Special Forces: Operation Alpha: The Fox and The Hound (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Breaking the SEAL Book 1)

by Wren Michaels

  “You really are in love. Well, write this day on the calendar,” Melinda said with a quiet laugh, swiping at her remaining tears.

  Jayla gave her a nudge. “Bitch.”

  Melinda snort-laughed and pulled her into a hug. “So I'm guessing things were left unsettled between you?”

  “Yeah. We just kind of went our separate ways. I mean, the CIA choppered me out, and his SEAL team picked him up. So it's not like we got to discuss a relationship, ya know? I mean, what if he doesn't feel the same? What if it was all just another one night stand for him? Gawd, these feelings suck. This is why I don't do this shit.”

  Melinda pulled a lock of hair climbing its way into Jayla's mouth. “Is he worth it?”

  Jayla nodded without thinking. “Yeah. He's actually pretty amazing. Inside and out.” Excitement fluttered through her heart at the thought of him. “Holy shit, he's so hot, Melinda. You remember him from the barbecue?”

  Melinda blinked. “Wait, I think I remember seeing you kiss some dude at Caroline’s barbecue. Was that him?”

  Jayla winced. “Maybe?”

  “The one you stormed out and stole my car, leaving me there?” Melinda's eyes narrowed.

  “Okay, so maybe I didn't leave a great first impression. It all worked out in the end.” Jayla held up a hand. “What are you going to do about Buck?”

  “I don’t know that there’s anything I can do.”

  Jayla narrowed her eyes. She wasn't getting off the hook that easy. Time to flip the tables. “Do you love him?”

  “He made me feel safe and protected. I thought he respected me as a person and as a woman with a career, and he didn’t make fun of me for fainting. Not seriously, anyway. He was sweet, and tough, and so incredibly hot. And holy crap, the sex was ah-mazing. But like you said, it wasn’t just the sex, it was the connection and the intensity.”

  “Uh-huh. So, yes, you love him.”

  Melinda sighed. “Yes.”

  Jayla folded her arms with a smirk. “Good. We can stick this out together. Besides, now that you’re staying here we’ve averted a catastrophe. I mean, if you’d chased a SEAL to Virginia, who’d cook for me? You know I can't make anything but grilled cheese. Speaking of which, what do you have to eat? All this emotional baggage has made me hungry.”

  She whispered a silent thank you to the 'powers that be' for Melinda staying. Jayla would be lost without her best friend, her rock, her heart. They were yin and yang. Balance in The Force. They'd actually make a really kickass super-hero, if only Melinda liked tights. Jayla still planned to work her down on that. But no matter what, they had each other. Together, they'd get through even this.

  “Come on,” Melinda said, taking Jayla’s hand and dragging her to the kitchen. She pulled down a box of cereal. “This'll have to do. I ate all the cocoa crispies last night.”

  Jayla took the cereal and poured it into two bowls, taking one to the table along with the gallon of milk from the fridge. “I'm going to be alone for the rest of my life. Just me and you and Mal. And you know Mal is an asshole.”

  “So you and…what’s his name?” Melinda asked.

  “Hound,” Jayla said. “I mean, Noah.”

  “Oh that's rich, The Fox and The Hound,” Melinda said, grabbing her bowl and following Jayla to the table.

  “Ha ha. Like I didn’t think of that already.”

  “So the two of you aren’t going to make a go of it? I mean, you didn’t say he dumped you, or, you know, left you because his career was more important to him than you are.”

  Jayla eyed Melinda as she coughed then shoved a giant spoonful of Lucky Charms in her mouth. She caught the jab at Buck and Jayla's heart sunk. It took everything in her not to go after him right now and give him a throat punch. Melinda deserved better than that asshole.

  Jayla was all too familiar with that pain. It still sunk her heart at the thought of Noah. “We aren't making a go of it. He doesn't even have a clue. He probably doesn't feel the same.”

  “Well, there's still time. Maybe he's just as freaked out as you are and contemplating what to do.”

  “It's been a week, Nerd. He's probably boinking some Frog Hog as we speak.” Jayla stuffed her own spoonful of Lucky Charms in her mouth.

