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

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The following day, Gabby stood on the balcony watching a few surfers brave the chilly ocean. She spotted a few families building sandcastles.

Watching the interaction brought back memories for Gabby when she and her brother were young and would go to the beach with their parents. She smiled, remembering how her brother hated to get in the ocean because he was afraid of sharks, so he would spend beach days playing in the sand with their mom.

Gabby, on the other hand, had no fear of the water. Her dad and her would body surf the waves, though she would pay the price afterward when the crotch of her bathing suit was full of sand.That memory made her laugh out loud, as she recalled one particular time when her bathing suit was full of sand, and she had asked her brother if that was how it felt to have balls. Though, she didn’t just ask the question. She had shouted it so the entire beach could hear. Her parents had been mortified.

These were the types of memories that Gabby liked to capture. An idea then struck her.

Rushing back inside the condo, Gabby went to the spare room, grabbed her painting materials, and headed out the door. There was still an hour or two left until the sunset.

Her lips curled up in a smile when her toes sunk in the white sand. Pushing away all the thoughts of her injury, her upcoming swim test, and the medical board review hearing, she set up her easel and a blank canvas.

Taking a seat on the seawall, she turned her attention to the sky. Seeing the beginning stages of the sun starting to set, Gabby picked up her paintbrush for the time in years and got to work.

With each stroke of the brush, she got lost in the scene, allowing her mind to focus on the serenity of the scene before her. She let the worries in the world fade away, the drama and stress of her life dissolving like the fluffy seafoam on the sand.With her mind free of all thoughts and unknowns encompassing her life, Gabby focused intently on her canvas, capturing the vibrant colors and tranquil atmosphere of the sunset. She let her mind wander, finding solace in the beauty of the moment.

Gabby's brush moved smoothly, blending colors to capture the play of light and shadow. She sighed, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in weeks. This beach had always been her sanctuary, a place where she could escape from the chaos of life and just be herself.

For the next hour, she was lost in the beauty and peacefulness surrounding her. The rhythmic sound of the waves gently lapping the shoreline brought a calmness to her.

As she painted, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. A couple had walked onto the beach, their hands intertwined, and their laughter over the sounds of the ocean was soft and intimate.

Gabby paused, her brush hovering in mid-air as she watched them. They strolled along the shore, their footprints trailing behind them, and a pang of nostalgia tugged at her heart.

Her mind drifted back to her first date with Playboy. They had walked the beach, hand in hand, the same way this couple did now. She could almost hear the sound of their laughter, feel the warmth of his hand in hers. That evening had been perfect, the start of something beautiful.

Gabby smiled as she focused on her painting again, adding the final touches to the sun, which was slowly disappearing.

With a final stroke against the canvas, she stepped back to admire her work. The sunset on the canvas looked almost as breathtaking as the real thing. She smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment and a renewed sense of calm.

“Amazing,” a deep voice from behind her said.

She had been so engrossed in her work that she hadn't even sensed someone was standing behind her, which was unusual for her.

Startled, she turned around quickly and found a man standing a few feet away, his eyes fixed on her canvas. He was tall, with a tan complexion. But his business suit made him look out of place.

“Thank you,” she replied cautiously, her grip tightening on her brush. “I didn't realize I had an audience.”

The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. “I was just walking by, and I couldn't help but notice your talent. You really captured the essence of the evening sky.”

Gabby forced a polite smile, feeling a knot of unease forming in her stomach. “Thanks. It's been a while since I’ve painted.”

The man took a step closer, his gaze now fixed on her. “It’s a good spot, especially this time of the day when it’s much more quiet without all the beachgoers.”

Gabby's unease grew the closer the man got to her. She glanced around, realizing how empty the beach was. “Yeah, it is,” she replied and glanced at her watch, acting as if she needed to rush home. “Anyway, I should probably pack up and head home.”

The man’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of disappointment. “Oh, please don't rush off on my account. It’s rare to meet someone so talented, not to mention beautiful.”

She began to gather her supplies, her movements quick and deliberate. “I appreciate the compliment, but I really do need to go.”

He took another step closer, invading her personal space. “What’s the hurry? The night’s still young. Maybe I could buy you a drink.”

Gabby's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the intensity of his gaze, and it sent chills down her spine.Alarm bells rang in her mind. She looked directly at him, her voice firm. “I have plans,” she lied, hoping to deter him. “My fiancé is probably waiting for me.”

The man’s expression darkened, and he tilted his head, studying her. Shit! Could he sense that she was lying?

“You know, now that I get a good look at you. I think I've seen you before. You swim every morning at that pool,” he told her as he pointed to the gated area of the condo complex where the pool was.”

Gabby’s heart was racing. This guy was a creep! Had he been watching her? And if so, for how long?

“Look, I don't know who you are, but you need to leave me alone.”

His expression darkened for a moment before he forced a smile. “I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to admire your work.”

Just then, she heard his voice—Playboy!

“Gabby!”

Relief washed over her as she turned to see Playboy jogging towards her. His presence instantly made her feel safe.

The creepy man’s demeanor changed instantly. He took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Playboy. “Well, enjoy your evening,” he muttered before quickly turning and walking away.

When Playboy reached her, concern was etched on his face. “Who was that? Are you okay?” he asked.

Gabby exhaled, feeling the tension leave her body. “I’m okay now. He was just...weird. Thanks for showing up when you did.”

“When I got home and didn’t find you inside and then saw that your painting stuff was gone, I went out onto the balcony and saw you down here. I was going to leave you be, but then I noticed that guy.

