FROST (The Trident Series Book 3)

by Jaime Lewis

  He walked with a slight limp toward her. The well-worn blue jeans and grey t-shirt he was wearing gave him a guy next door appeal. He was grinning, which, of course, showed off his dimple. Her heart started to have palpitations. He looked mouthwatering.

  “Wow, first flowers and now a personal visit. I’d say someone’s caught the eye of the Chief Petty Officer,” Nancy whispered in a low voice.

  She swung her head around and looked at Nancy, who gave her a sly grin. Her friend was a nut job.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “What I’m saying is that sex on a stick walking toward you right now with an adorable grin on his face wants you.”

  Autumn had to wonder if her boss hadn’t slipped earlier in the day and hit her head. Not that she would argue about him being sex on a stick because the man was gorgeous. All six-foot-something of him. And that was just it. He could have any woman he wanted, so why would he want her? She was a widow with a kid. Ever since Kevin died, she considered herself a woman with baggage when it came to dating a man. She just shook her head at Nancy, trying to deny everything the woman was saying.

  “Oh, honey, believe me, it takes something special to make those types of men smile. Judging from the wide smile plastered on his face, I beg to differ with you. He wants you. It is clearly written all over his face. I say go for it.”

  When he stopped in front of her, she gulped. She had forgotten how tall he was as he stood towering over her. She gave him a soft smile as she tilted her head back to look up at him. It took her a moment to gather her words.

  “Frost… What brings you to this side of town?”

  He didn’t answer her right away; instead, he turned to Nancy before smiling and reached his hand out.

  “Hi, I’m Frost.”

  Nancy shook his hand. “I’m Nancy. It’s nice to meet you. And you seem to be making a good recovery.”

  He squinted his eyes, and Autumn could tell Nancy’s comment had caught him off guard. Especially since she was a stranger to him, and he didn’t know what her role was here at the hospital.

  Before he could interrogate Nancy, Autumn spoke up. “Frost, Nancy is my manager here at the hospital.”

  His shoulders immediately relaxed, and he gave Nancy another smile. “Well, I guess I should thank you for my introduction to this amazing woman.” He slid his arm around Autumn’s shoulders and pulled her into his side. Oh hell, she was so screwed. Even though she was stiff as a board, she found herself closing her eyes and inhaling his cologne and damn, he smelled good.

  Nancy’s giggle brought her back to the present. “It was my pleasure. Autumn’s one of the best physical therapists I’ve known, and my most sought-after therapist. She’d have a waiting list if we allowed it. All of the patients simply adore her.” She laughed, then winked, and Autumn wished the floor would open up and swallow her now. Could Nancy be any more obvious?

  The gentle squeeze on her shoulder had her looking up right into those brown eyes of his. “Well, then, I guess I should be grateful.”

  “Yes, you should be. Considering all of the men that come through here, it’s just a matter of time before one of them sweep her right off her feet.” Autumn couldn’t help the eye roll. Okay, now Nancy was being ridiculous.

  “I guess I’m lucky I stopped in today before someone could make a move before me.”

  Autumn wanted to fan her face because it was hot. Dear God. What in the hell was Nancy doing? The two of them were talking as if she wasn’t even in the room. When Nancy ran her mouth, there was no telling what would come out of it next. She needed to change the subject, stat.

  She stepped to the side, causing Frost’s arm to fall from her shoulders, and she immediately felt the loss. With a little room between them, she looked up at him. “Are you here for an appointment?”

  He cleared his throat and stuck his hands in his front pockets. He grinned again. A groan nearly escaped as she caught sight of his dimple. What the hell was it with her and dimples?

  “No, I was at the base for some business and decided to drive over here to see if you had some time to grab a coffee at the shop across the street.”

  She stared at him in shock. Was he seriously asking her out for coffee? What this a joke or something? She looked at Nancy, who just stood there with a smirk on her face that said ‘I told you so.’

