SEAL’s Command by Makenna Jameison

Chapter 2

 

 

Navy SEAL team commander Slate “Striker” Hutchinson gripped the steering wheel of the rented Jeep as he drove up the mountain backroads in Washington state. The snow was just beginning to fall, and he turned on the windshield wipers, watching as his headlights caught the flurries in the air. He swore he could smell the smoky mountain air through his closed windows, and he was itching to arrive at the cabin and stretch his legs after the drive from the airport. The ground would be covered from previous snowfalls, but he had boots and outdoor gear. If he made it before sunset, he could enjoy some time outside before dinner.

His phone buzzed, and he saw his brother’s name flash on the screen. He swiped the screen to answer before moving his eyes back to the road.

“Striker here,” he said in a gruff voice.

“You get in okay?” Jett asked. “How was the flight?”

Slate could hear children shrieking in the background and smirked. His brother was a few years older than him and had married later in life. Whereas Jett had spent most of his forties as a bachelor, he now had a pregnant wife and couple of kids. Slate, however, was forty-three and single. He preferred it that way. He had no one to worry about but himself, save for the men under his command. He didn’t need a woman in his life or the complications that came with having a family to look after. Being alone suited him just fine.

His brother and sister-in-law had canceled their plans to fly up to the cabin this fall due to her high-risk pregnancy, and Slate had agreed to check on things and get it ready for winter. He didn’t know if they’d make it out here at all this year, but his brother appreciated him making the trip to check on the property.

Besides, Slate needed a weekend away. His SEAL teams had been on back-to-back ops, he hadn’t taken a day off in months, and if he was honest with himself, he needed some time to decompress. Maybe even reflect and see where the next part of his life would eventually take him.

He felt a sense of pride and duty at leading the teams in Coronado, but he’d also reached the point of his life where he was ready for something more. What exactly that was, he couldn’t say. He’d been married once, back in his early twenties when he’d served as a SEAL himself. He and his wife had been married less than two years, and the truth was, they’d married young and probably wouldn’t have lasted forever no matter what he did. They were total opposites, and their chemistry could only carry them so far.

Now he only had himself and his men to worry about. His brother could no doubt take care of himself and his growing family, but Slate didn’t mind flying up for the weekend. He’d hopefully get in some hunting in the snowy woods, maybe stock the firewood for the cabin, and enjoy a few beers and some quiet.

He was only a phone call away if something urgent arose back on base.

“Yep, I made it,” he told his brother. “The flight was fine. I grabbed my bag at the airport, picked up a rental, and I’m already driving up in the mountains. We’re supposed to get a few inches of snow tonight, but the weekend is clear.”

“Fantastic. We had a few things dropped off at the house—supplies and whatnot.”

Slate raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think I could pick up a few damn things myself at the store?”

Jett chuckled. “Anna insisted.”

Slate shook his head. That sounded like his sister-in-law. She was the type to always fuss over everyone else—never mind that he was a goddamn Navy SEAL who’d led men into battle. She seemed to enjoy fawning over her husband—and Slate if he was around. Not that she hit on him or anything. She just enjoyed planning activities and taking care of things.

How she’d ended up with his brash older brother was anyone’s guess. Somehow it worked for them though.

“Well, tell her thanks,” Slate said, his lips quirking.

Hell.

It was hard to even imagine what it would be like to have a woman fussing over him. He’d met his ex when they were both just starting their careers—him as a SEAL and her as an accountant. She was an overachiever herself, and they’d clashed more often than not. He worked late on base with trainings and was frequently gone on deployments, and she worked late at the office. She’d never be the type of woman to sit around at home waiting for a man. Her career had sky-rocketed as he’d moved up the ranks in the Navy.

He shook his head.

Everyone was young and foolish once. The sparks had been real, but the truth was, they’d had little in common. Their divorce hadn’t been a surprise to any of their friends. They’d already forged separate lives and routines by then though—a marriage on paper, mostly. He’d dated occasionally over the years, but that was it. Slate didn’t have the time or patience to play games. How his own brother had ended up married with kids had shocked the hell out of him.

“Will do,” Jett quipped. “Hell. You hear all that yelling? I gotta go get the boys. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Slate said goodbye and ended the call, shaking his head as he drove further up the mountain road. It was just beginning to get dark, and he hoped they’d dropped off some food with whatever supplies had been delivered. He knew his brother always kept a stash of canned goods and basics, but hell. He’d only grabbed a six-pack and some toilet paper at the convenience store. He’d go hunting tomorrow to stock the deep freezer for when his brother and family did get out here later this winter. And if they didn’t? Maybe he’d head back himself. At some point he’d retire from active duty, and he had an insane amount of leave saved up. He could afford another long weekend if he wanted.

