Hot SEAL, Girl Crush: SEALs in Paradise

By Cynthia D'Alba

A Navy SEAL is fearless, focused, and resolute when it comes to his mission. But what if the mission is something he never trained for?

Navy SEAL Eric "Thor" Thorsten welcomes his sister and her best friend out to California for a vacation. He's never forgotten the one kiss he shared with his sister's friend ten years ago, but he has no intention of digging up the past. He's far from perfect, but there are lines he won't cross. Having a fling with his sister's best friend is one of them.

Have you ever been in love-lust-craving for a person who doesn't know you exist? Well, Isabella Paxton, aka Izzy, knows the feeling. She has been in love-lust-craving for her best friend's older brother since the day she met him. She's sure Eric Thorsten knows she exists, but only as his sister's friend. How can she make him see her as the adult woman she is?

Eric's past unexpectedly lands on his doorstep in the form of a four-month-old daughter. The daughter's mother has died, and either he takes her or she will go into the foster system. Izzy Paxton steps forward to help. Eric and Izzy form a marriage of convenience until Eric gains full custody of his daughter. But both of them are keeping secrets…from each other and their families. The problem is the more time they spend together, the more the line blurs between gratitude and love.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riante, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201467746

Book preview

Chapter

One

♫Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini♬

The mid-morning sun was already grueling when the team laced up and hit the beach for only a twenty-mile run. After thirteen years in the Navy, the last eight with the SEALs, Eric Thorsten, aka Thor, was used to these jogs. At least they’d been allowed to run in the wet sand for the first ten miles, but the return ten in the loose sand would be hell. However, he’d been on enough missions to know that being able to run twenty miles, no matter the terrain, could be the difference between life and death. While the platoon hadn’t been told their next mission, he was also used to the need-to-know mentality of the Navy and assumed the recent increase in training was an attempt to get the team ready for a mission he suspected would be physically demanding.

Fuck, it’s hot as balls out here, Heath Banger Diver said.

Pussy, Mason Shippy Bishop said. We’re just starting the day.

Yeah, well, kiss my ass with those sugar lips of yours, Banger said.

If you two have time to chat, you aren’t working hard enough, their team leader said. Let’s take it up a notch.

Fuck me, muttered Eric under his breath. You two can it before I kick both your asses. Only five miles into the run and sweat trickled down his face, as though a faucet on his forehead had been turned on. Without a hitch in his stride, he lifted his sleeveless T-shirt to wipe his face, then focused on the target downrange where he’d set his goal. Once there, he’d find another target further down. Over the years, he’d found he liked having small successes that added up to larger ones. But he was thankful the team wasn’t dressed in full gear for today’s run. Apparently, their team leader had a little heart…very little, but a heart nonetheless.

At the ten-mile mark—a pole in the sand that marked high tide—the platoon circled the pole and headed back toward Camp Pendleton.

Holy shit, Banger said. Get a look at those two hotties. He lifted his chin toward the beach ahead.

Pissed off that Banger would get them all in trouble again and double pissed off that Banger would let himself be distracted by a pretty woman while on an official run, Eric hesitated to shift his gaze off his target, but hells bells, he could use a little eye candy right now. His gaze shifted to the left, and a smile climbed onto his face.

The one on the right was a blonde wearing a bright red bikini that showcased all her curves and assets. The other woman was dressed in a yellow polka dot bikini. However, in his humble opinion, both suits showed way too much flesh.

What do you think? Banger said. Hottest chicks we’ve seen today, right? I volunteer to offer my body to the one in the red bikini to use as her personal surfboard. He pumped his eyebrows suggestively.

Eric rolled his eyes. Please. Attractive sure, but nothing special.

Are you fucking kidding? The one on the left might make me rethink my bachelor days.

Eric’s eye twitched at Banger’s comment. Like I said, nothing special.

I bet you fifty dollars that I can get their names before you do, Banger wagered.

I don’t need names. I bet you fifty dollars that I can get those girls to kiss me just by jogging over and introducing myself.

You heard that, Echo One? Banger called out to their team leader.

Hear what, Banger?

Thor has bet me fifty big ones that he can get those girls to kiss him by just introducing himself, and—I’m adding this to the bet—he can’t ask them for kisses.

Eric shrugged. I won’t ask for a kiss.

Sure, Thor. Let’s see your magic hammer in action, Echo One said with a chuckle.

Okay, but the team has to stay back here. I don’t want to give away my never fail opening line, Eric said.

Agreed, Banger said.

Eric cut off from the rest of the team and ran toward the two women catching some California sun rays.

Hey, he called as he got closer. You got a permit to show all that skin on a public beach?

The woman on the right jumped to her feet with a squeal of happiness, followed closely by the woman in the yellow polka dot bikini. Eric was immediately attacked from both sides as the women threw their arms around him and kissed his cheeks.