She smiled as she looked up into his eyes. “Thanks for coming down. He was a little creepy. He made a comment about seeing me in the mornings as I swam in the pool.”

“What?!” He seethed. His jaw was tight.

“Yeah. Like I said, creepy.”

He placed his hand against her cheek. “Are you sure that you’re okay?” he asked again.

She grinned as she lifted up on her toes and looped her arms around his neck.

“I promise, that I’m okay. A little creeped out. But okay.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her legs around him, her arms resting on his shoulders. His steady strength always calmed her, but there was something protective in the way he held her now.

“He didn’t say anything else?”

“He asked me out for a drink,” Gabby said, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Playboy raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

“But don’t worry,” she added, leaning in closer. “I told him that I was meeting my fiancé.”

She felt the change in him immediately. His lips curled into a satisfied smile, and his grip tightened around her waist. “Your fiancé, huh?” he murmured, clearly liking the sound of that.

Before Gabby could respond, his lips found hers, gentle at first, then deepening with an intensity that made her forget everything but him. The kiss was slow as the cool breeze from the ocean swirled around them, but all she felt was the heat of the moment, the connection between them.

When they finally pulled apart, Gabby rested her forehead against his. Her heart was racing.

Playboy smiled and kissed her nose. “I could get used to being called your fiancé,” he teased, making her laugh. But deep down, she wouldn’t have a problem with it.

“Want to sit on the beach for a little while longer?” he asked her.

She smiled. “Sure. It’s beautiful out.”

Playboy placed her gently down on the sand, and then he sat down behind her with his knees bent and let her lean against his chest.

As she stared into the fading horizon, her thoughts drifted back to the strange man who’d approached her. There had been something unsettling about him, something that made her feel uneasy even now, with Playboy close by. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence hadn’t just been random.

But she pushed those thoughts aside, for now, letting the warmth of Playboy’s embrace comfort her as the waves rolled in and the day slipped into the night.

◆◆◆

Tyson leaned back in his sleek leather chair, staring out of his office window at the DEA Headquarters in Springfield, Virginia. The blinds were half drawn, letting in just enough of the late afternoon sunlight to cast long shadows across the room. His desk was a mess of scattered papers, but his mind was sharper than ever as he reviewed the intel he had on Gabriella Allen—or rather, the lack of it.

When he’d tried to pull her Coast Guard files, most of it came back redacted, marked “CLASSIFIED” in bold letters. That immediately piqued his interest. A deep dive into her service record had led him to one significant detail. She was part of the MSRT, the elite Maritime Security Response Team. Tyson was impressed, which was rare, but it also made his job more complicated. Ramon wanted every scrap of information on her, but the woman was clearly not someone easily tracked or understood.

His phone buzzed, breaking his thoughts. The name Lucas flashed on the screen. He swiped to answer, pressing the phone to his ear.

“Tyson,” Lucas’s voice was hushed, but there was excitement in his tone. “I got something for you.”

“Make it quick,” Tyson said, his voice cool and detached. Lucas had been tailing Gabriella for a few days now. He wasn’t expecting much, but Lucas was good at his job.

“I talked to her.”

Tyson’s grip on the phone tightened. His jaw clenched. Talked ? He’d told Lucas explicitly not to approach her.

“You did what?” Tyson’s voice dropped to a dangerous low.

“I—yeah, I just... I had an opening, you know?” Lucas stammered. “She was sitting all along on the beach painting a picture of the sunset. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get close. I used the painting as a conversation piece.”

“You figured wrong,” Tyson snapped. “Your job was to tail her, not make friends.” His patience was running thin. This was supposed to be a covert operation—Gabriella wasn’t some low-level target.

Lucas hesitated for a second, but he pressed on. “Right, sorry, but listen. She’s living in a condo right on the beach.” He rattled off the address to Tyson. “Thing is, there’s a guy who’s been hanging around a lot.”

“A guy?” Tyson leaned forward, his interest piqued. “Who?”

“Big dude. Military-looking. He’s built like a brick wall though, real serious type.”

Tyson’s mind began to race, connecting dots. If someone like that was around, it could mean trouble.

“And what else?” Tyson asked, his voice growing impatient.

Lucas took a breath before continuing, “I think he’s her fiancé.”

Tyson's hand froze mid-air, halfway to his coffee mug. “Fiancé?” That was new. Gabriella didn’t have a fiancé on file, at least not from what he had been able to dig up.

“Yeah, man,” Lucas said, clearly sensing Tyson’s surprise.

Tyson let out a long breath, processing the information. Gabriella Allen was already a complicated enough target, but now she had a man like that in her corner? This had the potential to get messy fast.

“Alright,” Tyson said, masking his irritation with a professional tone. “I’ll be heading to Virginia Beach next week. I’ll make it appear that I’m visiting family. My step-sister has been nagging me anyway about coming to see her. Listen, keep your eyes on Gabriella until I get there. But do not approach her again.”

“Got it,” Lucas replied.

Tyson hung up the phone and let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his short-cropped hair. He sat back in his chair again, letting the silence of the office settle in around him. This was turning into more work than he’d anticipated. Gabriella’s MSRT background was already making things tricky, but now a fiancé?

That wasn’t part of the plan.

Ramon was going to need to pay double for all the extra work and effort Tyson was putting in. Tracking someone like Gabriella wasn’t a simple tail-and-report job. This was turning into a full-blown operation, and Tyson wasn’t doing charity work. Ramon’s obsession with Gabriella might be personal, but Tyson was in this for one thing—the money.