Hot SEAL, Charmed

by Parker Kincade

  Haven appreciated that Liam seemed to know she needed time, that he didn’t demand to know that second what had suddenly brought her to him.

  “Aye,” she agreed. “You’ll get all the dirty details, but not tonight, all right? The flight lasted a fecking eternity, and I’m wrecked. McP’s, whiskey, and a good night’s rest. Then, we’ll have us a chat.”

  He waved his free hand, indicating the space around them. “We can check that first item off the list. Give me a couple of minutes to introduce you to the guys before we get started on the second.”

  Haven reached for the strap on her bag, but Liam got there first, easily managing her belongings.

  “As for your restful sleep, fingers crossed your hotel will have a comfortable bed. Where are you staying anyway?”

  Haven stepped into him, bumping him with her shoulder. “Very funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be.” His brows furrowed. “It’s an honest question. You did book a hotel, didn’t you?”

  “Liam.” Haven searched his expression. “I…no.” Why would she? “I’m stayin’ with you.”

  “With…wait a minute.” He shifted his stance, looking decidedly uncomfortable as he rubbed a hand over his mouth and jaw. “What?”

  Haven ducked out from under his hold so she could face him. “Um, I’m stayin’ with you…?” A question, because now she wasn’t certain. “I’m sorry. Is that not okay?”

  Back home, she wouldn’t have to ask. Friends and family—even strangers—were always welcome, without warning and for as long as they wanted to stay. The host would happily offer whatever food and drink were on hand, and a celebration of God’s good graces would commence. That’s just how things were done.

  You’re not in Ireland anymore.

  “Haven…”

  Haven suddenly remembered a conversation she’d had with Liam, years ago. He’d explained that Americans didn’t have quite the…what had he called it? The “open door policy” that the Irish favored.

  Haven groaned. Fuckity-fuck-fuck. What an idiot. Her first adventure and already she’d bungled a critical detail.

  Right. New plan. “Did I say I was stayin’ with you? Silly me. I meant to say a hotel.” Her money would run out faster, but she would be fine for a couple of weeks before finances would force her to return to Ireland. The last thing she wanted was to barge in and disrupt Liam’s life.

  Haven pulled her phone out of her back pocket, embarrassment for her blunder making her face burn. “Could you recommend a place close to where you live?”

  Liam’s nostrils flared, and she held her palms out, rushing to explain. “I don’t expect you to change your schedule or your routine for me. Not at all. I was only hoping you might have some free time to hang out while I’m here, and I don’t have a car.” She’d thought about renting one. The stories Liam had told her about California traffic made her wary. Not to mention the whole steering wheel on the wrong side of the car thing.

  Haven almost laughed. Some adventurer she’d turned out to be. How grand a time could she have if she was the kind of girl who got intimidated by driving a car?

  “I’ll get one,” she decided, then and there. “I don’t want you to feel like I need you to take care—”

  “Stop.” Liam seemed to regroup. “Just. No. Need me all you like. I’m here for you.” He shook his head. “I mean, you don’t need a car. You don’t need a hotel.” He gained steam with every word. “What would you have done if I’d been called out?”

  The question hadn’t appeared directed at her, but more to the space at large. Haven didn’t have an answer anyway, so she kept her mouth shut. As with everything associated with this trip, she hadn’t considered his work until the last minute—when she’d called from the plane, to be precise.

  Liam scowled down at her, his gaze stern and dark. That’s new. “I’m trying figure out what was going on in that pretty head of yours when you boarded a plane in Ireland without a plan for any contingency.”

  He thought she was pretty? That was also new. And confusing. And strangely exciting.

  And completely beside the point.

  Haven took a step back, unsure what to do with this side of him. This very sexy, protective side of him. “I…well…” Yeah. She had nothing. Her nipples on the other hand. They needed to settle the feck down. She and Liam were friends. Nothing more.

  “This isn’t the place or the time.” Liam grabbed her hand and laced their fingers. He seemed to enjoy holding on to her. “We are definitely going to have a discussion about safety and proper planning when traveling to a foreign country when we get home because, of course, you’re staying with me. I’d be upset if you didn’t.”

