Why that intrigued him so much, he didn’t want to examine too closely.
He wasn’t looking for a relationship.
“So, Clarissa said you’re a graphic designer,” he commented, filling his own plate.
“Oh, um, yes. I design all sorts of things—websites, logos, branding for companies. I don’t have a degree but have done it for years.”
“I can’t even use Photoshop,” Jackson said with a chuckle.
“Nah, but you could kill a man with your bare hands,” Ethan quipped.
Taryn paled, and the two men exchanged a glance. “Hell, I’m sorry,” Ethan said. “I was just joking around. Jackson would never hurt someone who didn’t deserve it. None of us would.”
“Are you okay?” Clarissa asked, looking concerned as she glanced over.
“Fine. Yeah,” Taryn murmured.
“Taryn,” Jackson said in a low voice. He reached out and took her plate of food, noticing the way her hands trembled again. She looked flustered and somewhat embarrassed by her reaction. “Go ahead and sit down,” he said quietly. “I’ll bring this over.”
She nodded, biting her lip, but rather than taking a seat at the table again, went inside to the living room. The other women were gathering around the table outside, laughing and talking, although Clarissa still looked concerned. Jackson exchanged a glance with Blake. “I’ll make sure she’s okay,” Jackson assured him.
He carried his own plate inside along with Taryn’s, setting them both down on the coffee table. “Are you all right?” he asked, sinking down into a chair across from the sofa. She looked surprised for a beat, but it was the least threatening place he could think of to be. He didn’t want to sit beside her. If he stood, he’d tower above her. And he didn’t feel right about leaving her inside alone.
She eyed the plate of food, her stomach rumbling.
“Go ahead,” he said. “I came in to make sure you’re okay.”
“Sorry about that,” she said, looking embarrassed again. She reached out and took her plate, setting it on her lap. He’d grabbed utensils for them as well, and he watched as she daintily sliced off a piece of her steak. She brushed a lock of her dark hair behind one ear, and he found himself fascinated by how fragile she looked. Taryn had delicate features—high cheekbones and those deep brown eyes, set off even more by her fair skin, small hands, and even dainty little feet peeking out of her sandals.
He felt huge next to her, like a hulking giant or something. At six-foot-five, he easily stood above other men. He towered over Taryn though. She was at least a foot shorter than him. Something about that appealed to his base instincts. He liked knowing he could shield her from danger and protect her. Provide for her. His cock stirred at the idea of making love to her. She was so small, he’d have to always be careful, but the idea of bending her over and taking her from behind while he claimed her was appealing as hell.
What would it sound like if she whimpered his name, crying out as he brought her to the peaks of pleasure?
He needed to get his mind out of the gutter though. Ethan’s comment had upset her, and it’s not like he was about to take her to bed.
Jackson dug into his own food, frowning as he heard her stomach rumble.
“Sorry,” she said, flushing again. “I didn’t eat much today.”
“Why not?” he asked, not caring that he was being somewhat rude. She was slender with nice curves, but he hoped she wasn’t on some sort of crash diet or something. Taryn was gorgeous. She didn’t need to diet.
“Oh, I just need to get to the store,” she said, looking flustered.
He nodded, not convinced that was really the reason. It was Sunday evening after all. Most people did their grocery shopping on the weekends. Although, if she worked from home, maybe she went out and ran errands during the week. He was sure there were some benefits to a flexible schedule like that where she did design working from home. He was at the mercy of the Navy, on base early, and putting in long hours when duty called.
Hell.
It would be nice having a woman like Taryn there when he got home.
Resisting the urge to groan, he took a bite of his food. He didn’t need the complications a woman and relationship would bring into his life.
“Hi guys!” Clarissa said, walking in. “Can I get you a beer or something, Taryn? A glass of wine? We have sodas, too, if you’d prefer.”
“Do you have any red?” Taryn asked hesitantly.
