“You’re not making me feel any better, Patrick,” said Margo.
“Mom, we’ll be fine,” said River. “We leave in a few days.”
River wasn’t sure what he thought becoming a SEAL would be like but it wasn’t whatever was happening right now. After a year in the Navy, he and his brothers all applied and were all accepted.
It seemed as though every day someone was tapping out, unable to complete the grueling training. But the Jordans knew what they were doing. They’d been training with masters in their field for their entire life. It felt as though their instructors were on a personal mission to see them fail.
They couldn’t have been more wrong about their intentions. In fact, the instructors didn’t want them to fail. They wanted, needed for them to succeed. But only if they were truly the best.
When the three brothers all made it, it was no surprise to their family. Every Jordan, and a few extras, showed up for the pinning ceremony.
“Holy shit, Jordan,” said his instructor. “It’s like you brought the hall of fame with you for graduation.”
“They are that, sir. My great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncles, cousins, everyone who was ever or is a SEAL,” smiled River.
“Son, it’s not just those who were SEALs, it’s the best of SEAL history. You were impressive, River. You made it through honestly with hard work. You and your brothers.”
“Thank you, sir,” he smiled. “Now, I just have to keep those two idiots alive.”
“Do us all a favor,” chuckled his instructor, “keep your entire team alive. It makes us look better.”
River just laughed, shaking his head at the older man. His father and uncle knew him and served with him.
“You ready, bro?” asked Finn.
“I think we’re all ready,” smiled River. “At least we’ll be here in Coronado, not too far from the family.”
“Let’s go boys,” said Margo. “Time for pictures.”
“Mom, don’t you think you could stop calling us boys now?” asked River. “I mean, we’re almost twenty, we’re all six-six, over two-hundred pounds. I don’t think that qualifies as ‘boys’.”
“You have a penis. You’re boys,” she said with a straight face. “Let’s go. Pictures and then you run off and be men. But so help me, God, if you get injured I will hunt you all down.”
The brothers laughed, shaking their heads as they kissed their mother.
“Got it, Mom.”
CHAPTER TWO
Celine stared at the man across the room from her. It was the usual morning meeting and they’d just been informed of the SEALs temporary assignment with them. It wasn’t unusual but the temporary help rarely looked like him.
“Stop staring at him,” said Priscilla. “You’re making me uncomfortable. I can only imagine how you’re making him feel.”
“He’s fucking hot,” she smirked. “I know we can’t do anything while we’re working together but I’m going to damn sure do something when his assignment is over with.”
“Let it go, Celine,” said her friend. “You go through these guys like toilet paper and it’s not funny anymore. They all think you’re sincere and we both know you’re not. From what I’ve heard, this guy is different. Nice. Decent.”
“Don’t be such a Debbie-downer. He looks like he’s had more than his fair share of women and I’m going to bet he dumped more than a few. I just want a few good nights with him until I get bored and then we’ll be fine.”
Priscilla just shook her head at her friend, wondering why someone hadn’t said something to her sooner. The rules were very clear. No fraternization with co-workers. If you were caught dating, there were consequences to be paid. Priscilla loved her work too much to get caught up in a scandal.
Besides, her father had been a decorated agent and she didn’t want to tarnish his legacy. She lifted her head to look at River Jordan once again. She could feel the blush creep up her chest to her neck and then face as he stared back. It was a hard stare. Not a smile. Not a gaze. Just a hard stare.
In spite of her attempts to slow Celine down, the woman was more intent than ever to get her hands on the SEAL. Priscilla honestly couldn’t blame her. He was beautiful. Not just handsome. Not just well-built. He was absolutely beautiful. Like the images of angels you see in books.
But Priscilla knew that he’d soon be gone and Celine would have her talons in him.
It would be several long weeks of trying to find out what was happening to young women on the campuses of North Carolina universities. Every time she fed him information he needed, he was kind and grateful. But she also noticed that Celine wasn’t giving him timely information which only made her angrier with the woman.
