Playboy (The Trident Series II: BRAVO Team #4)

CHAPTER SEVEN

When was the last time I’ve been on an actual date? Gabby thought to herself as she stood in her bedroom, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror and trying to determine if the outfit she had chosen to wear for her date with Playboy was appropriate.

She wanted to look nice, but she didn’t want to wear a dress. She felt much more comfortable in a pair of jeans paired with a nice top when she went out. However, she found a cute black, wide-leg jumpsuit hidden in the back of her closet. The top had a butterfly sleeve with a wide crew neck, and it included a matching sash that tied around her waist.

She did a little half-turn, checking herself out again. She loved the way the silky material felt against her skin and how it showed off her curves. She was proud of her athletic build. She had put a lot of work into keeping herself in shape.

“Damn, girl. “You clean up nicely,” Luna said as she walked into Gabby’s room.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” Gabby questioned, turning back toward the mirror.

“Not at all. The outfit, mixed with your hair pulled back in a messy low bun with a few tendrils framing your face, screams casual but elegant. Hell, if I batted for the other team, I’d ask you out,” Luna told her as she fanned her face with her hand.

Gabby snorted a laugh. She then looked down at her bare feet.

“I can’t decide if I want to wear the black sandals with the low heels or the tan strappy three-inch heels?”

Luna took a step back and eyed both pairs of shoes sitting on the floor. “Definitely, the tan three-inch heels.”

Gabby had a feeling her friend was going to go for the three-inch heels. Luna was a high-heel whore. But in all honesty, the tan strappy heels paired well with the outfit. However, she wasn’t sure how her hip was going to feel after walking in them.

Gabby slipped the heels on her feet and did one final twirl for Luna.

“You look hot, Gabs. Your man isn’t going to be able to take his eyes off you.”

God, she hoped Playboy would like it. She glanced at the clock, noting that Playboy should be there soon to pick her up. She felt the nerves hit her stomach, and she placed her hand on her belly, wishing the butterflies would go away.

She glanced at Luna. “I think I need a drink before he gets here.”

Luna busted out laughing. “Come on, I have some Vodka. I’ll make you one of my favorite drinks.”

Gabby stood in the kitchen cautiously, eyeing the yellowish liquid in the shot glass sitting on the counter. She looked at her friend and raised one of her eyebrows.

“Are you positive whatever this concoction is won’t put me on my ass? You know the effect that alcohol has on me.” Gabby wasn’t ashamed to admit that she was a lightweight when it came to alcohol.

Luna grinned. “I promise that it won’t make you embarrass yourself. It’ll be just enough to help take that edge off. Trust me, it will help you relax. Plus, I know how much this date means to you, and there is no way I would try to sabotage it. Now, drink up because your stud muffin will be here any minute, and that shot will take a couple of minutes to kick in.”

Gabby snorted a laugh. “Stud muffin?”

“What? He’s hot, and he’s a SEAL. However, I prefer my species of wolves. And even though I have a mate out there, that doesn’t mean I’m blind. I’m not ashamed to compliment a guy when it’s due.”

Gabby shook her head but couldn’t hide her smile as Luna spoke about her “mate” and her wolf life. It had taken Gabby a few months to get over the shock that her best friend believed she was really a wolf shifter and was looking for her mate, or in human terms, her boyfriend. To each their own. As long as her friend was happy, that was all that mattered.

“Ahem…”

The sound of Luna clearing her throat pulled Gabby from her head. Her friend knew she was stalling. But Luna was right. This date really did mean a lot to Gabby, and going into it, feeling like a nervous wreck wouldn’t do her any good.

Gabby lifted the glass to her lips and downed the shot in one gulp. She squeezed her eyes closed as the liquid left a trail of heat down her throat before settling in her stomach.

“Jesus Christ! What is that shit?” Gabby sputtered as she walked over to the sink and washed the shot glass.

Luna chuckled. “Believe me, you’ll be thanking me in a few minutes. Now, go grab your purse. You left it on your bed.”

