Bodyguard SEAL (SEALs of Coronado Book 8), Paige Tyler [best classic books txt] 📗

met her. But she definitely intrigued him. The issue would be getting to know her while his focus was on keeping her safe.

Turning, Noah started back toward the house, only to stop when his phone rang. The moment he saw Chasen’s name on the screen, he considered letting it go to voice mail, but it’d be just his luck that the chief would show up at his apartment looking for him and figure out Noah wasn’t home like he was supposed to be.

Taking a deep breath, he thumbed the green button.

“What’s up, Chasen?”

“Just checking in to see how you’re doing. I haven’t talked to you in a few days and wanted to see how the knee was feeling.”

“It’s good,” Noah said, pleased to think he was actually being honest this time. “No pain or instability. Taking care of it like the doc ordered.”

Chasen started to say something, but then stopped. “Did I just hear a seagull in the background? Are you outside?”

Dammit.

Noah considered his options, immediately tossing out the most obvious lies about the TV being on, his window being open, or his neighbor having a pet bird. Instead, he decided to blend BS with the truth and see how far that got him.

“Yeah, I’m out on the beach,” he said casually. “The physical therapist thinks it’s a good idea to go for short walks on the sand. The uneven footing is supposed to help my knee from getting stiff. I’m not sure how well its working, but it beats being stuck inside all day.”

There was silence on the other end of the line for a really long time and Noah thought for sure that he’d been made, but Chasen only sighed. “Okay, good. I was worried for a second you were out doing something stupid.”

If the chief only knew.

“No way. I’m playing it smart this time. I’m not going to do anything to mess up my rehab and jeopardize my career.”

“Good to hear,” Chasen said. “I’ll let you get back to your walk then. Just don’t push too hard.”

“Definitely not,” Noah assured him. “I’ve got some sandwiches with my name on them waiting for me inside, then it’s back to doing a whole lot of nothing.”

CHAPTER TWO

IF THERE WAS one thing Peyton hated more than being behind on her word count, it was missing her morning yoga workout. Thanks to that moron who broke in last night, she’d be lucky if she could slip in a few downward dog poses between chapters today.

But right now, she couldn’t do either until she ate something. Sighing, she glanced down at the plate piled high with sandwiches and made a face. Maybe she’d gone a little overboard. Then again, she thought as she caught sight of Noah walking across the lawn toward the house, he is a big, muscular guy.

Thinking about the hotness that was Noah made her head spin a little. While she’d seen plenty of photos of Laurissa’s older brother, meeting him in person had been an eye opener. She probably shouldn’t be thinking this way about her best friend’s brother, but damn, the man was completely droolworthy.

Peyton guessed he was a few years older than she was, making him somewhere in his mid to late twenties. Tall and broad shouldered, he had thick, dark hair, eyes the color of her favorite chocolate bar, and a chiseled jaw with the perfect amount of stubble. And from the way that dark blue T-shirt molded to his chest, it was impossible to miss how well he was built. If someone asked her to find a poster boy for male perfection, it would definitely be Noah Bradley.

Even his name was perfect. Like one she’d use for a hero in her books. Strong and silent, attractive and sexy, a little mysterious, and more than a little dangerous.

Peyton snapped out of her silly thoughts at the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned to see the aforementioned hunk walking into the kitchen, regarding her with those beautiful dark eyes of his. Her gaze drifted to his jean-clad legs, remembering what Laurissa had said about her brother injuring his knee. He wasn’t limping that she could tell. In fact, she wouldn’t have been able to pick out which leg was causing him trouble if her life depended on it.

Realizing she was staring, she self-consciously reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “Sandwiches are made, if you’re ready to eat. I have water, coconut-almond milk, and iced tea.”

“Iced tea is fine, thanks,” he said.

Picking up the plate of sandwiches, he brought it over to the kitchen table while Peyton got the drinks.

“Sorry I don’t have anything other than tuna sandwiches to offer, but the cabinets start getting a little bare as I get near a deadline for a book,” Peyton said as she set the glasses on the table.

Noah was already standing beside the chair closest to the wall waiting for her, so she took the one opposite him. Something told her that a dangerous man like him always liked to sit with his back to the wall so he’d be able to scope out the rest of the room for inbound trouble.

She almost laughed at that. Man, she really needed to get a life outside the books she wrote.

“Tuna’s fine. Remember what I said about not turning down food,” he said, flashing her a grin as he reached for one of the sandwiches and transferred it to his plate. Damn, he had a nice smile. “I take it you don’t leave the house too much as you get closer to crunch time?”

She nodded, helping herself to a sandwich. “It doesn’t seem to matter how fast I write when I start a book, I always have to rush to finish it. Going grocery shopping is the first thing to go in that situation.”

“You could always order online and have it delivered, you know?” he pointed out.

“I could,” she admitted. “And when I’m desperate, that’s what I do. But at a certain point, I