  She looked back at Frost and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She tended to do that when she was nervous. Then Nancy gave her arm a nudge. “She’d love to.” She looked at Autumn. “You have about an hour to kill before your next appointment. Take thirty minutes and go have some coffee. Oh, and bring me back one of those cinnamon muffins. Those things are to die for.” Before Autumn could argue, Nancy turned and walked away, leaving Autumn staring at her friend’s back as she retreated. She totally just set her up. Bitch!

  She turned back and caught Frost checking her out. He smiled as his eyes met hers. Damn, she couldn’t say no to him. What the hell, it was just coffee, right? How bad could it be?

  She took a deep breath. “Let me go grab my purse.” Before she could turn away, he clutched her hand, stopping her and then smiled again.

  “You don’t need your purse unless you need it for something other than money. Coffee is on me, sugar.”

  Taking another deep, cleansing breath, she gazed into his eyes. “Lead the way.”

  ◆◆◆

  Frost held the door open for Autumn. Immediately, the aroma of fresh coffee and freshly baked goods consumed her. Placing his hand on her lower back, he guided her to a table near the back. His innocent touch sent the blood racing to the most delicate places. She smiled to herself when he picked out the table, just like her husband. He always had to sit with his back to the wall and near an exit.

  “What would you like?” He asked her with a twinkle in his eye. She wondered what his reaction would be if she told him she’d like an order of him.

  Oh.My.God. Stop that! Just tell the man you want a coffee.

  She shook those thoughts from her head and cleared her throat. “I’ll take a regular hazelnut coffee, one sugar, please.” Despite clearing her throat, her voice seemed to squeak. Jesus, could she sound any more nervous.

  He winked, then strode toward the counter to order. While he waited in line, she took the time to study him. He had a firm jaw and always wore that serious expression she’d become accustomed to expect when he smiled at her, and his dimple appeared. Most of the time, he looked so in control and intimidating. Her eyes wandered around the bustling little coffee shop, and she spotted numerous women checking him out. Not that she could blame them. But seeing other women swooning over Frost got her a little riled up. They were all beautiful women, and again Autumn had to wonder why he wanted to be here with her. She didn’t consider herself beautiful. She felt she was an average woman at her age and with a child. The only trait she was cursed with was her fair skin. If she weren’t careful in the sun, she’d look like a fried tomato. She tried to eat healthily and worked out when she could, though, with her schedule, she was lucky to make it to the gym once a week. She never let her weight bother her. She was simply happy with who she was.

  She must have really been deep in thought because she jerked when a hand landed on her shoulder. When she glanced up and saw a man standing there, she became alarmed. But as she looked closer, she realized it was the man she had practically run over with her shopping cart at the grocery store last week. She had been in one of her daydreaming moods and wasn’t paying attention when she ran her cart into his.

  “I thought that was you sitting over here,” he said to her, removing his hand from her shoulder.

  She smiled, but something about him didn’t sit right with her. Maybe it was the way his eyes ran over her body.

  “Hi.” It was all she managed to say. She didn’t know what else to say to him, and she looked toward the counter. Frost had ordered but was still waiting for the coffees, but his eyes were focused on the guy standing close to her
, and he didn’t look happy. She gulped.

  “Are you sitting alone?” The man asked her, obviously hoping to join her.

  “No, she’s with me,” Frost growled from behind the man. Autumn had to hide her smile when the guy turned around and took in the sight of Frost. Frost had several inches on him in both height and width. Frost looked from the guy to Autumn, silently asking her who this guy was.

  “Frost, this is….” Well, shit, she didn’t even know the man’s name. Before she could think about it any longer, the guy stuck his hand out for Frost to shake.

  “The name is Cecil.”

  Frost had his hands full with the coffees, so he just gave Cecil a chin lift, then maneuvered his large frame around the man and took the seat across from Autumn. In a surprise move, Frost reached across the table and took her hand into his. She looked down at their clasped hands and grinned. His hand was warm from carrying the coffees. When she looked up and saw Frost staring at her, she saw more than jealously. There was a feeling of warmth and caring.

