Page 24 of A SEAL’s Vigilant Heart

Chapter Seven

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“So I’m getting Anderson cookies and what else?” Mason asked as he came in the kitchen door.

“Sophia went all out. There’s even banana cream pie and apple brown betty.”

“So who’s coming over for dinner?” Mason asked as he snatched some cookies off a plate and stroked Sophia’s hair, then tipped her head up for a kiss.

“Nobody. I’m taking half of everything over to Jack and Beth’s house. Jack wants another surfing lesson tomorrow morning, so they asked me to spend the night.” Jack Preston hadn’t pressured him the other night about Sophia, but he sure was clearing the decks so they could have some one-on-one time in case they did want to talk. The man was a sneaky bastard.

“Well I’m at least feeding you first,” Sophia insisted.

“No, you’re not. They promised pizza as long as I promised to bring dessert.”

“Do you have any idea how much you eat?”

“Jack’s even bigger than Mason. He’s huge.”

“He’s got you on that one, honey. You might as well let it go.” Mason gave Billy a fist pump.

“Oh, go get your stuff ready, I’ll make sure the food is packed up. What time are they getting here?” The front doorbell rang.

“I guess that answers that question.”

“All my stuff is ready to go and set out near the front door. Do you need help with the food?” Mason watched in awe as Sophia closed the last Tupperware container and put it into a shopping bag.

She handed it to Billy.

“Be good.”

“Always.” He looked between the two of them. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” They watched as he left through the front door.

“Three, two, one,” Sophia said. They waited, and the door crashed open. Mason laughed.

“I forgot my phone,” Billy said as he raced to his bedroom. Sophia and Mason walked out to the porch and waved at Jack, who was waiting in his SUV. Billy gave Sophia a quick hug and then jumped off the porch and was in the car before they could say goodbye again.

“I think this means we have the house to ourselves.” There was a smudge of flour on Sophia’s cheek. He loved when she’d been baking. Baking always made Sophia happy. “Let’s get you inside, it’s chilly.”

“It’s not chilly the weather’s perfect.”

“Okay, how about if I said we’re too exposed for what I have planned for you, young lady?”

“I would say God Bless Jack and Beth.”

“I would agree.” He put his arm around her and guided her towards the kitchen. He perused the stove and oven and made sure everything was turned off before moving them down the hall.

“You mean we’re not going to make out in the kitchen?” Sophia pouted.

Mason stopped and made to turn around, causing her to laugh. “Never mind, I think we need the flat surface the bed offers. I still have cookies cooling on the island. Otherwise, I might take you up on it, handsome.”

“We’ve had some good times in that kitchen as I recall.” He watched as she blushed. Despite being alone in the house, Mason still closed their bedroom door. It would be just like the kid to forget his damn wetsuit or some such shit.

Then Sophia took off her T-shirt and every thought flew out of his head, save one.

“My God, you are beautiful.” She blushed again.

“Now you.”