Just as Gabby entered her bedroom, she heard a knock at the door. Luna shouted that she’d get it. She grabbed her purse and took a deep breath, hoping that she wouldn’t embarrass herself tonight.

As she walked down the hall, the voices of Luna and Playboy had her looking toward the front door where Playboy stood. When she looked up, his eyes were locked on her as she took in the sight of him.

Dressed in a dark green button-up dress shirt tucked neatly into a pair of khaki pants, the man looked scrumptious, especially when she eyed the top two buttons of the dress shirt undone, showing off a bit of his tan skin underneath. His short, dark brown hair was sticking up in a sexy way as if he just ran his fingers through it. When he flashed her a sexy smile, her heart rate spiked. Damn, he was gorgeous.

“Well, you two have fun,” Luna stated, giving them a little wave with her fingers before she turned and walked toward her bedroom, leaving Gabby and Playboy alone in the living room.

“Hey,” Gabby said, taking the last few steps to where Playboy was standing.

Playboy kept his powerful gaze pinned to her eyes.

“Hi,” he responded, his voice low but deep.

She shyly looked down, but Playboy touched her chin, making her tilt her face up towards his. He placed his other hand on her hip, and that simple contact sent her heart beating even faster. “You look absolutely stunning.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger against her skin.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she looked back up into his honey-colored eyes. Feeling a little brave, she placed her hand on his chest.

“You look good yourself. I love the color green on you. It brings out the color of your eyes.”

He grinned before taking her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it.

“We’d better get going so we’re not late for our reservation,” he said, leading her out of the apartment and toward the elevator. Any other time, she would take the two flights of stairs down, but as nervous as she felt, she wasn’t confident she could handle the stairs in three-inch heels without embarrassing herself.

Playboy held her hand as they waited for the elevator. When it arrived, they both got on, and Playboy hit the button for the ground floor. As the elevator started to descend, an awkward silence fell between the two of them, and Gabby’s nerves returned in full force as questions filtered in and out of her mind about what this date would bring. What would they talk about? Would she make a fool of herself? What was he expecting from her at the end of the date? Would this be their first and last date? Was she overreacting? She felt like her head might explode. Why on earth was she so worked up about a date? For heaven’s sake, she kissed him and even had dinner with his team last night.

She was snapped out of her insecure thoughts by the deep voice that softly called her name.

“Gabby?”

When she looked up, she met Playboy’s concerned gaze. But then she also realized they were standing next to his car in the parking lot. And he was still holding her hand.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered softly, turning her head away from him out of embarrassment. She couldn’t believe that she had zoned out and had walked from the elevator to the parking lot without even knowing it. She wished that the ground would open up and swallow her.

“Hey, look at me,” Playboy softly spoke as he cupped her cheek with his warm hand, bringing her eyes back to his. He gave her a warm smile that she felt in her heart, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him.

Jesus, he must think I am batshit crazy. Just tell him the truth.

She took a deep breath. “I swear I’m not crazy. I’m nervous as hell about this date,” she admitted, which drew a laugh from Playboy.

“It’s okay. And I get it. I’m a little nervous myself,” he admitted, and that made Gabby feel a little bit better.

She smiled and then lifted up and gave him a quick peck on the lips before quickly ducking into the car.

◆◆◆

Playboy luckily found a parking spot not too far from the restaurant. After turning the car off, he hurried around to Gabby’s side and opened the door for her. Holding out his hand, she smiled and thanked him as she climbed out.

He held her hand as they crossed the street and walked one block to the entrance of the restaurant.

He couldn’t have asked for better weather. There were a few clouds in the sky as the sun was lowering, making room for the moon as it started to appear. The temperature was in the low seventies, and it was expected to drop only a few more degrees. It was a perfect fall evening for a date on the beach.

“Are you okay with sitting outside?” he asked as he opened the door.

“Yeah. That sounds nice. It’s supposed to be a beautiful evening.” she replied, smiling at him.

He gave the hostess his name, and they were quickly shown to their table on the outside patio that overlooked the beach. The small two-seater table they were seated at was the exact table he had requested. It had the perfect view of the water, and there was an outdoor heater nearby in case it got chilly.