Ten minutes later, he turned onto the narrow driveway leading up to the cabin. It might as well be another road; it was so long and winding. Sometimes vacationers ended up here accidentally instead of the cabin they’d rented, but his brother had always loved the privacy it afforded. The snow flurries had already stopped, and he figured it would be a few hours before the storm moved in.

The cabin finally came into view as he slowly took the next curve, and sure enough, there were two brown paper bags of groceries sitting on the small front porch. He grinned despite himself. He hadn’t planned on stocking up since he’d just be here a few days and he didn’t mind roughing it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate Anna’s gesture.

He pulled the Jeep up to the cabin and climbed out, grabbing his duffle and the plastic bag from the convenience store out of the back hatch. He slung his duffle bag over his shoulder, his eyes sweeping the area out of habit. Once a SEAL, always a SEAL.

It was damn cold out, the ground already snow-packed from earlier storms. The ski resorts further up the mountain could make their own snow, but the weekend crowd would no doubt love the fresh powder coming overnight. It shouldn’t be enough to cause him any trouble, and the weekend would be perfect for him to hunt and unwind from the pressures of his job, then fly back out in a few days. Hell. He might even change his flight and stay a bit longer than planned, he thought as he inhaled the crisp mountain air. He had weeks of accrued leave, and taking a little R&R would never come at a great time. There was always some crisis unfolding somewhere in the world. He was already here, so why not tack on another few days? Although he’d been granted a week’s leave, he’d claimed he’d be back on base sooner.

Slate pulled his keychain out of his pocket and unlocked the front door, dropping his duffle down and turning to get the groceries Anna had delivered. Who’d she gotten to drive them all the way up here anyway? They weren’t exactly near any grocery stores. Maybe she’d convinced someone from the rental agency in town to drop them off when they were up here checking on other properties. Jett didn’t rent out the place anymore, but he kept in touch with his old rental agent just to keep an eye on the place.

Slate carried the bags into the kitchen, flicking on the lights. The cabin’s electricity ran on solar panels and a gasoline-powered generator. The retreat was rustic in some respects, yet had all the comforts of home. The ski slopes weren’t far, not that he was a skier himself. He was sure Jett could make a pretty penny on rentals during peak season though if he ever decided to start renting it out again. Doubtful now that he had a family he liked to bring out here.

He set the bags on the counter and pulled out the groceries they’d sent—milk, eggs, bacon, ground beef, cheese, potatoes, celery, and some nonperishables. He raised his eyebrows at the box of condoms. There was no way Anna had ordered that. Who the hell did Jett think he’d be shacking up with?

He’d come here to spend the weekend alone, not sleep with a random woman. Not that there were any women around here anyway. He wasn’t about to stop by a nearby ski resort on the prowl.

He grabbed his cell and texted his brother.

Condoms?

He didn’t expect a reply right away but chuckled at Jett’s response.

You never know.

Slate tossed them back into the grocery bag and put the other groceries away, crinkling his brow at the two bottles of wine. At least it was cold enough outside that the food wouldn’t have spoiled. Condoms. Jesus Christ. He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it, then pulled out his six-pack and stuck it in the fridge for later. He wasn’t exactly a gourmet chef by any means, but he could make himself a decent enough meal tonight with the food they’d sent. It would be better than a can of soup from Jett’s pantry, that was for damn sure.

He’d tossed a few MREs into his duffle bag when he’d packed, just in case. Slate hadn’t really planned on grocery shopping. He’d expected a rustic weekend away, with canned goods and some hunting to tide him over, and here his brother had sent actual food.

There’d been some firewood stacked outside, so he went out to bring a bundle in. It was cold in the cabin, but there wasn’t much need to bother cranking up the heat since he was here all alone. He could wear layers, and a fire would suit him just fine. He’d certainly camped in all sorts of extreme temperatures. A cabin and cozy fire were basically luxuries.

Slate looked around the cabin, frowning after he arranged the kindling. There wasn’t really much that needed to be done here. He’d check the generator and hot water heater, then walk around the perimeter of the place tomorrow. He could see if he needed to stock up on any supplies.

Jesus.

It’s like he didn’t know how to relax.

He was itching to text one of his SEAL team leaders down in San Diego just to get an update. There were other officers on base running things in his absence, but damn. He didn’t have a TV. Didn’t have Internet aside from whatever he could get on his cell phone. Being out of the loop on current events was a bit unnerving, even if only for a few days.

And so far, he’d only been gone a few hours.

