SEAL's Embrace - Makenna Jameison Page 0,7
into the night, including sirens and trucks zipping around. “This is crazy,” she murmured, more to herself than anything.
“It’s not good,” he agreed. “I’m going to head to the front gate with my team to see if we can help.”
“You guys are Special Forces, aren’t you?”
He met her gaze, looking surprised, but didn’t say anything. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I know you can’t tell me. I just get used to seeing groups of guys coming and going for meetings in my building. They’re only here for a week or two, then leave.”
He didn’t answer, just guided her toward the housing where the women were. Grayson kept his hand on her back, and she moved closer to him without thought. It was crazy out here. People were shouting, running to help. She’d totally lost her appetite after everything that had happened. At the moment, she wanted to curl up with a hot cup of tea in her bed and soothe her frayed nerves.
Grayson would be going right to the bomb scene though. She stiffened slightly, not liking the idea that he could be in danger.
“Are you okay? I hope I didn’t hurt you when I pushed you down, but I didn’t know if there’d be another bomb.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Honestly, I was too scared to even move. I’m glad you were there.”
“Me too. And hey, I was serious about dinner,” Grayson continued. “I’m going to be busy tomorrow, but maybe one night this week?”
She huffed out a laugh. It felt like the world was falling apart around them, and he was asking her out. Sort of. Because they were still in the middle of Afghanistan, stuck on a military base, not back home. It’s not like he’d pick her up in his car and drive her to a fancy restaurant. She didn’t even know where Grayson was stationed back home. They could live on opposite sides of the U.S. for all that she knew. “Look, that’s nice of you to ask, but you’re leaving in a few days. And I’m sure you’re busy with whatever mission or business you’re here for.”
“I never even got to ask where you were from,” he said, ignoring her answer.
“DC. Arlington, actually. But after my year is up here, I’ve accepted a position in California. Most of my things are in storage back home because I’ll be moving out there.”
He chuckled quietly.
“What’s so funny about that?” she asked, looking up at him.
His green eyes twinkled as he looked down at her. “My team is based out of San Diego, sweetheart.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. I am leaving soon, but it sounds like you will be in a month, too. And it wouldn’t hurt to know someone out on the west coast, right? Are you moving to San Diego?”
“Yeah, I actually am.”
“So it’s fate.”
She flushed slightly as he flashed her a smile. Goodness he was persistent. Attractive as hell, too, if she admitted it to herself. Well, she could probably have dinner with him this week. It’s not like she had any other amazing plans. And he’d be leaving in a matter of days. They could eat, get to know each other…and then he’d fly home, and move on to the next attractive woman he met.
Grayson seemed genuine, but he was a handsome man. She was sure he had no trouble meeting women back in California. And she was around military men all the time. She’d been asked out, and although most of the guys acted like gentlemen, some came on a bit too strong for her liking. There was certainly no shortage of testosterone around here.
“What?” he asked, catching the expression on her face.
“Oh, I’m just around military guys all day long. Most are polite but some are a little too persistent.”
“Shit,” he muttered. “I hope I wasn’t coming on too strong. Tell me to back off, and I swear that I will.”
“You’re fine,” she assured him. “Believe me, you’ve been nothing but a perfect gentleman.”
He smiled down at her, even though she could tell he was itching to join his team and get in on the action. Another group had rushed by them toward the front gate, and she suspected Grayson was exactly the type of man who’d want to help no matter the situation.
“I don’t have a cell phone with me on this trip, but I’d like to come check on you tomorrow if that’s all right. We can make plans for later this week.”
“I thought you just said you were busy tomorrow.”
His lips