A SEAL's Devotion (SEALs of Chance Creek Book 7)

by Cora Seton

  He didn’t even know how to put it. Whatever it was, it tugged on something deep inside him. Something masculine. Anders had served in the military long enough to know that most of the differences people liked to chalk up between men and women were—in a word—bullshit. The women he’d met along the way were every bit as smart, just as good at tactics, just as hard-nosed when it came to making the tough decisions, every bit as good at leading others, and as tough—if not tougher—than the men who served alongside them.

  Women were badasses.

  They were also—pretty. When they wanted to be. When shit went down overseas, you didn’t think in terms of masculine or feminine, pretty or ugly. You just got the job done, and so did they. Here it was different. Things were peaceful. There was time in the day to consider the way a beautiful woman’s gown enhanced her figure. The way a sideways glance from under her long lashes sent a zing of desire through him.

  Lord knew he was zinging all over the place with Eve so close.

  “I thought I’d see you again earlier,” he said to Eve and could have kicked himself for sounding so eager when several people around them smirked.

  “I spent the afternoon with Renata.” Eve hung up her coat with the others near the door.

  “Renata?” Greg asked from where he sat near one of the windows, whittling. “What’d you two do?”

  Good question, Anders thought. Renata was usually as prickly as a cactus.

  “We just… hung out,” Eve said airily. “What’s for dinner?”

  A neat way to turn the conversation, Anders thought some minutes later when everyone had settled down to eat a hearty bison stew. Renata let herself into the bunkhouse partway through the meal. Anders watched her head for the kitchen, wondering again what the women had found to talk about.

  He realized Greg was watching the director, too.

  “Hi, Renata,” Eve called out when she caught sight of her. “Try the stew; it’s delicious!”

  “Will do,” Renata said cheerfully as she passed by.

  Anders met Greg’s surprised look. Normally the director had little to say to any of them if she wasn’t bossing them around.

  “Hey, Renata,” Greg called out a moment later when he’d recovered from his shock. “There’s a chair here for you when you’ve got your food.” He patted one that was near to his.

  Renata, just reaching the kitchen door, turned a look on him that could melt tar in the Arctic. “I’m not blind. I can distinguish the empty chairs from occupied ones.” She stalked into the kitchen and didn’t come out again.

  Angus made a crashing and burning sound and spread his fingers to emulate a big explosion. Greg rolled his eyes and got back to eating.

  “Really, what did you two talk about?” Anders asked Eve again when conversation around them turned general and he got the chance.

  She pretended to zip her mouth shut. “It’s a secret. You’ll never get it out of me.” She was in an awfully good mood for someone who’d spent part of the afternoon with their cranky director.

  “You sure about that?” Anders angled his chair closer to hers and deepened his voice, leaning in to murmur into her ear, “I have my ways.”

  “Really? Navy SEAL ways?” She shot him an amused glance.

  This close he could see a dusting of light freckles on her cheeks. Was she flirting with him? Anders thought she might be.

  “They do teach us a lot of different tactics,” he teased back.

  “Like what?”

  She was definitely flirting with him. Anders remembered what his friends had said. Announce your intention to marry her. Get her drunk and play a game of quarters. Pick her up at the airport and drive straight to the chapel. None of the other men had played by the rules to win their women.

  Why should he?

  “Like this.” He leaned in, glanced around to see that no one was looking, brushed a quick kiss over her cheekbone, near her ear, and drew back—

  Crossed his arms and looked down at her. “Spill everything you know.”

  Eve gawked up at him until a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Does that usually work?”

  “How do you think we found where Bin Laden was hiding?”

  Eve elbowed him playfully. “You’re making that up.”

  “Maybe.” He leaned closer again. “Maybe not.”

  Eve took a bite of her stew. “Sorry, I can’t tell you what we talked about. Not yet,” she added. “Maybe sometime. But when I’m done eating this, you’ll probably be able to persuade me to go back for a second helping.” She indicated her bowl.

  “You’ve got it.” He didn’t push the matter. He’d gotten what he really wanted: a chance to kiss Eve. To joke with her.

  To make it clear he viewed their budding relationship as something other than a platonic one.

  She hadn’t shut him down. On the contrary, she’d kept things going.

  That had to mean something, he told himself happily as they got in line for a second helping of food.

  Eve woke up to the quiet buzz of her phone and knew Melissa had to be texting. She kept notifications from her on even when she turned everything else off. She slipped out of her sleeping bag and crossed to the bathroom. Once inside, she locked the door and looked at her phone.

  Problem, Melissa had texted. Even if Clem films you all week, he’ll still have time to cut you out of the episode after you show the Hansen Oil images. They must have tons of footage from a week’s worth of shooting. No one would know you’d ever been there if he decides not to put you in.

  What’s the alternative? And why are you awake? Hope texted back.

  Stay for more than one week, Melissa wrote. Once they air an episode with you on it, they’ll have to keep going with the footage, even if you blow the whole thing up. The audience would demand to know what happened to you if you simply disappeared. That means you’d better grab their hearts—and their attention—right off the bat. Then during the second week—right at the last minute—you pull out all your information about Hansen Oil.