  “Are you certain? I don’t want to be in your way.”

  “Trust me, pix. I don’t mind.” He tugged on her hand. “Come meet the guys. I’m sure they’re probably pissing themselves right about now.”

  “Like excited little puppies?” she joked, relieved she didn’t have to worry about where she would sleep tonight.

  Liam threw his head back and laughed, all traces of his earlier intensity wiped away. He led her to the table where she’d first spotted him. Four equally large, hard-bodied men circled around to meet them as they approached.

  “Christ almighty,” she muttered. “What do they put in the water here to grow ’em so…big?”

  The obvious awe in her voice sent Liam’s brows soaring. He leaned close and said, “I’ll pay top dollar to ensure they never hear you say that.”

  Haven nodded absently and focused on keeping her jaw closed as she looked from one desperately good-looking man to the next. She knew these were Liam’s SEAL teammates, even though she couldn’t put names to all of them.

  Lord, she hadn’t had time to recover from the excitement of her journey and reunion with Liam, and now, she was about to meet his closest friends. Far from being at her best, Haven prayed she made a good first impression. She’d be crushed if Liam’s friends didn’t like her.

  “Of course, the luckiest son of a bitch around would know the most beautiful woman in the place,” one of the men said. “Why am I even surprised?”

  Never having suffered a shy phase, Haven let go of Liam’s hand and walked right up to the man, tilting her head way back to maintain eye contact. “You’re not so bad yourself.” She was a hugger as a general rule, but instinct told her to go easy with this one. She offered her hand instead. “I’m Haven, Liam’s friend from Ireland.”

  “That accent is a dead giveaway, honey.” His gaze slid over her. “I’m Cole.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Always happy to meet a friend of Liam’s. Say, when you get tired of hanging out with his boring ass, maybe you and I can get toget—”

  “All right, Joker,” Liam said, giving Cole, aka Joker, a slight shove. “Heel, or it’s the doghouse for you. She came to the States to see me, not to have my friends hit on her.” Liam sent her a questioning glance. “Right?”

  Close enough. Fighting back a smile, she gave him a sharp salute. “Right.”

  Liam rolled his eyes. “Moving on. That’s Chris and next to him is Ben. And right there is—”

  “Brian,” Haven finished. He’d crashed more than one of her video calls with Liam, so she felt like she already knew him.

  This time Haven didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her arms around Brian’s waist and gave him a quick squeeze. “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person. How did things work out with you and Alicia?”

  “You told her about that?” Brian tossed the question at Liam.

  “Of course, he did,” Haven answered. He’d send her a text with a link to the video. “It’s not every day Liam sings an old Irish ditty in a crowded pub.”

  Cole laughed. “You’d be surprised.”

  “He’s kind of made a thing of it,” Brian said. “Now, whenever Lucky jumps behind the bar to help old Ray out, the two of them end up leading sing-a-longs.”

  Surprised, Haven turned toward Liam. “You d
idn’t tell me you worked here.”

  “That’s because I don’t.” He shrugged. “I’m good behind the bar, so I help out sometimes if Ray gets overwhelmed. I mainly do it because it’s fun and the tips are good.”

  “As if you kept those,” Ben scoffed, then turned to her to explain. “Liam won’t take the money he earns, no matter how hard they try to pay him. He has Ray split his tip money evenly among the wait staff.”

  Liam shrugged again, as though his generosity was no big deal. He dropped her bag next to an empty chair and toed it under the table. He pulled out the chair and motioned for her to sit. “I’m gonna head over and get my girl a drink,” he announced once she was settled. “You guys keep your hands to yourselves, and no fucking talking about me while I’m gone.”

  “Arrogant much?” Joker smirked as he slid into the chair on her left. “We have better things to talk about than your ugly ass.”

  Liam used two fingers to point to his own eyes, then swiveled his fingers toward the guys. “Bro-code.”

