Bronco's Rough Ride (Bad Boys of Beta Squad, 0.5) Read online

  “You’d ask me out?” He raised his eyebrows as he took her hand and led her toward the front door.

  “Yes, I would. Where are we going?” She followed him more out of curiosity than outright agreement.

  “I thought I could show you some of the cool places around Coronado I’ve found while we do this whole ‘date’ thing.” He winked and waited for her to lock her bungalow door. “There’s a great little seafood place, real mom-and-pop sort of thing where the owners are from the town where I grew up. I thought we could have lunch.”

  “Lunch sounds perfect.”

  He led her to his silver truck and she laughed. “I remember this truck. The first time I saw it my friend Courtney sent me a picture of it on my phone.”

  “The phone that you lost.” He winked as he turned the ignition.

  “Yes, it met with a tragic end on the edge of the bathtub.”

  “I think I remember hearing that.”

  They headed through town to the small seafood restaurant which consisted of no more than a small square building with a wraparound porch and open doors with filmy curtains. Palm trees rattled in the breeze and scents of fried food along with brackish seaweed filled the air. An older woman with short silver hair waved as soon as John stepped out of the truck.

  “Welcome back, Chief. I see you’ve come with company this time.” She winked at Lindsey as she led them to a table beneath a window with a paper window shade the same color as the curtains.

  “Yes, ma’am. I believe you told me last time I shouldn’t come back unless I had a friend.”

  “I said no such thing, Chief Andrews.” Their hostess handed them menus as she admonished him with a mock-glare. “I said you need to tell more of your teammates how good my cookin’ is and get them to join you when you go out.” She eyed Lindsey. “This young lady is not a SEAL.”

  “No, ma’am, she’s my date today.”

  Her grin bloomed immediately. “That’s even better. What are you drinking?”

  They gave their order and their hostess bustled away with a promise to return quickly as more customers arrived. Lindsey watched her greet them like old friends and shook her head.

  “She really knows everyone, doesn’t she?”

  John followed her line of sight. “Yep. Mrs. O’Neil has a special gift of knowing details about each and every repeat customer who comes in. And I swear if she could have all the single people fixed up, she’d happily do it.”

  “How long has she been working on you?”

  “Pretty much since I walked in the door.”

  She laughed and he grinned. “Just like home?”

  “Pretty much.” John shook his head. “I think she’s taken it upon herself to mother me now that she knows my mother is from the same town so far away.”

  Mrs. O’Neil returned with their drinks and Lindsey appreciated her subtle probing questions to determine her compatibility with John. Lindsey hoped she measured up because she wouldn’t want anyone else dating him. He’s mine and has been since Vegas. She supposed it was one trait she shared with her Jenna Black persona.

  “She’s not fooling around.” Lindsey watched Mrs. O’Neil greet some new customers after taking their food order. “I swear she’s making sure you aren’t dating a dead-beat gold-digger with an eye for notching her bedpost with SEAL flesh.”

  John laughed. “I think you held your own and reassured her that’s not who you are.” He paused and raised a mock-worried eyebrow. “Are you?”

  Lindsey grinned. “Nope. Besides, if I was, I’d have already notched it several times with all the stuff we did in Vegas.”

  “Roger that.”

  Their conversation shifted toward food as their meals arrived and Lindsey settled herself into enjoying the atmosphere and the company. She learned he had an older sister who married just out of high school and had three kids already, and a younger brother who escaped the “backwoods” living by going to law school and becoming a small-town lawyer.

  “I think after clerking for all those big-time lawyers, he realized our small town wasn’t that bad after all.” John shook his head. “I’m proud of him, though. Neither of our parents had any education beyond high school, so he made a huge stride forward for our family.”

  “I’d say you did, too. Becoming a SEAL isn’t exactly ‘doing what your daddy did’ in terms of default lifestyles.” Lindsey sipped her lemonade and made a face at the tartness. “Plus, you’ve moved across the country and traveled the world for your job. Not exactly a small accomplishment.”

