Free Tempting Target: Heart of a SEAL by Carmen Faye

return. It was that thought… that one little thought that made her sad. It wasn’t Hawaii that was so much fun; it was being here with Matt. The man had been with her day and night, but their time was coming to an end.
     
    Since she’d done everything else on her list with Matt, she wanted to do the last two things by herself… although they would probably be to Matt’s benefit.
     
    The stores near the hotel were quaint and colorful, but she’d been looking for a little black dress and some high-heeled shoes. It had been fun looking at all the pretty clothes, and she’d tried on and bought lots of things. She’d found her black dress and her moderately high heels, but she wanted to go into this last store. However, this last store was one she shouldn’t have entered.
     
    Marcus was waiting by the back wall, and she didn’t see him until she was close to him.
     
    “Looks like your pretty boy left you. It was only a matter of time.” The man had so much hate in him that it was hard to look at him.
     
    “Can I help you with something, Marcus, or do you always slink about in women’s boutiques?” She continued to look through the clothing racks, but really her mind was on the door. She just wanted to leave but didn’t want him to think he scared her. She was done being afraid of anyone.
     
    “I just saw you walking along and thought I’d say hello.” His beady little eyes made her think of a snake or a weasel. She had no idea why he was so into her. It wasn’t like she’d spent any time with him or that their last encounter was anything more than something that she should have reported to the police.
     
    “Really? Because you could have done that without all the stalking and creepiness.” She looked at him, just to see what he was doing, but she still hated the way he looked at her.
     
    “Then, I wouldn’t have had as much fun. You didn’t go out the other night when I said I’d meet you guys out. It looks like you two have been spending all of your time together. This is the first time I’ve seen you out alone.” He stood there and let that sink in, and she was just happy that he had stopped moving around.
     
    She had been rustling through the clothes when what he’d just said hit the right nerve. “It sounds like you’ve been stalking us. Is that what you’ve been doing?”
     
    “Is that what you’re going to tell your little boyfriend?” Marcus sounded like a child, and she didn’t know what he was so worked up about. They didn’t even know each other.
     
    “First of all, he’s not my boyfriend, and second, he’s a hell of a lot bigger than you. He’s a Navy SEAL, so I’d suggest you not mess with him… or me.” This conversation was going too far. It wasn’t even about keeping face; it was more like she was in danger. This man wasn’t stable, and to stand here and argue with someone like that was almost as crazy as he was acting right now.
     
    “I thought he wasn’t your boyfriend.” Marcus walked closer to her, and she turned to face him.
     
    “Look, I don’t owe you any explanations. You are only some guy that I put in his place for putting his eyes and then his hands in places they didn’t belong.” She was walking away from him, but in small increments, because you weren’t supposed to let the animals know you were afraid of them. The way the store was situated, she may not be seen before he did something to her. She should have bought a knife or a small caliber gun. Here she was traveling alone, and the first stop, she found a predator and a criminal, or at least a man with criminal behaviors.
     
    “I know about women like you. I had you in my grasp, but then something shinier came about. Women like you are always trying to get an upgrade, but then so is he. It has taken longer than I thought, but he’ll let you go. I’ll be watching for a time when I need to pick up the pieces, then I’ll let you beg me for a chance.” He wasn’t moving quickly,