“We sure do,” Clarissa assured her. “I’ll be right back.”
“Damn, Blake knows how to grill a good steak,” Jackson said, taking another bite. He glanced over and was pleased to see that Taryn actually was eating.
“Yeah, this is amazing.”
“You could put a grill out on your deck,” Jackson said, nodding toward the balcony doors.
“Well, I don’t know how to use a charcoal grill. I know they have those small portable ones, but….” She shrugged. “I’d probably just make a mess of things and ruin the food. And I’m sure gas grills are really expensive.”
He nodded, watching Clarissa walk back into the room. He’d been about ready to offer to teach her how to grill over charcoal, which was weird. If he really did teach her, then they’d probably eat together. Again.
“Here you go,” Clarissa said, handing Taryn a glass of red. She held one as well and took a sip. “Wow, this is delicious. Hailey, this is amazing! Thanks!” she called out. Hailey waved from the deck, and Jackson assumed she and Ghost had brought the bottle.
Clarissa turned back to Taryn. “Maybe we can have a girls’ night sometime now that I’ve officially moved in! I hardly know anyone out here. Hailey is from the DC area and just moved to San Diego as well. Honestly, I didn’t have a ton of close girlfriends back in Texas. It would be nice having a friend right next door.”
Taryn nodded, appearing to relax slightly. “Yeah, that would be fun.”
“Maybe when the guys are gone, I’ll have everyone over,” Clarissa said. “Otherwise, Blake will just be hovering.”
“He seems protective of you,” Taryn noticed.
“Yeah, he definitely is. I’m used to being independent, but I honestly don’t mind. Oh, geez, let me see what they need. Excuse me,” she said, hurrying back out the door to see what Blake was gesturing about. Jackson had nearly finished his food, and he was happy to see Taryn had eaten as well.
“You doing okay?” Jackson asked quietly.
“Yeah. This is nice,” she said, looking around. “I don’t know a lot of people out here in San Diego, so I never go to parties or anything. I had to move here quickly—” She abruptly stopped talking, her face turning pale.
“Hey, it’s all right,” he assured her, resting his forearms on his legs and leaning closer. He wanted to reach out and touch her, comfort her, but he didn’t think that would be welcomed. “You don’t have to tell me. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to know, just that I understand if you’d prefer not to say.”
“I don’t talk about myself much,” she said softly.
Jackson nodded. “I don’t either.”
She relaxed slightly and took a sip of the wine. “Clarissa was right—this is really good.”
“I’ll find out what kind it is,” he said.
They talked a few more minutes as the others finished eating and began carrying their plates inside. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, and Jackson could sense Taryn was growing nervous again. “I should head out before it gets too late,” she said, her gaze looking out the balcony doors.
Jackson’s lips quirked. “You’re right next door.”
“Yeah, I know. I just like to be careful.”
He nodded. Was she just looking for an excuse to leave? Or was walking next door in the dark an actual concern for her? “Would it be all right if I walked you home?” he found himself asking.
She looked surprised for a moment but nodded, looking slightly relieved. “Okay. I’d prefer it actually. I don’t like walking alone at
night.”
Jackson stilled, wondering exactly what she meant by that. He knew most women wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around alone in the dark, but she was literally right next door. This was a well-lit, safe neighborhood. Why was she frightened just to go to her own house? Not for the first time, Jackson wondered what she was hiding.
Taryn said goodbye to everyone, and Jackson told his friends he’d be right back. A moment later, he was opening Raptor’s front door and following Taryn down the steps. He tried not to stare at her ass in those jeans, but damn. She was gorgeous.
The wind lightly blew her hair, and he caught the briefest hint of a rose scent again. His groin tightened, but he ignored it. He was just seeing her safely home, not pulling her into his arms and kissing her like he wanted. Jackson was attracted to her, but his need to see to her safety overrode any other thought. For some reason, she was frightened, and he didn’t like the uneasiness that stirred inside of him.