Men like him were used to being in on the action. To reading the latest SITREPs and staying apprised of situations unfolding around the world. He’d served as a SEAL himself shortly after joining the Navy, and now he led several SEAL teams. He was briefed daily on base and used to following the news himself. He had the latest intelligence at his fingertips to lead operations around the globe. And now he was in a remote cabin by himself for the weekend and didn’t know how to turn it all off. To shut his mind down.

Unable to resist, he texted Blake “Raptor” Reynolds, the leader of one of his teams stationed in Coronado.

Anything urgent come up today?

His phone buzzed with a reply.

Negative, sir. Enjoy your R&R. That’s an order from Commander Williams.

He smirked. Williams was the same rank as him and couldn’t order him to do a damn thing. Fucking hell. He must’ve told Blake to say that, knowing Slate couldn’t resist checking in. Tomorrow he’d spend the day hunting, traipsing through the woods on his brother’s property, but at the moment, he was feeling restless. Rolling his shoulders, he looked around the cabin. He probably had another thirty minutes of daylight. Maybe he’d take a quick hike outside, checking the property and stretching his legs, then come in to light the fire and make himself some dinner. Sitting around an empty cabin for a few hours didn’t suit a man like him. Not when he was itching to get outdoors and do something.

He shucked his winter jacket back on, not bothering to change his footwear since he already had on hiking boots. He retrieved the knife he always carried when hiking from his bag and hooked it onto his belt, tucking his cell phone into his pants pocket. He probably wouldn’t get reception once he entered the tree line, but he’d carry it just in case.

Twenty minutes later, darkness was falling, and he breathed in the crisp mountain air. Damn if he didn’t feel awake and alert right now. He almost wished he’d gotten in sooner, so he could’ve hiked for a couple of hours before nightfall.

He’d have Saturday and Sunday though before he flew out bright and early Monday morning. It was damn crazy how nostalgic he was feeling at the moment. For a guy that never took a day off, even a few minutes in the fresh air knowing he wasn’t on duty had eased his tension down a notch.

Just a notch though.

There were always missions looming on the horizon, men under his command, and his duty to his country. Slate knew he’d never shut that off entirely, but maybe he could enjoy some solitude for the next two days.

Maybe.

A few flurries began to fall again, and he blew out a breath, fogging the air in front of him. He should’ve grabbed his gloves, but he was almost back. The temperature seemed to be quickly dropping.

Frowning as he got closer to the cabin, he saw headlights coming up the driveway. It was most likely a tourist who’d gotten lost. Several other cabins were tucked away like his brother’s, and it could be hard to find the right one in the dark, especially if you weren’t familiar with the area.

A small car came to a stop beside his Jeep, and he watched as a petite blonde woman climbed out, leaving the car running. She had on fur-lined boots and dark leggings, topped off with a puffy white parka. She’d never be able to go hunting in that outfit, but he didn’t exactly get the outdoorsy vibe from her anyway. She’d probably gotten lost headed to the slopes. He had to admit she didn’t look like she skied much either. She was too…soft. Pretty.

Maybe she was meeting up with friends and was the type of woman to hang around in the ski chalet drinking hot cocoa or red wine. She sure the hell wasn’t married, because then she wouldn’t be driving around alone in the dark. Not if her husband had a lick of sense. A beautiful woman like that, lost in the mountains? Hell no. If she was his, he’d escort her safely to her destination even if she was spending a weekend with her girlfriends. This was no place for a woman to be lost and alone.

“Can I help you?” he called out, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

She jumped a foot in the air, surprised to see him coming out of the woods, but relaxed slightly as he slowed his stride, attempting to look less threatening.

Yeah right.

He was a tall man, with the build of a SEAL. Although he was now in his early forties, older than the men he commanded, he kept in shape and could keep up with any of them. The fact that she looked small, feminine, and fragile had awareness coursing straight through him.

Damn.

He wasn’t here to meet women, and no doubt, she wasn’t here to meet him. He doubted she was single anyway. An attractive woman like her would have a slew of men lining up to date her.

“I’m trying to find 29 Pinegrove,” she said, looking slightly flustered.

He raised his eyebrows as he walked over to her, stopping a respectable distance away. She still seemed wary, and he didn’t blame her. There was no one else around. He’d never harm a woman, but she didn’t know that. She didn’t know a single thing about him. “You found it,” he said, his gaze raking over her. Her blonde hair was slightly tousled, and she had clear green eyes, smooth skin, and full pink lips. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and it was arousing as hell. He imagined her looking like that in bed, after she’d come. Flushed. Sated. Soft and eager for more.

He clenched his fists.

