wound up to sleep. Shrugging into a bomber jacket, he picked up his keys and headed out the door.
Living near the base had its advantages. Dropping into the rec hall for a drink meant he was bound to run into someone he knew and, though usually reticent, he felt like company tonight. Perhaps trading a few jokes with the boys might take the edge off?
He doubted it. Only one thing could take the edge off and she was buried in some uptown office, her nose to the grindstone.
Kate’s hot little act on the phone had pushed all his buttons. If only her assistant hadn’t interrupted he could be holed up in her house right now sharing more than coffee.
And, boy, did he need it.
Seeing her again had him remembering all too well the contours of her curves beneath his hands, the eager sounds she made during sex, the way she made him feel as if he were the only man in the world for her.
Unfortunately, that couldn’t be true. He wasn’t a total idiot and a vibrant woman like her would have had a string of guys panting after her since they’d parted.
He clenched his hands into fists, hating the irrational surge of jealousy stabbing through him. He’d moved on and hadn’t exactly lived like a monk himself in the last six years so what did he expect—for a stunner like Kate to sit around twiddling her thumbs?
Gritting his teeth, he picked up the pace and entered the rec hall. He didn’t need this complicating his life. Never had.
What Kate did with her life and who she spent it with had nothing to do with him. He valued his independence and answering to number one suited him just fine and, despite the unexpected pleasure of having Kate reappear at this point in his life, he had no intention of getting sucked back into the confusing whirlpool their relationship had become towards the end.
Instead, he’d consider this chance encounter as a surprise gift dropped in his lap, one he had every intention of unwrapping and enjoying at his leisure over the next week before he had his annual physical and potentially had his career ripped out from under him.
‘Hey, TJ. What’s happening?’
He looked up, more than glad to see the big guy in front of him, and stuck out his hand. ‘Hey, Bear. What’re you doing here? Thought Team Eight was on leave at the moment?’
‘Nah, got called back last night. So much for a little R and R.’
Tyler laughed. ‘The Chief pushing you too hard these days, huh? Want a beer?’
Bear nodded and pulled out a chair, turning it backwards before sitting. He’d never seen his giant friend sit any other way.
‘Yeah, the Chief is always pushing for more. You know the drill.’
Tyler nodded and placed the drinks on the table. ‘Yeah, I do. Cheers.’
They clinked bottles and lapsed into silence. As Tyler took a long swig of icy cold beer he thanked the Lord that Evan ‘Bear’ Bridges had chosen tonight to walk into the rec hall. He could do with a friend.
‘What’s up? You look like hell, man.’
Tyler set his bottle down. ‘That obvious?’
‘Uh-huh. Tell old Bear all about it.’
He leaned back and crossed his arms. ‘It’s the orphanage. Looks like it’s going to shut down.’
Bear’s eyes widened. ‘No way. With the amount of cash you donate out of your wages each year the joint should be open into the next century.’
‘’Fraid not. Looks like the place is in trouble.’
‘Anything I can do?’ His friend reached towards his back pocket as if ready to pull out his wallet.
‘Not unless you can rustle up a quick half-million dollars.’
Bear shook his head. ‘No can do, bro. Sorry.’
‘I’m the one who’s sorry,’ he muttered, feeling helpless for only the third time in his life and not relishing the emotion one bit. The first time had been when he’d walked out on Kate, the second when he’d blown his knee, and he felt just as useless now.
SEALs were renowned for their innovation, their ingenuity, their persistence. So why the hell couldn’t he do more for the one cause that meant everything to him?
At that moment, their chief, Jack Crawford, strolled into the bar and headed straight towards them.
‘Howdy, Bear. Thought you were on leave, TJ?’
Tyler grabbed the proffered hand and shook it. ‘I am.’
‘Then what are you doing here?’
Tyler downed the rest of his beer. ‘Business.’
‘I bet.’
He couldn’t fathom the reason behind Jack’s sly grin.
‘Been to any auctions lately?’
Though the question seemed innocuous enough, combined with Jack’s smirk, Tyler knew his secret was out.
‘Ha, ha. How did you find out?’
Bear’s head turned from side to side as if watching a tennis match. ‘What are you clowns talking about?’
Jack’s grin widened. ‘Didn’t you hear the news? TJ’s latest mission involves being shackled to a woman for a week doing all her odd jobs.’
Bear guffawed loudly. ‘You’re kidding me, right? Why the hell would you do a fool thing like that?’
‘For charity, of course.’
Tyler glared meaningfully at Bear, hoping he’d get the drift. His friend was the only one who knew about his upbringing at the orphanage and he wanted to keep it that way. He’d had enough pity to last him a lifetime growing up, he sure as hell didn’t need any from his colleagues now.
Bear cottoned on quickly. He merely quirked an eyebrow and chugged on his beer.
Thankfully, Jack relented. ‘Yeah, I agree that the orphanage is a good cause. Though I reckon there’s more behind this, TJ. I reckon you like being at the beck and call of some fancy dame.’
‘Who told you she’s fancy?’ Tyler chuckled, envisaging how Kate would respond to being described as ‘fancy’.
‘Leila was at the auction. She just got home, bursting with the news about you and that magazine editor. Said that sparks were flying and that was before the shackles went on.’
Tyler’s gut tightened. The image of being bound to Kate did it. At least thinking about the orphanage had distracted him from her memory. For a good ten minutes, anyway.
He leaned back, trying to instil a measure of casualness into his voice. ‘I think Leila has a great imagination. There were no sparks. I’m just donating my time for a good cause.’
‘Yeah, right. So what if this editor looks like a supermodel? All part of the job, huh?’ Jack’s cheesy grin grew wider by the second.
‘Damn sure.’ Tyler pushed back his chair. ‘Sorry, guys. Much as I’d like to hang around, I have to go. Early start. O-six hundred.’
Suddenly, his need for company had vanished. He’d come here to erase Kate from his memory bank, not discuss her, and he knew the boys. Once they got started they would want to hear every last detail. He waved and walked away, leaving his two closest friends grinning in his wake.
‘See you in a week, TJ. If you survive, that is.’
Ignoring Jack’s final taunt, he headed out into the balmy Californian night. There was no doubt in his mind that he would survive. After all, he’d handled tougher missions and come out unscathed.
Once again, a vision of Kate’s gold-flecked hazel eyes flashed into his mind, closely followed by the memory of their searing kiss.