Purchased For Pleasure

The image of their parting six years ago flashed into her mind. It had been touch and go; he’d touched her all over her body, initiating her into pleasures she’d only dreamed about before pulling away from her by running back to his precious job, and she’d gone the same way, burying herself in a new job as far away from him as she could get.

Now he was back. Just as gorgeous, just as charming and just as dangerous to her peace of mind as ever if she was foolish enough to let him in.

‘Oh, yeah, I wish.’ He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. ‘By the way, why are you working after eleven?’

‘The usual. Deadlines to meet. Nothing out of the ordinary.’ She sounded weary, even to her ears.

‘Don’t you have a life?’

Her brittle laugh echoed around the empty office. ‘This is my life.’

She didn’t add that it was about all she had.

‘You really need to get out more. I’m going to make it my personal goal to ensure you live a little over the next week. Deal?’

‘It’s not going to happen.’

Her brisk reply sounded strained and, though the thought of Ty helping her to ‘live a little’ conjured up some wild images, she’d done enough fantasising for one evening and had to put an end to this ASAP.

He ignored her rebuttal, his low chuckles sounding way too confident.

‘I’ll call you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams, Katie.’

As the dial tone hummed she knew that dreams would be impossible tonight. She needed to sleep in order to dream and she seriously doubted that she could nod off after the evening she’d just had.

Tyler James was her history.

Then why did he feel startlingly like the present?

Tyler was too wound up to sleep. Shrugging into a bomber jacket, he picked up his keys and headed out the door.

Living near the base had its advantages. Dropping into the rec hall for a drink meant he was bound to run into someone he knew and, though usually reticent, he felt like company tonight. Perhaps trading a few jokes with the boys might take the edge off?

He doubted it. Only one thing could take the edge off and she was buried in some uptown office, her nose to the grindstone.

Kate’s hot little act on the phone had pushed all his buttons. If only her assistant hadn’t interrupted he could be holed up in her house right now sharing more than coffee.

And, boy, did he need it.

Seeing her again had him remembering all too well the contours of her curves beneath his hands, the eager sounds she made during sex, the way she made him feel as if he were the only man in the world for her.

Unfortunately, that couldn’t be true. He wasn’t a total idiot and a vibrant woman like her would have had a string of guys panting after her since they’d parted.

He clenched his hands into fists, hating the irrational surge of jealousy stabbing through him. He’d moved on and hadn’t exactly lived like a monk himself in the last six years so what did he expect—for a stunner like Kate to sit around twiddling her thumbs?

Gritting his teeth, he picked up the pace and entered the rec hall. He didn’t need this complicating his life. Never had.

What Kate did with her life and who she spent it with had nothing to do with him. He valued his independence and answering to number one suited him just fine and, despite the unexpected pleasure of having Kate reappear at this point in his life, he had no intention of getting sucked back into the confusing whirlpool their relationship had become towards the end.

Instead, he’d consider this chance encounter as a surprise gift dropped in his lap, one he had every intention of unwrapping and enjoying at his leisure over the next week before he had his annual physical and potentially had his career ripped out from under him.

‘Hey, TJ. What’s happening?’

He looked up, more than glad to see the big guy in front of him, and stuck out his hand. ‘Hey, Bear. What’re you doing here? Thought Team Eight was on leave at the moment?’

‘Nah, got called back last night. So much for a little R and R.’

Tyler laughed. ‘The Chief pushing you too hard these days, huh? Want a beer?’

Bear nodded and pulled out a chair, turning it backwards before sitting. He’d never seen his giant friend sit any other way.

‘Yeah, the Chief is always pushing for more. You know the drill.’

Tyler nodded and placed the drinks on the table. ‘Yeah, I do. Cheers.’

They clinked bottles and lapsed into silence. As Tyler took a long swig of icy cold beer he thanked the Lord that Evan ‘Bear’ Bridges had chosen tonight to walk into the rec hall. He could do with a friend.

‘What’s up? You look like hell, man.’

Tyler set his bottle down. ‘That obvious?’

‘Uh-huh. Tell old Bear all about it.’

He leaned back and crossed his arms. ‘It’s the orphanage. Looks like it’s going to shut down.’

Bear’s eyes widened. ‘No way. With the amount of cash you donate out of your wages each year the joint should be open into the next century.’

‘’Fraid not. Looks like the place is in trouble.’

‘Anything I can do?’ His friend reached towards his back pocket as if ready to pull out his wallet.

‘Not unless you can rustle up a quick half-million dollars.’

Bear shook his head. ‘No can do, bro. Sorry.’

‘I’m the one who’s sorry,’ he muttered, feeling helpless for only the third time in his life and not relishing the emotion one bit. The first time had been when he’d walked out on Kate, the second when he’d blown his knee, and he felt just as useless now.

SEALs were renowned for their innovation, their ingenuity, their persistence. So why the hell couldn’t he do more for the one cause that meant everything to him?

At that moment, their chief, Jack Crawford, strolled into the bar and headed straight towards them.

‘Howdy, Bear. Thought you were on leave, TJ?’

Tyler grabbed the proffered hand and shook it. ‘I am.’

‘Then what are you doing here?’

Tyler downed the rest of his beer. ‘Business.’