Search and Seduce

Amy looked away, focusing on the quiet puppy still resting on her bed. Rosie, the runt of the litter, peacefully watched Mark play with her brothers and sisters as if content with her lot in life. This pup would never make the cut. She would not fight alongside the SEALs, and Rosie seemed fine with that.

Charlie dropped the ball and raced to the whelping room door, barking and jumping up and down. The rest of the puppies followed.

Amy frowned. “Someone’s here.”

“A little late for company,” Mark said, instantly at her side.

A knock sounded on the door.

“You guys in there?” Luke called from the hall.

The Benton brothers. She should have known. Drawing the pups away from the door, she called out, “Yes. Let me get the dogs settled down, and I’ll meet you in the front room.”

Amy glanced at Mark. “Did they say anything to you about stopping by?”

Mark closed the door to Foxtrot’s kennel, tossing the pup a treat. “Nope.”

“They’re probably heading into town,” she said. “But I don’t think I’m up for it tonight.”

“Your ankle bothering you again?” Mark crossed to the door and held it open for her.

“I don’t think I can get away with that excuse two nights in a row. I plan to play the tired card,” she said, heading down the hall. “I need my beauty sleep to get through the next couple of days.”

“You were born pretty,” Mark said. “Sleep has nothing to do with it.”

Amy glanced at Mark, waiting for him to shake his head and admit the words had escaped before he knew what he was saying. But he just held the door open for her.

“Well, sleep has a lot to do with how much I can get done tomorrow,” she said before stepping into the reception/office space. Luke, Gabe and Eloise waited inside. Filled with three large, imposing men and the two women, the room felt small despite the lack of furnishings.

“Are you guys headed out?” Amy scanned the flannels and jeans both brothers had worn to construct her tent. Even her cousin still had on her work clothes.

“Nope,” Luke said, holding up a six-pack of beer. “Seeing as you missed out on the dancing last night, we decided to bring the party to you tonight. We picked up some local brew.”

“We thought you might want to avoid the crowds at the Tall Pines,” Gabe said, standing off to the side with one arm around her cousin’s waist.

“I think they guessed your ankle wasn’t the only thing keeping you off the dance floor,” Mark whispered, his breath touching her ear.

“T.J.’s out there right now, hooking up the sound system you ordered for the party.” Luke headed for the front door. “We’ll mount the speakers tomorrow, but for tonight we set a few on the ground and hooked them up.”

“What do you say?” Eloise twirled in a circle. “Up for a dance party? Just us? You already have the tent, and I gave T.J. my best playlist.”

As if on cue, Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” filled the cool night air. Amy smiled. She’d been so caught up in the opening and the stress of having the Benton brothers home that she’d forgotten what had drawn her to the Benton family in the first place. These men cared deeply for their friends and family. They wanted to see her happy, smiling and dancing.

“Pass up the chance to see my favorite representatives from the navy, army and air force on the dance floor?” Amy smiled. “Not a chance.”

Mark moved to her side. “I hope you’re not including me in that group.”

“The night’s still young.” She wanted Mark out there carefree and laughing under the tent, but she also knew he’d prefer to stick to the sidelines. Amy stepped forward and took Luke’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Luke ran hand in hand with her through the front door to the tent. Amy’s laughter bubbled and spilled over as they moved. She’d always loved to dance, but perfecting the steps had never been her top priority. Under this tent, she didn’t care if her movements matched the rhythm. Neither did Luke. He looked more like a Saturday Night Live skit of a Beyoncé music video than the real deal. If only the army MPs could see him now.

Amy threw back her head and laughed as the song ended. Another chart-topping single with a dance beat and familiar lyrics blasted through the speakers.

“That’s my cue to hand you off,” Luke said, drawing her close. He sent her twirling right into T.J.’s arms.

Amy caught the youngest Benton brother’s hand and moved close enough to be heard over the music. “I hope you got that on video.”

T.J. grinned, holding up his smartphone. “Right here. As the fifth born, I learned blackmail from an early age.”