Sea of Dreams (The American Heroes Series Book 2) (5 page)

“The girls are fine,” he said steadily. “I want you to sit down a minute. I need to talk to you.”

She looked at him, anguish on her face. “No, please,” she begged softly,  trying to pull from  his grip. “Look, Beck, I appreciate your concern and interest in me. It’s really very flattering and very sweet. But… I really have to go.”

He could see that she wasn’t going to sit back down again.  He didn’t let go of her as he pushed his chair in.

“Okay,” he said steadily. “I’ll go with you to get the girls. You promised I could see Cadee.”

Blakesley struggled to compose herself, not knowing what more to say to him.  She let him lead her back into the hotel, the quiet corridors that would lead to the main lobby.  She couldn’t help but notice the vise-like grip on her wrist had eased up and now he gently held her hand. 

His palm was big and warm, safe, and she liked the feel of it. But she was also feeling vastly uncertain, her thoughts moving in so many different subjects as they traversed the quiet corridor with its elaborate red and gold carpet.  She found herself looking at his left hand as it held hers.

“Have you ever been married, Beck?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he replied. “For fourteen years.”

“Kids?”

“One.  A girl.”

“How old is she?”

“Fourteen years old.”

“What happened?”

They emerged into a corridor that would take them into the main lobby. “My ex got tired of having a husband deployed for months and years at a time.”

She looked up him. “Years?”

He nodded.”I was in Iraq for two separate tours, about two years each, and I’ve also done two tours in Afghanistan,” he looked down at her. “I get deployed all over the world, sometimes with only a twelve hour notice depending on the mission.  She didn’t like that.  It’s hard to live with that kind of instability and it was tough on my daughter, too.”

They emerged into the lush lobby. It was an enormous place with wood paneling and expensive furnishings, emulating the Victorian-era portion of the original hotel. There were more people around them now, families with children or couples enjoying the posh and intimate setting. 

“What do you do for the Navy that they would deploy you like that?” she wanted to know.

He came to a stop and faced her. “Well,” he grinned faintly, “since you told me your dark secrets, I guess I can tell you mine. I command a Team.”

She looked confused. “A team?”

“S.E.A.L. team,” he clarified. “We’re based out of Coronado.  We deploy worldwide at a moment’s notice and in the end, she just couldn’t handle that. Not that I blame her.”

She gazed up into his strong, handsome face. “That’s pretty dangerous stuff from what I’ve heard.”

His grin broadened. “Sometimes.”

He resumed their walk, still holding on to her hand. Blakesley found herself taking a second look at the man, his muscular body and stunning blond looks.   He looked like a god and moved with the stealth of a cat. He had power and grace, an unusual combination.  The more she watched him, the more enamored she became, which would spell disaster for her fragile heart when she never saw him again.  She was coming to think that maybe it would be better if they just separated now and be done with it.

“Are you deploying again soon?” she asked. “Is that why you guys were training on the beach?”

He shook his head. “That’s normal routine,” he told her. “As far as I know, I’m here for awhile.  At least long enough to take you out to dinner again.”

She pulled her hand from his and came to a halt, watching him come to a stop and casually turn to her.  Her expression was serious.

“Look,” she said quietly. “I appreciate how kind you’ve been to me all evening and even when I told you my story, you were kind enough not to run, at least not right away.  You don’t have to feed me lines about future dates just so I won’t feel bad about chasing you off.  In fact, it would probably be best if we just said our good nights right now and leave it at that.  I don’t blame you in the least for what you must be thinking, so you don’t need to stroke me.  You can leave right now with no hard feelings.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her, putting his hands on his hips. “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“I don’t, but I can guess.”

His brow furrowed. “You’ve known me for a total of six hours and already you know what I’m thinking?”

She puckered her lips irritably, perhaps apologetically. “I didn’t mean it like that, but I’m sure you….”

He waved a big hand at her, interrupting her. “You don’t have any idea what I’m thinking.  All I’m thinking is that I’ve met a very beautiful woman who’s trying to get rid of me.  If you’re not interested in seeing me again, then just say so.  Stop trying to turn it around like I’m the one with the problem.”

