Hot SEAL, April's Fool: SEALs in Paradise

Prologue

Hey, Joker, I heard the news. So sorry about your dad. Heartbreaker slid onto the seat across from Cole and grabbed a beer from the bucket Cole had already purchased. He’d known eventually several of his teammates would show up to join him at McP’s this evening, especially as the news of his father’s death spread among them.

Cole lifted his beer to clink against Heartbreaker’s, waving a hand between them. No need to get overly maudlin on me. I hadn’t spoken to the man in ten years.

Heartbreaker winced. Shit. Sorry, man. That sucks.

Cole shrugged. He wasn’t up for Father of the Year at any point. I left at eighteen and never looked back. Granted, his father, Marcus Landry, wasn’t the only person Cole had left behind when he’d skipped town. Nope. When he’d vanished, he’d lost the best and worst people in his life. One of those people still haunted him to this day.

Cole was playing with the label on his bottle when another group of his teammates showed up. Luckily, one of them was holding a second bucket of beer. They were going to need it.

He glanced around at all of their sorrowful faces as they took seats. Finally, he rolled his eyes and smirked. No need to feel overly sorry for my loss, guys. I had no relationship with my father. Haven’t spoken to him since I joined the Navy.

Zig, also known as Chris Bykowski, clinked beers with Cole. It’s still hard to lose a parent.

Yeah. We’re here for you if you need anything, Pops, Benjamin Popovich, added. Pops turned toward the man next to him. Bad timing, but this is Cash Mancini. He’s taking Liam’s place on the team. Apparently, they call him Inferno.

Cole reached out a hand to shake the new guy’s. Inferno. Bet there’s a story behind that. He smiled.

Pops chuckled. Go easy on him. He’s no Liam.

Cole smirked. Well, break him in while I’m gone.

Everyone snickered.

Heard you’re leaving in the morning to go handle the estate? Jack Mars Marsten asked.

Cole nodded but he was already chuckling. Estate is a stretch. He took another long swig of his beer. My father owned a mechanic’s shop in town. Not sure if it’s worth anything or not. It did well when I was in high school, but I suspect my lazy brother didn’t fill my shoes and help out much when I moved away.

Wolf, Eli Miller, spoke next. Alabama, right?

Cole nodded. Yep. He cringed. A week in small-town Alabama. Just what everyone wants to do with their leave.

Zig handed Cole another beer. Maybe you’ll run into some hot girls from high school. Last time I went home, I was shocked to see how the girls had changed into women. Seems like half of them had gotten married and had kids. Half of them were hot as fuck with figures they hadn’t had in high school. Granted, half of them had also let themselves go.

Pops chuckled. That’s a lot of halves, Zig.

Zig punched him playfully on the arm. The circles in the Venn diagram could overlap you know.

Cole drew in a breath. He’d only ever cared about one girl in high school. April McKay. He could hardly remember any other girl’s name. She’d been his girlfriend for three years. His soulmate. He’d known that even at eighteen.

And then his world had flipped upside down and Cole had left town, never looking back. He had a million regrets, all of them concerning April. During the coming week, he would eventually run into her, and the thought slayed him.

He’d done her wrong. Chances were, she wouldn’t even glance at him if he confronted her. And he couldn’t blame her. He’d been immature and stupid and hurt when he’d left. There was no way to go back and undo the damage.

He’d give nearly anything to see her again. His heart had been beating erratically ever since his stepmom, Amanda, had called to tell him his father had died. She’d rambled on and on, including the occasional fake sob, but all Cole had thought about was how small the town was and how likely it would be to run into April. He shouldn’t do it. He’d stick to himself and leave her alone. Hell, running into her would hurt him more than it hurt her. He should let sleeping dogs lie.

Seriously though, Mars added, call us if you need anything.

Cole took a deep breath and pushed to standing. Thanks. I’ll see you all in a week. Assuming Alabama doesn’t swallow me whole. He set his unfinished beer on the table and strolled out of McP’s.

