Once Upon a SEAL

By S.M. Butler

Maddie Benson has spent her entire life in Sugar Falls and has never ventured—nor wanted to venture—beyond her small town’s safe borders. But when her delivery job takes her to the doorstep of one very reclusive, former Navy SEAL, Sebastian McIntyre, her small town perceptions are challenged with every conversation they have. It’s not long before she’s losing herself—and her heart—to the mysterious man behind the door.

Bastian’s scars are deeper than the surface. They’re embedded into his soul, and he’s content to keep them buried. But the second Maddie ends up on his doorstep with her sparkling smile and her sunshine hair, his quiet new life shatters and she just might be able to excise the demons he’s tried hard to keep tucked away—if he lets her in.

When Bastian’s old life comes haunting them, he knows he should let her go. But the light she shines on his soul keeps the darkness within him at bay. Letting her go may take more strength than he has, and keeping her close could get her killed.

Reading order of this series:
• Killing Honor, #1• Wounded Courage, #2• Dying Commitment, #3• SEALed until Christmas, #4• Once Upon a SEAL, #5

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soaring Phoenix Press
• Release date: May 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781938927218

S.M. Butler

S.M. Butler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Lucky Thirteen SEALs series, the Reapers Strike Force series, and the urban fantasy series The Bloodlines Chronicles. She also streams video games in her off time on Twitch. She lives in Texas under a not-so-secret identity, writing books, and planning the next step in her evil plans for world domination into the twilight hours of the night because that’s when it’s quiet in the house. She loves to hear from readers. In fact, you can connect with S.M. Butler online via her newsletter, Twitter, or Instagram.

Book preview

Table of Contents

TItle

Blurb

Once Upon a SEAL

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Author's Afterword

About the Author

Other Books

Copyright

ONCE UPON A SEAL

A Lucky Thirteen story

S.M. Butler

ONCE UPON A SEAL

Maddie Benson has spent her entire life in Sugar Falls and has never ventured—nor wanted to venture—beyond her small town’s safe borders. But when her delivery job takes her to the doorstep of one very reclusive, former Navy SEAL, Sebastian McIntyre, her small town perceptions are challenged with every conversation they have. It’s not long before she’s losing herself—and her heart—to the mysterious man behind the door.

Bastian’s scars are deeper than the surface. They’re embedded into his soul, and he’s content to keep them buried. But the second Maddie ends up on his doorstep with her sparkling smile and her sunshine hair, his quiet new life shatters and she just might be able to excise the demons he’s tried hard to keep tucked away—if he lets her in.

When Bastian’s old life comes haunting them, he knows he should let her go. But the light she shines on his soul keeps the darkness within him at bay. Letting her go may take more strength than he has, and keeping her close could get her killed.

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ONCE UPON A SEAL

A Lucky Thirteen story

S.M. Butler

CHAPTER ONE

Maddie

I would have rocked the eighties, if the giant ball of blonde hair on my head was any indication. There was a reason why Texas was famous for big hair. I pulled the whole thing into a tight ponytail and tied it into a loose bun. The humid was killing me. The outside air was hotter than my blow dryer.

My boss, Jenny McIntyre, was going to take this delivery, and in some insane moment, I had offered to do it instead. All I wanted to do now was go spend half an hour in the walk-in cooler at the store. Tommy’s Grocery was the only grocery store in Sugar Falls. We had a lot of older folks that lived out in the country, so I frequently ran out deliveries for them. But as I surveyed the contents of the delivery I had now, making sure I had them all, this wasn’t for one of the older couples, and I hadn’t recognized the name on the order either. Sebastian? It sounded like a younger guy. Why couldn’t a younger guy come get his own groceries?

And it wasn’t a particularly large order either. Lots of fruits, vegetables, a package of razors. So I imagined he was a clean-shaven health nut. Not that I cared either way. I got paid no matter what. And honestly, even though it was hot outside, I still liked getting the fresh air and not being stuck in the store all day.

The house wasn’t a rundown piece of crap like I expected, which was further evidence that it wasn’t an older man. The house was cute, gorgeous and had colorful flowers lining the front porch. Pretty walking stones framed the sides of the circular driveway. The grass was slightly overgrown, but mostly, the yard was well-landscaped. Someone spent hours on it regularly. This was not the work of a landscaper. This house was cared for with love, by someone who liked working with his hands.

Which only made me more curious of the owner.

I got out of my truck and grabbed the three bags from the passenger side. The heat beat down on me as I walked up. I rapped sharply on the door and waited. It was solid oak, with two rectangular window panes spanning half the height of the door. The decorative glass obscured a clear view of the inside, but I could see a vague shape of a man coming toward the entrance to the house.

But the door didn’t open. A gruff voice barked, Who is it?

Maddie Benson. I have your delivery from Tommy’s. As if for emphasis, I lifted one arm so he could see the shape of the bag through the decorative window.

Just a sec. His form moved away. A minute or two passed as I waited for him to return. He came back, and the chain rattled as he unlocked it. I started forward when the door cracked open, but he didn’t let it open. Leave it on the mat.

Slowly, I set the bags down. Okay. Um… It’s twenty-five sixty. I squinted my eyes to look through the glass, as if that would make it easier to see him.

