Free Pushed to the Edge (SEAL Team 14) by Loren Mathis Page B

to just give up.  To just sink down and melt into the
sand.”  He was staring right in Olivia’s eyes now, and she was staring back at
him.  For once, she was completely focused on everything he had to say.  
    “So just when I’m about to give in, one of the
SEAL instructors barks out to me.  Really he was yelling to all of the
candidates around me.  ‘Looks like Prince Charming’ here is about ring that
bell!  Do it Prince, we don’t need any pansy ass motherfucker like you on this
team.  Hell, my baby sister could outrun your slow, weak ass.’”
    “What did you say?”
    “I said, ‘Yes, Lieutenant Commander, sir.  But I
doubt she’d look this good in these short shorts.’”
    Olivia let out a musical peal of laughter.  She
leaned too far back in her backless bar stool and almost fell.  If it weren’t
for Will's lightning fast reflexes, she would have caught a face full of dirty
bar floor.
    “Whoa, there doc.  Careful, I don’t want to have
to rush you to the ER tonight, hun.”  When he grabbed her around her waist, he
couldn’t help but breathe in the floral scent that was emanating from her
hair.  Whatever shampoo or perfume Olivia used, she smelled good.  Real good.  Too good
    “You’re pulling my leg,” she said, between laughs.
    “No, total truth.  Scout’s honor,” he said,
winking at her.  Olivia was still laughing uncontrollably, and Will couldn’t
help but to laugh right along with her.  She had a carefree, musical sounding
laugh.  The mirthful sounds were incessantly bubbling up from her throat.  She
put her right hand up against her mouth as if she was trying to hold some of
the laughter in, but she wasn’t succeeding. 
    “So what did you do afterwards?” she asked once
she pulled herself together.
    “I finished.  It was just one of those things, you
know.  He told me to quit, said I couldn’t do it.  It just lit a fire under me
to prove him wrong.  And I am one stubborn SOB after all.” 
    Will glanced past Olivia and saw a young airman
quickly approaching her.  The guy wasn’t anywhere close to being Will’s height
or build.  Will sat up straight in his seat and ruthlessly stared the young
pilot down, clearly sending him a “back off” signal.  Will couldn’t much blame
the guy—Olivia was after all a mouth wateringly gorgeous woman.  But he wasn’t
just going to let this guy come in and try to get with her.  Anyway, he was
supposed to take care of her tonight for Joshua. 
    Yeah right .  Will just couldn’t stand the
thought of another man with his hands on her. 
    The young pilot got the warning message loud and
clear.  He turned around almost as quickly as he came, heading back to the
table with his friends.  “Hey, you about ready to go home, sweetheart?”
    “Why?  Do you need to leave with your date?”
    “What?”  Will asked, his eyebrows furrowing
together in a frown as he tried to understand what she was talking about. 
    “Your date, the girl you were dancing
with—Michelle.” 
    Well, whaddya know . . . she had been paying attention earlier.  “Oh, no, I’m your bonafide chauffeur tonight. 
Totally at your service, babe.  Your wish is my command Doctor Lewis ,”
Will grinned and then winked at her. 
    He helped her down from the barstool, took her
hand, and then navigated her around the other bar patrons and toward the exit. 
“Come on, hun, it’s almost four in the morning.  Being a workaholic and all I’m
sure you probably have to go to work later on today.”
    “Yeah, I do actually.  I have to go in for a late shift
this evening,” Olivia answered, her hand clinging on to Will’s.  He led her out
to a black jeep that was parked at a space in the back parking lot of the bar. 
    The parking lot was dimly lit, with only one
parking lot light present in the far right corner.  The anemic glow from the
lamp did serve, however, to illuminate a few broken beer bottles that Will
steered Olivia around.