Desert Alpha: A Lady Boss Press Navy SEAL Novella, Bethany Lopez [readict books .txt] 📗

knew I could just call her to get her ETA, but I didn’t want her to think I was losing my mind as I anxiously waited for her to arrive, even though that was one hundred percent a fact.

Finally, a maroon Ford pulled into my driveway, and I could see long brown hair and the outline of Cass’s face through the windshield.

I stopped, counted to ten, and then rushed eagerly to the door.

Chapter 17

Cassandra

I glanced at the cute little Spanish-style home and took a moment to rein in my excitement.

When I pulled into the driveaway, I’d wanted to jump out of the car, run up to the front door, and throw myself into Rip’s arms. Instead, I opted not to seem quite so desperate to see him and sat taking deep, cleansing breaths before opening the door.

I was on my third breath when I saw the front door open and Rip step out onto the porch.

“Fuck it,” I muttered and threw open the door.

Our eyes locked and we both took off, meeting each other halfway and hugging each other tightly.

“Hi,” I said happily as I ran my hands over his muscular back.

“How was the drive?” he asked, pulling me in tighter.

“Not bad. I only stopped once to get gas, so I made good time.”

We pulled back far enough to look at each other, while still holding on.

“You look good,” I told him with a happy smile.

“You look amazing,” he replied, his eyes crinkling at the sides as he grinned down at me.

We stood there in his driveaway, taking each other in for a few beats before Rip grasped my hand in his and asked,” Do you have a bag?”

I nodded. “In the trunk.”

“Let me get it for you.”

I handed him my keys and stayed where I was, my eyes tracking his movements as he went to get my duffel.

He looked better than I remembered, which didn’t seem possible.

Once Rip had my bag in hand, he shut the trunk, pressed the lock button on my keys, and crossed to take my hand in his once more as he led me up to the house.

“King’s at the hospital, but he’ll be home later tonight.”

“Oh, do you guys live together?” I asked. There was really so much we still didn’t know about each other. I knew some might find it alarming for me to be staying with some guy I barely knew, but for some reason it didn’t really feel that way.

“Yeah. It’s a two bedroom, so we each have a room and share the rent. Housing here is pretty steep.”

“It’s a beautiful place.”

Rip opened the door and indicated I should go in first.

“Wait ‘til you see the backyard. It’s my favorite thing about this house.”

I looked around as he gave me the tour and when we got to his room he dropped my bag on the floor. Guess I won’t be sleeping on the couch. You could definitely tell it was a bachelor pad, but it was clean and smelled nice, which made up for the lack of décor. When we went out back, I could see what he’d meant.

“Wow, this is awesome!” I exclaimed as I took it in. “Great entertaining space. Oh, and look … a pizza oven. How fun.”

“I thought we could use it tomorrow night.”

“I can’t wait,” I assured him, moving to put my arms around him once more. “I missed you.”

“Me, too,” Rip said, lifting his hand to brush my hair off my face in a gesture I found very sweet and oddly erotic. “You said you only stopped once, I bet you’re hungry.”

My stomach rumbled in response and I felt my cheeks heat as I replied, “Famished, actually.”

“Let’s get you to dinner, then.”

We opted to take Rip’s truck and give my car a rest. Luckily, the restaurant he wanted to take me to was close by, because I hadn’t been lying, I was seriously hungry. The fact that chips and salsa were waiting right inside had me grabbing Rip’s hand and urging him to hurry.

He chuckled but let me drag him.

“The food here is fantastic,” Rip said as the hostess walked us to a booth in the back.

“I can’t wait. I haven’t had good Mexican food since before the deployment.”

“Same,” he replied.

We sat across from each other and picked up our menus. Seconds later, a server dropped the basket of chips and salsa on the table and I dove in.

“So good,” I managed after I swallowed my first bite of heaven.

“I know. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but I love the carne asada and the tamales.”

“Mmmm, I think I’m craving enchiladas,” I replied, my mouth watering at the thought.

“That sounds good, too,” Rip said, dipping his chip and popping the whole thing in his mouth.

“Good evening, can I get you started with any drinks?” the server asked as she came up to the side of our table.

“I’ll have a strawberry margarita, please,” I said.

“Pacifico draft.”

When she left to fill our order, I asked, “How’s Scotty doing?”

Rip sighed and dipped his chin.

“He’s got some broken bones and recovery’s gonna be a bitch, but he’ll be okay with time. He’s not the kind of guy who likes to be bedridden though, he’s used to being constantly active and on the move, so emotionally he’s having a bit of trouble.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. Do you think he’d mind if I visited him while I’m here?” I asked, thinking about Scotty and how he was always joking around and laughing.

“Yeah, I think he’d like that,” Rip said, with a smile so sweet I felt like I’d just hung the moon.

Chapter 18

Rip

Dinner was great. Great conversation, the most beautiful date, and the food was even better than I’d remembered.

We got home to find King wasn’t back yet, so I poured Cass a glass of the wine I’d gone out and bought for her and pulled myself a beer from the keg we kept on tap.

I’d been wanting