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

your books!” Tabitha finally managed, bouncing up and down excitedly.

Peyton laughed. It would be disconcerting if she wasn’t already used to fans doing it. She immediately went into author mode, asking Tabitha which books were her favorite and which characters she liked the most. Before long, Tabitha—and Laurissa—were rattling off titles and talking about the characters like they were real people. Which they were for most fans.

By the time Noah appeared from under the sink, apparently done with the leak, Peyton, Laurissa, and Tabitha were busy taking selfies with each other.

“I know you guys will tag me, but let me get some with my phone, too,” Peyton said, grabbing her purse. She rummaged through it for a moment, frowning when she couldn’t find it. “Well, crap. I hope I didn’t leave it somewhere. I’m always doing that.” She looked at Noah. “Can I use your phone to take the picture?”

“Yeah, sure.”

He pulled his cell out of his pocket and handed it to her, then started putting his tools away in his bag. From the corner of her eye, she could see him looking her way as she snapped a few photos of herself, Laurissa, and Tabitha. When she was finished, she quickly emailed herself the photos. Then, figuring he wouldn’t mind, she quickly downloaded the Find My Phone app. A moment later, a map came up on the screen.

“Just as I thought.” She handed the phone back to him with a smile. “I left my cell at home. Sometimes I think I’d leave my head behind if it wasn’t attached. Everything good with the leak?”

“The threat of everyone drowning has been neutralized,” he said with a laugh as he wiped his hands on one of the towels Eileen has left on the table. “Just had to tighten the nut on the shutoff valve. Give me a minute or two to get everything cleaned up and we can get out of here.”

Peyton had absolutely no idea what Noah was taking about when it came to the plumbing, but she recognized he wanted to bail before his mom could ask too many questions. Unfortunately, Eileen picked up on that plan as quickly as Peyton did.

“Noah, you and Peyton must stay for dinner,” his mother said. “I have a crockpot full of white chili and there’s more there than I could ever eat. Laurissa, you and Tabitha stay as well. It’s been a while since we’ve all been together for a meal.”

Peyton certainly wouldn’t mind some of Eileen’s famous chili, but a covert glance in Noah’s direction showed him shaking his head, obviously not wanting to hang around to be cross examined by his mother.

“Thanks, Mom, but—” he began, only to have Tabitha of all people cut him off.

“Noah, you and Peyton have to stay,” Laurissa’s friend said imploringly. “Please say you’ll stay for dinner. I have so much I want to talk to Peyton about.”

Noah glanced at Peyton, who eagerly nodded, before turning to his mother. “Okay, we’ll stay. If you’re sure it isn’t any trouble.”

His mother smiled broadly. “It’s no trouble at all. Go put those tools away and wash up. Laurissa, can you and Tabitha please set the table while Peyton helps me make some cornbread?”

Peyton had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing as Noah walked away to clean up, looking for all the world like he expected nothing but trouble out of this evening.

She’d seen Eileen cook dinner plenty of times but was still amazed at how fast the woman got a big sheet of cornbread drop biscuits into the oven. Peyton was supposed to be helping, but she didn’t do much more than measure a few ingredients and stir when Eileen instructed.

While Laurissa and Tabitha set the table, and the cornbread baked, Eileen busied herself with adding a few extra spices to the crockpot. The smell was incredible, and Peyton would have been jealous of Eileen’s skills in the kitchen if she didn’t get a chance to eat her food so often.

“So, how long has Noah been staying at your place?” Eileen asked softly as she stirred a little more cumin into the chili.

“Since last night. The publisher wants him to stay until the next book is turned in, so at least two weeks. Maybe more.”

Peyton wasn’t sure where Eileen was going with this and wondered if maybe she should wait until Noah was with her before saying anything more.

“Two weeks.” Eileen glanced at her. “That’s a long time to have somebody you don’t know hanging around your house. I guess that means you’re comfortable having him around?”

“Oh, yes!” That was louder than she intended, giving the way Laurissa and Tabitha suddenly looked over. “I mean, he’s easy to be around,” she added in a softer voice. “He makes me feel safe. I’ve definitely slept better than I have in a while, especially considering the stress I’m under with this deadline.”

“It probably helps that he’s not hard to look at,” Eileen murmured casually, throwing a pinch of salt in the crockpot and mixing it in.

Peyton felt her face heat. She opened her mouth to deny everything, but the words wouldn’t come. “I suppose I’d be lying if I said looking at him was a hardship. Your son is sinfully attractive.”

She blushed even more. Had those words really just come out of her mouth? This was Noah’s mom she was talking to!

“You’d be good for him.” Eileen gave the chili one more stir, then placed the lid back on the pot. “He needs someone like you in his life, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Being with a SEAL isn’t easy, but something tells me that you can handle it.”

Peyton froze. Crap, this conversation had suddenly gotten very serious, very quickly. She started to say things weren’t moving anywhere in that direction, but the expression on Eileen’s face stopped her.

“Are you in danger?” Eileen asked softly, throwing a quick look at Laurissa and Tabitha before lowering her voice even more. “Is that why Noah didn’t want