They crossed over to her yard, not saying a word, and then a police car slowly drove down the street. Taryn stiffened beside him, and Jackson frowned. Was she in some sort of trouble with the law? He didn’t get that vibe from her at all, but she’d noticeably reacted. The police car continued on its way, and Taryn hurried toward her townhouse.
Jackson followed her up the steps to her front door. He didn’t go all the way to the porch, instead stopping on the top step. Taryn turned and looked up at him. They were closer in height with him standing on the steps, but he was still taller than her.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
She took a deep breath, nodding, but tears smarted her eyes.
“You want to tell me what that was about?” Jackson asked, cocking his head in the direction the police car had driven. “You froze when you saw the police car. Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“My ex was a cop,” she whispered. She swiped a tear off her cheek.
Jackson narrowed his eyes as he realized she was trembling. She was actually afraid of her ex. Scared enough that she was shaking. Something swelled within his chest that he couldn’t quite explain—the need to hold her close and keep her safe. Erase that look of fear in her eyes.
He didn’t have the right to touch her though. As much as he wanted to pull her into his embrace right now, he knew she’d never let him. He’d scare her more if he did something like that, which was concerning.
“Does he live here in San Diego?” Jackson asked.
“No.” Her voice was barely a whisper. He searched her gaze. Her ex didn’t even live nearby, and she was still terrified. Her lips parted slightly, and he had the strangest urge to cup her face and run his thumb over her mouth, soothing her.
“Did he hurt you?” Jackson asked, stiffening.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said, shaking her head. “Thank you for walking me back. I should go.” She quickly turned, fumbling with the keys to her front door. Jackson wanted to reach out and stop her, to grab hold of her arm, but he felt paralyzed. He’d frighten her more if he tried to touch her.
The door swung open, and then she was stepping inside, Jackson still there on her front steps.
He hadn’t moved a muscle, and it took everything in him to stand there. To not go after her asking for more information. He was a man of action. He rushed into battle without thought to his own safety. His job was the mission, and he didn’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to take charge. He’d battled with terrorists and took lives without remorse in the name of duty to his country. But this one small woman had him afraid to so much as move a muscle. Just reaching out to comfort her might spook her more.
She turned to close the door, and he hated the look of sheer terror on her face. She was breathing rapidly, her hands shaking, and he couldn’t do a damn thing.
“Let me help you,” he said.
She shook her head, a stray tear running down her cheek. “Goodnight.”
“Make sure you lock up,” he said quietly as she began to shut the door.
“I will.”
He heard the key in the lock turning and the sound of the chain, and he briefly wondered if Taryn was standing there looking at him through the peephole. He nodded at the door, just in case, but then he turned and jogged down the steps, his gut churning as he wondered what the hell he could do to help her.
Chapter 4
Taryn padded downstairs to her kitchen the next morning, laptop in hand. She needed to check her work emails and finalize the website she was working on. If the client approved her redesign, she could send them the final invoice. Hopefully they’d pay her right away, and then she could stock up at the grocery store. She did have an emergency credit card she could use to buy food, but what if Austin managed to track her with it?
She’d rather go hungry and make do with what she had in her kitchen than risk him finding her.
Last night she’d been almost paralyzed with fear when the police car had driven by. It was ridiculous for her to assume it was her ex-husband or even someone who knew him—not all cops were crooked. She knew that, logically.
That didn’t stop her heart from pounding every time she was near a police officer though. Just seeing a man in a police uniform reminded her of Austin—how he’d come home from work already angry at her. He’d shove her out of his way. Hit her if she said the wrong thing. She was always relieved when he went to work for the day and terrified the moment he came home.
And Jackson.
God.
He’d seen how scared she was yesterday. It was embarrassing as hell to know he’d seen her frightened like that. He was a big, tough Navy SEAL. He’d said they’d rescued Clarissa. She didn’t even want to imagine what nightmare scenario that was. Although she didn’t know much about the military, she’d seen movies and TV shows. The SEALs went where other people couldn’t.