You look so good, his sister Raine, aka the hot chick in red, said. But ick on all the sweatiness.

Isabelle Paxton embraced him from the left. Thor. She kissed his cheek again. You taste salty.

Thor laughed at his sister and her best friend. You have any trouble finding my place?

Nope, Raine said.

You’ve got a nice place, Izzy said.

Thanks. I’m glad to see you gals. It’s been a while. How’s Mom and Dad?

Good, Raine said. She pulled her arm from around his waist. I think those guys at the water’s edge are getting anxious to go.

Eric glanced over his shoulder at his team. Yeah, probably so. He kissed each girl on top of the head. See you this afternoon at the house. Not too much sun on the first day, or you’ll regret it. Take it easy.

Thanks, but I already have a dad, Raine said.

We’ll take it easy, Izzy told him. We’ve only been out here about thirty minutes, and we’re both wearing sunscreen with SPF-50.

Good. Eric glanced behind him and then back to his sister and her friend. While you’re here, stay a million miles away from SEALs. They are all a bunch of horny bastards who’ll give you all kinds of sexual diseases.

Both women laughed.

Got it, Raine said. See you tonight.

Eric jogged back to where his team waited. I’ll take my fifty in cash, he said to Banger.

You bastard, Banger said. What did you say to them?

They were appreciative of my warning about the dangers of sunburns. That’s it.

Let’s go, men, Echo One said, and jogged out. He turned to jog backwards and said, And Banger? Give Thor his fifty when we get back.

Will do.

Banger glared at Eric. I don’t know what you said to them, but I don’t believe for one minute that strange women kiss you wherever you go.

Eric shrugged. I don’t care what you believe. And in case you didn’t hear me before, I want my fifty in cash.

Asshole, Banger muttered, which made Eric laugh and the jog back a little sweeter.

After the twenty-mile run, the team headed for the O-Course to finish out their day. As one of the oldest and most experienced SEALs, Eric handled the physical challenges easily while the younger guys on the team huffed and puffed through the course. This wasn’t the first time he’d run the miles before the obstacle course, but that order made for a hell of a day. Nine challenges and he could call it day. He chuckled to himself. Any one of those nine obstacles would prove difficult for the average guy, or gal, but then SEALs weren’t average. In his opinion, his team was the best of the best, and credit had to be given to his leaders.

He hit the first five challenges without slowing his pace, except when pawing under the barbed wire of the low crawl. Usually, he didn’t mind that one, but he was already sweaty, and crawling through the sand turned his body into a magnet. Sand clung to him everywhere. No time to think about that. He popped out from under the logs and raced for the cargo net climb. Up and over the top and back down the net. Then he hit the balance logs, the hooyah logs, and the transfer ropes. He was moving through the course ignoring every other SEAL, as well as any comments from his commanders. Ahead lay the worse obstacle…the Dirty Name.

Like most SEALs, he hated this obstacle. It required leg and arm strength to climb, but each jump to the next log also necessitated slamming his gut into the log. Eric jumped upwards to catch his hold on the first horizontal log. He caught the log by wrapping his arms around it while slamming his stomach into the punishing hard surface. Then hoist himself atop it to launch himself upwards toward another log. As with the initial log, to get a hold, he had to wrap his arms around the fat log, again pounding his stomach against it hard surface. He swung a leg over the second log, climbed on top, and jumped to the ground. The dual blows to the gut always brought a few choice grunts and cuss words from the O Course participants, thus its name. In his mind, it was the sonofabitch.

He was halfway through the course, confident he would finish first on the team today. He was sure he wouldn’t beat his best time. The morning jog had made sure they all came to the O-Course without fresh legs.

What many trainees failed to recognize was that on the O-Course, arm strength was as important as leg muscles. Many of the obstacles, such as the tower climb and the Burmese Bridge required more arm muscles than legs. So, even though his legs had taken the brunt of the morning workout, his arms were getting put through the wringer on the O-Course.

When he leapt onto the Spider Wall, he took his first look around to see where the rest of his team was. He was in second place behind Banger. That asshole was going to beat him to the finish. Eric should have beat him out of a hundred bucks instead of only fifty.

The two teammates raced for the finish line, with Banger clearing it only seconds before Thor.

"Fuuuuck," Banger said, bending from his waist.

Eric slapped his back, Pussy.

Banger looked up. Yep, love pussy. Why do you ask?

Eric shook his head and headed inside to their storage cages.

After showers, as the platoon was dressing to leave, their CO entered. Good workout today, guys. Tomorrow, be here at oh-five-hundred.

The team waited until the CO was out of earshot before the groans and bitching began.

Eric rattled Banger’s cage. A fifty will be fine, or two twenties and a ten, or even fifty one-dollar bills. He held out his hand.

Asshole, Banger answered as he slapped a fifty-dollar bill into Eric’s outstretched hand.