Playboy looked around as he sat down across from Gabby. The atmosphere of the evening was perfect, as if the universe had conspired to make the moment unforgettable. The gentle sound of the waves lapping against the shore provided a soothing backdrop, while the cool breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean. The soft glow of the lanterns cast a romantic light over their table, adding to the magic of the night. But the most perfect part of it all was the woman sitting across from him. Her smile and the way she looked at him with those bright, determined eyes—she was everything he never knew he needed. She was the reason the night felt perfect.

He smiled at her, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Gabby looked stunning in every way possible. But he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her blue eyes that sparkled with anticipation.

“This place is beautiful,” she said, glancing around.

“Not as beautiful as you,” Playboy replied, feeling a rush of warmth when she blushed slightly at his compliment.

Before she could respond, the waiter appeared to take their drink orders.

Playboy looked at Gabby.

“I’ll take a chardonnay, please.”

“And I’ll have a Yuengling, please.”

“A Chardonnay and Yuengling. I’ll be right back with those.”

They both looked over the menu and when the waiter returned with their drinks, they placed their food order.

When the waiter left, Playboy leaned forward.

“So,” he began, “we’ve known each other for a while, but I feel like there’s still so much I don’t know about you. What do you do when you’re not saving the day with the Coast Guard?”

Gabby smiled, taking a sip of her wine. “Well, I love cooking. It’s a passion of mine. I find it really therapeutic. I also enjoy reading, especially mystery novels, and I try to stay active.”

“Cooking, huh? What’s your favorite dish?” Playboy asked, genuinely curious.

“Don’t laugh, but I like to make sandwiches. I like taking a simple hot sandwich and dressing it up,” she said with a laugh. “What about you? What do you like to do when you’re not, umm…traveling around the world?”

Playboy chuckled as he leaned back, thinking for a moment. “I love being outdoors. It clears my head. And I like to spend time with my mom and aunt when I can.”

Gabby’s eyes lit up. “Do your mom and aunt live close by?”

“They are a few hours from here, in North Carolina.”

“That’s great you’re able to see them when you can.”

“It is. After my dad died, my mom struggled, but thankfully, my crazy but amazing Aunt Lisa helped her get through the dark days. They actually live together now.”

Gabby smiled. “I think that’s wonderful that they live together and can keep each other company. And I’m glad that your mom had her sister there to support her.”

“How about you? Do you have any siblings?” He asked, taking a sip of his beer.

“I have a brother, Will. He’s also in the Coast Guard. He and his wife Marnie live in Islamorada.”

Playboy’s eyes widened. “That must be nice, living down in the Florida Keys. It’s beautiful down there.”

Gabby nodded. “It is beautiful. He lucked out when he put in for that Station. Marnie is already talking about looking for a house there to settle down after Will retires.”

“I can’t blame her,” Playboy said, smiling. “So, what’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the chance to yet?”

Gabby looked thoughtful as she leaned back in her chair. “That’s a tough one. There are so many things. But if I had to choose one, I think it would be to see the Northern Lights. Like really see them.”

Playboy was surprised to hear that she hadn’t ever seen the Northern Lights, considering she’d traveled all over the world at her job with the MSRT.

“They are beautiful to witness. I’m surprised you’ve never seen them with all the traveling you've done.”

“Bad timing,” she stated with a shrug.

Playboy nodded. “Well, maybe someday you’ll get to see them,” he suggested. He would love to take her to the Aroura Borealis Observatory in Norway. He felt a spark of excitement at the thought. Whoa…slow down. It’s only the first date.

Their food arrived, and they continued their conversation between bites, learning more about each other’s backgrounds, dreams, and fears. The more they talked, the more Playboy felt a deep connection forming. Gabby was not only beautiful but also smart, kind, and resilient.

Playboy leaned back in his chair, grinning as he watched Gabby laugh across the table. Their date so far had been nothing short of perfect. But when she shot him a mischievous look, he knew something was coming.

“So, I have to ask,” Gabby said, leaning forward. “What’s your real name? I’m not going to walk around calling my boyfriend ‘Playboy’ forever.”