She calmed somewhat, looking rather distressed. “Is that what you think? That I’m trying to get rid of you?”

“Well, you are.”

She sighed faintly, putting a hand on his big arm. “It’s not for the reasons you think,” she said softly. “Seriously, I would give anything to get to know you better. I’ve had the best evening I’ve ever had in my life tonight and I can see what a wonderful guy you are. But I’ve got this cloud following  me around and I can’t let anyone else be subjected to it, not even a new friend. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

He just looked at her. “I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”

She met his gaze, longing and hope in her expression. “You really don’t know what you’re saying.”

“So not only do you think you know what’s on my mind, but you also don’t think I know what I’m saying?”

She started to giggle. “You’re a tough nut, you know that?”

The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile. “You have no idea.”

“So you’re saying that I couldn’t get rid of you even if I wanted to?”

“Do you want to?”

She cocked her head coyly. “I let you hold my hand. Obviously, I don’t want to get rid of you too badly if I let you do that.”

“What happens if you let me kiss you?”

She laughed. “That’s like sleeping together. We’re automatically engaged.”

He chuckled. “Wow,” he stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I need to pace myself, then.”

She looked at him pointedly. “Still want to hang around?”

“If I can kiss you without having to marry you.”

She laughed and resumed walking towards the KidTopia area.  Beck followed on her heels, enchanted.

“No promises, Commander,” she eyed him flirtatiously. “But you don’t make a lot of sense, you know.”

“Why?”

“Because my sob story didn’t chase you off, but the threat of engagement does?”

His grin was returning. “Maybe,” he shrugged casually, shoving his hands in his pockets as he watched his feet move over the red and gold carpet. “I won’t marry again. I can’t do that to someone I love.”

“Never say never. You may meet a girl in the future that changes your mind, you know.”

He cast her a long glance, grinning, wondering against his better judgment if he already had.

Chapter Three

Blakesley awoke the next morning to brilliant sunlight streaming in through a crack in the hotel’s black out curtains.  The beam was hitting her right in the eye and she groaned as she rolled over, away from the violent white light.  It was a sweet and quiet Sunday morning, lazy and beautiful on the shores of the Pacific.

In the adjoining room, she could hear the girls stirring.  A glance at the clock showed it to be a little after nine in the morning.  As she lay there and listened to her children in the next room, her thoughts drifted to the night before and Beck Seavington. 

For a moment, she wondered if she might have dreamed it. Of all of the unexpected occurrences in her life, and there had been a load of them,  she could have never imagined a group of S.E.A.L.’s saving her daughter from sure death and the additional surprise of their commanding officer showing up to ask her out on a date.  Happy things like that just didn’t happen in her world. At least, she’d forgotten if such things ever did.  Thinking on the handsome blond naval officer, a smile creased her lips.  He really was a doll.

Rising from bed, she stuck her head into the bedroom where all three girls were sitting on one bed watching cartoons.  Telling Cadee to watch her sisters for a few minutes, Blakesley quickly took a shower, shaved and washed her hair.  All the while, she kept reliving the evening, up to and including the part where she and Beck picked their girls up from their movie night. 

Charlotte was thrilled to see Beck again, while Cadee was her usual sweet but shy self. Crosby couldn’t have cared less because she wanted ice cream.  Mom told her no but Beck somehow managed to buy her an ice cream bar in the hotel’s gift shop.  Crosby was thrilled while Blakesley just shook her head reproachfully.  Beck grinned his sly and sexy grin and Mom was putty.  Score one for Beck and Crosby.

But it didn’t end there. Somehow, he talked her into not heading out to the house that night but instead just taking the girls back to their room and putting them to bed.  While Cadee stayed close to her mother on the elevator ride up and the long walk down the hallway, Crosby and Charlotte had attached themselves to Beck.  Crosby had one of his big hands while Charlotte had the other, and they escorted him down the hall chattering about sharks and seagulls and Barbie dolls.  It had made for a comical conversation and more than once, Blakesley had glanced back at Beck to find him grinning at her.  She smiled back.

