feeling when he gave her a knowing half smile, as if he knew exactly what had been going on in her head. He studied her a moment longer, his gaze cool and analytical, his eyes never leaving her. Then he rocked slightly forward, displacing the towel to give her a tantalizing view of his lower abdomen and tease of his groin. The man was powerfully built and gorgeous.
Her legs slipped imperceptibility, and the lapse, calculated or not, was all he needed. He broke her hold, flipped around and got his shoulder into her upper chest, rolled and came up into a standing position in seconds, stark naked as the towel was left behind. Then, from there, he had her on the couch and the shorts stripped from her body before she could do a thing.
“Mission accomplished and believe me when I say, I’d rather fight a shark than you, babe.”
“You cheated.” Now she was half-naked.
“A little, but you had leverage. I bet Daisy drives a mean bargain.” He reached out his hand. “Chocolate chips in light, fluffy batter,” he offered.
She laughed softly and grabbed his hand, pulling him down on top of her.
The humorous moment gradually faded, and in its place something more intimate and sensual simmered between them. His eyes softened, and he lowered his head as if he was going to kiss her, but then he playfully caught the edge of her nose with the flat of his index finger and flicked it. “Since you defiled Navy SEAL property with your delicious girly scent, I’m going to have to fine you. Labor comes with fluffy and chocolate chips.”
“Oh, come on,” she said in a wheedling tone. “I almost had you beat.”
“It pays to be a winner,” he murmured and rolled off her. “You’re going to have to help me make them now.”
She lifted her chin and gave him an eye-batting look. “But I don’t know how.”
“Don’t give me that clueless look. You run triathlons. You can make pancakes. I’ll teach you.”
She scrunched up her face. “I’m terrible in the kitchen.”
“That face may be the most adorable face I’ve ever seen, but no dice, babe. You’re cooking and I’ll help,” he said in a reverent tone.
Shea made an imprudent face at Hemingway while she pushed up off the couch and headed for the bedroom. As he slipped into the shorts, there was something disturbingly intimate about the look in his eyes. A heady warmth spread through her as she disappeared through the door. It intensified as she grabbed underwear and a pair of yoga pants and slipped into them. It lasted with such promise, but she forced herself to sever the connection. She tried to draw a breath past the sudden tightness in her chest as she struggled to collect her composure. If she thought she was heading for big trouble before, she thought wryly, it was nothing compared to where she was right now.
Taking another deep breath to try to calm herself, she stepped back into the living room.
He looked up, still bare chested and still wearing those shorts. She grinned and with the same wavelength between them, he grinned back.
“Come on, Daisy, let’s get cracking. These pancakes aren’t going to cook themselves and I have to leave for base by zero four hundred to get to SUROBS on time or Professor will have to do it by himself and cover for me. Can’t have that. If we’re not on the money for the surf report, the whole class pays for our mistakes.”
He pulled out an electric skillet as his brows rose, a glimmer of humor in his eyes, and she shrugged.
“I can cook bacon.”
His brows rose higher.
“Okay, my brother bought me all the kitchen stuff.”
He chuckled, setting it on the counter, the half-smile deepening into something warm and disarming, something sensual and intimate. “Bowl?”
“Lower left cupboard,” she said, crossing the room. One smile from him and she could feel every pulse point in her body. “I was surprised you made it here so fast.”
Standing next to him still had a sensual punch, even after the shower and the tussle on the floor. “Professor also took on my chores so I could spend more time with you. Let’s not let his bro sacrifice go to waste.”
“That’s a good friend.”
“He’s shaping up to be.” Hemingway found the pots and pans and pulled out a saucepan. Combining butter and milk, he placed it over low heat.
“Most guys make lasting friendships through BUD/S. I’m sure that you will bond with more