Free A SEAL's Heart by Nikki Winter Page B

never–”
              “Stop,” Gabriela cut in. “Riley got exactly what he deserved for being a tactless dick in front of everyone and he knows it–which is why he’s been climbing the walls for the last few days. My wonderful husband is a lot more sensitive than he looks. He won’t say it but he’s worried. He was always worried.”
              “They need to talk.”
              “In a room without breakable shit.”
              Zuly’s lips curled. “With foam bats and Oprah playing in the background.”
              “And a possible cameo from Iyanla.”
    Laughing softly now, Gabriela added, “Reality dictates that the most they’ll do is grunt at each other in that extremely awkward way, shrug then go sit down to watch something that involves more grunting and awkward shrugging.”
              “Because neither have any idea what to do with actual emotions.”
              “I think we should sort of be grateful for that.”
              Zuly grimaced as she thought about the damage done to the Carrigans’ coffee table. “We really should.”
              “Where’s he at now?”
              She cut her eyes toward the bedroom. “Hotel suite shower.”
              Silence descended and then, “Zuly...sweetheart...my love...I think your vagina needs to be checked for malfunctions.”
              Pulling the phone away from her ear, Zuly stared down at it. “And this conversation just took a turn for the worse.”
              “Pumpkin, if you’re on the phone with me instead of playing Sacagawea all over Fitz’s Lewis and Clark...something is terribly wrong here.”
              “I’m...I’m hanging up now,” Zuly said softly. “Because we can’t be friends anymore.”
              “Are you breaking up with me because you’re bi-curious? Is my loving not enough for you?”
              “I simply refuse to continue this. Good day, ma’am.”
              “But Zuly–”
              “I said good day!” With that she hung up, laughing hard enough to draw a curious stare from Fitz as he finally emerged from the bathroom in a robe, hair wet and curling around his nape.
              Humina humina...
              “Please tell me your amusement doesn’t have to do with the fact that I may or may not find videos of myself naked, wet, and singing on the Internet,” he said, moving slowly toward the small dinette table to sit.
              “On the Internet? No,” Zuly answered. “On one of my many electronic devices? Mebbe...”
              Smirking, he sat back and that damn robe spread, distracting her with all the naked, hard flesh in between. They should be talking, analyzing, working things out, and figuring out the next step. Logic. They needed logic. They did not need Zuly carrying out all her adolescent fantasies on him, involving unholy acts. They hadn’t even gotten past his not-so-small confession. Or the fact she hadn’t said a word about it.
    Or that goddamn kiss! So no, there wouldn’t be any fucking Fitz on the table. Not today--not when she was trying to remain a rational, level-headed individual.
    “Zuly.”
    She was not looking up from her plate. No. Wasn’t gonna happen. Her eyes were exactly where they needed to be–down. And her mind was focused on the goodness of the Lord. So yeah. She was staying out of trouble here.
              “Zuly, baby, look at me.”
              Why’d he have to do that? Why’d he have to go into SEAL mode where he simply handed out a command and made it sound like her life was dependent on her obedience? Why’d that tone of voice send a pulse thumping in her clit that she could’ve sworn could be heard?
              Zuly lifted her head slowly, met those incredibly blue eyes and felt lost.
              Fitz pushed his seat back,