  It sounded good, but there were two problems. One, she’d need to ask for more vacation time, which might make her boss suspicious. Two, if Kevin saw her on Base Camp, he’d definitely know she was up to something.

  As soon as my boss sees me, he’ll tell Johannes Hansen, she texted. I’m pretty sure he’s afraid of Hansen. Then Hansen will come after me.

  There’s a delay, right? You’ll be almost through the next week by the time the first episode airs. There would be only a few days before you could make your big splash about Hansen Oil and leave.

  Eve didn’t like the thought of leaving, but Melissa was right. Base Camp aired almost in real time but not quite. Maybe she could pull off staying a little longer. As soon as possible after the first episode aired, though, she’d have to get away.

  She had no idea where she’d go then.

  Could she return to Richmond and make good on the deal she’d made with her parents? Move into a tiny house in their backyard and start school as if her time in Chance Creek had never happened? Would trouble follow her? What could a company like Hansen Oil do to someone who’d exposed its wrongdoing?

  You really think that’s a good idea? she asked Melissa.

  I think it’s the only way to make it work.

  You never said why you’re awake.

  Just couldn’t sleep. Better go try some more now.

  Me, too.

  Later that morning, Eve helped Avery get into her Regency clothes.

  “Don’t the men mind us hogging the bathroom?” she asked.

  “They’re used to me hogging it. There are composting toilet facilities located in several places around Base Camp—and outdoor showers when the weather is better. Plus they’re a lot less shy about changing in public than I am,” she confided. “So… you and Anders… I saw him kiss you yesterday.”

  Eve was glad Avery couldn’t see her face as she did up the back of Avery’s dress. “It was just a peck on the cheek.”
<
br />   A brush of his mouth that had set every nerve in her body alight. She’d thought about it over and over since then, spinning out a fantasy of what else could happen between them until the thought of it made her ache. Every time she tried to corral her imagination, it got away from her again until she was envisioning Anders in her sleeping bag with her. Holding her. Kissing her.

  And doing oh, so much more.

  She was in trouble.

  She couldn’t stay away from Anders. Not if she wanted to pull this off.

  “We were just joking around,” she told Avery.

  “Hmm. Then there’s Renata. You seem to have made an impression on her, too. I can’t believe you got her to smile.”

  “All you have to do to make Renata smile is talk about her favorite thing. Filmmaking. There, done.”

  “Your turn.”

  Eve stood up straight as Avery moved behind her to lace up her corset. It wasn’t tight like a Civil War–era corset would have been; it was more of a structural garment that gave her the right shape for her Regency gown.

  “Filmmaking is my favorite thing, too,” Avery said.

  “And you’ve never discussed it with Renata?”

  “No.” Avery laughed. “Never even occurred to me.”

  Eve supposed that was because Renata called the shots around here—or had until Clem showed up. Avery wasn’t the only one who seemed a little afraid of the director. Renata didn’t frighten Eve, though. She reminded her of her aunt Patricia, an outspoken woman who’d made a career out of advocating for children in the foster care program in Virginia. According to Eve’s mother, Patricia hadn’t started out so blunt and no-nonsense. She’d become like that when she realized it was what it took to get the job done.

  “Can you keep a secret?” she asked Avery.

  “Definitely.” Avery smiled wryly and shook her head at some private thought. “What is it?”

  “Renata started teaching me to edit film yesterday. We’re getting together again this morning while Anders is doing his chores. You know I work for a satellite imaging company, but I’ve never worked on video. It’s great.” It had occurred to her that maybe she could put together a short video about Hansen Oil to put on the internet after she exposed the company on air.

  “I bet. Renata must have some awesome equipment.”

  “Want to join us?”

  Avery looked wistful. “I’ve got chores to do, and I’d be a third wheel, anyway.”

  “I’m not dating Renata; she’s just showing me a few things.” Eve hadn’t expected Avery to hold back like this. Several times on the show Avery had mentioned wanting to make movies.

  “How about this,” Avery said. “Let’s you and I get some footage. We’ve got time before breakfast. When you work with Renata, we’ll see what you can do with it.”

  “That sounds great.” She could definitely use the practice.

  They dressed up in their warm outer gear, and she followed Avery outside.

  “Let’s start with the kittens,” Avery said.

  Avery led the way to the barn and took Eve to see what turned out to be the handful of half-grown cats Curtis and Hope had rescued during their fateful trip across Montana.

  “They’re not much use as barn cats,” Avery said. “Everyone’s spoiling them rotten. I won’t be surprised if they turn into tiny-house cats.”

  They ended up filming a kitten Olympics, getting footage of the cats jumping for treats, prowling along a “balance beam” and having wrestling matches.

  “You could add music and sound effects and put it on the show’s website,” Avery suggested.

  “Evelyn Wright, are you up there?” a man called.

  Eve and Avery stiffened.

  “Clem,” Avery mouthed. Neither said a word.

  “For God’s sake.” Clem’s head poked over the top of the ladder a moment later. “I can hear you rustling around. You’re needed for an interview. Now.”