  Haven laughed as Liam walked away. “Bro-code? What’s that mean?” She stretched her legs out under the table, grateful for the room to move after being stuck in an airplane for the better part of the last seventeen hours.

  Brian, Chris, and Ben took chairs around the table, leaving the chair to her right open for Liam.

  “It means he’ll kick our asses if we tell you any embarrassing stories about him. And by the way,” Brian leaned in, grinning from ear to ear, “I got the girl.”

  Haven offered him a high-five. “Heartbreaker, no more, aye?” Happy endings gave Haven hope that maybe one day she’d find hers.

  You’ll need a whole lot of luck for that to happen.

  “I couldn’t have done it without your boy there,” Brian nodded in the direction Liam had gone. “He really came through for me.”

  A subtle wave of sadness seemed to drape over the table. Haven looked at each man in turn, confused.

  “All right, all right. No need to beg,” Joker said, breaking the awkward silence. “I’ll take over limerick singing duty when Liam’s gone.”

  “Do you even know what a limerick is, dumbass?” Brian asked.

  “Gone?” Haven was even more confused now. “Is Liam goin’ somewhere?” Lord, please let it not be somewhere dangerous.

  “Of course, he is. He’s leaving the teams. The Navy.” Joker brow pinched. “Wait. He didn’t tell you?”

  Haven’s gaze drifted to Liam. He shook his head at something a blonde woman standing next to him said, but his serious expression softened when he glanced over and caught her staring.

  She turned her attention back to Joker. “He hasn’t mentioned it.”

  Round two of awkward silence followed a few whispered curses from around the table.

  Haven didn’t understand. She and Liam always talked about the big stuff. Hell, they’d spent months discussing the pros and cons of him joining the military in the first place. Liam’s entire life revolved around being a SEAL, so leaving the Navy ranked as a major life decision. Haven tried and failed not to be hurt that he hadn’t shared something so important with her.

  “Well, shit.” Joker scrubbed a hand over his face. “Don’t tell him I told you. In fact, don’t tell him you know at all.”

  Chris leaned in on his forearms, his voice low. “Listen, Haven. I don’t know why Liam didn’t tell you about getting out of the Navy, but I do know he wouldn’t keep quiet unless he had a reason. Probably a ridiculous, dumbass reason, but it’s Liam so…” Chris’s gentle smile took the sting out of his words.

  What reason could Liam possibly have for not sharing this decision with her? It didn’t make any sense. She didn’t care if he left the military, as long as he was happy. That’s all she’d ever wanted for him.

  Brian reached over and cupped her hand. “He won’t admit it, but we all know Liam’s having a hard time adjusting to the idea of his new reality as a civilian. We aren’t asking you to cover for us—we’d never put that on you—but now that you’re here, maybe give him some time to come to you with the information on his own.” A throat cleared loudly beside them. Brian gave her fingers a final squeeze before letting her go. “Obviously, do what you think is best. We’ve got your back,” he said softly, for her ears only.

  Haven’s head spun well before Liam slid a whiskey in front of her. As he sat down in the chair next to her, Haven tipped the glass to his friends, a silent agreement. If they could have her back five minutes after meeting her, then she could keep her mouth shut. She knew how much these guys meant to Liam. She wouldn’t be responsible for causing trouble between them.

  Haven took a long sip from her glass, the whiskey warming the chill in her chest.

  Had she idealized her friendship with Liam into something it wasn’t? She’d never had reason to question their relationship before. But now, the knowledge that he hadn’t trusted her enough to share his new reality cracked what she’d formerly believed to be an unbreakable foundation.

  Liam took one look around the table and scowled. “You fuckers were talking about me, weren’t you?”

  4

  Liam woke with an oath and a groan. Moving as little as possible, he stretched an arm toward the nightstand and slammed his hand against his phone. Unfortunately, it took him three more tries to silence the annoying screech of the alarm.

  So much for going to bed early. Then again, nothing had gone as planned last night.

