Hot SEALs: Reclaiming the SEAL (Kindle Worlds) (Lost and Found Series Book 11) Read Online Free Page B

touching you.”
    She’d thrown up her hands in frustration. “I didn’t know it was you!”
    That made him pause for a moment, but not very long. “But you welcome me home just like you do Gabe. That has to mean you love me a little bit, right?”
    “As a friend,” she said firmly. “Nothing more.”
    A petulant expression had crossed his handsome face. As amazing as Butter was as a SEAL and friend, he was used to having his own way. All through his life, he’d been the coddled child. Couple that with an amazing, dynamic personality and natural athleticism that let him take on any challenge presented and conquer it, Butter felt that there was no challenge too big for him to win.
    Julie remembered thinking she’d just waved a red cape in front of the bull. Whether she meant them to or not, her words sounded like a challenge. In seconds he’d snatched her into his arms, his mouth coming down on hers forcefully. First, she’d fought to push away, but she knew immediately he was too strong. There was no way he could get away until he let her, so she relaxed her muscles and clenched her teeth. Surely if he realized she wasn’t participating he would stop.
    Julie knew that people had to be watching them, but she couldn’t do anything about it. Butter held her up and kissed her for much longer than she expected. He did everything he could to coax a response from her mouth. Yes, he was talented, but he wasn’t Gabe.
    His eyes were shut to get into the kiss, but she kept hers open and staring at him. As soon as he pulled back and looked at her, saw her disinterest, something came over him. It wasn’t anger, exactly, but something much more elusive. And dangerous.
    He’d let her go immediately and taken a step back. Julie was shaking from the assault but she kept her face firm and non-responsive. “You don’t ever do that again, Robert Tyler. Your irresponsibility has already cost me the man I love, Gabe. He hasn’t said a word to me since I left the apartment.”
    A glimmer of satisfaction crossed his eyes before he looked away, but she had seen it. “I don’t know what has gotten into you,” she continued, “but I don’t want to be around you right now, if ever again.”
    Something in her words must have gotten through to him because he held out a hand. “Now, wait, Julie. I didn’t mean to stir the shit between the two of you.”
    She glared at him. “There was no shit to stir until you threw it in there,” she practically yelled. “Now he won’t respond to my calls or emails.”
    Butter jerked back, eyes wide, and finally seemed to get that he’d fucked up.
    Julie crouched down to pick up the purse she’d dropped when he’d grabbed her. She threw the stuff back inside as quickly as she could and stood, quivering with emotion. “Have you seen him?” she demanded.
    Butter blinked and nodded. “Yes, today. He wouldn’t talk to me.”
    Julie could have screamed in frustration. “What the hell do you expect him to say? Do you even realize the position you’ve put us in? You’ve ruined everything . There’s no more friendly talks, no more hanging out at the bar giving you advice on pickup lines, no more dinners. You’ve put Gabe in an even worse position. You were his swim buddy, his best friend. You have to work with him every day. But in his mind he sees the two most important people in his life, you and me, betraying him.”
    “But you know the worst part of this, Butter? Gabe and I were in love. And now, to keep your friendship and working relationship intact, I have to bow out of the picture. You’ve ruined everything, Butter, because you were a petulant, spoiled, jealous child.”
    Julie had stomped away from him, livid with his inability to see how much he’d ruined all three of their lives.
    It had been the strangest, worst, breakup she’d ever experienced. The men were sent on a mission a few nights later and were gone for three months. She never heard a word from Gabe.
    When he had