Page 17 of Her Defiant Warrior

He grinned. “Now I know exactly where you are.”

“Yep, you mention that to a man in the Navy, and they clue in. I should have clocked you as a SEAL right off, but I was too busy with Amber and Lachlan’s latest mission. Maybe they’ll end up in Spec Ops too.” She gave a weak chuckle, and Jase joined in.

“I’m thinking that if they ever team up later in life, the world better watch out,” Jase said as he forked some potato salad into his mouth.

“Anyway, a lot of my clients are either former SEAL…well, I’m not sure I would classify them as girlfriends, but former SEAL flings. Then there’s the other group of girls who are SEAL fling wannabes. I really think all of them are hoping to end up as wives, but that has only happened once. So, I’m stuck with the broken hearts and disillusionment as they spend hours talking in my chair. It really gets tiring. Now, before you say anything, please, please know that I realize it takes two to tango.” Bonnie winced. “I totally get it. But this revolving door on both sides is disheartening, you know?”

Bonnie stared down at her food and forced herself to take a forkful of coleslaw. Once again, she’d said too much. She always said too much. At least this time she hadn’t blurted. She’d thought about what she’d said. Still, she’d said too much.

Jase said nothing. He was concentrating on his meal as well. At least he didn’t get up and leave. That would have been really embarrassing.

Jase cleared his throat, and Bonnie swallowed her coleslaw and looked over at him.

“I get your point.” Jase tipped his chin toward the two men overseeing the croquet game. “One of those guys over there just got engaged. I’ve never seen someone so happy, and three other men on my team have found women they would lay down their lives for.” Then he grinned. “Now, I’m not saying that some of the guys aren’t busy sowing their wild oats and have probably spent a little time with your customers, but I think they’re the younger members of some of the SEAL teams. If I had to guess, the women you’re talking about are young as well, aren’t they?”

“Mostly,” Bonnie agreed. “I have a few dyed in the wool SEAL groupies. I think their aim is to meet and greet every boy who gets their trident.”

This time it was Jase’s turn to wince.

“Yeah, they need touch-ups on their gray twice a month.” Bonnie held back a smile.

“Well, I can see how you might be a little jaded about SEALs in general, but I think you need to understand that some of us are grownups. We’re not afraid of actual relationships.”

“You mean they’re not afraid of throw-up?” Bonnie smiled.

“Exactly,” Jase grinned.

“Good to know. I’ll let some of the other stylists know that there is hope.”

“But not you?”

“Jase, I’m too old to be looking.”

He snorted. “Twenty-eight is not too old.”

“Are you trying to flirt?” Bonnie asked as she broke apart her roll and slathered on the butter.

“You finally caught on, did you?”

“You’re not very good at it. I’m twenty-five. You’re not supposed to guess a woman’s age, didn’t you know that?”

“Fuck, Bonnie, you were just a baby when you had your babies.”

“Luckily, I had wonderful role models on how to be a parent. That really helped.”

“And your husband? What about him?”

“We never married. We were both young. Really young. He denied the twins were his, and his parents backed him up.”

“Didn’t you do a paternity test?”

“I looked things up online. If I had, he might have paid child support, but then he would have been entitled to time with my children. He didn’t come from a healthy home. And I saw his true colors when he walked away when things got tough. I didn’t want him around my kids.”

“So, your parents helped?”

“In a way.” She cocked her head. “I’m pretty sure I hear a fight between Amber and Lachlan. It was bound to happen,” she said as she picked up her paper plate.

“I can take care of that,” Jase said as he put his hand on hers.