Let this be a lesson.

Don’t bet with you? Banger replied.

Don’t ogle another man’s sister.

Banger’s eyebrows pulled down in confusion. Eric waited until comprehension hit Banger’s expression.

Fucker. That was your sister?

Eric grinned. I told you she was coming to visit.

Yeah, but I thought she’d be ugly, like you. What happened? She get a different, better-looking father?

Eric laughed. Same parents. I guess all the good-looking genes went into her pool. Eric turned to the rest of the platoon. And speaking of my sister, she’s here for two weeks. All you filthy, disease-infested man-whores keep away from her and her friend.

The guys booed.

Hey, Mason Shippy Bishop said. Are you saying we aren’t good enough for your sister?

Not at all. I know my sister. She would drive any of you crazy. I’m protecting my guys. Eric put his hand over his heart. I swear. She would drive a saint to drink. I’m doing this for your own good.

Banger stepped up next to Eric. I’m willing to risk my sobriety and sanity.

Eric glared at him. You, especially, keep your hands off my sister.

What? You afraid she’ll fall in love with me?

Heaven forbid, Eric said. I need you at my back on missions. I don’t want to lose you.

Banger threw his arm over Thor’s shoulder. But we could be brothers-in-law.

Eric shook off his arm. We’re good as brothers-in-arms. Let’s keep it that way.

Eric pulled his truck into his garage under his elevated condo, thankful to keep his Ford F-250 out of the California sun. Having grown up in Arkansas, he was well aware of the damage the sun could do to the interior of any vehicle, and he wanted to keep his truck as long as possible. He didn’t put many miles on it, so only sun damage would limit the truck’s lifespan.

Ten years ago, he’d been lucky to grab a condo in San Diego at a reasonable price—reasonable being California real estate reasonable, not Arkansas real estate reasonable. California housing was ridiculously expensive in his humble opinion. The fact the condo came with a garage had only made the deal sweeter.

An unfamiliar two-door subcompact was parked in his visitor’s spot. He assumed it was his sister’s rental. He let himself into his condo using the garage entry. Music blared from his living room. Female voices and laughter echoed down the hall. Music and female voices were definitely not his usual greeting when he got home. Typically, he was met was dead silence. He wasn’t lonely, per se, but he did live a solitary life. He didn’t have many friends outside his SEAL world, and maybe that should have bothered him, but it didn’t. Still, the sounds of life greeting him brought a smile to his face.

He dropped his keys and gear in their assigned locations in his kitchen and walked to the living room. For a few moments, he leaned against the door frame and watched the two women sitting on his sofa, laughing as they gossiped about his team, Izzy peppering Raine for any information Eric might have told her.

You know, Izzy, he said, you should go to the source of that information instead of getting it secondhand.

The two women startled and, with screams, jumped to their feet.

Raine slapped her hand to her chest. Damn, Eric. You scared the crap out of us.

No kidding, Izzy agreed. Give a girl a little warning. She frowned and gave him the side-eye. How long were you standing there?

Long enough to know neither of you should hit the tryouts for The Voice or American Idol.

Raine and Izzy laughed as they rushed into his spread arms. He kissed each woman on top of her head. He didn’t notice the scent of Raine’s hair, but Izzy smelled like lavender. He couldn’t help momentarily pausing to inhale Izzy’s scent. The aroma swirled through his nose and into his system. His heart kicked up a few beats.

He forced himself to let go of both women. So good to see you both, he said. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a good, old southern drawl.

Each woman grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the sofa.

Were all those guys SEALs today? his sister asked as they lowered to sit on his couch.

Eric pulled his gaze from Izzy and toward his sister. You mean the ones with me? he asked before looking over at his little sister’s best friend. He’d known Izzy for what seemed like forever. When had she grown into this incredibly beautiful woman?

Among others, Raine said, pulling his thoughts away from Izzy. There were guys running everywhere, on the beach and on the streets.

Could’ve been SEALs or maybe recruits. I don’t know.

Izzy laid her hand on his arm. The heat from her palm soaked through his flesh and into his bloodstream. Her green eyes were focused on him, as though watching for his reaction to her touch. He stilled any movements while his heart continued to race.

It was so beautiful on the beach, Izzy said. What’s the sunrise like?

Eric lifted an eyebrow. What makes you think I’ve seen the sunrise?

Her answering smile lit her face with amusement. I suspect you’ve seen the sun both rise and set over that particular area. Her hand, resting on his arm, gave him a little squeeze.

He smiled in response to her reply as well as her touch. And you would be right. Both are beautiful, but to tell you the truth, I’m typically too focused on what’s happening at the moment to enjoy the view.

Well, we plan to see them both, right, Izzy? his sister said.

Right. Maybe you’ll be able to see one of them with us, Izzy suggested.

