned, but complied.

  Zack leaned down and checked to make sure the curtains were drawn. Pushing the couch to one side, he rolled up the carpet and then his sharp eyes saw what he was looking for and he pressed his thumb against an invisible spot on the wooden floor. The floor creaked, and two wooden planks moved aside automatically, showing a hollow space.

  Ivy’s jaw dropped at the scene that was straight out of some spy movie.

  Zack put his hand into the dark space and retrieved the familiar hard drive, “Is this it?”

  Ivy nodded, mutely, unable to say anything.

  Zack put the hard drive back
into the space, and then put everything back in its place.

  “Wow.” Ivy sank into the couch, her eyes wide. “That’s surreal.”

  Zack just grinned at her, “It’s nice to know something amazes you.”

  Ivy frowned at him till she realized he was teasing her. But as he joined her on the couch, she let him drag her form into him, till she was half laying on him. She needed human connection to prove to her that she wasn’t alone in this right now.

  “You’re thinking too hard.” Zack chastised.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever met a more persistent man than you,” Ivy told him, trying not to think about the current situation at hand.

  “Some would say that’s a good thing.” He retorted, his big hand settling on her bandaged stitches. “Does it still hurt?”

  “If I pull it too hard,” Ivy took his hand and studied the calluses on his palm. Her slim fingers moved over the roughness of his palm and she felt him shiver in response.

  “I like your hands,” She commented, absentmindedly.

  “Yeah?” There was laughter in Zack’s voice. “I like them too. They’re pretty handy.”

  He roared in laughter at his own joke while Ivy just rolled her eyes and snorted.

  The sound brought Sam downstairs from his room and when he saw the two of them curled up on the couch in such an intimate position, feeling left out, he too jumped into the fray.

  “Careful, Sam!”

  The boy blinked up from where his arms were hugging her waist. He cuddled with Ivy for a few moments till he got bored and then he went in search of Fabian.

  “It’s like he keeps checking whether I’m still here,” Ivy remarked, shaking her head. “When I used to talk to him on the phone, he –“

  Zack cut her off, “I didn’t know Lily let Sam talk to you. You never told me that.”

  Ivy shrugged, “It’s not that big a deal. I would call her sometimes and Sam was at that age where he loved babbling on the phone. I guess he recognized my voice when I met him.”

  Zack stared blindly at the top of her head. Her one admission cleared up a lot of things that had not been making sense to him. That’s why Sam was so attached to her to begin with. In his small brain, he probably linked Ivy to his mother and had clung to her as a result.