Free No Reservations (Special Ops: Tribute Book 1) by Kate Aster Page A

making cookies for the last day of school
party.”
    The idea of cookies after so much ice cream made him visibly
grimace. But he tried to share the kid’s enthusiasm. “Wow. What kind?”
    “Sugar cookies. One of my classmates has a chocolate
allergy,” he added, his youthful exuberance suddenly sounding deflated.
    “Bummer. Well, sugar’s okay. Do you mind if I steal your mom
for a couple minutes for a talk?”
    “Sure,” Brandon answered before the background noise ended
as Becca took him off speaker.
    “Hi,” she said, her voice hushed. “I’m in the next room over
now. What’s going on that it can’t be heard by ten-year-old ears?”
    “Nothing too exciting. I just needed some advice.”
    “ You need advice. From me ?”
    “Yeah, from you. It’s girl advice.”
    “Ooh. You met someone?”
    He could hear the smile in her voice. “Yeah, that innkeeper
I mentioned.”
    “I knew it.”
    “What do you mean, you knew it?”
    “I knew you’d hook up with her. It’s so you. And your
innkeeper, for God’s sake.”
    “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    “It’s just—I don’t know—your track record with
women is pretty consistent.”
    “Consistently what?”
    “Do I have to spell it out for you? Women fall at your feet.
You don’t have to walk ten feet and some woman’s giving you her number.”
    He paused, uncertain whether he should take that as a
compliment. “Well, that’s the problem.”
    “What’s the problem?”
    “She’s not going for me,” he answered.
    “What?”
    “She’s not going for me at all. We’ve spent the past couple
days together. She’s great. Fun. Funny. And she’s really been a huge help, Bec.
Walking me all over town trying to find a space to lease. She’s nice, and
smart, too. She was a lawyer before she became an innkeeper. Bold as hell
breaking out on her own like she did. I mean, you gotta admire that, right?”
Flicking on his turn signal, he pictured the inn she called home. “And
creative. Honest to God, this inn is so cool. She’s completely reinvented it.
She’s got a great head for business and—”
    “What’s she look like?”
    Maddox stopped abruptly. “Oh. Well, she’s cute. Seriously
hot, actually.”
    There was a brief silence on the other end. “My God, Maddox.
You just listed about ten great things about her before telling me that she’s
pretty.”
    “So?”
    “So, you really like her.”
    “Well, yeah. That’s why I’m calling.”
    “To invite me to the wedding?” There was a laugh in her
voice. “You know, I know you SEALs work fast, but—”
    “Shut up, Bec. You know that’s not why I’m calling.”
    “So why are you calling? You pulled me away from sugar
cookies to tell me you like a girl?”
    “No. I pulled you away from sugar cookies to find out why
she doesn’t like me.”
    “You’re sure she’s single?”
    “Positive.”
    “Straight?”
    He paused, hesitant for a moment, till he remembered the
ravenous look she gave him when he’d been shirtless. Maybe he needed to be
shirtless around her more often. “Pretty sure. And I do all the usual
stuff—you know—picking up the bill when we go out, opening doors
for her. I even wiped ice cream off her lips with my napkin. And every time I
touch her, she just—”
    “Recoils in disgust?” Becca offered, humor in her tone.
    “Yeah, actually. Not in disgust. But definitely recoils.”
    Becca laughed.
    “Bec, I’m being serious. Most the time women are throwing
themselves at me at this point.”
    “Yeah, and see how they worked out? Maybe you need a woman who
isn’t so damn easy.”
    “So you don’t think I should give up on her?”
    “Maddox, you’ve known her for—what?—two days
now? Give it time.”
    “How long?”
    “I don’t know. There’s no exact amount.”
    “I’m a guy. I need numbers.”
    “Okay, okay. I guess… four, maybe five days. If you’re not
seeing some interest from her by five days, you’re probably lost.”