Her Intense Protector: A Navy SEAL Romance (Night Storm Book 4) Read online

  Her Intense Protector

  Night Storm, Book Four

  Caitlyn O’Leary

  Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Caitlyn O’Leary

  © Copyright 2020 Caitlyn O’Leary

  All rights reserved.

  All cover art and logo © Copyright 2021

  By Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.

  Cover by Lori Jackson Design

  Edited by Rebecca Hodgkins

  Content Edited by Trenda Lundin

  Technical Editing by Jared Fortna

  Cover Photo by Wander Aguiar Photography

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and places portrayed in this book are entirely products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  If you find any eBooks being sold or shared illegally, please contact the author at [email protected].

  To the men and women of our armed services.

  Synopsis

  Ezio Stark never saw it coming.

  For the longest time there had been only one woman who’d sparked his interest, but she was a continent away, so he immersed himself in his life as a Navy SEAL.

  A year after breaking things off at the altar with her cheating fiancé, Samantha Brooks has moved across the country for a fresh start. She’ll concentrate on friends, not potential relationships, especially with good-looking Navy SEALs, no matter how much they’d already sparked her interest.

  Now Samantha is miles from home, embroiled in a life-and-death situation to help a friend. Sure, she can find a way out on her own!

  Ezio thought his toughest mission was going to be overcoming Samantha’s relationship fears and capturing her heart. But can he now save her life?

  1

  “Are you happy to see me, beautiful?” Ezio’s heart swelled when he saw her. She was gorgeous and had a heart of gold to match.

  One brown eye and one blue eye shone up at him with adoration. Ezio got down on his haunches and rubbed his hands through Tabitha’s fur. He was impressed that she hadn’t barked.

  “How’s she been doing, Fred?” he asked the manager of the shelter.

  “Great. I’ve been taking her out, just like the videos showed me. I think you found a winner.”

  “Did you hear that, girl? I’m thinking I can take you to Phillip’s house real soon, and your full-time training can begin. What do you think of that?”

  The licks came fast and furious and Ezio laughed. “Yep, you like that idea. You’re going to make someone very happy, aren’t you, girl? You’re going to be a Godsend to some lucky veteran, I just know it.”

  Tabitha wiggled with excitement. Hell, Ezio was pretty excited too. So far, working at the shelter he’d only spotted four dogs with the temperament to be therapy dogs. Not that he was volunteering his time just to do that; he loved it here, but knowing how long the waiting list was for the dogs, he couldn’t help his sense of satisfaction when he found a dog like Tabitha.

  “Shall we go visit Duchess and see if we can talk her into playtime?”

  Tabitha wagged her tail. She knew who Duchess was and was eager to see the medium-sized border collie mix. The poor abused collie had come in three months ago and was frightened of men, so Ezio always led with Tabitha before going into her enclosure. A treat never hurt either.

  They moved in front of Duchess’s spot and Ezio crouched down in front of his therapy-dog-in-training. The husky-Labrador-shepherd mix was wagging her tail, her tongue lolling out.

  “Calm, Tabitha. Remember, play nice and calm.”

  Ezio could swear Tabitha nodded. She clearly understood because as soon as he said the words, she stopped wagging her tail and she looked over at Duchess who was trembling in the back of her pen. Tabitha gave her a sympathetic whimper that had Duchess raising her head in response and standing up.

  Ezio opened the enclosure and Tabitha walked slowly in. Soon the two dogs were sniffing one another. Finally, with Tabitha’s prodding, Duchess came to the front of the pen.

  “Hey girl,” Ezio said as he held out his hand. “What do you think? Would you like to go play out in the yard with me and Tabitha?”

  Ezio had high hopes for Duchess. He volunteered here at Harmony Rescue twice a week when he wasn’t overseas on a mission. He was really hoping that he could acclimate Duchess to people, because he believed with his whole heart that she would be a perfect companion for his shy niece in upstate New York. Lucia had mentioned that Sarafina wanted a teacup poodle, but Ezio still thought Duchess would be a great fit.

  Duchess sniffed Ezio’s hand and finally licked it. He took that as a sign that he could give her a scratch behind her ear. When he was done, he gave her a treat. Tabitha held back, never begging, another sure sign that he’d chosen wisely. He waited one more beat, then rewarded her with her treat, which she daintily nipped from the palm of his hand.

  “Okay you two, let’s go out back and play ball.”

  He’d start with these two, then come back for the others that Fred thought would be good together. All in all, Ezio would spend five or six hours playing with dogs. Could there be a better way to spend a day off?

