Tawny Weber - A SEAL's Secret

“The guy is a SEAL.” Tessa said that the same way she’d state that he was a puppy-kicking Peeping Tom with a chicken fetish.

“So?”

“So, Pauline would have a cow if she found out. You know how she feels about Navy guys. She’d have a total meltdown, bitch for months and probably book you on a gig in Timbuktu to get you away from him.”

Livi wrinkled her nose but couldn’t disagree.

Pauline was Livi’s manager, the driving force behind Livi’s success. She’d managed, maneuvered and manipulated Livi into an enviable career, where she was currently teetering on the edge of fame and fortune.

Livi didn’t figure any of that gave the woman the right to call the shots on her personal life.

Pauline was Livi’s mother. The last time Livi had ignored her demands disguised as advice, she’d married Derrick. The price of her mother stepping in to clean up that mess had been a blanket promise to not do anything stupid again.

Livi inspected Mitch.

He was hot. He was sexy. He was seriously appealing.

And he had enough charisma to shut down her brain.

Did that qualify as stupid?

Livi felt like Eve standing in an apple orchard. And the hottie with the big S on his chest was the biggest, juiciest, tastiest apple of the bunch. Did she follow the rules?

Or did she give in to temptation?

Duh. Like there was a choice.

“We’ll just make sure Pauline doesn’t find out,” she murmured.

“No,” Tessa protested. “Have pity. I’m a part of your crew. If you’re shipped off to Timbuktu, I’m stuck there with you.”

Livi pulled her gaze away from Mitch to give Tessa an arch look.

“Double dates with Dean Wickens, that drummer guy, Paul who never would admit his last name and those creepy twins,” she recited, ticking each off on her fingers. “Endless clubs, three production parties and my favorite pair of sneakers covered in purple paint.”

Tessa’s face froze. Her eyes shifted to the corner then she lifted her chin. “What’s all that have to do with Timbuktu?”

“In every one of those situations, you promised you’d owe me.” Livi inclined her head toward the corner. “I’m calling in your debt.”

“Dammit.” Tessa huffed and crossed her arms over her chest to glare. When Livi’s expression didn’t change, Tessa rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air. “Fine. I won’t tell Pauline.”

Livi rounded her brow. Tessa pressed her lips tight and gave a sigh strong enough to knock over a horse.

“God, you’re demanding. Okay, yes, I’ll stay with you and play backup.” Tessa huffed. “But only for an hour. No double dates.”

“Works for me,” Livi agreed, almost giddy with excitement. “But just so I know, what’s your problem with Gabriel? I know you don’t go for military guys, but I’ve never seen you get straight-up ugly with one before.”

“He’s just so unbelievably arrogant, like he’s so sure he’s perfect and knows everyone is just waiting to appreciate him.” The glare she shot across the room made it clear that disagreeing was pointless, so Livi hummed instead. “He’s obviously got a one-track mind. He thinks sex is the be-all and end-all. And who the hell looks that perfect?”

Scanning from the top of Tessa’s perfectly tousled curls down her perfectly curved body to her perfectly polished toes, Livi could only shake her head.

“The mind boggles,” was all she could say without bursting into laughter.

From her narrow-eyed look, Tessa caught the amusement, anyway. She was silent for a moment then shook her head and changed the subject.

“So, bottom line, can you win?” she asked. “Can you take Mitch?”

“Yeah,” Livi promised. “I’m taking him.”

With that, she stepped away. She pulled her arms free and shifted her head through the unzipped foam.

Her eyes locked on Mitch’s as she stepped out of the costume, her body clad in a pale yellow racer-backed unitard. Maybe Livi had a touch of social anxiety, and she might not have anywhere near Mitch’s confidence. She might have a few insecurities and a whole slew of worries. Throw in a domineering mother, an absentee father, a soul-sucking ex-husband and a ticking time clock on her career, and she had a lot of baggage.

But what she also had—and she was positive of this—was a rockin’ awesome body. She worked on it every day. She made her living with it.

And she was going to use it to win this bet.

* * *

HOLY HELL, SHE was a Playboy centerfold wrapped in a wet dream mixed with an erotic version of the girl next door.

Sexy and sweet, gorgeous and...

Mitch’s brain shut off again as every particle of his being focused on Livi’s body. She was perfect. Like her face, her body was a contrast of strong and delicate. Broad shoulders and lightly muscled arms framed full breasts and a delicately tapered waist. Her slender hips curved out nonetheless. And those legs...

Mitch gave a silent groan as his gaze meandered down legs so perfectly shaped, so temptingly long, that it’d take him hours to appreciate them the way they deserved.

“You wanna wipe the drool off your chin?”

“What?” Mitch realized what he was doing. He gave his friend a hard look. “What the hell is going on?”

Gabriel pulled a contemplative face, leaned back in his chair and locked his hands behind head.

“Hmm, if I had to guess, I’d say you’re horny for the Twinkie. And seeing as how her body has made many a man sit up and beg, that’s not a surprise.”

How many a man? And how had Romeo recognized Livi?

“Details,” Mitch demanded.

“She’s the hottest thing to hit fitness in years,” Gabriel told him. He grinned at Mitch’s haughty look. “I dated a gal who was trying to get on her workout team. Olivia Kane, The Body Babe. I watched a few of her videos with Casey. Or was it Carey?”

“You should keep records,” Mitch suggested, shaking his head. “Or maybe figure out a mnemonic rhyme to remember who’s who.”

“Not enough letters in the alphabet for that, Bro.”

But Mitch wasn’t paying attention anymore. He was busy watching Livi stretch one arm over her head and catch her fingers with the other behind her back. The move pushed her shoulder blades together and lifted her breasts higher. His body went into overdrive, lust pounding through him in throbbing waves.

Mitch wasn’t a horn dog. Not like Romeo pretended to be. He appreciated women, and had definitely had more than his share. And like Romeo, he never had to pursue them. Which made it easy to walk away. When he was redeployed. When he was sent on a mission. When he was ready to move on. Mitch only had one true passion, one focus.

His career.

Livi bent in half, her hands flat on the floor, butt high and back arched, so she faced forward. Her ponytail swung in time with the pulsing moves she made to warm up and stretch out her muscles.

For the first time in his life, he wondered if he had room for another passion.

“You looking to start something up with her?” Romeo asked, his tone low and quiet. “If you do, be careful.”

Mitch tore his gaze off the sloping muscles of Livi’s back and shoulders to the man next to him.

“Careful? Her friend might have ‘man-eater’ written all over her, but Livi doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who needs a warning label.”

“Take it from me, she’s even more dangerous. She’s the relationship kind.” Romeo gave a sage nod. Then he eyed Mitch and added, “Course, just because I’m relationship poison doesn’t mean you are. I don’t want to be a bad influence on you. Maybe you ought to give a relationship a try. You might like it.”

And what if he did? There was no way a man could have two priorities. Could he put his career goals in second place?