Terry Spear - A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing

“It’s just that my vacuum cleaner doesn’t pick up well. I end up moving the dirt around the floor as the vacuum sucks it up and spits it back out.” She took a deep breath and raised her glass to Finn’s. “To sunsets over the water, and to peace and prosperity everywhere.”

He drank some of his wine and raised his glass to hers. “To a beautiful wolf on a golden night. May you find happiness always.”

“Thanks. I try to.” Once she found the perfect mate to share it with, she would. Of course there would be bumps on the road to bliss, but still…

She watched the sun set as she ate the steak and shrimp and vegetables, also enjoying apple slices and red and green grapes, and washing it all down with sips of red wine. To top it off, they shared bars of chocolate, no s’mores this time. The meal couldn’t have been more perfect. And the company and the setting.

She thought about Finn and his declaration that he wasn’t into dating. Did he mean dating as in eating out at restaurants? They were nice, but she didn’t need five-star restaurant service to enjoy a night out. In fact, this was better than most dinners she’d had where she was waited on hand and foot. More relaxing. More atmospheric and appealing to a wolf. More conducive to a romantic liaison without tons of people in attendance. With Paul watching them, protecting them, she figured Finn wouldn’t kiss her at all.

She hadn’t had any nicer dates with a man than these impromptu affairs with Finn.

When Finn took the empty wineglass and plate from her and set them aside, she envisioned another kiss, hoping that he’d ignore Paul for the moment.

He didn’t give her a kiss, not at first. He gazed into her eyes as if he was doing some real soul-searching. Then he sighed and pulled at her to join him. When she did, he made sure she was nestled between his legs as they sat on the blanket and watched the last of the fireball sun melt away beneath the waves. She imagined it sizzling as the heat of the sun hit the water and the night air grew cooler.

Finn rested his chin on the top of her head and held her gently in his arms. When the last of the light was gone, he nuzzled her bare neck with his face and then caressed her cheek with his mouth, his hands shifting to her breasts. That made her wish they really were alone with the sound of the waves washing over the sand and the night breeze swirling around them.

“What did you think of us? The team?” Finn asked, his voice low and husky.

“I was too busy giving Hunter a hard time about the missions you all were going on after you left the Navy.”

“Paul swore up and down you favored him,” Finn persisted, “because you were always giving him a coy smile.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t pay any attention to him.” She felt her cheeks heat. Had everyone believed Paul’s teasing?

“Allan said you blushed whenever he caught your eye.”

She shook her head. “Not me. Ever.” When Finn didn’t say anything further, she looked over her shoulder at him. “Well, what did you say to the other guys about me?”

Finn smiled reminiscently. “That only I stood a chance with you because only I riled you so that you’d speak with me. Sure sign of love. I knew it was only a ploy to get me alone.”

“Yeah, right. So that I could have my wicked way with you? I’m sure they believed it as much as you did.”

For a long moment, he said nothing but caressed her neck and shoulders with his large hands. And then he chuckled. “If they didn’t before, they’ll believe so now.”

Later that night, as Finn relaxed with a sleeping Meara in his arms in the guest bedroom, he thought about the fun he’d had with her on the beach. Cooking the steaks and shrimp and watching the surf with the breeze in their hair had made him feel as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Like when he’d been a young man just out to have some fun.

He’d wanted to kiss her and hold her close, and he finally had allowed himself to do so, despite knowing Paul had to be watching them. He had tried to keep it just a sweetheart’s kiss, nothing too sensual, but with the way she’d leaned back in his arms and tilted her face up for more, he couldn’t help himself. He could never get enough of her.

Hunter would be on a rampage for sure as soon as he arrived.

After thinking how much he had enjoyed being with Meara, Finn closed his eyes and slept for a short while until Anna yanked open the guest bedroom door and said in a rush, “Hunter just drove into the driveway in case you want to make yourself presentable and… put some distance between you and Meara.”

Finn was torn between staying with Meara and seeing to Hunter.

“Stay,” Meara coaxed. Her voice had a sultry, sleepy quality as she tightened her arm around his as if intending to keep him in the bed with her by force if he thought otherwise.

“We’re sleeping,” Finn said firmly to Anna, tucking Meara tighter in his arms. “Close the door on your way out.”

“It’s your funeral,” Anna said cheerfully.

“I won’t let him kill you,” Meara whispered to Finn as the door clunked closed.

“Good.” He kissed her hair, the sweet fragrance of her shampoo tantalizing him. “I don’t care for funerals.”

He really didn’t think he could fall asleep, what with Hunter’s impending arrival, but as soon as he heard voices, he knew he couldn’t doze again.

“Where’s Finn?” Hunter asked gruffly from the direction of the living room.

“In the first guest bedroom on the right down that hall,” Anna offered.

“And Meara?”

“She was afraid of the dark,” Anna said very seriously.

“She’s with Finn?” Hunter asked, his voice irritated but with a hint of surprise.

Meara moaned. “She would have to tell him I was with you,” she said quietly to Finn.

He squeezed her in a warm embrace. “Good thing you’re afraid of the dark.”

“I’m not. And Hunter knows it.”

Finn shook his head. “We’ll have to come up with another story then.”

Meara sighed. “I’ll protect you.”

“Hmm.” Finn kissed her head and snuggled close with her. “Not to worry.”

Anna said to Hunter in a cheerful voice, “The master bedroom’s free if you want to sleep in there.”

“That’s all right,” Hunter said with dark promise. “I’ll just wait to hear the good news when my new brother-in-mating wakes to tell me.”

Finn let out his breath in a heavy exhale. This wasn’t going to be easy, because hell, he wasn’t even sure he knew what he was going to say to Meara’s brother when the time came.

When Finn finally decided he’d had enough of a rest and it was time to face Hunter, he left Meara to sleep longer in the bedroom or to hide away from Hunter while he had to deal with him. Finn took a shower, dressed casually in jeans and a plain blue T-shirt and a pair of sandals, and then walked down the hall to the living room to see a brooding Hunter.

He was the only one of the SEAL team who had let his hair grow long, and the windswept coffee-colored strands hanging to his collar softened his stern look. But his eyes, normally dark brown, were nearly black as he waited for Finn to make an appearance. His gaze had been focused on the front picture window but quickly shifted to Finn as he approached.

Finn noted that Anna must have gone to bed, and Paul was nowhere to be seen.

“We’ve got a bigger problem than dealing with my being with Meara,” Finn said, broaching the subject first, hoping to get the attention off him and Meara.

Hunter scowled at him. “My sister needs a mate. You’re leading her astray.”

Finn shrugged and remained standing, wanting to get a cup of coffee before he had any weighty, lengthy discussions about Meara or anything else. “Call it the courtship phase. If we decide we don’t get along well enough, no harm’s done.”