Page 40 of Deadly Scandals

Ashley

Aray of sunlight roused me from my slumber.

“Rise and shine, beautiful.” Mitch planted a kiss on my forehead.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. “What time is it? I thought this was a vacation.”

“It’s six-thirty, babe. But Extra Magic Hour starts at eight and Chip ’n Dale’s Critter Breakfast opens at seven. Let’s go.”

Kill me now. The only Chippendales I was interested in seeing performed at the all-male revue in Vegas. No shame in my game. Why should SEALs have all the fun with strippers? Beautiful, sexy men dancing around me? Sign me up.

My head pounded, and I just wanted to go back to sleep. I should’ve known better than to date a SEAL who rises before dawn. Hell, it was doubtful he even went to sleep last night; when I had crashed, he had still been awake.

Maybe he was doing speed. I’d snoop around later.

This was not how I had imagined a sexy getaway with a hot new lover would go. I had pictured breakfast in bed, another round of mind-blowing sex that included multiple orgasms, a couple’s massage, and dinner at a romantic restaurant.

But this wasn’t a romantic getaway. This was a family vacation with two young kids. And Mitch wasn’t my boyfriend. He was my suspect.

I hobbled out of bed, and then I tripped on a rogue Lego. Damn, those things were sharp. I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, rubbed on some sunscreen, slipped into a T-shirt and jean cutoffs, and put on my flip-flops.

Chip ’n Dale, here I come.

I opened the door—and gasped when I saw Mitch dressing Sienna in her princess costume. She was The Little Mermaid, complete with a red wig, purple top, turquoise tulle skirt with a starfish tucked into the belt. She looked adorable…and a motherly instinct that I didn’t know I had took over.

“Sienna, you are so pretty! You look just like Ariel.”

“My daddy is King Triton!”

I tried not to roll my eyes. Yup, Triton, Navy SEAL, God of the Sea. Not that I wouldn’t mind seeing Mitch wearing nothing but a merman tail and a crown, but that was for another day and place. No time to cosplay.

Instead, Mitch looked hotter than ever in a black T-shirt that hugged his incredible chest and green cargo shorts that fell right below his massive thighs. And to complete this picture-perfect family, his sweet son Sam was dressed as an adorable Buzz Lightyear.

“Okay. Time to eat!”

Mitch hurried us out of the room and downstairs to the restaurant. After we posed for a photo at the entrance, we were ushered into the buffet.

Two way-too-peppy woodland creatures greeted us at once. Sam and Sienna instantly recognized them as Chip and Dale. I was so out of the Disney loop. I had grown up way too fast as a child. I had never had the luxury of theme parks, fairy tales, and fantasy lands to escape to. While my friends dreamed of finding Prince Charming and falling in love, I dreamed of being a warrior and slaying the evil man who had kidnapped the princess from the castle.

Was my sister still out there waiting to be saved? I might never know the answer to that question.

Mitch sensed my uneasiness. He kissed me on the cheek. “Let me get you a plate. Just sit here.”

He got up to go to the buffet with his kids. I saw him pile Mickey Mouse waffles with strawberries, syrup, and whipped cream onto two plates. The kids returned to the table, and I helped cut up their waffles while Mitch grabbed us our own food.

I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to appreciate this slice in time. Why could I not be more present? I was at the Happiest Place on Earth with a wonderful, loving man. He had treated me like a queen since we had gone out on our date, but I was so suspicious and, frankly, I was being a complete bitch. At least for today, I needed to try to have fun and not treat Mitch like a suspect.

Mitch sat back down and handed me a plate filled with eggs, potatoes, and sausage.

I leaned in and kissed him. “Thanks, babe.”

His eyebrow raised. “Babe? Oh, so you like me again? You’re running hot and cold.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind. I wish I could turn it off.”

“In BUD/S, we focus on one task at a time. Just get through one evolution. One run. One swim. Just be here now, with me.”

I squeezed his thigh. “I’ll try.”