  “If it's meant to be, it'll happen. Love will find a way.”

  “Now you sound like an 80's love song. Just stop talking.” Jayla finished her cereal and popped the bowl into the sink, clutching her car keys in hand. “Listen, you should take your own advice. I know you said Buck took off like a big fat chicken, but maybe he was freaked out, too? Anyway, I’m going home. I haven’t been there for a while, and I need a shower and to take care of Mal. Keep the alcohol and ice cream I brought.” She headed out, and Melinda followed her, holding the door as Jayla made her way to her Mini Cooper. “Remember,” Jayla said before climbing into the car, “If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. Love will find a way.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Noah stood outside the tall mirrored-glass building with the words Triada written in big block letters at the top. He clutched the paper with the address that Wolf had given him, and ran his other hand through his hair, blowing out a hard breath.

  You got this. Just go in there and get the girl.

  Doubt flooded his mind and knotted his stomach. What if he had misread her signals on the island? What if he was walking into a shitstorm of embarrassment?

  Digger's lecture played over in his mind. He was right. About all of it. Noah knew firsthand how short life was. But this was going to be the hardest mission of his life. Sucking up the last of his courage and pride, he stalked inside the building.

  He stopped at the reception desk sitting by a block of elevators. “Excuse me, Ma'am?”

  The perky blond all but dropped the phone she was playing candy crush on and adjusted her tight blouse. “Oh, how can I help you?” A soft giggle floated through her words. At one time Noah would have flirted right back with her, knowing from the start she'd be an easy lay. But his stomach turned at the thought of it now. He knew right then and there, he was in love.

  Noah stuffed the paper in his pocket and cleared his throat. “I'm looking for Miss Jayla McFadden. Is she available?”

  The blond wrinkled her nose and curled a lock of hair around her index finger. “She's at lunch. Can I take a message?”

  Noah's heart sunk. “Do you know when she'll be back?”

  “She hasn't left. She's in the cafeteria. Down the hall, to your left.”

  His sunken heart launched into an erratic rhythm as adrenaline shot through him like a flare gun. “Great, thank you.”

  Noah marched down the hall, sucking in calming breaths to ease his speeding heart. It had been almost a week and a half since he'd seen her. All he could think about was her blue eyes, and how much he wanted to look into them again.

  Womanly chatter echoed through the hallway. He stood outside the door, ran another hand through his hair, and adjusted his white button-down shirt, making sure he looked presentable. Funny how at one time he couldn't have cared less how he looked. All he ever had to do was mention he was a SEAL and it was pretty much a sure thing. With Jayla, his 'sure thing' was the one thing keeping them apart.

  Air wedged in the back of his throat as he turned the corner, scanning the cafeteria for her. He held his breath as his eyes focused on Caroline at a table with two women, one he vaguely remembered seeing at the BBQ—the one Jayla called Melinda—and the other was Jayla. Her black and pink hair sat in a cascading ponytail on her head. A long white labcoat hid the rest of her outfit, except for her signature black and red Doc Martens.

  A nervous tingle hit him from head to toe, part excitement, part fear. It felt like his very first mission, going into the unknown. But simply looking at her, even the back of her from across the room, everything fell into place. He knew the instant he laid eyes on her, this was where he was meant to be. And he was about to do everything in his power to convince her of that.

  * * *

/>   Jayla stuffed another forkful of strawberry Jell-O in her mouth, bouncing her leg in a nervous rhythm. Everything in her life had been turned upside down. Now, not only was she trying to figure out how to move on after Noah, she also had to figure out who the hell was trying to kill her.

  “So, Caroline, does Matthew keep in contact with the other SEAL teams?” Jayla cleared her throat, trying to free the pride stuck behind the ball of emotions at the back of it. She couldn't stop the words from falling out of her mouth. But she just wanted to make sure Noah was okay. At least, that's what Jayla kept telling herself.

  “Still haven't heard from him?” Caroline asked.

  “Heard from who?” Jayla's brows arched. How would Caroline even know who she was talking about? Was it that obvious?

  Caroline lips twitched to a smirk. “Why, Noah, of course.”

