SEALs in Paradise
Holiday Edition Book 2

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Parker Kincade

Luck has always been on his side. With her, his luck might just run out.

After the death of a fellow Navy SEAL, Liam “Lucky” Jamison’s foundation crumbles. He’s done. Facing civilian life after fifteen years in the Navy, he has no idea what he wants to do next, or where he wants to do it. A surprise visit from his childhood friend is a welcome distraction from the confusion about his future, but his intense attraction to her causes another type of confusion all together.

Haven Somers wants adventure before she settles into running the family pub in Killarney, Ireland. She couldn’t think of a greater adventure than to surprise her friend in California, whom she hasn’t seen in twenty years. Haven is charmed by Liam’s generous spirit, easy-going personality, and mischievous grin. The more time she spends with him, the more Haven starts to think being with Liam is the only adventure she’ll ever need.

The minute Liam touches Haven, he knows he’s in trouble. He sees forever in Haven’s eyes, but he’s been keeping secrets from her. Now, there’s no way for him to come clean without the risk of losing her.

But if he won’t trust her with the truth, why would she trust him with her heart?

Liam is leaving the SEALs, the death of his teammate was a last straw for him. He wants what he can’t have as a SEAL. A home, family, kids maybe even a dog. He hasn’t told his best friend Haven about it yet, he’s afraid he’ll disappoint her by quitting.

Haven needs to get away from her family pub in Ireland and a persistent suiter. She wasn’t going to go further than Dublin but an impulse had her boarding a plane to the US.

A phone call from his friend Haven has Liam concerned, that is until she shows up in McP’s. It takes a moment for him to recognize her and in that time his thoughts were far from friendship.

I loved the immediate rapport and her introduction to his team.

This is a favorite scene.

Haven took a step back, unsure what to do with this side of him. This very sexy, protective side of him. “I…well…” Yeah. She had nothing. Her nipples on the other hand. They needed to settle the feck down. She and Liam were friends. Nothing more.

“This isn’t the place or the time.” Liam grabbed her hand and laced their fingers. He seemed to enjoy holding on to her. “We are definitely going to have a discussion about safety and proper planning when traveling to a foreign country when we get home because, of course, you’re staying with me. I’d be upset if you didn’t.”

“Are you certain? I don’t want to be in your way.”

“Trust me, pix. I don’t mind.” He tugged on her hand. “Come meet the guys. I’m sure they’re probably pissing themselves right about now.”

“Like excited little puppies?” she joked, relieved she didn’t have to worry about where she would sleep tonight.

Liam threw his head back and laughed, all traces of his earlier intensity wiped away. He led her to the table where she’d first spotted him. Four equally large, hard-bodied men circled around to meet them as they approached.

“Christ almighty,” she muttered. “What do they put in the water here to grow ’em so…big?”

The obvious awe in her voice sent Liam’s brows soaring. He leaned close and said, “I’ll pay top dollar to ensure they never hear you say that.”

Haven nodded absently and focused on keeping her jaw closed as she looked from one desperately good-looking man to the next. She knew these were Liam’s SEAL teammates, even though she couldn’t put names to all of them.

Lord, she hadn’t had time to recover from the excitement of her journey and reunion with Liam, and now, she was about to meet his closest friends. Far from being at her best, Haven prayed she made a good first impression. She’d be crushed if Liam’s friends didn’t like her.

“Of course, the luckiest son of a bitch around would know the most beautiful woman in the place,” one of the men said. “Why am I even surprised?”

Never having suffered a shy phase, Haven let go of Liam’s hand and walked right up to the man, tilting her head way back to maintain eye contact. “You’re not so bad yourself.” She was a hugger as a general rule, but instinct told her to go easy with this one. She offered her hand instead. “I’m Haven, Liam’s friend from Ireland.”

“That accent is a dead giveaway, honey.” His gaze slid over her. “I’m Cole.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Always happy to meet a friend of Liam’s. Say, when you get tired of hanging out with his boring ass, maybe you and I can get toget—”

“All right, Joker,” Liam said, giving Cole, aka Joker, a slight shove. “Heel, or it’s the doghouse for you. She came to the States to see me, not to have my friends hit on her.” Liam sent her a questioning glance. “Right?”

Close enough. Fighting back a smile, she gave him a sharp salute. “Right.”

Liam rolled his eyes. “Moving on. That’s Chris and next to him is Ben. And right there is—”

“Brian,” Haven finished. He’d crashed more than one of her video calls with Liam, so she felt like she already knew him.

This time Haven didn’t hesitate. She wrapped her arms around Brian’s waist and gave him a quick squeeze. “It’s so nice to finally meet you in person. How did things work out with you and Alicia?”

“You told her about that?” Brian tossed the question at Liam.

“Of course, he did,” Haven answered. He’d send her a text with a link to the video. “It’s not every day Liam sings an old Irish ditty in a crowded pub.”

Cole laughed. “You’d be surprised.”

“He’s kind of made a thing of it,” Brian said. “Now, whenever Lucky jumps behind the bar to help old Ray out, the two of them end up leading sing-a-longs.”

Surprised, Haven turned toward Liam. “You didn’t tell me you worked here.”

“That’s because I don’t.” He shrugged. “I’m good behind the bar, so I help out sometimes if Ray gets overwhelmed. I mainly do it because it’s fun and the tips are good.”

“As if you kept those,” Ben scoffed, then turned to her to explain. “Liam won’t take the money he earns, no matter how hard they try to pay him. He has Ray split his tip money evenly among the wait staff.”

Liam shrugged again, as though his generosity was no big deal. He dropped her bag next to an empty chair and toed it under the table. He pulled out the chair and motioned for her to sit. “I’m gonna head over and get my girl a drink,” he announced once she was settled. “You guys keep your hands to yourselves, and no fucking talking about me while I’m gone.”

“Arrogant much?” Joker smirked as he slid into the chair on her left. “We have better things to talk about than your ugly ass.”

Liam used two fingers to point to his own eyes, then swiveled his fingers toward the guys. “Bro-code.” Haven laughed as Liam walked away. “Bro-code? What’s that mean?” She stretched her legs out under the table, grateful for the room to move after being stuck in an airplane for the better part of the last seventeen hours.

Brian, Chris, and Ben took chairs around the table, leaving the chair to her right open for Liam.

“It means he’ll kick our asses if we tell you any embarrassing stories about him. And by the way,” Brian leaned in, grinning from ear to ear, “I got the girl.”

Haven offered him a high-five. “Heartbreaker, no more, aye?” Happy endings gave Haven hope that maybe one day she’d find hers.
Kincade, Parker; Authors, Paradise. Hot SEAL, Charmed. Kindle Locations (363-403). Parker Kincade. Kindle Edition.

I laughed out loud when she refers to them as excited puppies and then Liam refers to them being in the doghouse.

There’s quite a few ups and downs for Liam and Haven as their lifelong friendship evolves into something more.

Lots of laughter, some tears and sizzling heat!

5 Contented Purrs for Parker!

Parker Kincade

USA Today Bestselling Author, Parker Kincade, writes edge-of-your-seat-sexy romantic suspense, hot and steamy sports romance, and contemporary western romance. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest, and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.

Parker lives in the Southern United States. She loves to read, play golf, spend time with her family and friends, snuggle with her beloved boxer, ice cream from the ice cream truck, and watching old musicals.