Hot SEAL, April's Fool Becca Jameson (philippa perry book txt) 📖

the man asked her to return to San Diego with him, so she knew she meant something to him. But it was too soon to know if he was scratching an itch or really cared about her. It was too soon for him to know this about himself.

“I’m here,” she murmured, hoping to God that it didn’t bite her in the ass. She’d been with him two days and already she was so involved that she couldn’t extricate herself if she tried. He was like a drug, and she was a relapsed addict.

“I need more information about Chamberlain,” he whispered. “I should call Rodney and see what details he can provide me. I wonder how shady this situation is.” Cole tipped her head back and met her gaze. “Do you mind if I ask Rodney to come here?”

“Of course not. It’s a good idea.”

“But you dated the man. It feels awkward. And,” he scrunched up his face. “I might be a bit jealous.”

She rolled her eyes. “It was a long time ago, Cole. He’s an adult. He’s not holding a grudge.”

“He looked at you like a lost puppy yesterday.”

She cringed. “I think you’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not. On top of that, the thought of him having seen you naked, touched you intimately, been inside you…” Cole shuddered. “Maybe I shouldn’t call him.”

She patted his chest with her hand, finding humor in the bomb she was about to drop. “He’s never seen me naked, Cole. We never had sex.”

Cole flinched. “Seriously?” A cocky smile grew on his face.

She gave him another eye roll. “I told you I wasn’t in love with him. I just…couldn’t.”

Cole breathed out a sigh of relief and then narrowed his gaze. “Wait. How many guys have you been in love with?”

“Just you.”

His eyes shot wide. “I can’t be the only guy you’ve slept with.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I didn’t mean to imply I was in love with everyone I slept with. But it was weird with Rodney. There was more to it. He was your best friend. He tried too hard. He was too sweet. Too everything.”

Cole pulled her closer again, threading his fingers in her hair. He kissed the top of her head again in that endearing way of his. “I’m sorry I pried. It’s none of my business.” After a few seconds, he continued, “But I’m not gonna lie. It makes me very happy that you haven’t slept with Rodney.”

She drew in a deep breath and slid her hands up around his neck. “You’re not my only lover. I’ve had three others. All of them were men I was dating for a while. None of them compared to the sex we had in high school and certainly not the sex we had last night. I’m sure that will puff your head out a mile, but it’s the truth.”

He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently, though she had the feeling he was forcing himself to hold back. His hands were tight on her ass.

“Now you know. Don’t let it go to your head. If you strut around me all cocky, I’ll make you sleep on the couch. And… Cole, this is serious water we’re wading into. I’m telling you all this because you need to know that I’m scared out of my mind that you’re going to hurt me. I don’t think I’ll survive it again. Please be careful with my heart. If you’re stringing me along, let me go.”

His hand slid up her back to flatten between her shoulder blades. “I swear I’m not stringing you along. I’m in this with you, ladybug. You mean the world to me. You always did. I never stopped loving you.”

She swallowed back the wave of emotion when he used the L-word. He’d told her easily and often that he loved her when they were eighteen, but they weren’t kids anymore. They were older, wiser, and smarter. At least she hoped so.

She patted his chest again. “Call Rodney. You need his help.”

Cole pulled his phone out of his pocket and texted his oldest friend while she read over his shoulder. Moments later he got a response. Rodney wasn’t on duty this afternoon as luck would have it. Fifteen minutes later, he was at the door.

“Thank you so much for coming,” Cole stated as he shook Rodney’s hand and let him into the apartment. “I don’t know who else to turn to.”

“No problem. I’ll do anything I can to help.” He held on to Cole’s hand longer than necessary, finally smiling broadly. “Missed you, man. Nothing was ever the same around here after you left.”

A tingle raced up April’s arms as she watched these old friends reunite. Sure, they’d spoken briefly yesterday, but this was different. Here, they could sit down in a more relaxed environment.

“Can I offer you a beer?” April asked, glancing back and forth between the men.

“That’d be great, ladybug,” Cole said as he reached for her hand and possessively staked his claim with both his nickname for her and the way he kissed her knuckles.

“I’d love one,” Rodney agreed.

“Sit.” April waved a hand in the general direction of the living room furniture as she made her way to the kitchen. A moment later, she returned to find Rodney sitting in one of the armchairs and Cole at one end of the sofa, his arm draped across the back, a clear indication he intended for her to sit next to him and for him to claim her once again. He was going overboard, but she wasn’t going to complain.

His jealousy was unwarranted. She’d never had feelings for Rodney. Lord knew she’d tried. He’d been a great friend to her, and she’d felt awful for breaking up with him. But the spark had not been there.

She could not, on the other hand, speak for Rodney.

After she handed them both a beer and settled on the sofa next to Cole, he let his fingers dangle down to dance on her shoulder.

“It’s so good to see you, man,”