What would he think of her being terrified of a single man?
And goodness. She’d have had a full-blown panic attack if Jackson hadn’t been with her. She’d been scared enough despite having the muscular man right at her side. He was big and strong and made her stomach flip every time she looked at him.
Taryn hadn’t been attracted to a man in a long time. She couldn’t imagine ever dating again, but that didn’t stop her skin from heating when he was near her.
She made herself a weak cup of coffee to conserve the little she had left and then got some peanut butter and crackers out of the cupboard. It wasn’t typical breakfast food, but it had protein and calories. And despite eating the steak last night for dinner, her stomach rumbled.
Grimacing as she took a sip of the coffee, she decided she’d make a stronger pot tomorrow. If she ran out of coffee, she ran out. This tasted awful.
She reviewed all the files for her website redesign one last time. She’d tweaked a few things over the weekend, and it looked perfect now. She uploaded the last of the files and quickly sent off an email letting her client know the final design was ready for review.
Finishing her breakfast, she drank a tall glass of water and got ready to take a walk. The gym was too expensive, obviously, but she’d taken to walking around the neighborhood for exercise. It was relatively safe with other townhouses and people around. She always switched up what time she went on a walk—mornings, afternoons, and early evening. She didn’t want anyone to see her and notice any sort of routine.
Not that she suspected anyone was watching her, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. Grabbing her keys, she hurried out her front door. Blake was just climbing into his SUV. She nodded hello and wondered why he was leaving so late. Usually, he was out the door at the crack of dawn.
“Hey, Taryn!” Clarissa called out.
She nearly jumped in surprise but turned toward their front door. “Hi! Good morning.”
Clarissa blew Blake a kiss but then crossed over to her. “I’m glad you could come by last night. I’ve been wanting to invite you over but things were so crazy with moving and trying to get settled here,
I just hadn’t gotten a chance yet.”
“Yeah, the dinner was fun. Thanks again for inviting me. The food was all amazing, and it was nice getting to know a few people.”
“Jackson seemed really taken with you.”
“Oh, well, I don’t really date,” Taryn said, feeling flustered. A warm feeling coiled in her belly though, despite her admission. If she did date, Jackson was the type of man she’d be interested in. He was big enough to protect her but oddly seemed gentle under that tough exterior. He hadn’t tried anything last night, hadn’t sat too close to her or touched her in a way that made her uncomfortable. He was almost disconcertingly aware that she’d been nervous and had tried to put her at ease.
That didn’t mean she was about to fall head over heels for the man though.
He was handsome and polite. Protective even. She couldn’t get involved with anyone and certainly didn’t want to drag him into her disaster of a life.
Clarissa backtracked when she saw Taryn was uncomfortable. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it or to butt into your life. He’s quieter than the other guys but said he enjoyed talking with you.”
“He was different than the others. Some of them seemed like a handful.”
Clarissa laughed. “For sure. That’s why they’re still single. Jackson’s a few years older like Blake though. He’s not running around chasing after every woman he sees.”
“How old is he?”
“Thirty-one. The same as Blake. Some of the younger guys are still in their twenties and sowing their wild oats, so to speak. I just meant he’s a good guy if you were interested, but no pressure, obviously. I didn’t mean to assume you were looking to date anyone. Do you want to grab breakfast? I’ve got online lectures later this evening that I need to prepare for but have the morning off.”
“That must be nice.”
“The schedule?”
Taryn nodded.
“Yeah, sort of. I’m used to getting to campus early and having lectures throughout the day, but because I’m teaching online this semester, I mostly have evening classes. It’s totally different than anything I’ve done in the past. The time zone difference complicates things a bit, too. So what do you say about breakfast?”
SEAL's Honor (Alpha SEALs Coronado Book 3) Page 4