  “My mother would beg to differ. I think she’d prefer if I’d stayed at home and given her grandchildren like my sister.” He snorted, but his expression softened. “I don’t know if children would be a good thing given my profession. Kids need a dad. Do you want kids?”

  Lindsey blinked, a mixture of excitement and unease tightening her chest. “Uh…”

  “Oh, sorry, that’s heavy for our first real date. Just forget I asked.”

  “No, don’t worry about it. Like you, my profession doesn’t really make room for kids, and if they should have a dad, they definitely need a mom.” She smiled to ease his concerns. “We were talking about family and I think mothers believe grandchildren are like currency or prestige points. My mom hasn’t hinted to me that she wants them, but she might have said something to my sister.”

  “You haven’t talked to your family yet?”

  Lindsey shook her head. “Not about that. We’re still trying to learn about our lives now.”

  “Has a lot changed?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah. It’s been two years and I couldn’t tell them much about what I did before.” She swallowed hard. “Not that I’d want them to know about the hideous world of sex slavery.”

  John’s expression turned thoughtful. “That makes sense. Where do they live?”

  “Reno. A long drive from Vegas, but still worth it.”

  “So you’ve visited them?” John grasped her hand with his, his expression hopeful.

  Lindsey smiled. “Yeah. I’ve gone a couple of times. It was great to see my mom.” The memory of her mother’s face when Lindsey thanked her for the PTSD training still warmed her heart. “And Dad is good, too. I beat him at poker a couple of times.”

  John laughed. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” He squeezed her hand. “Family is important. Just like teammates in the SEALs or backup as a cop. I’m glad you’ve reconnected with them.”

  “Me, too. It’s all thanks to you, you know.”

  “Me? What did I do?”

  “You reminded me of what I was missing and gave me the courage to call them after a two year hiatus.” Lindsey shrugged again. “I know that doesn’t make sense, but I had to thank my mom for teaching me how to help someone with PTSD. I didn’t know how they’d react after so long. Picturing you regaining your strength and focus helped me find mine. It made me feel like you had my back, even if you weren’t there.”

  John’s expression softened. “I’d be happy to have your back, Lindsey. Anytime you need it.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot.” It warmed her in ways she hadn’t thought possible.

  He wiped his mouth and waved for the bill. “You ready for the Coronado cool-places tour?”

  “Yes, that would be great.”

  As John paid for lunch, Mrs. O’Neil pulled Lindsey aside with a motherly smile. “You be good to him, y’hear? That man’s always alone and it isn’t good for him. He needs family around him, and while I do my best, he needs someone closer than a mama.”

  “I’ll definitely keep it in mind, Mrs. O’Neil.”

  The older woman eyed her keenly. “He must really like you. He hasn’t brought anyone else by since he found this place three weeks ago.”

  Can’t imagine why that would be since you go all motherly on any potential mates. Lindsey smiled and nodded. “I’m honored to be the first.”

  “Are you sassin’ me?” She narrowed her eyes at Lindsey. “You think I’m just a me
ddling old woman, don’t you?”

  “No, ma’am. I think you’re just watching out for single young men.”

  “You’re right, I am.” Mrs. O’Neil nodded sharply. “But the Chief, he’s special. He don’t have anyone out here yet, not even his squad, because he’s so new. He needs someone to come home to, or he’ll be lost in some of those adventures SEALs are trained to have. And he likes you enough to bring you here. Do you see what I’m saying? You’re special to him and that’s important. You keep that in mind.”

  With that final admonishment, the older woman went back to greeting her customers, offering John a wave as they left. Lindsey gritted her teeth against the woman’s prying, but only because she feared she couldn’t give John what he needed. I’m only here for the weekend. She’d have to go home to Las Vegas and couldn’t be in Coronado for John. The idea made her stomach churn.

  But I want to be here for him.

  “What was all that about?” John asked as he opened her door to the truck.

