Lucky 7 Brazen Bachelors Contemporary Romance Boxed Set

by Caridad Piñeiro

  “We should return to the party,” she said, even though facing a roomful of people after having hot, against-the-wall sex with a man she hadn’t seen in three years held no appeal..

  No, she definitely didn’t want to face that ballroom full of people. She couldn’t leave without telling Russell, who’d insist on going, too. Which would only upset Bryanna.

  As usual, Noah had left her with no choices.

  “Maybe we should talk first,” Noah suggested quietly. His eyes didn’t leave her as he bent down to pick up her dress from the floor.

  He’d never wanted to talk. At least not about anything that could open the dreaded door to an emotional discussion.

  “You want to talk?” she asked, narrowing her eyes to peer at him through the dim light. She was so surprised that her hand froze halfway to taking her dress back. “You?”

  “Don’t you think we should?”

  Gwen took the dress, holding it on front of her. Not so much out of modesty but more because she was too busy staring at him to figure out how to put it on.

  “We just made love in a closet,” he pointed out. His voice was calm and reasonable but the way he grabbed his pants and yanked them on was anything but. “Now you want to ignore the implications of what happened here so you can hurry out to rejoin…”

  He looked away instead of finishing.

  Suddenly very aware of her nudity, Gwen stepped into her dress, pulling the skirt up as quickly as she could.

  “Russell.” She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, wondering why she felt so ashamed. There was no commitment between her and Russell. Until tonight she’d thought they were just friends. But sneaking off to have sex with another man on the night her friend planned to propose was a pretty lousy thing to do.

  “Russell,” Noah agreed in a heavy voice. He grabbed his shirt, but didn’t put it on. She wished he would. Even in the dim light, his chest was a temptation of epic proportions. She needed all her wits to get through this conversation but all she could think of was touching him again. “So what’s the deal? Are you seriously going to hook up with him?”

  Gwen forced her lids open, meeting his gaze as she tried to figure out how to answer that. To him, and to herself. Before she could, he gestured with his shirt to indicate the closet.

  “However serious you are, you need to factor this in,” he demanded. “You can’t agree to marry someone else when this is here, between us. That’s every kind of wrong, Gwen. To him, to you, to us.”

  She knew her mouth was hanging open, but Gwen couldn’t find the strength to pull it closed. Us? He was talking about the two of them as a couple?

  For a brief second she wondered if the government was involved in some sort of cloning program, making multiple sexy SEALs for combat and this was a fake Noah. But she knew better. Only the real Noah could make her explode like he had.

  Thinking about that last orgasm reminded her that she was still pretty much naked. Gwen finished pulling her dress into place.

  “Why?” she asked again, pulling her zipper closed before folding the halter over her still tingling, over-sensitized breasts. Before she could find the hooks, Noah stepped around to secure the straps himself. His hands were gentle as they brushed her hair aside, his fingers warm as he ran one hand down her back when he was done.

  “We’re good together,” he said when he faced her again. “There’s a passion between us, a history. We deserve to give it a chance.”

  Her eyes locked on his face, Gwen absently adjusted her dress, tugging here, pulling there until everything was in place and presentable.

  He was right. They were great together, and not only because of their passion and history. They had so much in common. From their taste in food to their way of thinking and approach to life. Once, they’d liked the same movies and voted for the same leaders. They’d shared music and books and hobbies.

  Once.

  And that probably hadn’t changed.

  But that was the problem.

  Three years ago she’d thought they had enough. She’d believed they were meant to be together. She’d even offered to wait.

  Gwen’s chin quivered.

  She’d almost begged.

  And he’d walked away.

  Gwen ran her fingers through her hair, trying to comb through the passion-knotted tangles.

  She couldn’t live through Noah hurting her again.

  She wouldn’t be able to survive the pain of a second time.

  So she did the only thing she could.

  She angled her chin, straightened her shoulders and tilted her head to one side.

  “Five years ago you told me that you had to sacrifice everything to be a SEAL. And I was a part of that everything. You made your choice, Noah. Now we both have to live with it.”

  “And the fact that I’ve changed my mind? That I’ve learned that I can be a SEAL and have a relationship?” A scowl flashed across his handsome face before he arched his brow. “You’ve never been small-minded, Gwen. Since when do you believe people can’t learn and grow?”

  Since believing means I’ll be hurt again.

  But she didn’t say it aloud.

  She couldn’t give him the opening to try to convince her that they could make it work. If she did, he just might succeed.

  And then what?

  Gwen’s heart wept, but she forced herself to shrug.

  “I still believe all of that. I know people can change, and I have faith that you’ll be happy with the changes you’ve made. But not with me.” She offered a bittersweet smile. “Because however well-learned, sometimes lessons come too late.”

  “You’re forgetting something.”

  Her heart? Her belief that she’d ever be happy with another man? Her faith in love?

  Nope, she wasn’t forgetting them.

  She was simply leaving them behind.

  And walking away with dignity.

  Sometimes that’s all a girl could ask for.

  “I won’t forget anything,” she said quietly, giving in for both of their sakes and leaning forward to brush a kiss over his cheek before reaching for the doorknob.

