Hot SEAL, Heartbreaker - Cat Johnson Page 0,5

grumbled.

“Then that’s where I’ll be. Right here, on this bar stool. With Ray.” Brian grinned, pleased with the plan.

“Not sure you’re Ray’s type, Heartbreaker.” Zig laughed.

That was exactly the point. No hope of romantic entanglements here. Perfect.

Yeah, Brian hadn’t gotten laid in way too long. Yes, he’d love to remedy that situation and soon.

And sure, maybe on any other day he’d walk over and strike up a conversation with the dark-haired beauty who’d been nursing a draft beer while talking on her cell phone at the other end of the bar. But not today. Not three days before the day. V-Day.

The woman he’d been deciding against approaching glanced up and their gazes met briefly. His resolve almost weakened but his determination held strong.

The last thing Brian wanted was a relationship. Steering clear of all women until after February fourteenth had passed was the best way he knew to stay out of one.

After that . . . all bets were off.

“Well, boys. That’s it for me.” Liam stood and threw cash on the bar.

Brian’s attention was yanked off the brunette forbidden fruit and back to his teammates. “What? It’s early.”

“You might not have plans, but I do.” Liam slapped Brian on the back. “I got a ton of shit to handle.”

“Actually, I’m out of here too,” Zig said, tossing a few bills on the bar.

Bear stood, as well. “Me too.”

Brian watched as all of his buddies abandoned him, one by one.

Quitters. All of them.

He sighed. “Fine. See you guys later.”

Alone, he stared into his beer and evaluated the level of amber liquid in the mug before downing a large swallow. He’d finish this one, settle his bill and then he might as well head out too.

Drinking alone was no fun. Even with the hot chick at the end of the bar as scenery. He glanced her way now and saw she’d been joined by some guy.

That figures. A woman like that wouldn’t be alone in a place like this for long.

He reminded himself women, all women, even the hot ones, were off limits until after V-Day.

Shame. But it had to be done. His self-preservation depended on it.

THREE

Alicia drew back as the guy came to stand right in front of her, too close for comfort. Way too close for a stranger.

“Alicia.” He leaned in, invaded her personal space, and wrapped his arms around her.

So, not a stranger then. But still, no one who should be freaking hugging her. She narrowed her eyes and pulled back, out of his grasp. “Do I know you?”

“Yeah, sure you do. Remember? We danced at Jen and Jason’s wedding?”

Now that she thought about it, she remembered dancing with a few of her female cousins and this guy insinuating himself in the middle of their group.

“Come on. You know you remember me. I’m Andrew. You don’t have to pretend and play shy.”

The diagnosis of narcissist flew unbidden into her brain as Alicia cocked up a brow. “I’m not playing, Andrew. And yes, I do remember you. Now. In fact, we actually first met at my sister’s engagement party. You were there with a date. I believe she was one of the secretaries from the office where you work with Jason.”

The office which wasn’t near enough to Coronado that this guy just showing up at the same time she was here could be a coincidence.

Had her sister seriously sent him to McP’s knowing she’d be here?

“So what are you doing here?” she asked.

If Jen had done this, if Andrew was Jen’s latest attempt at a fix-up, Alicia was going to lose her mind. And then her temper.

From what she remembered of this man, he was an obnoxious, self-centered, know-it-all who’d been all over his date at the engagement party—a subordinate from his job, which made it even worse.

Jason’s dog didn’t even like this guy and Chester usually loved everyone.

Alicia trusted animal instincts. Given a choice between her sister’s questionable taste and Chester’s, she was siding with the dog on this one.

“So, funny thing,” he began, still standing too close. “I’d actually just asked Jason recently if you were dating anyone. Then Jen calls the office and tells me you were here and suggested we meet up.”

“Here you go. One order of wings.” The waitress, who had the worst timing ever, planted a platter in front of Alicia along with a napkin and utensils. The server glanced at Andrew and asked, “Should I bring over another setup?”

“No,” Alicia said, a bit too fast while silently cursing herself that she didn’t