  Eve sighed and followed him down to the ground.

  “You can go,” Clem said to Avery when she made it down, too.

  “I’ll stay.”

  “Fine.” Clem waited for the camera crew with him to set up, then asked Eve a string of personal questions she didn’t want to answer but felt she had to. They covered her name, age, status, job and other mundane things. Just when Eve thought it would end, Clem leaned closer. “Did you make up that story about your ex-boyfriend?”

  “Do I look like the kind of woman who makes up stories?” she managed to say but not before a telling hesitation.

  “Some attention-seekers will do anything for an audience.”

  “I’m not an attention-seeker,” she lied.

  “What do you think about Anders?”

  She wanted to turn on her heel and march out of the barn, but she needed Clem to want to keep her here. Drama, she told herself. Give him drama. “Anders is… pretty hot.”

  Clem’s eyebrows shot up. He must not have expected that kind of candor.

  “So, you like him?”

  “What woman wouldn’t? Have you seen him without his shirt on?” Too late she realized what she’d just revealed.

  “Have you?” Clem moved closer. “Have you two already done the nasty?”

  “Done the nasty?” Avery repeated loudly. “Are you in second grade?”

  “Bumped uglies. Made the beast with two backs. Done the dirty deed,” Clem continued, eyes gleaming.

  “No,” Eve said shortly. This was embarrassing.

  “But you want to.”

  She bit back a denial, remembering everything she’d seen watching Base Camp up until now. The show was about sustainability, but really it was about relationships.

  “Yes,” she said, lifting her chin. “As a matter of fact, I can’t wait to bump uglies with Anders.”

  Avery laughed. Clem sputtered a moment, trying to regain his smug expression but failing. “I suppose you’ll squawk if I tell him you said that.”

  “Would you tell him?” she asked sweetly. “Because if I have to wait another night for him to slide into my sleeping bag, I think I’ll explode.” Not far from the truth, she admitted to herself, but she was laying it on so thick Clem would think she was joking.

  “You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Clem gestured to the film crew. “Cut. That’s enough. But you know what?” he said to Eve. “I will tell him. What’s more, I’ll show him. Bet that SEAL will ride you hard and put you away wet tonight.” He laughed when her mouth dropped open in shock.

  “Ee-ww!” Avery said. “Clem, you’re disgusting. Get out of here.”

  To Eve’s relief, he did, trailed by the crew.

  “I’m sorry you were subjected to that,” Avery said. “What on earth possessed you to rile him up? Or is it true?”

  “It’s a little true,” Eve admitted, making sure no one else was close enough to hear, “but I’ll deny that if you repeat it.”

  “I hope you fall in love with Anders,” Avery said. “I like you, Evelyn Wright.”

  Chapter Six

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  “Tell me about your home,” Anders asked Eve at lunchtime. He’d been disappointed she’d chosen to spend the morning first with Avery, then with Renata, but she’d joined him as soon as she entered the bunkhouse, which he took as a positive sign. Anders leaned back in his folding chair, wishing the weather was warm enough for them to eat around the campfire outside like they had all summer. It was far more idyllic than sitting all squashed together in the bunkhouse.

  “There isn’t much to tell. I live in Richmond—in an apartment.” She ducked her head, as if embarrassed by this. “I have two sisters and a brother. They’re all married and have kids.”

  “You’re the baby?” Anders guessed.

  “No.” She made a face. “No,” she said more softly. “I’m second oldest. And before you ask, yes, I do know it’s time I thought about settling down.”

  “You hear that a lot, huh?”

  “Sure do. You said you were from Texas
? Why don’t you have an accent?”

  “Lost it in the service.”

  “When did you join up?” She took a bite of the lasagna Kai had prepared for dinner and sighed with happiness. When she’d realized he’d replaced the noodles with thinly sliced zucchini, she’d expected it to be disappointing. It wasn’t. He hadn’t stinted on the cheese, and it was delicious. “This is good.”

  “It is,” he agreed. “I joined up as soon as I could when I was eighteen. Spent over a decade with the Navy.”

  “Didn’t like it back home?” She took another bite.

  “No. Mom passed when I was eight. Then it was just my dad and me. We never did see eye to eye about much. Luckily, my uncle and I did. I spent a lot of time on his ranch when I was young, but it wasn’t enough. I needed a ticket out.” He made a show of digging into his meal. He didn’t want to get into his past too much.

  “The Navy was your ticket?”

  “That’s right. I learned a lot, saw the world, as they say. Joined up with Boone and the rest of the guys, and here I am.”

  She took a final bite of lasagna and set her plate aside, wiping her mouth with a napkin when she was done. “What got you interested in the environment—and bison?”

  Anders smiled. This was what he wanted to talk about. “I’ve been an environmentalist since I was a teenager. I saw a lot more to convince me during my time with the Navy, but it was the side trips I took that got me hooked on the idea of saving the world. Some guys spend their leave at home. Some blow their money taking fancy trips, staying at hotels. You know, making up for all the barracks and plain living we do most of the time. I was the opposite. I started going places that were really off-grid. The farther away from civilization, the better. I saw some stuff, believe me.”