  Shiiit. Liam pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, feeling like a first-class dick. He hadn’t meant to have all of those dirty thoughts about Haven when she’d first walked into the bar. And again, when she’d wrapped herself around him like tantalizing wet dream. And then once more, when she’d announced she was staying with him. At that point, his stupid brain had gone on autopilot, conjuring sexy images of Haven all over his place. On his couch. At his table. In his shower. Riding his…

  Liam growled as he shoved off the covers and rolled from the bed. He stormed into the bathroom, barely managing not to slam the door shut behind him.

  Damn it. It wasn’t his fault. Sex depravation seriously fucked with a guy’s head.

  Liam had been a little busy pulling a six-month deployment, followed by a mission to the sandbox. He’d barely been home long enough to finish his laundry, let alone get laid. Liam had intended to break his dry spell with that blonde at the bar last night. And then Haven had shown up, all unexpectedly beautiful, sexy, and fun. With his focus redirected, he’d inadvertently transferred all the flirty energy he’d built up with the blonde toward Haven.

  I am a horrible friend. The absolute worst.

  After a scalding hot shower to purge any remaining booze from his pores, Liam brushed his teeth, popped two ibuprofens, then pulled on fatigues and a T-shirt. As he sat on the edge of the bed and laced up his boots, he decided it wasn’t too late for him to improve.

  He hadn’t acted on the crazy impulse to taste Haven’s lips. He hadn’t invited her into his bed. Okay, he actually had offered his bed, just not with him in it. She’d adamantly declined, choosing to sleep on his worn leather couch instead, but those gestures counted for something, right? He wasn’t a complete asshole.

  Haven needed him, otherwise she wouldn’t be in California. From now until she returned to Ireland, his libido was in a strict time-out. Whatever it took, whatever she needed, he’d be there for her.

  Haven hadn’t wanted to talk last night. Maybe she’d be ready to tell him what was going on by the time he got home from work. Only…fuck.

  His gaze landed on the garment bag hanging from his closet door.

  He had plans tonight. Plans that included an overnight stay out of town.

  Liam slapped his hands against his knees with a sigh then surged to his feet. Solving problems before caffeine consumption always proved futile. He needed coffee—and lots of it—before he’d be able to function on any productive level.

  Using the stealth engrained in him as a SEAL, Liam crept f
rom his room. His rented two-story, two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath condo wasn’t large, but it was close to the beach and had an amazing view of the ocean from the balcony off his bedroom.

  In addition to his bedroom and bathroom, the upper floor sported a decently sized spare room, otherwise known as his home gym. The open-concept first floor housed the kitchen and living room, and had a half-bath tucked under the free-standing wooden staircase that led to the second floor.

  Liam wasn’t used to having guests. His hungover, un-caffeinated brain struggled to cycle through the possible ways he could make coffee, swallow a substantial amount, and then pour a travel mug to take with him…all without waking Haven.

  Turns out, he needn’t have worried. The smell of fresh brew hit him at the head of the stairs.

  Liam found Haven curled on the couch with her back toward the kitchen and her hands wrapped around what he could only assume was a mug of the coffee he smelled. The patio blinds were open to expose another gorgeous California sunrise at work.

  “Good morning.” He spoke softly as he stepped into the kitchen, not wanting to startle her. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  Her head turned, not enough to look at him, but acknowledge him all the same. She lifted a delicate shoulder. Liam tried not to notice that she’d exchanged last night’s tank top for a looser one with skinnier straps. “I believe they call it jet lag.”

  He sympathized. “I feel you there. Swapping time zones is no joke.”

  Liam poured a cup of coffee and then joined her on the couch. She shifted to face him. Like a good friend, Liam kept his gaze above her shoulders as she readjusted the blanket and secured it underneath her arms.

  “I had fun last night,” she said.

  “Me, too.” He grinned. “The guys like you.”

  She groaned. “They are awful dart players. Painful to watch. And they drink worse than they play.” Her foot peeked out from beneath the blanket. She stretched and nudged his leg with her bare toes. “How’s your head?”

  He captured her foot, holding it loosely next to his thigh. He couldn’t seem to not touch her, as if his senses needed the physical connection to reinforce that she wasn’t just a figment of his imagination.