  Lindsey debated what to tell him while he walked around to the driver’s side. She hadn’t known John long, but they’d been partners in the past and trust started with honesty. She didn’t have many friends she could trust, not with her previous line of work.

  “She told me to be good to you because you’re special, and it pissed me off because I know you’re special and it’s none of her damn business how our relationship goes.” There. She’d said it, but she sounded petulant even to her. “I’m sorry, John. I just don’t like anyone telling me to be careful when it’s our job to find out about each other without someone else directing the moves.” Lindsey raised her gaze to meet his. “I drove out to Coronado because I wanted to see if we could be real together, not some role we play as an undercover cop and a prisoner of the sex trade. I don’t want someone telling me how to be. I just want to be myself with you.”

  John didn’t say a word before he jerked her into his embrace and slanted his mouth over hers. Heat surged through her when his tongue demanded entrance to her lips, caressing and tangling with her. She whimpered with relief and sensual longing, wrapping her hands in his t-shirt. Damn, this man could kiss like a pro. This is what I want from now on.

  When he pulled back for air, he met her gaze with eyes full of warmth. “I don’t want you to be anyone else with me, Lindsey. It’s what I like about you.” He opened his mouth to say more, but decided to brand her lips with another soul-scouring kiss before he pulled back. “Let me show you my favorite places in Coronado so far.”

  “Okay.” She wanted to say more, to solidify all the pent up emotion, but she recognized the need to let some of it go.

  “If I haven’t told you before, thanks for driving all the way out here to find me. I’m the jackass who didn’t try hard enough to contact you.” He headed back into town. “But damn, a woman who goes after what she wants is so sexy. I think I remember that from Vegas, too.” He winked and she laughed as the tension bled out of the truck.

  “Maybe a little.”

  “See? Sexy.”

  They toured Coronado and he showed her the best places for sunrise and sunset contemplation, his favorite ice cream shop called The Full Scoop, and a quiet, nearly deserted beach.

  “I come here when I need to re-center.” He stared out at the waves hissing softly over the sand. “In a squad, there isn’t a lot of privacy, especially when you’re new. Everyone’s learning how each other works.” He shrugged. “These guys have been together for at least a year and I’m new to them. It takes some adjustment.”

  “Not quite the well-oiled machine yet?” Lindsey nodded. It had been that way with Courtney when she started undercover work, too.

  John took her hand and wove his fingers through hers as if he needed a real anchor. “We’re close. We’re all the best at what we do, but even so, I’m the new guy around and I gotta prove I’m good enough for their squad. I got into one of the best Teams out here on the west coast, and it’s an honor, but meshing takes work.”

  “I bet. Do you like it?”

  “What, being a SEAL?”

  Lindsey snorted and thumped his shoulder with her fist. “No, being here in Coronado with this new squad. Do you like it?”

  John let the silence fill in behind her words as he gazed out at the ocean. Lindsey waited for him to find whatever he wanted to say, settling into the quiet with him. Being silent and still with John filled her with contentment rather than discomfort, and any stress or fear baying at her faded into the ether. She’d never been with a man who brought out her happiness, but John did it without effort.

  “I do like being here. I’m only missing one thing.”

  “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

  “You, Lindsey.” His golden gaze rested on her and her heart rate ramped up. The intensity in his eyes electrified her and her inner cheerleader turned cartwheels. “I know we haven’t seen each other in three weeks, but they’ve been the worst three weeks since I trained with the SEALs.”

  “What?” Lindsey frowned. “Why?”

  “Because you were still in Vegas, and when I wasn’t on training or hitting the gym, or swimming laps, my mind centered on you.” His lips curled in a rueful smile. “Not the best place when I had no idea if you felt the same.”

  “Why didn’t you look me up or contact Courtney?” She snorted and shook her head. “Do you know she told me to get my ass in my car and drive out here to find you? A complete snot about it. She’d have done the happy dance if you’d called or emailed. I swear she’s a romantic at heart.”

  John made a face then snorted. “As I said before, SEALs can face down an enemy with lots of big guns, but make us show our hearts and we run screaming like little girls.”