  Before she could dwell on Frost’s show of possession, Cecil cleared his throat. When she looked up at Cecil, he didn’t appear happy as he was shooting daggers at Frost, and Autumn wondered what the guy’s problem was. It gave her an uneasy feeling. She didn’t even know this guy. All they did at the grocery store was say a few words to one another. But, having Frost holding her hand gave her a sense of protection, and it brought a smile to her face. It felt right. It was as if Frost knew. Frost grinned at her and winked before turning his attention to Cecil.

  “How do you two know each other,” Frost asked, taking a sip of his coffee with his free hand.

  Autumn spoke first, hoping to get the conversation over with, so the guy would leave. She only had thirty minutes, and she wanted to spend every minute of it talking to Frost.

  “I accidentally ran him over in the grocery store the other day. Isn’t that right, Cecil?”

  Cecil smiled at her though it never really reached his eyes. It reminded her of a slimy used car salesman when he knew he’d got you hooked. She still couldn’t put her finger on it, but something just wasn’t sitting right with her. Cecil never took his eyes off of her, and Frost began to look annoyed.

  “Yes. I tried to find you before you left the store. I wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner with me.”

  Autumn’s mouth gaped open, and her eyes went wide. She seriously started to consider this guy’s mental status. Did he have a death wish? She was sitting here with a man who towered over this guy and one who could most likely take him down with one swing, and this fruit cake was hitting on her.

  “But it seems I’m a little late.” He handed her a business card. “Give me a call if you change your mind,” he said before turning around, walking out the door.

  Her eyes shot over to Frost, who was glaring at Cecil’s back. When he turned back and faced her, his expression was cold, and she gulped. His body was rigid. He just stared at her, seeming to collect his thoughts. Finally, after a couple of seconds, he spoke.

  “You are not calling him.” He reached for the business card and tore it into little pieces. She should be pissed off at him for doing that. They weren’t dating, she didn’t belong to him, but honestly, it was a little funny to see him act this way. It was almost as if watching a little kid throw a temper tantrum because another boy wanted to steal his ‘girlfriend.’ She started giggling.

  “What’s so funny?” He asked, sounding insulted, which only made her cover her mouth so that she wouldn’t laugh harder.

  “You.”

  “Me?” He asked, pointing at himself.

  She shook her head. “Yes, you. Seeing you get all flustered with Cecil.” She turned and looked in the direction Cecil went. “He’s harmless.”

  Frost stared at her. “No, he wants you. And I don’t know how I feel about that.” He said those words with meaning, and Autumn could only swallow the lump in her throat as she looked into his eyes and the emotion swirling in those amber orbs. They stayed that way for about a minute, just staring at each other like they were trying to read what one another was thinking. Finally, Frost grinned and moved her coffee in front of her.

  “One hazelnut coffee with one sugar just like you wanted.”

  “Thank you.”

  He winked and then thanked her again for agreeing to join him. It was like the interaction with Cecil never even happened.

  She opened the lid and inhaled. She loved the smell of hazelnut. Then she made the mistake of glancing over at Frost, who had just happened to take a sip of his coffee and damn if she didn’t wish she was the coffee cup as his lips made contact with it. His lips seemed firm but full, and she could just imagine how they would feel pressed against her lips. Holy shit, she was literally staring at the man like she wanted to drink him up. She felt her cheeks blush and looked away, then took the first sip of her coffee. She closed her eyes, relishing the taste. This was one of the best coffee houses in the area. She set her cup down and looked at Frost. He was staring at her, grinning.

  “What?” She asked, feeling a little self-conscious. It always made her nervous when people stared at her. She always thought they were judging her, especially during the year that followed her husband’s death.

  He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Just admiring you. That’s all. I like what I see.”

