Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor- Cynthia D'Alba Page 0,14
attracted to him. He had a mirror. He knew what he looked like, and he worked damned hard to keep himself in prime condition. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d asked a woman out. They asked him.
Except Holly Maxwell. Hell, she was gorgeous and sexy and had damned near stopped his heart with her lifeguard attire. In her panic the previous evening, she’d been so damn cute, like she’d been drowning and he was the only one who could rescue her, not that he’d done much more than get her and her car home safely.
Well, hell.
He tossed his phone into the passenger seat. This past week had been one he hoped never to repeat. This brush-off was the cherry on his crap sundae.
He pulled away from the base and headed to the grocery store, seriously one of his least favor activities. He’d driven about two blocks when a Coronado police car pulled up behind him and turned on its lights. Reflexively, he eased off the gas, even though he was well under the speed limit, and pulled to the curb. There, he turned off the engine and got out his license and registration. In his youth, he’d had enough run-ins with the law to know what to do, and especially, what not to do.
A young patrol officer stepped up to his driver’s side and gestured for Benjamin to lower the window, which he did.
“License and registration,” the cop asked in a harsh tone.
Benjamin handed over the requested paperwork.
The cop studied the license. “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
“I have no idea.”
The cop gave a single nod and said, “Stay here.” Then he walked back to his cruiser.
“Sit. Stay. Be a good boy,” Benjamin muttered under his breath. “I could snap you like a twig.”
Of course, he would never challenge a cop or get into a fight with a civilian. Command would hand him his ass on a pike. Still, this punk had had no reason to pull him over.
In a minute, the young cop strutted back up to Benjamin’s window. “Navy SEAL?”
“That’s right. Can I ask why I was stopped?”
“You did a rolling stop through a stop sign. Failure to yield.”
“Hmm, I don’t remember doing that.”
“Well, you did. You’re not questioning my eyesight, are you?” The cop’s voice suddenly grew harsh.
“I’m not, no. I’m simply saying I remember stopping at the four-way stop.”
The young patrol office studied him. “The name’s Danny Long. Mean anything to you?”
“No, sorry. Should it?”
“You’re dating my sister.”
Benjamin began flashing names and pictures through his mind, but he couldn’t think of one woman he knew with the last name Long.
“I think you’re mistaken.”
The cop’s mouth tightened into a line. “Are you calling me a liar?”
What the hell was wrong with this kid? Was he looking to get his ass kicked on this sunny Saturday afternoon?
“I’m not calling you a liar,” he said slowly. “I’m saying I’m not dating anyone with the last name of Long.”
The kid nodded. “Right. Her last name is Maxwell. Holly Maxwell.”
Benjamin’s eyes opened wide. “Holly is your sister?”
“That’s right and we Longs look out for each other.”
“I’m sure you do.”
He removed his sunglasses and glared into the driver’s window. “You’re lucky I’m the one who stopped you and not Patrick or Lawrence. I’m the nice brother.”
“Good to know.”
“So, you’re only going to get one warning. Hurt Holly, and we’ll make your life a living hell.”
Benjamin thought about boot camp, BUD/S, all his missions, and this totally fucked up week. Making his life a living hell was pretty much what his father had worked on since Benjamin had been about five. Not much this kid could do to top dear-old-dad.
“Look, kid—”
“Officer Long.”
“Right. Officer Long. Holly’s an adult. I’m sure she’s fully capable of making her own decisions.” When the cop’s mouth hardened, Benjamin hurried on to add, “But I get it. You love your sister and you’re watching out for her. I promise to only be a boy scout around her.”
The cop handed the license and registration through the window. “I’m only writing you a warning this time. Next time, I won’t be so nice.” He turned to walk away, then stopped and looked back. “And get your taillight fixed.”
Benjamin frowned. There was nothing wrong with his taillight. He heard the crunch. He looked in his side mirror in time to see Officer Long putting his nightstick back into his belt.
Long glanced toward the truck and grinned. “Fix your taillight,” he mouthed and pointed to the rear of Benjamin’s truck.