He’d left them at the door to their hotel room without anything more than a word of good night.  He was very respectful and made no move to enter the room. Blakesley had watched him move back down the corridor towards the elevator banks, wondering if that would be the last she ever saw of him.  In spite of his assurances, she wouldn’t have been surprised and she tried not to let that bother her.  But the truth was that she was deeply disappointed.

 Turning off the shower, she dried off and dressed quickly, knowing that it would be little time before the girls were demanding breakfast.  After doing her makeup and hair, she got the girls into the shower and cleaned them up, getting them dressed and ready for the day. She had promised them Sea World and, like a pack of elephants, they wouldn’t forget even though she hadn’t been specific about when they would go.  They had already done the San Diego Zoo two days ago so she figured she might as well get Sea World over too.   She had a feeling once they moved into the old family homestead, all of her attention would be on fixing the place up and not on amusement parks. Might as well enjoy Sea World while they could.

So she got the girls ready in their cute shorts and tee shirts, hats and white tennis shoes.  Dressed in Capri cut jeans and a flashy tank top that showed off her full, natural C cup breasts, Blakesley packed a bag for the trip to the park with sunscreen, granola bars and other goodies.  She even had a folding stroller for Charlotte, who tended to ride more than she walked because she got tired easily.  With her long silky hair pulled back into a casual ponytail, she herded the girls out the door so they could eat breakfast and head to Sea World.

The lobby was fairly busy mid-morning, with people checking out and checking in.  There was a bakery on the lower level and when they stepped off the elevator, she directed the girls towards the stairs that led down to that level.  Lugging the stroller and the big bag that carried all of their junk was a burden, but one she was used to.  Still, it was difficult when Charlotte was already having a meltdown because she wasn’t wearing the right hat and she kept trying to pull the bag away from her mother.  Blakesley calmly soothed her daughter as they made their way through the lobby and towards the stairs.

“Good morning,” a voice brought them to a stop before they could hit the stairs. “I was hoping I’d catch everybody before you went on with your day.”

Blakesley turned, startled, to see Beck walking up with a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. She couldn’t help the extreme joy that sprang to her heart at the sight, thrilled that all of that talk last night hadn’t been a load of crap.  So far, Beck Seavington was proving himself to be a man of his word, a faith that she didn’t have much of these days.  This morning, for the moment, he had restored that faith.

“Good morning,” she greeted, looking both surprised and pleased. “What in the world are you doing here?”

His green-eyed gazed locked on her even as grumpy Charlotte ran to him and took his hand. “Having coffee,” he lifted his cup obviously.

She cocked an eyebrow, noting he was dressed in a tight gray tee shirt that showed off his beautifully muscular physique, black combat pants and big black combat boots. It looked to her like he was in some kind of casual military uniform and it looked rather spectacular on him.  It was enough to flutter her heart, as he seemed to be so capable of effortlessly doing.

“Do you always come to the hotel just for coffee?” she asked, suggesting with her tone that she already didn’t believe him.

He had eyes only for her. “Okay, I lied,” he admitted. “I was hoping to take you ladies out to breakfast.”

She grinned. “Are you serious?”

He returned her smile. “Absolutely,” he nodded. “I’ve been here since seven thirty this morning, watching everyone who stepped off the elevators and knowing, eventually, you girls would show up.”

“You could have just said something last night.”

“I didn’t think about it until after I left.” He looked at the stroller and bag in her arms as if just noticing them. “Going somewhere?”

She nodded. “Sea World,” she replied. “But we need to eat first.  We’d love to have you join us.”

His grin broadened. “It’s been years since I’ve been to Sea World.”

Blakesley had only meant that he was welcome to join them for breakfast but she didn’t have the heart to correct him. Besides, the thought of spending the day with him was a giddy one.  She didn’t see any harm in it.

“Uh… well, okay, then,” she shrugged her shoulders, smiling.  The she pointed to his pants, his standard issue boots. “You look like you’re going to work, though.”