Free Night with a Seal (Hot SEALs #1) by Cat Johnson Page B

When Jon’s overwhelming presence was out of the room, Ali could think again. The way he made her feel, an evening filled with bits of casual conversation and not much else was probably best for everyone involved.
    She turned toward the counter and spotted the platter as Darci opened the oven. “Smells good, whatever you’re cooking.”  
    Two more big men arrived. Ali recognized Zane and Thom from the Fourth of July party. Since she hadn’t seen them around since, she assumed they too were newly returned from the war zone.
    After a quick hello to her and Darci, during which Ali could have sworn Darci hiked her boobs a little higher for Zane’s benefit, the guys disappeared out onto the deck with Rick and Jon.
    The bell rang one more time and Darci moved toward the door. “Brody. Chris. Happy New Year.”
    “Happy New Year to you too.” Chris handed Darci a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. “For the lady of the house.”
    “Aw, thank you. That’s so sweet.”
    “They’re from my brother too. He helped me pick them out.” Grinning, Chris hooked a thumb at his brother.
    Brody rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I shopped all day.”
    Darci laughed. “I’m just happy you’re back and safe, Brody.”
    “Thanks.” Brody glanced around. “Where’s everybody else at?”
    It was a valid question since Ali could see through the front window that the driveway and the curb in front of the house had filled up with vehicles, but by the looks of the house, there were only she and Darci there.
    “Out on the back deck. Go on out, if you want. But tell them the hors d’oeuvres are ready and they’re getting cold.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Will do.” Chris saluted Darci with a grin. He and Brody headed the way Zane and Thom had disappeared, and Ali started to think the party was going to be outside.
    She watched them go and frowned. “Aren’t they cold out there?”
    Darci glanced at the glass door and shrugged. “They’ll be in eventually. Probably catching Rick up on war stories.”
    “Stories they don’t want us to hear.”
    “Apparently not.” Darci adjusted the temperature on the oven, looking unconcerned about the little posse on the deck.
    Ali, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to let the topic go. “But they can tell Rick and Chris, who are both civilians now?”
    “I’m sure they’re not spilling any state secrets or anything. It’s probably some stupid stuff we wouldn’t be interested in anyway.”
    “Hmm, I guess so.” Stupid stories or not, as Ali transferred the hot mini quiches from the baking tray to the platter she was feeling left out.
    Frustrated—in so many ways—she popped one of the quiches into her mouth. The diet started tomorrow, not tonight.

CHAPTER 9
    “No. You’re kidding, right?” Rick shook his head as he glanced around the men circling him on the back deck, the cooler full of beer and bags of ice conveniently at their feet. “I don’t believe it.”
    “Swear to God, dude.” Zane held his hand up like he was taking an oath.
    Jon nodded. “Yup. It’s no lie. We’re supposed to stand outside the door, announce who we are and ask them to put down their weapons and come out with their hands behind their heads.”
    “Wait. So are you supposed to be saying this in Pashto or English?” Rick asked.
    “Pfft. Both.” Brody let out a snort. “The brass wanna make sure they understand.”
    “As if we’re not giving them enough warning.” Thom let out a short laugh. “By the time we tell them in both English and our half-assed Pashto translation, we’ll give them plenty of time to get ready to kill us.”
    “You know, because why shouldn’t we give the fighters inside time to mow us down through the door?” Zane shook his head and took a deep pull on his bottle of beer.
    “So what are you doing? You’re not really following this shit order, are you?”
    Zane screwed up his face at Rick’s question. “Fuck, no.”
    Chris smiled. “Better to beg for forgiveness