Chapter 5

Present Day

“Ready to go?” Austin asked, watching in amusement as Alexa rushed around her kitchen. The cutoff denim shorts she wore showcased her tanned, toned legs, and the tank top hugged her curves nicely. His blood heated as he looked at her, but they were already in a bit of a rush. While they enjoyed quickies sometimes, now wasn’t the right moment.

“I’m just about ready,” she said, grabbing the homemade cookies she’d baked for their party on the beach. “Geez. I had everything timed perfectly, but then my mom called earlier to check up on me.”

“Everything okay?” he asked, walking over to grab the container she’d just snapped closed.

“I think so,” Alexa said with a shrug. “She was calling to make sure I was doing all right. It was random, but that’s my parents for you. They get involved in their own lives then remember they have a daughter.”

Austin frowned, and she patted his arm. “It’s fine. They’ve always been that way.”

“I don’t like it,” he murmured, and he could see her trying not to smile.

“That’s because you’re nothing like them, and for that, I’m thankful.” She pulled her long, dark hair back into a ponytail, and Austin could see the yellow tie from her string bikini at her neck. She slid on a pair of hot pink flip-flops that were by her kitchen table and grabbed a small purse. Her laptop was open, and her camera and lenses sitting beside it. No doubt she’d been working this afternoon, along with baking cookies and cleaning up. Despite the fact that the cookies were freshly made, the dishwasher was running, the kitchen spotless.

She was a multitasker who got stuff done, and he appreciated her drive. Austin was used to dealing with multiple situations at work, leaving on a moment’s notice. He had to be organized in his own life, too, to balance that with his hectic Navy career. While their jobs were quite different, their personalities were similar. He’d gotten in a run that morning, finished a few errands, and was ready to enjoy the afternoon. They’d spend time with their friends and then come back to Lex’s place for the night.

“I can’t wait to get to the beach this afternoon,” she said, echoing his own thoughts. “After this crazy month? Whew! We need a break.”

“How’s Callie doing?” he asked. As if the hijacking hadn’t been enough all those months ago, one of the crazed terrorists had recently tracked Callie to Oahu, convinced that she could ID him. Fortunately, Austin, Wyatt, and the rest of the team had been able to rescue her, but it was a scare none of them wanted.

“Good.” Alexa stilled for a second as she turned, almost as if in pain, then shook it off. “She’s good, all things considered. What she went through was terrifying, but not having to worry about any of the hijackers anymore eased a lot of her stress. And personally, I’m so thankful you guys rescued her in time.” She rose to her tiptoes, and Austin gave her a quick kiss.

“Are you okay?” he asked, catching her arm before she moved away.

“Yep. Promise I’m fine.”

He watched as she moved around the kitchen again. Alexa was making sure the oven was turned off and everything was set for them to leave. Her movements seemed slightly stiff, like something still was bothering her, but then Alexa flashed him a smile. “Let’s go have some fun with our friends.”

Fifteen minutes later, Austin grinned, pulling into their favorite beach spot in Oahu. Alexa had been chattering away like normal on the drive over, whatever ailment that had been bothering her before seemingly gone. The past month had certainly been a whirlwind, and after their most recent bout with danger right here in Oahu, rescuing Callie for a second time, everyone was thrilled to be enjoying some downtime together.

He helped Alexa climb down from his Jeep, his hands lingering on her waist just a moment. “What?” she asked, beaming up at him.

“Just happy.”

“Me too, sailor,” she teased. Unable to resist, Austin ducked for a brief kiss. Alexa rose to her tiptoes, pressing against him, and he wanted to groan at the feel of her breasts pillowing against his chest. As her arms wrapped around his neck, he jokingly slid his hands to her ass and squeezed, loving her little squeal of laughter.

“Later on, buddy,” she mock-chastised. “There are children here.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, stepping back with a wink. “I promise to be good while we’re in public.”

She blew him a kiss, her gaze briefly dropping to his crotch, and he chuckled. His girl was trouble sometimes, but he loved that about her.

Austin grabbed the towels and beach chairs from the back of his Jeep, letting Alexa handle the container of cookies. He clicked the key fob to lock his vehicle, then hauled the chairs over his shoulder.

“I feel like I should’ve made something else,” she admitted as they headed toward the sand. “This doesn’t seem like I’m bringing enough.”

“Nah. We’re just doing snacks and drinks today. Everybody’s pitching in.”

