SEAL for Her Protection (SEALs of Coronado Book 1) by Paige Tyler Read Free Book Online Page A

first. We both sat there staring at the TV in shock. People had made it out though, so we kept telling ourselves Keith’s brother had to be one of them.”
    “But he wasn’t,” Hayley said softly.
    “No. Keith and his brother were tight and it hit him hard. Two weeks later, he killed himself.” Chasen looked at her, his face grim. “I dropped out of college and joined the Navy the day after Keith’s funeral. I knew if I became a SEAL, I’d be on the front lines taking down terrorists, and that’s what I wanted to do.”
    It had been fifteen years since 9/11 and the events that had taken place in the aftermath were still clearly painful for him to relive. It had been horrifying for her, and she’d been a sophomore in high school at the time, on the other side of the country from New York City. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to be so close to Ground Zero or to have known anyone who’d lost their lives that day. She felt awful for making him revisit them.
    “What did your parents think about your decision to join the Navy?” she asked.
    He snorted. “My dad about blew a gasket. He couldn’t understand why I’d throw everything away—his words, not mine. He still hasn’t forgiven me for not following in his footsteps, so we don’t talk anymore. As for my mom, she’s always afraid for me.”
    Hayley couldn’t argue with his mother on that. She’d just met Chasen and she didn’t like the idea of him being in danger.
    They chatted for a while about what it was like growing up in a family with one set of expectations, only to go off and do the exact opposite. Her family situation hadn’t been quite as drastic—her parents had hoped she would go into the medical field—but she definitely understood the concept.
    They were so deep in their conversation Hayley didn’t realized her fish was gone until she reached down with her fork and scratched an empty plate. When had that happened? She didn’t even remember eating it.
    She put down her fork and knife then rested her forearms on the table and looked at him. Chasen had just admitted he and his father hadn’t said a single word to each other since he’d walked away from law school.
    “Well, if your father were sitting here right now, I’d tell him he needs to stop being such a damn fool and start being proud of his son. Because you, Petty Officer Ward, are a hero in my book.”
    On the other side of the table, his mouth curved into a sinfully sexy smile that made her pulse skip a beat. If they leaned in any more, they’d be close enough to kiss. Chasen might have to sweep the plates off the table to make room, but Hayley figured that wouldn’t be a problem for him. She held her breath, waiting. But when it seemed like it was finally going to happen, their waiter appeared at their table to take away their dirty dishes. Blocked by a waiter. That was coming off his tip. Well, it probably actually wouldn’t, but it should.
    “Can I get you anything else?” the man asked. “Some coffee maybe, or dessert?”
    Chasen gave her a questioning look as he sat back a little in his seat.
    Hayley shook her head. “I’m good.”
    “I’ll be right back with the check, then,” the waiter said.
    After the man had left, Chasen leaned forward again. “You feel like taking in a movie?”
    She’d been trying to think of some way to make the date last longer and while a movie wasn’t the first thing to pop into her head, it would still work. Then again, the thought of sitting next to Chasen in a dimly lit theater did have a certain allure. It might be their first date, but what happened in a darkened theater didn’t count anyway.
    She smiled. “I’d love to.”
    Hayley expected Chasen to head for the closest movie theater, so she was surprised when he drove all the way to Waterfront Park.
    “I thought we were going to watch a movie,” she said as he found a space in the crowded parking lot.
    He threw her a grin as he shut off the engine.