  Lindsey laughed. “This I would like to see. Big, badass SEALs running around with your hands flailing in the air, squealing.”

  “Yeah, not gonna happen.” He grinned as he led her over to a large basalt boulder, little flecks of a green mineral catching the light of the sinking sun. “Do me a favor and sit here, please.”

  “Oh? What are you gonna do?”

  “I’m going to stand here in the hero hour of the sun and look at you.”

  “Hero hour?”

  “Yeah, know you, when the sun lights up a hero in the last moments of the movie to make him look majestic?” John winked. “That’s hero hour.”

  “Ah. So all I have to do is just sit here?” She settled herself on the boulder and inhaled the warm sea air, enjoying the moisture so different from the heat of Vegas. Seagulls called overhead and their black silhouettes slid across the glowing sky. “I can look good just sitting. It’s one of the few things I can do without trying.”

  John laughed and stood back, the sun gilding him like a bronze statue. She could stare at him as much as he could stare at her. He did look heroic with the ocean shining behind him in the rosy light. Hero hour, indeed.

  “So, Detective Lindsey Jarvis, how would you have approached me?”

  “Wow, you don’t forget much, do you?”

  “As I said, I have a good memory for details.”

  Lindsey grinned. “If I’d met you in a coffee shop in Vegas, I would have bought your coffee for you.”

  “Coffee shop? Not a bar?”

  “Since when are bars a good place to meet people for more than just sex?”

  “Friends hang out in bars.” He tipped his head to the side as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “Yep, friends or people looking for a good time, neither of which mean anything serious or romantic.” She shook her head. “I’m done with quick and false. Jenna Black was all about that and she was a bitch. Thank God she was just a role I had to play. She taught me a lot about what I don’t want.”

  Lindsey closed her eyes and tipped her head back to enjoy the sun and shoved the horrible memories away. Coronado had become a place for her to relax and start anew, not relive old pain. And I don’t want to be just friends with John Andrews. No, she wanted more, the whole
fairytale. Hell, I rescued him like the knights of old. Don’t I get to marry the prince now? She suppressed a chuckle at the ridiculous idea.

  Silence enveloped them and she wondered if John would only look at her. The waves hissed on the shore, a soothing sound playing counterpoint to the seabirds calling overhead. The sun warmed her skin, but the soft breeze dampened the heat. Some of her tension floated away and she allowed her body to relax.

  “God, you’re beautiful, Lindsey.” John’s hands brushed her thighs, the heat of them searing her skin through her skirt. “If you’d come up to me in a coffee shop, I would’ve asked you to join me just so I could hear your voice and look at you.”

  Lindsey opened her eyes when he settled between her legs, his broad shoulders pressing against her knees. “What are you doing, John?”

  “Something I should’ve done weeks ago.” He swallowed hard as he looked up at her from the sand. “Hell, I should’ve done it before I even got into my truck and driven away. I was a jackass.”

  “You’re many things, Bronco, but a jackass isn’t one of them.” She grinned at him. “Sexy SEAL, teddy bear, great interrogator, but no jackassery evident.”

  He smirked, but sobered quickly. “Yeah, I was a jackass because I let go of something special. As a SEAL, I should know better than to ignore opportunities when they show up. Because they rarely show up again.” He squeezed her thighs with his callused hands and pleasure zinged straight through her.

  “When I met you in Vegas, I thought of you as one helluva guardian angel come to haul my ass outta the fire when you introduced yourself. Beautiful, smart, resourceful, and sexy as all get out, you charmed me like no one has before.”

  Lindsey snorted. “That’s because I grabbed your cock and asked you to come.”

  John grinned. “Easiest request I’ve ever gotten.”

  She laughed.

  “But even then I knew if I had the chance, I’d show you just how grateful I was to have you there.” He took both her hands and met her gaze steadily. “I’d been given a lucky charm and I don’t like to ignore luckily acquired charms. That’s like lookin’ a gift horse in the mouth.”