“Callie and Wyatt want to have us over for a barbeque soon,” Alexa said, sliding her arm through his free one. It was cute as hell how she was always touching him. When they were in bed together, it was seductive and intentional, but she grabbed hold of his hand or arm without thought when they were together in public. It felt good knowing Alexa wanted him close. He’d always keep her safe but liked the comfortable familiarity between them in everyday moments. “Callie still lives at my apartment complex but is basically at his house all the time. That’d be fun if they host something.”

“He loves to grill,” Austin said. “I can’t exactly do that at my own apartment, but maybe someday I’ll rent a house, too.”

“Think you’ll stay here in Hawaii?” she asked, looking up at him. A few strands of Alexa’s dark hair had come loose and blew in the breeze around her face. She’d put on a bit of pink lip gloss before they headed over, and with her flushed cheeks and feminine curves, she looked so damn pretty at the moment, it practically hurt.

Austin swallowed, realizing he hadn’t answered. “Well, it’s up to the Navy of course. There are only a few locations that SEAL teams are stationed, so in all likelihood, I’ll be here.”

“Thank goodness,” she said, playfully elbowing him. “I might miss you if you’re gone.”

“I wouldn’t leave by choice, Lex,” he promised. “Besides, even if I did PCS, I might have to bring you along with me.” They exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them. While he was an active-duty SEAL, it was likely he’d remain here at Pearl Harbor. Some guys retired from the military and became contractors. Others stayed in the military but transitioned to various other positions. He wasn’t entirely sure what his next step would be, but at twenty-nine, he still had more years to give to the teams. Besides, he loved being a SEAL, his teammates, and being stationed here on Oahu.

“I should hope so,” she teased. “Who else would cook you dinner?”

He drew her closer, Lex’s arm still linked through his. “If I ever had to leave, you better believe we’d discuss it. We might tell all our friends that we’re casually dating, but hell. It’s starting to feel not-so-casual to me.”

His words hung in the air for a moment.

“It feels right,” she admitted.

He pinned her with a look. “It feels like it could be everything.”

***

Alexa practically dragged Austin along with her when she spotted their friends. There were already several coolers of food and drinks, beach chairs, towels, and a phone plugged into a portable speaker playing tunes. The Pacific Ocean sparkled ahead of them, and she breathed in the salty scent, basking in the warm sunshine. Oahu was so picture perfect, sometimes it was hard to believe she lived here.

Austin set their chairs down in the sand as she put the cookies over with the other food.

As she looked back over at him, her breath caught. He’d bent over to arrange her chair, the muscles of his arms flexing with the motion. He wore board shorts and a tee shirt, but neither covered up his muscles and strength. Austin was ripped. While she’d seen him naked in bed more nights than not, it still wowed her to look at him sometimes.

He caught her gawking at him and winked. Austin knew she loved his body, just as he loved his hands all over her. Despite the raw attraction between them, things were comfortable. She was happy and content. If shit ever hit the fan, he was the type of man that could be counted on. They had similar personalities and got along perfectly. It was almost hard to believe she’d met him purely by accident one evening.

“Do you want a drink?” Austin asked as she walked back over.

“I’ll grab one in a few minutes. Let’s go say hello to everyone.”

They moved toward the group, Alexa slowing slightly as she felt another weird twinge in her abdomen. It wasn’t the first time it had happened. Even when they’d all been playing volleyball together two weeks ago, she’d felt like something was off. She’d been feeling all right until this morning, when she suddenly had a pain that came and went.

Distracted by their friends, she began talking with them for a few minutes. Sawyer grabbed a beer from the cooler, joking about finding some pretty girls on the beach. Callie was snuggled up beside Wyatt, looking perfectly content, when Alexa decided to get a drink for herself. She turned to the cooler, her hands suddenly moving to her abdomen as she bent over and felt a sharp pain.

“Are you okay?” Austin asked, hurrying over. He hovered over her, concerned, as everyone suddenly seemed to be looking her way. Callie was immediately at her side, and Alexa spoke with her quietly for a moment as she straightened back up.

“I’m okay. It’s probably just cramps,” she whispered to her friend. “I’m a bit irregular cycle-wise, but it’s about that time.”

Callie nodded. “Well thank goodness. I mean, cramps suck, but I was worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” She waved her hand to shoo her friend back toward Wyatt. The last thing Alexa wanted was everyone to continue staring at her. It’s not like a bunch of macho, Navy SEALs needed to hear about her private matters. Suddenly, she gasped as a sharp pain shot through her.

Alexa’s knees buckled, and she hunched down, dizzy, breaking into a fine sheen of sweat. She could barely stand, her knees hitting the soft warm sand as she fell to the ground, the pain suddenly excruciating.

“Alexa,” Austin murmured, immediately at her side.

She tried to suck in a breath, realizing that something was very, very wrong.

Everything went black.