  Her heart hammered at the mere mention of his name. Shit. “But how … ” Jayla stammered and shook her head. She glanced to Melinda who only shrugged in innocence.

  “It was obvious at the party you two had a connection,” Caroline said. “He probably had to finish out his mission, or maybe he got redeployed or something. Noah's a really good guy. Matthew's only ever had praise for him.”

  Jayla shrugged with a sigh. “Yeah, maybe. But maybe he's just—”

  “—here,” Caroline interrupted.

  “Here what?” Jayla quirked a brow, shoving another forkful of Jell-O into her mouth.

  “Here. As in over there.” Caroline pointed over Jayla's shoulder.

  Jayla turned in her chair and nearly aspirated her Jell-O. A coughing fit seized her and she pounded her chest.

  Holy. Shit.

  She blinked, still coughing up the Jell-O as Noah crossed the room toward their table. Tremors riddled her body, and she dropped her fork to her plate with a clank. Her heart raced through her chest, and the room faded around her in a dizzy blur.

  Noah stood right in front of her. He was actually there, hot as hell in tight jeans, black boots, and a form fitting button-down shirt with muscles bulging at the seams.

  “Excuse me, ladies,” Noah said. That rich voice hit her ears like a sweet lullaby, comforting her.

  “Hi, Noah,” Caroline said. “What brings you here?” A ridiculous smile beamed on her lips. Jayla gave her a nudge under the table with her boot. Caroline winked at her.

  “Sorry to intrude on your lunch. I was wondering if I could speak to Jayla for a moment?” He nodded in Jayla's direction as he focused on answering Caroline. But as if the world stopped spinning and moved in slow motion, he turned his head and locked eyes with her. Jayla's heart plummeted to her stomach. The eyes that she lost herself in on the island, so deep and full of passion, emotion, and intensity.

  Melinda kicked her from under the table, knocking her out of her stupor. “Owww—I mean sure, I still have a few minutes left on lunch break.” She tossed both girls a mock-glare over her shoulder as she rose from her chair.

  Noah shoved his hands in his pockets and glanced to the floor with a smile. “Can we go for a walk?”

  “Um, yeah. We have a park behind the building. We can head there.” Jayla tucked her hands in her lab coat pockets.

  Silence dominated the walk until they reached the outdoors, both turning to face each other at the same time.

  “So, how've you been?” they said at the exact same time, followed by a laugh as they realized the awkwardness came from both ends.

  Noah pointed to her. “You first.”

  She mustered a shy smile. “Um, good. Okay. You know, back to normal.” What she really wanted to say was life sucked not hearing from him for a week. How he turned her life upside down and sideways. How he infiltrated every thought she had, waking and not. How just seeing him calmed her soul more than she thought possible.

  “Good. Worry about PTSD and stuff after that kind of a mission. But you're good?”

  Jayla nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. “You?”

  He sucked in a deep breath and held it, staring at her, like he contemplated something. Jayla tilted her head, then dropped her arms to her side in a panic. “What's wrong? Oh Gawd, you've got an STD or something? Is this the 'you better get tested' talk?”

  Noah tossed his head back in a roaring laugh, like her words popped the hellacious tension bubble in the air. “I've really missed you.”

  Jayla blinked and processed his words. “You did?”

  He nodded with a smile. “Yeah. That's why I'm here.”

  “Oh,” she said, but panic overrode her common sense and fear threw her shields up because that couldn't possibly be true. “Well, let me just put this out there, that while we had great sex … okay, fucking amazing sex … I'm not interested in just being your home based lay. I'm—”

  His eyes darkened in annoyance. “Can you let me finish? I have to get this out, or I'm going to walk away and regret never telling you this. So please, just hear me out.”

  She squirmed and dug the top of her boot into the dirt. “Sorry, okay. Say what you have to say.”

  He sucked in a deep breath. “I really like you, Jayla. And it scares the hell out of me.”

  His words knocked the air from her lungs and she stood speechless, grasping for something to say back to him.

  Tell him how you feel, too, Jayla. Just say it.

