Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor- Cynthia D'Alba Page 0,1
top of the hill under the white tent to continue with the celebration.
“Well, that was fun,” Benjamin said. “Aren’t you glad you got the short straws to come?”
“I’m pretty sure that whole ‘pick a straw for who has to go with you to the wedding’ was rigged,” Rooster said.
“Wait. You drew straws? I got blackmailed. How is that fair?” Cowboy said with a glare.
Benjamin slapped Cowboy’s back. “Don’t look at it as blackmail. Think of it as I wash your back, you wash mine.”
Cowboy shoved him. “Consider this mutual bathing experience at its end, then. We’re even.”
They started the walk back up the hill toward the reception tent. They hadn’t made much progress before coming across an older woman standing with a college-age couple. Her face was red and her breathing labored.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” Benjamin asked.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” the girl exclaimed. She looked toward the men. “She’s having trouble walking back up. I told her to wait here, and we’d get someone to drive a car down, but she’s a stubborn as a mule and insists she can do this.”
“I can,” the older woman said. “I just need to catch my breath.”
Benjamin exchanged glances with his guys. If she was breathless at this point in the walk, she’d never make it up. The big climb up the hill was still ahead and, in Benjamin’s option, was more than this sweet woman could do.
He leaned toward her. “Put your arms around my neck, beautiful.”
She frowned, but did so. He lifted her up into his arms and started walking.
“Put me down,” she ordered.
“No, ma’am.”
“I can walk,” she protested even as she settled against his chest. “I’m too heavy for you to carry.”
He chuckled. “My gear bag weighs more than you. Hang on and enjoy the ride.”
The woman’s eyes twinkled, and she laughed. “Why do I think you’ve said that once or twice to women before?”
He threw back his head in a hearty laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Benjamin. Benjamin Blackwell.”
“You must work with my great-niece, Alisha.”
“You mean, Ensign Davis? The bride?”
“That’s right. Wasn’t she lovely?” Her voice was wistful and her smile bright.
“Very much so, ma’am.”
“Are you part of ‘her boys’, as she calls them?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you for coming, Mr. Blackwell. I know it meant a lot to Alisha to have someone from the teams here to support her. My husband was in the Navy, you know.”
“I did not.”
“Yes, he was an admiral when he died.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, ma’am.”
“Thank you. Now, put me down and let me walk in.”
Heads turned toward the door as he walked through the entrance and set Ensign Davis’s great-aunt on her feet.
“Have a nice evening,” he said.
“I suspect you will also, Mr. Blackwell. I believe one of the bridesmaids is eyeing you even as we speak.”
Benjamin looked in the direct the woman had indicated. The bridesmaid who’d slipped him her name and room number smiled and lifted a champagne flute in a salute.
“Maybe so.” He gave the older woman a nod. “Good evening.”
He met Rooster and Cowboy at the door and passed off his keys. “Here ya go, guys. I’ll find a way home.” He glanced toward the waiting woman and back to his guys. “One way or the other.”
Their chuckles rang in his ears as he made his way across the room toward Tiffany, who was staying in room 110.
Benjamin’s internal alarm woke him at five a.m. Sunday or not, he refused to let himself sleep in. He’d survived on less than two hours sleep before. and he’d survive today, too. His back popped as he rose from his bed and twisted side-to-side.
Last night’s bridesmaid, Tiffany, had been insatiable to the point he’d wondered if she’d been trying to fuck him to death. If he had to die, fucked to death would definitely beat being shot to death. But he’d drawn the line at bringing in another bridesmaid or two to spice things up. He’d been there, done that, and frankly, after a couple of rounds with her, he’d been ready to call it a night.
He shook his head at the memory. Damn. Had he really turned down a three-way? Was he getting old?
Hell, no. He was only thirty-five. There were decades and lots of women ahead of him. Tiffany simply hadn’t held his attention after the second round.
He stretched his arms over his head, then down to the floor. Beach runs were best in the mornings before the rest of the world woke up and got moving. Sometimes, the