His hand snaked around the door, holding a twenty and a ten. The hand was large, fitting the massive shape I could make out on the other side of the door. Keep the change.

I took the bills from him. Thanks, um… I glanced at the ticket in my hand, skimming over it quickly. Mr. McIntyre. I stopped. McIntyre? You’re related to Jenny?

The door slammed shut in answer.

I glared at the shut door. Wasn’t that just nice. Was this how he treated everyone or was I just special? I almost wanted to knock and tell him what an asshole he was, but instead, I turned and headed back to my truck.

I dialed the store and Jenny picked up with a brisk tone. Hey Jenny, I just dropped off the delivery.

Was there a problem?

Who is this guy? Is he related to you?

There was a pause. He’s my brother. What did he do?

He was kind of a jerk. He slammed the door in my face.

He actually opened it?

Well, he cracked the door. Jenny…

Don’t ask, Maddie. It’s complicated. Why don’t you go home for the day? Don’t you have a test in the morning? I did have a test in Chemistry, actually. It was strange that she was sending me home. It wasn’t like she didn’t let me study in the store at slow times.

But the money he gave me? I should bring that in.

I’ll cover it for today. Bring it in tomorrow. Okay?

I blinked as I got in the truck and started it. Cool air from the air conditioner hit me in the face. All right. Fine.

Good. See you tomorrow, Maddie. Have a good night.

Bye, I said, quietly. I wasn’t sure if she had heard me or not, but I disconnected the call anyway and tossed the phone on the seat. That was weird.

I pulled out of the driveway and back onto the main road, taking a right instead of the left that went back to town. Whatever. If Jenny was willing to send me home for the day, I wasn’t going to complain. My dog would love me being home early.

Bastian

I was a little bit of an asshole. I knew that. But she’d surprised me. I’d come to the door expecting Jenny, but instead of seeing her dark hair, I’d seen a yellow halo over the woman’s head. The bags still sat on the mat in front of the door, but the truck was just now leaving the driveway, and I couldn’t risk her seeing me.

Jenny always delivered my stuff, ever since I moved to this tiny little dot on the map. It was easier that way. There were no issues. The town didn’t have their monster to pick on, and I kept my dignity. The girl had waited in the truck for a few minutes, probably trying to see if I’d come out thinking she was gone. Another person to point and laugh. 

As the truck disappeared in the distance, guilt started to drill its way through my chest. I really had been a jerk. Jenny was going to be pissed off at me for chasing away her delivery girl. I picked up my phone and dialed the store.

Tommy’s, this is Jenny.

Hey, Jenny, I said.

Bash? What’s wrong?

Nothing. I just… I stopped and let out a long breath.

Did you not get your delivery?

No, I did. I mean, yes, I got it. The thing is… I thought you were coming.

I was going to, but Maddie offered. I figured why not since it’s end of the month, and I need to do inventory. She paused and I could just hear the way her mood switched. I imagined her eyes narrowing with suspicion. Why? What did you do?

Well, she surprised me, Jenny. I… may have been a little short with her.

Huh. That’s a shock. The sarcastic tone betrayed the fact that she really didn’t think it was a shock. You know, eventually, Bash, you’re going to have to rejoin the world, and talk to someone other than your sister, who’s really losing her patience with you.

I’m sorry, Jen. It’s just… she startled me, and I wasn’t expecting it, and I panicked.

She sighed. I’ll talk to her tomorrow and explain it.

No, it’s okay. Um, it’s my fault. Could you just… um, send her next week?

You want me to send her back?

Yeah. I’ll apologize and everything.

Who are you and what did you do with my brother?

Jenny…

Fine, she replied. I’ll send her next week, if she wants to go. But if she doesn’t because you were an asshole, I’m not going to force her to do it.

Thanks, Jenny. I appreciate it.

You know I love you, you big jerk.

I do.

But it’s been over a year now. It’s time to start your life again.

Goodbye, Jenny, I said. I could imagine the eye roll.

Fine. Bye, my dumbass little brother. She hung up before I could protest her name-calling, but what would have been the point? She was right. I was being a big dumbass. I set the phone down and opened the front door to grab the bags sitting there.

The thing was… it really was better for me to stay hidden. That way there were no frightened kids, no freaked-out moms, and no pitiful stares. I bent over to grab the bags. My leg was doing that weird pain twinge it did sometimes when I overdid it on the treadmill, and that made it difficult to lean over to pick things up.

I hated this aspect of my life, where the pain showed up and I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. I never wanted anyone to see me like this.

I’m been a Navy SEAL, once upon a time. Now it was embarrassing the crappy shape I was in. My old team said I’d always be part of the team, that I would always be a SEAL, but I didn’t think so. I was a broken remnant, broken in more ways than just physical, as well.

What I couldn’t tell Jenny was that Maddie showing up had done more than just delivering my groceries. She had scared me. I’d been very careful to stay out of sight since moving to Sugar Falls, and I’d almost opened the door to her, thinking she had been Jenny. I didn’t want to interact with anyone in this damn town. I wanted a place to hide, and this town of its eight hundred and six people gave me that.