His mind was running rampantly now, conjuring up all kinds of images of April. He wondered which half of the population she might fall into these days, according to Zig’s assessment. Married? Single? Hot? He couldn’t imagine April ever letting herself go, but what did he know? She could have ten kids by now. Anything was possible. He’d been too stubborn to inquire.

He drew in a breath and vowed to stick to the plan. Settle his father’s affairs and get out of town without risking confrontations with anyone.

Chapter 1

It was only ten o’clock on Monday morning, but it was already proving to be a shit day that kept getting shittier. She shouldn’t have been shocked. It was April Fool’s day. Her own namesake. Every year this day seemed to mockingly bite her in the ass. Why should this year be any different?

First, her alarm clock didn’t go off, causing April to run around her apartment in a frenzy to get ready. She hadn’t had time for coffee, which never bode well. Luckily, she beat her client to the first property she was showing, but her elation on that front didn’t last long since the lockbox wouldn’t open.

It took thirty minutes for the seller’s agent to call her back with the corrected code. By then the client had arrived and was furious at the delay. In no way was the holdup April’s fault, but Mr. Jackson’s frustration was with April nonetheless.

April had arranged for her client to see the most promising property first thing in the morning, knowing that based on his requirements he would end up coming back to this one at the end of the day. She’d had nine properties lined up.

Filled with nervous confidence, April’s heart seized when they stepped inside and Mr. Jackson’s first words were, This place is a dump. I don’t need to see more of it. He turned around and walked back outside, immediately taking an incoming call.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, as soon as he hung up, he declared that he needed to cancel the rest of the showings for the day because something urgent came up at work.

As he drove away, April stood on the front porch, heart pounding, fingers shaking, head spinning. Well, shit, she muttered. On the plus side, her entire day just freed up. Not a good thing since she needed this commission badly, but at least she didn’t have to spend another minute in the company of such a sour human being.

The first thing she needed was coffee. Half of her attitude problem today was the result of missing her morning caffeine.

After returning the key to the lockbox, April got back in her practical white Honda Civic and turned the key. She closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath when the car did not readily start. Please. For the love of God, don’t do this to me. I can’t take it, she muttered into the silence before trying again. Success. The engine purred to life.

The car was clean and new to her, but it was older and obviously in need of a tune-up that she didn’t have time for and couldn’t afford. If it would just hang on for a few more weeks…

The Bean Stop was busy when she arrived, but they had the best coffee in town, and April apparently had no place else to be, so she endured the wait and didn’t fully breathe properly until she’d taken her first sip.

Ahhh. The elixir of the gods. It was a bit hot still, but her usual Vanilla Latte was finally in her hands.

Until it wasn’t…

With her purse over her shoulder and one hand gripping the warm cup, she pulled the door open and stepped onto the sidewalk. Unfortunately, she did so at the exact moment someone else was stepping into The Bean Stop, which meant in less than an instant her shit day got shittier when she slammed right into a hard chest and lost her grip on the cup.

Apparently, the lid hadn’t been completely secure because it flew off, and one second later, she was wearing every drop of the latte all down the front of her white blouse and gray pencil skirt. Some of it was even running into her black pumps.

In theory, the cup held sixteen ounces of liquid. In reality, that amount seemed to be more like a gallon now that she was doused with it.

Oh my God. I’m so sorry, a deep male voice stated as he held the door wider and took April’s elbow to help her step out of the doorway and fully onto the sidewalk.

When she lifted her gaze, her breath hitched and she stopped breathing. Cole?

April? He cringed. Jesus. I’m so, so sorry, he repeated. His gaze went to her blouse, and she followed it to see that her white lace bra was totally visible to anyone who was looking. And a lot of people were looking.

Shit, she murmured.

Cole took the empty cup from her hand, dropped it in the trashcan next to the outside tables, and then immediately removed his lightweight jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. I’d go inside and replace that for you, but the line looks long and you’re shivering and probably miserable. Can I drive you home? Or…

She started shaking her head. This could not be happening. No way was Cole Landry standing in front of her suddenly today after ten years. No thanks. I’ve got it. She pushed past him and headed quickly toward her car. Obviously, this day could and would get worse. She just wanted to go home now. Fuck the coffee. Fuck the canceled client. And most of all, fuck Cole Landry.