  She opened her mouth, but nothing came out except a squeak. “I … I ...” Her lips forgot how to work, numbed by the stunning profession. Everything in her head and heart screamed at her to tell him how she felt in return.

  His expression fell at her silence. “Okay, I know you think you don't need anyone to survive. And up until very recently, I used to think like that. You think needing someone is a weakness.”

  She held up a finger, trying to tell him that wasn't the case. “Noah …”

  He cut her off and pressed on with his rant. “But needing someone, loving someone isn't a weakness. It's power. It's a drive, a focus. It makes me want to live, to survive. It makes me smarter in my moves, stronger in my principles, and it'll make me love harder, knowing how fast that can be stripped away from you in an instant.”

  She shook her head. “No … you don't underst—”

  He shook his head, not taking no for an answer. “You know how I know all this? Because I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop this driving need inside me to know you're safe, protected. I can't deny this ache in my heart that feels empty when you're gone. This kick in my gut that makes me get out of bed every day to fight and rid the world of the shit in it so we can have a future.”

  Jayla stared at the passion in his eyes. They spoke louder than the words he just professed. The flutters in her heart beat so fast like a hummingbird in her chest. “Really, if you'd just let me say ...”

  He cut her off a final time, holding up a hand. “I'm falling in love with you, Jayla. There, it's out there. I said it. And even if you don't feel the same—”

  She launched herself at him, and he caught her in his arms. Wrapping her arms and legs around him, she crushed her mouth to his and he welcomed her. His fingers dug into her back, clinging to her as he swept her mouth with his tongue. That passion, that ferocity of his movements, just like in the dark on the island. Her Noah. Her savior.

  They finally broke the kiss, and Noah pressed his forehead to hers as he lowered her back to the ground. Jayla played with the buttons on his shirt as she grabbed hold of him still. “If you'd given me a chance to speak, I was trying to tell you I've fallen in love with you, too.”

  “Oh,” he said with a laugh. “Well shit, you mean I didn't have to say all that?”

  A laugh of her own popped from her throat. “Oh no, you did. You should always go for the rant professing your heart. It works every time.”

  He shook his head with a smile. Grabbing her hand, he turned it palm up and placed something in it. “Well, I also came here to give you this.”

  Jayla looked down and uncurled her fingers revealing his budweiser pin. A gasp
burst from her lips at the realization of what that meant. “Are you serious?”

  Noah nodded. “It's not gonna be easy. I know that. I'll be gone a lot. You will, too. But this last week proved to me I'd rather have you in my life than not. And I'll take whatever I can get. Because I've fallen for you, Jayla. Hard and fast. Just how I am as a SEAL. And I promise, I will give it my all, on my honor as a SEAL, to make this work.”

  A tear wiggled its way down her cheek as she held his pin with trembling fingers. “Just shut up and kiss me again.”

  “With pleasure,” he said, a sexy smile brimming on his lips as he pressed them to hers. His soft, sweeping movements calmed her soul. He slanted his mouth and deepened the kiss, telling her things words couldn't say. Grabbing her bottom lip between his, he pulled back out of the kiss with a long tug, just like that first kiss at the BBQ and her stomach fluttered. “So, does this mean that's a yes?”

  “You'll have to ask permission from Mal,” she said, pulling back from his embrace.

  He arched a brow. “Mal?”

  “My cat.” She clipped his pin to her shirt and gave it a pat. “He's a real asshole, so you'll probably have to bring catnip as a bribe.”

  He smirked as he grabbed her hand and clasped his fingers around it. “Duly noted. When do I get to meet him?”

  “Oh, we should probably go now. It's Tuesday. His only good day.” She swung their entwined arms as they walked out to her car.

  Noah laughed. “I'm fresh out of cat nip though.”

  “Well, you're screwed then. He'll just have to deal. Oh, by the way, I can't cook. I live strictly on cereal and Chinese takeout. Jade Cafe is the second contact number in my phone. Just so you know.”

  He pushed her against the hood of the car, leaning into her pelvis as he rested his arms on either side of her hips. “Oddly enough, I can cook. But right now, I'm only hungry for you.”

  “Well get on in here, it's been over a week and I'm starving.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her lips.