  “Okay…” She felt her cheeks flush, and she didn’t know what to say. This was so awkward.

  He chuckled and set his cup down, making her look at him.

  “I have to apologize upfront, Autumn. I didn’t really think this through, and to tell you the truth, I don’t do this type of thing.”

  Now she was confused. “You don’t have coffee with people?” She asked, taking another sip of her coffee.

  He smiled and chuckled. “No, I have coffee with plenty of people. Just never had coffee with a beautiful woman before.” His gaze met hers over the rim of his cup as he lifted it to his mouth.

  She smiled back. “Well, if you’re being honest, I guess I should confess something too.”

  He arched one of his eyebrows and grinned, looking all sexy. “And, that would be...”

  She laughed, and her insides felt like mush by his flirtatious words. “I’ve never sat in a coffee shop with a good-looking man before. My husband hated coffee.”

  He threw his back and laughed loudly, drawing attention to them, but she didn’t care. Damn, even his deep laugh was sexy.

  His eyes met hers. “Well, I don’t know if I consider myself good looking or not, but it’s good to know that you think I am. I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.” He winked again.

  She snorted a laugh. She was quite sure he and his team probably got hit on every time they stepped out in public, especially when the women found out they were SEALs. “Oh, come on. You know you’re good looking. My god, your entire team, is like a walking version of a military calendar of men you see places trying to sell.”

  He gave her a mischievous look and that boyish smile of his. “So, you’re checking out my teammates too.” His voice was low and sexy.

  She shook her head no but was laughing and pointing at him. “No, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” She reached over and slapped his forearm. Though she had to admit she had checked them all out. They were all nice-looking men and seemed very genuine.

  “What did you mean then?” He asked as his light brown eyes gazed into hers.

  “I’m just surprised some beautiful woman hasn’t already staked a claim on you.”

  He gave her a serious look. His eyes penetrated hers. She could feel the intensity. “Never thought about it until recently,” he told her, still holding her gaze.

  “Why is that?”

  “My job.” He told her, and she gave him an odd look. “My job is not relationship friendly if you get what I mean. There are a lot of sacrifices that have to be made to make the relationship succeed.”

  She swallowed the hot coffee. She knew what he w
as referring to. She sacrificed a lot being married to Kevin, and he was just a Marine. Frost was a SEAL. They were like 007 agents, all secretive and whatnot. She was intrigued, why all of a sudden was he interested in pursuing a relationship when he’s avoided it up to now?

  “I can understand that, but what happened to make you rethink the whole relationship thing now? I mean, you’re still a SEAL.” She leaned back in her chair and got more comfortable. She was very curious to hear his answer.

  “I’m going to be thirty-one in November, and I’m not going to be a SEAL forever.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked out the window. She could tell he was thinking, and when he looked back at her, his brown eyes pierced hers. “I guess seeing two of my teammates each fall head over heels for their women made me start thinking more about my future and what I wanted. I mean, if they make it work, then anyone can. Especially Potter.”

  Autumn could sense this discussion was getting serious, but she wanted to know more. “And what is it that you think you want?’

  “I don’t have to think. I know what I want,” he said with a firm tone and stared straight into her eyes. She swallowed hard at the intensity. “I’m not getting any younger. I want a family.”

  She nodded her head. She understood what he was saying. She was glad she had Cody at a young age. Part of her still yearned for at least one more child. Her husband had wanted more children, and they did try when he was home, but the timing wasn’t in their favor. She must have been deep in thought because when she looked up from the table, Frost was eyeing her intently.

  “I hope I didn’t frighten you with all of that,” he said as he ran his hand through his hair. The poor guy actually looked a little nervous, and it made her smile. The big bad Navy SEAL gets nervous when talking about his emotions.

  She smiled and shook her head no. And, honestly, he hadn’t scared her. It was good to hear the truth. She felt compelled to at least contribute to the conversation since the man basically spilled his inner thoughts to her. Something she had a feeling he didn’t often do.