Page 65 of False Flag

“I don’t sleep with guys I just met.” She gripped his shirt, pulled him down ever so slightly, and added in a softer tone, “I wait at least twenty-four hours.”

He laughed and glanced at his watch. “Two o’clock, then? Works for me.”

He closed the tiny distance between them and kissed her. Hard. Deep. Real. They might be talking nonsense for whoever was behind them, but his best bet for protecting her was staking a claim, and the easiest way to do that was a demonstration that the attraction here went both ways.

She kissed him back. Whether it was for show or an honest response, he didn’t care. But then she made a little sound in the back of her throat, and he felt a rush of victory.

Okay, so maybe he did care.

An arm clamped on Jake’s shoulder and yanked him backward.

Shit. This was about to get ugly. He met Staci’s alarmed gaze and said, “I’m sorry.”

He turned to face his brother. Lloyd had his arm pulled back, ready to throw a punch. Jake deflected and shoved him backward. “Jesus Christ, man. You could hit Staci. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“I could ask you the same thing. You’re here for her, aren’t you? Because I told you she was here.”

Jake said nothing.

“You always have to take the thing I want, don’t you?” Lloyd’s voice was broken. Pained.

Jake was sick of his victim bullshit. He shoved at his brother’s chest. “She’s a person, not an object. And I’ve never taken one damn thing from you. Everything you don’t have, you lost all on your own.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Jake’s footsteps pounded on the deck as he walked away, leaving Staci alone with Lloyd.

“Is it because he’s a SEAL?” Lloyd asked, his tone bitter.

The question startled her. The first rule for family and friends of active-duty SEALs was to keep their mouths shut about it. That Lloyd would casually violate Jake’s operational security was chilling.

“Jake’s a SEAL?”

“Right. As if he didn’t tell you that first thing.”

“He never said a word.” This was true. The first time they met, he didn’t mention being in the military. Later, at Morgan’s house, she’d deduced he was a SEAL due to context.

“Why him, then?”

“You’re assuming a lot. I barely know him.” This was also true. Mostly.

“You were kissing him.”

“So? He made a move, and I allowed it. It was fun. Doesn’t mean we’re going steady.”

“And if I made a move? Would you allow it?”

She paused before responding. She’d known from the start he was attracted to her, but had done nothing to encourage him. Not only was he Jake’s brother, he was also a true believer in a way that ran deep. Deeper than Jake, anyway, of that she was certain.

And even with Jake, she hadn’t been able to overlook the association with Gerard for long. She’d lasted all of a minute alone in his bed after what was probably the best sex of her life. Because he could be like Beau.

But Lloyd? He was definitely like Beau.

She shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry, Lloyd. It was never going to happen. Jake or no Jake.”

His face hardened. “I bet you think you’re too good for me. I don’t have a college degree. Not a SEAL. I got news for you: you aren’t better than me.”

“I never claimed any such thing.”