  It wasn’t until he had three mutts that had so many different breeds mixed in it would take a geneticist a month to figure out their parentage, that he got a call. He threw two ropes out to the three males and watched them carefully as they played chase and tug-of-war while he took the call.

  “Hey, Leo. What’s going on?”

  “There’s free food at Kane’s tonight, wanted to know if you’d like to participate.”

  “The lake house?” Ezio had only been there once, but it was a bit off the beaten path on Lake Anna and would take him an hour to get there. When he looked at his watch, he realized it was close to five o’clock already.

  “I still can’t believe he calls that damn thing a lake house,” Leo said. For God’s sake, it looks like something out of a magazine. A lake house where I grew up meant that you built a dock and a shack next to it. Lake house my ass,” Leo laughed.

  Ezio had thought the same thing the first time he’d seen it. Cullen had clued him in that Kane had made money, serious money, starting his own computer software company before joining the Navy.

  “Do I need to bring anything?” Ezio asked.

  “As usual, it will be fully stocked, but if you feel bad coming empty-handed, beer is always welcome.”

  “I’m going to be late.”

  “You over at the shelter?” Leo guessed.

  “Yep.”

  “You need to find a woman,” Leo teased.

  “I found one,” Ezio said.

  “Tabitha doesn’t count.”

  “Says you. I’ll see you later tonight.”

  Ezio whistled and two of the three dogs ran over to him. “You’re a nut, you know that?” he hollered at the black dog with the floppy ears. He picked up one of the ropes and shook it. The big pup shot over to him and grabbed hold. Ezio laughed out loud. “Okay, back inside you big goofs.”

  Before he left, he went inside and squatted outside Duchess’s pen for five minutes to see if he could get her to come to him. She finally made it to the middle of her enclosure. He tossed her the treat, and he could swear he saw her eyes say thank you. Then he went over to Tabitha’s pen.

  “Okay, girl. Just another week or so, and you’ll have a trainer who’s going to get you all dolled up for some lucky vet. You are going to be the belle of the ball.”

  He rubbed his face against the scruff of her neck, delighting in the unadulterated affection coming from the beautiful dog.

  As he was driving the winding roads to Kane’s house he thought about Leo’s words and he laughed. There had only been one woman who’d interested him in the last couple of years. Well, really interested him, that is. He’d been thinking about Samantha Brooks on and off for the last seven months since he’d met her at Asher and Eden’s house. She’d been visiting from Boise, Idaho. They’d danced at the party and snuck away for coffee. They’d talked on the phone a couple of times after she’d gone home, but he’d been fine to let their budding friendship peter out.

  When he’d met her, Sam had recently been left at the altar. She was extraordinary; she seemed to take it in stride and was able to laugh about it. Still, Ezio didn’t want to be the rebound relationship. If he were ever lucky enough to date Samantha, he wanted to have a real shot at something with her. But there was still the problem that she had a job she loved in Boise.

  He steered into a gas station to fill up his big Jeep. She cost a lot in fuel, but he wouldn’t trade her for anything.

  “Yo!”

  Ezio looked up and saw a familiar face—Nic Hale. He was the youngest member of the Night Storm team. Even in the last ten months since Ezio had worked with him, it seemed like the kid had aged some…in a good way.

  “Hey Nic, you on your way to Kane’s?”

  “Yep. I’m taking over Mom’s blackberry cobbler. She left it in my fridge yesterday while I was gone.”

  Ezio grinned. Okay, maybe he hadn’t aged quite as much as he’d thought.

  “Hey, I see the look on your face. You’ve met my mom; she’s a force of nature, and I’m her baby boy. She’s having trouble letting go, it’s not my fault.”

  Ezio held up his hands. “I’m not complaining, she’s a good cook. It’s amazing that Captain Hale doesn’t weigh three-hundred pounds.”

  “That’s what he always says,” Nic laughed. “I can’t wait until one of my older sisters pops one out and Mom has a grandkid to dote on. I don’t need all this heat, it cramps my style.”

  Ezio couldn’t help the snort that burst out of his nose. “How old are you again?”

  “I’m going to be twenty-four.”

  “God save me from the young.”

  “You’re just saying that because I can kick your ass on the training field, old man.” Nic shook his head in sorrow as he took out the hose and closed his gas cap.

  “Just name the day. Just name the day.”

  “Tuesday.”

  “You’re on.”

  Ezio was grinning when he got back into his Grand Cherokee and followed the winding roads to Lake Anna. He was going to miss the Night Storm team when Zed was finally cleared to come back, and he went back to Omega Sky. Of course, he’d missed his team too. It wasn’t like he hadn’t kept in touch with all those reprobates; God knew they needed him to occasionally horn in on their training and kick their asses. But it wasn’t the same as going out on a mission with them. Hell, he was second-in-command on that team, and he couldn’t help worrying about them. Not to say that Gideon hadn’t done a great job stepping up, but still, that was Ezio’s job on Omega Sky.