Playboy chuckled, shaking his head. “Fair enough. It’s Tanner.”

Gabby’s smile widened. “Tanner. See? That’s much better suited for you.”

They both laughed until she hit him with the follow-up question.

“Alright, Tanner. How on earth did you get the call sign Playboy? You don’t exactly strike me as some Hugh Hefner type.”

Playboy’s grin turned sheepish, and he scratched the back of his neck. “Okay, so we, the team and I were in Thailand a few years back. We had some downtime, so we decided to hit the local market. You know, get a feel for the area, try to blend in with the tourists, and all that.”

Gabby raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Oh, I’m sure blending in was your top priority.”

“Hey, I was trying!” Playboy protested, laughing. “Anyway, I got separated from the team for like five minutes. I swear it wasn’t even that long. Next thing I knew, these two local girls were dragging me into this high-end clothing shop, insisting I needed to try on this ridiculous silk robe they were selling. Before I could argue, they had me decked out in a gold robe with some scary-looking dragon running down the back of it. Looked like something straight out of a James Bond villain’s closet.”

Gabby covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. “A dragon robe? Please tell me there’s more.”

“Oh, there’s more,” Playboy said, smirking. “Just as I’m trying to get out of this thing, the team walks in. And, of course, instead of helping me out, they’re howling and snapping pictures. Bear just shakes his head and goes, ‘Look at him, all decked out like some kind of playboy.’ And boom. It stuck.”

Gabby burst out laughing, tears forming in her eyes. “So you earned your call sign because you were caught in a silk robe?”

“Pretty much,” he said with a smirk.

“So, you are a Hugh Hefner ! Well, in your own way.” She giggled.

Playboy shrugged, still grinning. “Hey, I looked good in it. They couldn’t deny that.”

Gabby shook her head, still laughing. “I’m sure you did. But I think I’ll stick to your real name from now on.”

Playboy winked. “Whatever you say, Gabby. But deep down, I know you’ll always think of me as your silk-robed playboy.”

Gabby leaned in, her blue eyes sparkling. “Yeah, maybe. But only because you told me the story. Now, about those photos…”

Playboy laughed, shaking his head. “Oh no. I made sure those were destroyed. Well, I think I did.”

Gabby grinned. “I think I need to have a chat with your team.”

Playboy had no doubt she would ask his team for those pictures, and he was certain that one of those knuckleheads had kept one.

After finishing their meal, Playboy glanced at the beach. The moon was now high in the sky, reflecting its light off the water.

“Would you like to take a walk on the beach?” He asked. “We can talk a little more.”

Gabby’s face lit up. “I’d love that.”

Playboy paid the bill, and they left the restaurant and made their way down to the sand. They kicked off their shoes, and the sand felt cool beneath their feet. Playboy reached for Gabby’s hand, intertwining their fingers. The simple touch sent a jolt of electricity through him.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of the waves providing a soothing backdrop. Playboy squeezed Gabby’s hand gently. “This has been a really great night,” he said softly.

“It has,” Gabby agreed, looking up at him, a smile on her lips. “I feel like I’m getting to know you in a whole new way. I mean, I knew Playboy the SEAL. But getting to know Tanner, the person, has been enlightening.

Playboy stopped and turned to face her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “I feel the same way. I want to know everything about you. Every little detail.”

She smiled, her eyes locking with him. “I’m an open book. You can ask me anything.”

“Anything?” he quipped, leaning in a little towards her.

As if knowing what he was about to ask, she moved forward a smidge, her blue eyes meeting his. “Anything you want,”

He leaned in, his heart pounding, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. It was soft and tender at first, but when Gabby responded, the kiss deepened, full of unspoken promises and shared desires.

When they finally pulled apart, Gabby rested her head on his chest. “I think this is the start of something really special,” she whispered.

Playboy kissed the top of her head, feeling a profound sense of contentment. “I think so, too.”

As they continued their walk, hand in hand, sharing more kisses and stories as the night stretched on, Playboy knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful and lasting.