Johnny: #2 (Special Forces) by Madison Stevens

her. It was like torture to stand next to her knowing there was nothing he could do. For now, he was just going to have to be content with spending time with her. But later he planned on making her pay for his torture with a little torture of his own.
    “Deal.”
     
    * * *
     
    “I can’t believe you did this,” Marissa said for about the tenth time.
    Maddy looked over to her friend. She really couldn’t see what she was complaining about. Head to toe she looked amazing in her skin-tight black pants, dark shimmery gray top with pretty chains as the straps and enough cleavage to knock most of the men out in the room.
    Marissa looked like she should be on the cover of a glamor magazine instead of in some cheap club where the drinks were weak and the music loud.
    “Relax,” Maddy said. “I thought about you, too, remember? He’s bringing one of his SEAL buddies.” Maddy winked at her, but it didn’t seem to ease her friend’s mind.
    “Yeah, and I’m sure I’m the last sort of girl some SEAL guy would expect.”
    “Nice to meet you,” a low voice rumbled. “I’m Clint.”
    Maddy watched as Johnny came to her side and slipped his hand in hers.
    Her friend appeared to be stunned into silence.
    Maddy had to admit Clint was a pretty impressively large man, even if he was a bit older than Johnny. He was wearing a button-up striped shirt that only seemed to make his muscles look even larger.
    “What took you so long?” she whispered to Johnny.
    He offered her a funny smile and looked back to Clint.
    “We were just chatting a bit,” he said.
    She gave a small frown. Something was off with him, something about his tone or maybe the look in his eyes as he spoke. Maybe something had happened during the ride.
    She hoped he’d talk to her about it but knew that it might not be something he couldn’t talk to her about if involved the SEALs.
    Trent’s time in the military made her all too familiar with the concept of OPSEC, operations security, and how even the most innocent of information being passed on could present a risk to military personnel. Still, she wanted to know if he was upset, even if not the details.
    Maddy gave Johnny’s hand a squeeze and kissed him on the cheek. She turned her attention back to her friend and the hulking man.
    Marissa seemed even more nervous now than before.
    Clint cleared his throat, seeming to recognize the uncomfortable silence choking the introductions.
    “So Johnny tells me you two are in college together,” he said.
    The waitress came over, and Johnny ordered a beer while Clint stuck with soda.
    She waited for Marissa to say something but realized her friend was suffering a bad case of being tongue tied.
    “I’m studying photography, but Marissa studies hospitality management.”
    He raised a brow and turned to Marissa. “What’s that exactly?”
    “In my case, just a fancy way of saying I’m studying how to run hotels,” Marissa said quietly.
    “That sounds very interesting,” he said. “Does that mean you get to travel often?”
    She smiled, her shyness fading. “Yes, I do actually. I imagine you do, too.”
    He chuckled. “I’ve seen a lot of places in my time in the Navy.”
    The two started talking about their travels around the world. Maddy smiled to herself, satisfied that they seemed to be hitting it off.
    She turned her attention back to the quiet Johnny, who hadn’t touched his beer and refused to let go of her hand.
    Before she could even speak, he mumbled in her ear, “Let’s dance.”
    She shivered at his words but nodded, still desperate to know just what had happened in the time since she’d last seen him. Something about him still seemed off, somber even.
     
    Johnny stood and pulled her onto the floor. The music pounded loudly there, and he knew there wouldn’t be any way he’d have to talk.
    Besides, what was he supposed to say? That his squad was being sent out the day after tomorrow to follow a lead they had been given about Williamson