  Then, as if his thoughts had sped across an electric current, his phone rang. He pressed the button on his steering wheel so he could answer it.

  “Stark, here.”

  “So, when do I get you back?”

  Ezio laughed. “Really, that’s how you’re going to start a conversation?” he asked the lieutenant of Omega Sky.

  “Hell yes, it is. Hasn’t Zaragoza recovered enough to get back to work? Or is he just milking it?”

  “Could be. I’ve seen pics of him with his kid. She’s awfully cute.”

  “Fuck me. Are you serious?” Baron Kostya moaned. “Tell me you didn’t just say that.”

  “Baron, you still haven’t grown a heart. I thought since I was gone that maybe that stone might have softened up a little.”

  “Not in this lifetime. Now seriously, when can I expect you back?”

  Ezio frowned. “What’s going on? I thought Gideon was doing a good job.”

  “He’s outstanding. Still doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”

  The lake appeared as he took another turn down the two-lane highway. Seriously, Kane couldn’t have found a more beautiful spot to build a house. “I’m thinking another month or two at the most,” Ezio said.

  He heard Baron’s sigh of relief.

  “What’s going on?” Ezio asked. “And don’t say nothing.”

  “Gideon’s good. He’s damn good. He’s great with the team, and they like him a whole hell of a lot better than you,” Baron laughed.

  “Fuck you,” Ezio said without any real heat. It was hard to believe that, when his lieutenant was salivating to get him back. “So, what’s the deal?”

  “He just can’t read my mind the way you can. I can smell trouble brewing. Maybe not this year, but definitely next year. The brass aren’t talking yet, but I have sources with the men in black suits, and I can see it coming down the line. Max isn’t using you to your full potential because he has Kane.”

  Ezio rubbed the back of his neck. It was true, Kane McNamara was second-in-command of Night Storm. He respected the hell out of him, but he was used to being the second. Still…

  “I hear you, but I got to tell you, Baron. While I’m on this team, they have my complete and utter loyalty.”

  Baron snorted. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. Max has sung your praises to me. He’s been really impressed. Especially with that last op in Argentina.”

  This time it was Ezio’s turn to snort. “Bullshit. If I were really good, I would have ended up with the girl.”

  Baron let out a long laugh. “Jesus God, how many members of Night Storm are paired off now, anyway? It’s like an episode of The Bachelor over there.”

  “Three. Kane, Cullen, and Asher.”

  “And Zed,” Baron reminded him.

  Ezio could practically hear his lieutenant shaking his head in disbelief. “Then there’s the fact that they all met them on missions. Something is not right over there. I’m telling you, if you fall for some woman, I’m going to beat you senseless, Stark.”

  Ezio laughed. “Yeah, I can see it now—the next time I’m in Yemen, I’m going to find the love of my life.”

  Baron joined in with his laughter. “All I care about right now is that Zed stops playing possum and rejoins Night Storm and I get my second-in-command back. Got it?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Gotta go.”

  Ezio was not surprised that Baron hung up before he had a chance to say good-bye, his former lieutenant was not one for drawn-out pleasantries.

  Before he knew it, he was at the turn that would take him to Kane’s house. There were at least ten vehicles, mostly Jeeps and trucks. Ezio pulled in behind Nic’s truck, hoping that Nic hadn’t gotten there too much ahead of him. He didn’t want to miss out on anything that Scarlett Hale had baked.

  2

  “You’re twenty-six, huh? Kind of old to never have been married, don’t you think?”

  Samantha smiled at the man who was sitting too close beside her, and said, “I guess so.” She picked up her wine glass, took a huge swallow, and glared at her friend Toni across the table.

  “Do you have a drinking problem? Is that why?”

  “No, she doesn’t have a drinking problem, Larry,” David chimed in.

  Samantha really didn’t care that David was defending her. Larry was his golfing buddy, and she was mad at both of her friends for putting her in this situation.

  “So, you think it’s successful of you to have been through a divorce?” Samantha asked sweetly.

  “Now I do,” Larry responded. “Means I’ve learned some things, like how to look for red flags before I get into a relationship, so I don’t end up with another woman like Susan. She wanted everything, because I was her first husband. Just like you would, I guess. Tell me, are you one of those girls with a wedding file? Or worse yet, a couple of wedding gowns tucked away in her closet, waiting for a man to ask her to marry her?”

  Samantha dropped the piece of bruschetta that she had just picked up from the starter platter.