Hot SEAL, Cold Feet - Becca Jameson

Chapter 1

“You cannot actually be serious.”

Tuck turned his head toward the woman standing several yards behind him, her hands on her hips, head cocked to one side, eyes narrowed. She would’ve looked seriously pissed if it weren’t for the fact that the corners of her mouth were lifted in a disbelieving smirk.

She was definitely fierce though. Not the sort of woman who backed down from a challenge. Her dark eyes were a deep piercing brown that said “don’t fuck with me.” He doubted many people did. She was wearing tightly fitted jeans that hugged her body and showed every curve from the waist down.

If she turned around, he had no doubt he would be graced with the view of a very fine ass. He couldn’t say for sure what her chest might look like, however, since she had on a loose-fitting, black T-shirt with a royal blue bar logo in the corner. Bridgman’s Bar to be exact. The one Tuck was currently standing in. The one where he was getting the lay of the land from his new boss, Bill Bridgman.

“Jodi,” Bill hissed. “What the hell?” He threw his hands up in frustration.

Jodi tipped her head back, giving Tuck a view of her long neck. Her hair, a mess of dark brown curls, was piled up in a messy clip on top of her head, but several locks popped free as she laughed sardonically toward the ceiling before lowering her gaze. She glanced at Bill first, rolling her eyes, before shifting her gaze toward Tuck. “Dad. Seriously. Please tell me this is not the new bouncer you hired.”

Tuck flinched at the way she said “bouncer” as if it were a dirty word reserved for flunkies who happened to be graced with large bodies and strength. He was graced with an above average frame and he was physically in better shape than most humans, but he certainly was no high school dropout. He was a Navy SEAL for God’s sake. Or he had been.

“Jodi,” Bill stated sharply, louder this time. “What’s gotten into you? I told you we were hiring a new security specialist. I even told you he would be here this afternoon to tour the bar. I’ve never seen you so inhospitable.” Bill was in his early sixties. He had a full head of white hair cut short and a clean shave.

Jodi shot her father another annoyed look. “Yep. You told me you were hiring a bouncer. One we can barely afford, mind you. You did not, however, mention it would be Tucker Lawler. Do you have any idea who this is?”

Well, fuck me, Tuck thought, stiffening. He’d been lying low for the last few weeks, applying for local jobs from inside his apartment slash prison cell—at least that’s what it felt like most days. He had not ventured out much, so until now, he couldn’t be sure if many people would recognize him. Apparently so. At this point, it would seem he was one for two. And it shouldn’t surprise him that Jodi recognized him while her father did not.

In any case, he didn’t like the way she was dismissing him as if he were nothing more than dog shit on the bottom of her shoe. He half expected her to shake off her tennis shoe and shudder, backing up a pace. He wanted to tell her to mind her own business and fuck off, but he bit his tongue instead. He needed this job. If she blew it for him with her judgmental attitude, he was going to be seriously pissed.

He gritted his teeth, trying to decide how he wanted to handle this situation.

Before he could think how to explain his predicament to Bill, Jodi continued, her head still cocked toward her father. “Tucker here is on that ridiculous reality television show filmed at that beach house. You know the one, Dad. Cold Feet.”

Bill shook his head. “Never heard of it.” He glanced toward Tuck, one half of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Is that true? You one of those Hollywood stars trying to get your big break?”

Tuck shook his head. “No, Sir. Not even close. I—”

He didn’t get to finish that sentence because Jodi interrupted. “He married this crazy, whiny woman on the show, Dad. And now he’s raking in the money because social media is eating this up. They even extended the stupid show to continue following his train wreck of a marriage to the star of the show, Katia. I’m not sure which one