  And forcing herself to twist that metal and open the door to the rest of her life.

  She’d made it a few steps down the hall, grateful it was still empty.

  “Gwen.”

  Something in his voice stopped her. Unable to help herself, she glanced over her shoulder.

  Heat washed over her cheeks at the sight of her panties dangling like a filmy black flag from his fingers. Fingers that had just moments before had shown her heaven.

  But she couldn’t go back.

  Not even one step.

  She knew if she did, she’d grab ahold of him and promise anything.

  Give him everything.

  But he’d hurt her once and she couldn’t believe he wouldn’t again.

  So instead of turning around, she shrugged.

  “Keep them.” Her smile was shaky, but she offered it anyway. “Something to remember me by.”

  A SEAL’s Sacrifice: Chapter Seven

  Noah had once taken a shot to the thigh that’d sent him into a dive off a three-story building. The landing had jarred his body, dislocated his shoulder and put him in a dizzy fog for hours afterward.

  He’d still completed his mission.

  Something he kept reminding himself of as he made his way through the ballroom filled with relatives, acquaintances and strangers. Talking to them, putting on a good face to celebrate his brother’s happiness was his current mission.

  Gwen’s rejection on the heels of their lovemaking?

  He’d rather take a bullet and a few broken bones.

  But he’d get through by focusing on the mission, by ignoring the pain.

  Listening with half an ear to his uncle expand on his views of the military situation in the the Middle East, Noah deliberately turned his back on the east side of the room. He knew she was over there somewhere. He didn’t have to see her to pinpoint her
location. Hers and Russell’s.

  His gut clenched along with his fists. But Noah ignored the former and shoved the latter into his pockets.

  Sam had told him that Russell was going to propose tonight, which meant that announcement could come at any time.

  Knowing he couldn’t stop it, but unable to stand witnessing Gwen commit to spend her life with someone other than him, Noah excused himself.

  He wanted to leave. He’d rather be on an aircraft carrier, heading to a battle, the uglier the better. But he’d promised Sam he’d stick around for the toast. And he always kept his promises.

  Including the stupid ones. Like the blood vow he’d made with Eli when they were fifteen, planning to join the Navy and dreaming of being SEALs. They’d learned everything they could about the Navy, including what it took to be the best. Then they’d cut their palms and promised that if they ever made it into the SEALs, they’d go into it unencumbered by emotional ties.

  A promise was a promise, after all. Even when it hurt.

  So Noah headed for the balcony.

  Outside, he welcomed the chill as the foggy air wrapped around him. Relieved that nobody else had ventured out, he made his way to the railing to stare out at the mist-shrouded Golden Gate.

  It was a beautiful sight. One he’d seen hundreds of times over the years. He’d always appreciated it in a vague sort of way, probably because he’d always known it would be there.

  Just like he’d figured Gwen would.

  Noah leaned his elbows on the stone rail, contemplating that realization.

  He’d known Gwen had a thing for him when she was in high school, but he’d told himself she was too young. He’d joined the Navy, pursued his goals and lived his life. And told himself he was better off without her. She wasn’t the kind of woman a guy could walk away from.

  Then she’d come home from college while he was there on leave. And just like that, all of his resistance, and most of his good sense, had disappeared. He’d had to have her. He’d known the timing sucked. He’d just been accepted to BUDs. His chances of completing the training program and making the SEAL team were high. From the first time he’d touched her, he’d known he’d have to walk away.

  When he’d left her three years ago, he’d told her not to wait for him.

  But somewhere inside, he’d figured she would. That when he was ready, she’d welcome him back with open arms. He gave a humorless laugh at his arrogance.

  He knew the odds were against military marriages, but he’d spent his time as a SEAL watching the ones that worked, gleaning tips from the guys who managed to have it all. He’d dubbed it relationship recon in his head, figuring he’d put it all to use once he’d come back for Gwen.

  Nowhere in his mind had he figured that when he came back she wouldn’t want him.

  Noah leaned is head on his hands, his sigh a misty fog.

  No. She wanted him.

  But she didn’t trust him.

  And there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about that.

  Thanks to ten minutes of deep breathing, a brush and her emergency makeup kit, Gwen was pretty sure nobody could tell that she’d been a moaning puddle of ecstasy less than an hour ago. Of course, she’d been careful to avoid talking with anyone who knew her well enough to recognize her agitation and ask questions.

  But as she saw Russell approaching the corner she’d cozied up in with one of Bryanna’s friends to discuss New Year’s diet resolutions, she knew her reprieve was over.

  “I need to borrow Gwen,” Russell said with a charming smile, holding out his hand to lead her away before she could think of a reasonable protest.

  Panic gripped her so tight she could barely move her legs.

  She remembered Bryanna’s prediction that Russell would propose tonight and tried to figure out what she was going to say to stop him before he embarrassed them both.

  Maybe Bryanna was wrong. Maybe Russell wasn’t thinking of her that way. And he was a reticent kind of guy, so even if he was, he’d wait until they had privacy, wouldn’t he?

  She soon realized that he considered a table in the corner away from most of the partiers to be private enough. She wanted to run, but she didn’t think her knees would hold out if she tried.