It’s not like he was about to take her to bed. He didn’t know her, and she was clearly skittish of him. Plus, it’s not like he was the type of man who’d take a woman to his bed for only one night. If he ever dated again, it would be because he felt something. He didn’t need to bed a woman just to get his rocks off like some of the younger guys. Besides, he was probably at least a decade older than her. There was a certain innocence about this woman. Slate was a hardened man. He’d been to war, seen men killed, and dealt with the worst of humanity. Now he held other men’s lives in his hands, sending them on missions based on his decisions. A woman like her wouldn’t understand half of what he dealt with daily—not that she couldn’t, but it was just so far out of her day-to-day existence. She looked like a damn Kindergarten teacher or something—all young, wide-eyed innocence.

Hell, she was pretty. This wasn’t the time for him to be thinking with his dick, though. He didn’t need a one-night-stand with a woman he’d never see again. She probably didn’t want to be here anyway. What attractive woman would come spend a weekend alone up in the woods? No doubt she was renting a cabin with friends somewhere or staying at one of the chalets and had simply gotten the address wrong.

“Um. Okay,” she said, nervously biting her lip. “Anna said it would be all right if I came for the weekend, but she didn’t mention anyone else would be staying here.”

His jaw clenched. Anna. God damn it. Had he been thinking charitable thoughts toward his sister-in-law earlier? She’d fucking set this up.

“Anna did, huh?”

She took a step backward, looking uncertain. His voice had been harsher than he’d intended. He softened his expression but took another step toward her, crossing his arms. A man like him didn’t know how to relax. He solved problems, made decisions, and moved on to the next thing. He’d simply explain there’d been a mix up and send her on her way. The fact that she looked like an innocent little kitten or something didn’t matter. “Anna is my sister-in-law,” he explained. “She and my brother own this cabin. I just got here for the weekend.”

“Oh. So…she said you could stay here, too?”

“I was planning to stay here. Alone. She didn’t mention you.”

A beat passed, and he saw the uncertainty cross her face. Her lower lip trembled slightly before she pulled herself together. “Right. Anna said I could use their cabin any weekend because they couldn’t come out here this winter. She made it seem like no one would be around and it wouldn’t be a problem. I guess I should’ve known it sounded too good to be true.”

A sudden clap of thunder had her jumping again, and Slate frowned, looking up at the sky. The sun had quickly set during the few minutes they’d been standing out here, and the headlights from her car and porch light on the cabin were the only illumination. It was quite unusual to have thunder with a snow storm, and he wondered if it would be worse than expected. The warmer air from below was mixing with the cooler air up the mountain, creating instability.

He glanced back at the cabin. He hadn’t left any lights on inside, hadn’t started a fire yet. They were standing out here in the cold with a storm clearly on the way. “Why don’t you come in. We can call the chalets around here and find you a room for the night—I’ll pay.”

“Oh, you don’t have to pay for a room for me,” she said, looking slightly offended. “I’ll just find a room somewhere close by and stay there.”

“It’s the least I can do since my sister-in-law apparently screwed this up. Turn off your car and come inside,” he said. “I need to start a fire. It sounds like a storm is moving in, but I didn’t see anything in the weather forecast aside from a couple inches overnight. I have to admit I haven’t checked since I got to the airport earlier though.”

“Right. I think there’s actually supposed to be a bad storm,” she said softly. “It’s okay. I’ll find a place and work from there this weekend.”

He nodded and turned, walking toward the front door as he muttered under his breath.

How was she planning to get inside the cabin? Had Anna sent her a key? Had she stopped by the rental agency back in town? Jett didn’t even rent this place out anymore, but he assumed they still had access to the cabin since his brother had rented it every other winter and hadn’t been out here recently to take care of things.

It didn’t matter. Slate would find a place for her to stay tonight rather than sending her on the mountain roads alone in search of somewhere safe. He’d call himself and get it squared away.

Another crack of thunder had him clenching his jaw, and the snow flurries picked up.

He couldn’t send a single woman out in the pending storm, could he?

It was already nightfall. She was young and driving a small car, not a truck with chains or a large SUV. What if the road iced over? What if she slid off the empty mountain road and couldn’t call anyone for help?

Blowing out a sigh, he left the front door open for her and crossed the living room after flipping on the light switch, kneeling down to start a fire. He’d left wet boot prints across the wooden floor, but he was too annoyed to care at the moment. It was cold in here. He’d warm the place up for the night. He was already thinking that he should crank up the thermostat to make her more comfortable.

What did it matter though?

She wasn’t staying.

He’d call up a few places and then send her on her way. She wouldn’t care if it was comfortable in here or not, because she was leaving. There was no way in hell he was spending the night in his brother’s cabin with the tempting woman he’d just left outside.