An idea crept into his brain. “Would you mind if I invited a few of my teammates? They’re football nuts, so they’ll have a blast. And I think you’ll like ’em.”
Her green eyes narrowed. “Are they all bossy, sex-obsessed ladies’ men like you?”
Jackson blinked innocently. “Naah. They’re the tamest, most courteous guys you’ll ever meet, sugar.”
Chapter Eight
The following evening, Mia was yet again the center of attention in the high school parking lot. Last week, her date had drawn all the admiring looks. Tonight, it was her date and the three spectacular-looking men he was chatting with.
She’d met Seth Masterson briefly when she’d worked in his yard, so she instantly recognized him as she approached the foursome. She didn’t know the other two men—a handsome blond with dancing green eyes, and a dark-haired Adonis with amazing bone structure—but Jackson quickly remedied that.
“Hi, sugar,” he said, leaning over to plant a soft peck on her lips. “Come meet the boys.”
She tried to ignore the incredibly noticeable stares of all the women in their vicinity, and focused on greeting Jackson’s teammates.
“This is Cash,” Jackson told her, gesturing to the SEAL with the dark hair. “Cash, my girl Mia.”
She felt herself flush at the introduction, but didn’t object to it. She supposed she was his girl. Tonight, anyway.
“Nice to meet you, Mia.” Cash flashed her a gorgeous smile, his vivid blue eyes twinkling with admiration as he extended his hand.
“Ditto,” she said, shaking his big, callused hand.
“Blondie over here is Dylan,” Jackson went on. “Be careful or he might just charm your pants off.”
“Definitely a possibility,” the blond agreed cheerfully, “considering I haven’t had sex in—”
“Ten days,” Cash and Seth finished, rolling their eyes.
Mia grinned as she and Dylan shook hands. “I take it you’re not happy with your current situation?”
He sighed. “I most certainly am not, honey. But my partners are out of town, so I’m afraid I must remain celibate for a while longer.”
Partners?
Before she could question the remark, Jackson finished up the introductions by pointing to Seth. “And you’ve already met this smartass, right?”
“I have.” She smiled at the scruffy-haired SEAL. “Nice to see you again. Why didn’t Miranda come tonight?”
“Oh, she’s here,” Seth replied in his deep, gravelly voice. “She and Jen just took the rugrats to the bathroom. We’re meeting them inside.”
“Jen is Cash’s girl,” Jackson explained. “You’ll like her. She’s a real sweetheart.”
Mia couldn’t believe how many people gawked at them on their way to the stadium entrance. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. The four SEALs made an imposing picture—they were equally tall and muscular, and walked with the same predatory swagger that made every pair of eyes gravitate in their direction.
As the men paid the kid at the gate, Mia noticed that all three of Jackson’s teammates were wearing cargo pants that had a gazillion pockets. And yet strangely enough, she was able to get a clear sense of their personalities based on their outfits. Cash’s cargo pants were olive-green and paired with a black long-sleeve shirt, giving him an intense, serious vibe. Seth wore black on the bottom, a gray pullover the exact shade as his silvery eyes, and his dark stubble lent him a feral, badass air. In contrast, Dylan’s pants were khaki-colored, and his blue polo shirt and white button-down told her that he was the most easygoing of the bunch.
And then there was Jackson. Her sexy cowboy in his trademark denim and plaid, with a white undershirt and beat-up black combat boots. She wondered why he didn’t just go all out and wear cowboy boots. And a Stetson. Lord, she suspected he looked damn spectacular in a Stetson. Like a military Marlboro man.
The five of them moved through the crowd and ascended the bleacher steps with Seth in the lead. His hawk-like gaze scanned the rows of seats. “There they are,” he said, then moved purposefully toward his target.
Mia smiled when she spotted Miranda and the twins.
“Hello again,” she greeted the dark-haired woman, before turning to the two adorable children. “Hey, guys, remember me? I’m Mia.”
The little girl—Sophie, she recalled—dove out of her seat and threw her arms around Mia’s legs.
“I remember!” Sophie declared, her dark head barely reaching Mia’s stomach. “You made our garden pretty!”
Mia bent down to return the hug, and was surprised when Sophie’s brother Jason also jumped up to embrace her. She tweaked his brown hair before straightening up, then watched in amusement as the kids scrambled over to Seth and dragged him to the seat directly between them.
As Cash, Dylan and Jackson flopped down and got comfortable, a blonde with a heartbreakingly beautiful face stood up to introduce herself.
“I’m Jen,” she said, her warm blue eyes sweeping over Mia. “Texas has told us a lot about you.”
“Texas?” Mia echoed.