  “Did you want to discuss work?” she asked brightly, sliding gratefully into the nearest chair.

  “Actually I wanted to discuss moving our relationship to the next level.”

  The next level? Oh, God. Gwen’s stomach pitched into her toes. Bryanna had been right. In Russell-speak, that was the equivalent of a major declaration.

  “We’re good together Gwen. Even our mother’s think so. I’m sure yours has been as vocal as mine in her desire that we hurry along in building our future together,” he pointed out earnestly.

  He was really so sweet.

  “Do you really think rewarding our mothers’ nagging by getting married is the best idea?” she asked with a pained smile.

  “If that’s all it was, then no, of course not.” He shook his head, his expression so serious she knew he hadn’t taken her words as a joke. “But we have much more than that. Enough to consider spending our lives together.”

  Oh, God. He really was proposing.

  She bit her lip, knowing she had to stop him. Didn’t she? Yesterday, hell even this morning, she’d have known that they weren’t meant to be more than friends.

  But after seeing Noah again, now that her heart was raw and aching at the reminder of how painful love was? A lifetime of friendship didn’t seem so bad.

  For her.

  But that wasn’t fair for Russell.

  Still, Gwen had to swallow a few times before she could find her voice.

  “Russell, I care about you a lot. But I don’t love you,” she said quietly.

  She winced, her eyes locked on his face.

  His smile didn’t shift, though. He simply shrugged.

  “There are a lot of things more important than love,” he told her lifting their joined hands. “We’re compatible in so many other ways. We enjoy each other’s company and we work well together. I’d like to believe we’d be good together if we just gave it a try.”

  “But…” She carefully slid her hands free and clasped them together on her lap. “Those are great reasons to be friends, which we are. But to be… Lovers?”

  She couldn’t bring herself to say life mates.

  “Compatibility is just as important in bed as anywhere else in life.”

  That he automatically equated sex with bed and not closets or countertops or the backseat of a jeep told Gwen everything she needed to know about their compatibility.

  “But what about passion? The edgy need that makes you slide into sexual fantasies at inopportune times? Desperate desire, obsessive lust, undeniable cravings?” All the feelings she had for Noah. Even in their years apart, she’d had those feelings. And now that she’d tasted him again? Now that she’d felt the power of what he could do to her? No matter how much it hurt, she knew she could never settle for less.

  “You think those things are really important?” he asked with a confused sort of frown.

  “Don’t you?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t actually experienced them myself.” The confusion slid away, leaving just his frown. “Do you think it’s really that important? Important enough to base a relationship on? Isn’t it more important to have a sure thing than risk the pain all that messy emotional drama can bring?”

  Why did he have to keep echoing her own thoughts? She sighed. He was forcing her to face those questions and her own emotions.

  “To risk it for sex?” she asked quietly. “Or love?”

  “Either? Both?”

  Worrying her lower lip between her teeth, Gwen searched her heart carefully. When her eyes met his again, she was sure her answer was right.

  “Sex, even great sex, isn’t worth heartbreak,” she said. “But love? Love is worth waiting for, risking for, living for.”

  A SEAL’s Sacrific
e: Chapter Eight

  Gwen stood at the doors to the balcony, part of her wanting to run for the nearest exit and part of her desperate to rush out there and hug Noah.

  She’d never seen him look so dejected.

  Her heart ached a little at the sight. Had she caused that? Had she hurt him? She’d never thought she could.

  She should have added that to the list she’d given Russell. That a relationship worth having came with responsibility for always considering the other person’s feelings. She hadn’t considered Noah’s when she’d walked out of that closet. She’d been too afraid.

  She was still afraid. Her knees were trembling almost as much as they had in the closet, but Gwen forced herself to step onto the balcony.

  She knew she was risking heartbreak. That nobody in the world could hurt her like Noah could. She’d be smarter to go home, grateful that she’d walked away from this night with her friendship and her job intact. The only thing she’d lost was her panties.

  She sighed. And of course her heart.

  A little voice in the back of her head warned her to turn around and leave. After all, a lost heart was easier to recover from than a broken one.

  But Gwen knew she had to try.

  Like she’d told Russell, a shot at love? That was worth everything.

  So she made herself step forward.

  That’s all it took to get Noah’s attention. She knew she hadn’t made a sound, but whether it was instinct or SEAL training, he immediately turned to face her.

  “Hi.” Her smile wobbled a little but her eyes were steady. “Hey.” His expression remote, Noah leaned back so both of his elbows were anchored to the stone balcony as he gave her a long stare. “Did you want to break it to me personally?”

  Break what? That her body had started vibrating as soon as she’d come within two feet of him, the sexual need amped up on high? That she still loved him and wanted to give them a chance? That she was thrilled he’d come back for her, even if he’d returned because he was jealous?

  She didn’t ask, though, instead she arched an inquiring brow.

  “Your engagement?” he reminded her with a scowl.

  She didn’t know if it was his furrowed brow or the fact that her body simply couldn’t hold onto the tension any longer. But suddenly Gwen felt great. No more fear, no more doubts. She wasn’t positive what she was about to do was right, but she knew it wasn’t wrong.