Permission to Come Aboard (The Great Outdoors Book 2) by McClendon Shayne

Author:McClendon, Shayne [McClendon, Shayne]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Always the Good Girl LLC
Published: 2013-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

July 2004

A situation with their security company kept the guys from returning to the Keys for three weeks.

When they reappeared on a Saturday night, Gunner sported a bandage across his forearm. Dakota put her hand over her mouth and whispered, “What happened?”

“I was a little too slow.” He winked. “It isn’t deep and there’s no nerve damage. I need to get back in the gym. I’m getting old.”

“You’re not the only one,” Shawn offered. He lifted the side of his t-shirt to show the vicious purple-green bruise along his ribs. “Not as bad as we’ve had but worse than expected.”

“Neither of you are old. Stop that. Everyone else okay?”

“Some cuts and bruises among our team but you should see the other guys.” Gunner attempted to keep things light but Dakota knew it must have been extremely dangerous for men trained like them to come out with wounds. “We’re okay.”

She wanted to ask why he hadn’t called her but she knew theirs wasn’t that kind of relationship. “I’m glad you made it down. We got a great deal on crab legs and I didn’t know how we were going to eat them all. Problem solved.”

The next morning, she walked into the kitchen to make coffee and smiled at Chaz sprawled on one end of the sectional and Shawn at the other.

Strangely, her twin hadn’t said anything in regard to the SEAL and that was telling. She was grateful he hadn’t asked her any direct questions that made her lie.

A sin of omission she could live with.

He was relaxed around the older man, clearly enjoyed his company, and Shawn was establishing a foundation of friendship for them to build on.

Such a brilliant strategy.

They spent the day loafing. She refused to expend any energy but the guys spent time on the water with her little brother.

Bubba was attached to Gunner and his friends. They were a great influence on him. When Shawn realized Chaz and Dakota regularly sparred with him, he asked to be included.

After fifteen minutes, covered in sweat, he high-fived the ten-year-old. “You’re fast and controlled. You’ve had excellent teachers.”

“You should spar with Chaz. He’s ridiculously good.”

Glancing across their home gym, he smiled. Chaz leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. He’d watched the interaction intently.

“What do you say, Chaz?”

Stripping off his t-shirt, her twin stepped on the mat and Bubba walked over to sit between Dakota’s legs.

They circled each other, well-matched in height but Shawn had a distinct weight advantage over her leaner brother.

“Rules?” The tone of her twin’s voice was robotic.

Shawn stopped moving. “I’ve seen you in action. I’m curious about the scope of your skills.” He walked closer and held out his hand. “It’s not a pissing contest.”

Inhaling deeply, Chaz shook his hand. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I imagine you’ve dealt with a lot of assholes.” He smiled. “Looking like a model doesn’t instill most with confidence of physical skill. I know better.”

“I…” Dakota could tell her brother didn’t know what to say in regards to the compliment about his looks.

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