She heard him following her even though the click of her heels on the concrete was loud and precise. April. Wait up. Can we at least talk?

When she reached her car, she yanked the door open and turned to face him. No need. She took off the jacket he’d draped over her and handed it back to him. I’m fine. I’m going home.

As she climbed behind the wheel and shut the door, he continued to talk and she ignored him. But then, the unthinkable happened. Again. The engine wouldn’t turn over. The car didn’t make a single noise when she turned the key. Not the first time and not the fifth time either.

Her shirt was soaked with brown sticky liquid. Her skin was pink and heated from the coffee. Her body still didn’t have caffeine running through its veins. And now her car wouldn’t start. She was close to tears, and the last thing she needed was for Cole Fucking Landry to see her looking weak.

Her heart raced as she stared out the windshield, trying to think of what to do.

Suddenly, her door opened and Cole leaned toward her. Let me drive you home, he stated in a soft voice. It’s the least I can do. I’ll have someone from the shop come check out your car.

Cole’s family owned Landry’s—the local mechanic’s shop. His dad, Marcus Landry, had opened it before Cole was born, and she was pretty sure Cole’s brother, Jacob, worked there with his father. Cole certainly didn’t. He’d taken off for the Navy the moment they’d graduated from high school, and as far as April knew, he’d never returned. In fact, what was he doing here now?

There was no denying she was in a bind, but the thought of going anywhere with Cole did not sit well. She glanced at him. I can get an Uber.

His brow furrowed. Come on. Let me help. I don’t need to be anywhere right now. I obviously ruined your day. Let me at least drive you home.

She blinked at him. The man was ten years older than the last time she’d seen him, and Lordy but he was taller, broader, and sexier than ever. Damn him. He’d made her panties melt in high school and he still did now. Asshole.

She took a deep breath. Fine. Grabbing her purse, she climbed back out of the car and accepted the jacket that he once again draped around her shoulders.

The day was sunny and warm, but not warm enough for a wet shirt, so she was shivering now that the coffee had cooled against her skin. She grasped the edge of his jacket and held it closed over her see-through blouse as she reluctantly followed him to a black SUV parallel-parked four cars down from hers.

Cole, the gentleman version of him, set a hand on her lower back and guided her toward the passenger side of his car. After shutting the door, he jogged around the hood and climbed into the driver’s side.

She sucked in a breath the moment they were sealed in together. The SUV wasn’t big enough for both of them. The air shifted, and she suddenly wished she’d declined and called an Uber.

He turned to face her after starting the engine.

What? she asked, sounding snarkier than she intended. After all, he was doing her a favor.

He lifted a brow and shot her a half-grin. You’re going to have to tell me where we’re going, ladybug.

She flinched. Don’t call me that. No one had called her that in ten years. He’d assigned the nickname to her their sophomore year of high school when she’d dressed as a ladybug for Halloween.

He sighed.

She pointed out the windshield. Take the second left. I live in The Groves apartments.

Ah, right. I remember where those are. He pulled away from the curb and headed in that direction, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He glanced at her every once in a while, but he didn’t say anything until they arrived. Which building?

Building A.

Instead of dropping her off out front like she would have preferred, he parked in a spot and exited the car, rounding it to open her door.

She slid to the ground, still awkwardly gripping his jacket around her. Thanks for the ride. I’m fine now. She started to lower the jacket once again, intending to hand it to him, when he stopped her.

Please, April. His voice was low. Let me walk you to your apartment. I mean, let me stay for a while. I’d like to catch up. If you have time. Were you on your way to work? Did I make you late?

She sighed. She wished she was the sort of person who could lie and tell him she was indeed in a huge hurry to change and get to work. Instead, she blew out a breath. My appointments were canceled for the day, but I don’t want to hold you up either. You can go.

He shook his head. I’m free this morning. He turned toward the building with a hand on the small of her back and started walking. His touch was possessive. At one time in their lives, she would