Eric shrugged. Maybe, but we’ll have to see.

Did you get any time off while we’re here? Raine asked. I hope so. We’ve been planning this trip to see you for months.

As long as we don’t get deployed, I can get a couple of days off. What do you want to do with them?

Surf, Izzy said, her voice laced with excitement.

Shop, Raine said at the same time.

The two women laughed at each other’s comments. Eric’s head rotated to his sister on the left and then to Izzy on the right, not sure who he should answer first. What was the protocol here? Family first? Friend first?

Without giving it a great deal of thought, he turned to Izzy. Do you know how to surf?

Heck no, she said. But it seems like something I should at least try once in my life.

He smiled with a nod. True. He looked toward his sister with a raised eyebrow. Shop? Seriously? You come all the way from Arkansas and all that’s on your agenda is shopping?

His sister scooted closer and put her arm over his shoulder. You didn’t ask what I was shopping for? she said with a mischievous grin.

His sister had a penchant for trouble. Granted there were five years between them, and he had been gone from home a long time, but a leopard didn’t change its spots, and he suspected his sister hadn’t lost her love of adventure.

Eric turned away from his sister and looked at Izzy. Do I even want to know what she’s up to? And, tell me you’re going to be an influence for good.

Hey! Raine exclaimed and jerked his shoulder to make him face her. Ask me.

He narrowed his eyes. Okay, then, what are you shopping for?

A SEAL husband, his sister announced with a flourish.

Chapter

Two

♫ Danger Zone ♬

Izzy groaned. Her friend was super smart when it came to books and standardized tests, but when it came to knowing when to play your cards close to the chest, Raine must have been in Heaven’s library checking out books when God dispensed common sense. The girl always blurted out whatever happened to be running through her mind at the moment. No filter at all. Nine times out of ten, it was Raine’s mouth that got them into trouble.

Now, Raine, Izzy said, trying to keep Raine’s hulking, and hunky, older brother from blowing a gasket. Don’t tease your brother. He’s going to think you’re serious. She leaned over until she could meet Raine’s gaze. She widened her eyes in warning and tilted her head toward the menacing man between them. You’re kidding, right? Tell your brother that you’re kidding.

I’m kidding, Raine repeated as she patted her brother’s chest. Take a break, Thor. You don’t have to drag your magic hammer from the closet.

Izzy thought checking out Eric Thor Thorsten’s magic hammer sounded like a marvelous idea. She’d had a crush on him since she’d first met him when she’d been twelve and new in town. Her new best friend, Raine, had invited Izzy over for a sleepover. One look at Raine’s high school-age brother and Izzy’s concept of the perfect man had been set. Eighteen years and many dates later, Eric Thorsten still had that kind of sway over her.

A growl emanated from deep in Eric’s chest. Izzy swallowed the drool that pooled in her mouth from that sexy sound.

Dammit, Raine, Eric said. Don’t say shit like that. He raked his hands through his hair. I never know if you’re serious or not.

Seriously, dude, Raine said. You do realize I’ve had sex, right?

Eric groaned and slapped his hands over his ears. I do now. Fuck, Raine. Now I’m going to have to go kill some guy for sleeping with my sister. Who was he? he snarled.

Raine laughed. Like I’d tell you.

Let’s change the subject, Izzy said quickly, trying to defuse the sibling tension. Raine told me you knew how to surf. Do you? Will you teach me?

Eric’s shoulder relaxed, and he smiled at Izzy. Her heart shot off in a gallop. She could feel the veins in her neck throbbing. The area behind her navel gave a sharp tug, making her briefly catch her breath.

I do, he replied to her question. I’ll be happy to show you.

Oh, thank you, she said, her grin spreading so wide it hurt. I really want to try. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another chance.

The serious plan is food, tanning, the zoo, and maybe a whale-watching tour, Raine said. And I want to meet your team while we’re here.

No. Eric statement was definitive and left no room for discussion.

Why not? Raine asked, not in the least cowered by his tone. I want to meet the guys you hang with.

That’s not a good idea, Eric said.

Izzy touched his forearm for a second time that day. His forearms were like porn material for arm freaks, which must include her, because ohmygod she was getting turned on just looking at the thick, bulging muscles there.

Eric, she said softly. You have to understand where Raine is coming from. These guys keep her big brother safe when you go on all those dangerous missions. It makes sense she wants to see for herself that you’re in good hands.

No. She’ll just have to trust me when I say my team is the best. I’d rather not have you ladies around those guys.

Raine threw her hands up in the air. Give me a break. Are you afraid they might say ‘Fuck’ or ‘Shit’ or something that might offend our sensitive selves? Or maybe… She blew out a sigh. Fuck, Thor, are you ashamed of me? Of Izzy?

What? Ashamed? Raine, are you serious? Eric put his arm around his sister. "I’ve never been