Wed to a SEAL (Hot SEALs) (Volume 8) Read Free Page A

not enough for a big repair bill from a service station.
    “Okay, give it a go.”
    Wanting to do the right thing, she decided it was best to confirm first. “You mean try to start it?”
    He walked into view. “Yeah. Turn the key, but don’t pump the gas. You’ll flood it.”
    She did as he’d asked and the car rumbled to life. Her eyes drifted closed as she said a silent prayer of thanks and let herself breathe again.
    He slammed the hood and walked back to her. “It was a loose wire. It should be good now.”
    “Thank you so much. I mean it. You really saved me.” She couldn’t help but eye the size of the man’s forearm as he leaned on the top of her open door.
    He smiled from beneath a thick beard that made him look even more manly than his muscles did. “My pleasure. Always happy to help a lady in need.”
    Isabel hadn’t felt like a lady in a long time, but she nodded anyway. “Well, thank you. I appreciate it.”
    “You’re welcome.” His gaze held hers before he extended his arm. “I’m Rocky, by the way.”
    She hesitated before shaking his hand, reluctant to give him her real name but feeling too guilty to lie since he had fixed her car.
    Finally, she fought back the irrational fear and said, “Isabel.”
    “Isabel. Pretty name. You work here?”
    His question gave her pause. It was ridiculous since she was in the parking lot of the strip club and it was pretty obvious she did work here, but for some reason she hadn’t wanted him to know that. “Yes. But I’m done for today.”
      “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime. Have a good night.” He tipped his dark head.
    “Goodnight.”
    Taking a step back, he slammed her door and turned away.
    She watched as he walked to a truck, reached into his pocket and pulled out keys and a cell phone. He opened the door and leaned inside the cab to fiddle with something. He emerged shortly, slammed the door and clicked the locks closed.
    Heading back toward the entrance to the building, he glanced up at her car. She felt his eyes on her through the windshield.
    Not only had she been caught watching this guy when she had no reason to, but now he was probably wondering if she had some other problem with the car.
    Isabel hurried to shift into Reverse and backed out of the space.
    Glancing up as she shifted into Drive, she saw he’d gone back inside.
    Maybe there were genuinely nice guys to be found, even at a strip club. Or maybe her instincts were still as bad as they’d been when she’d trusted Tito.
    It didn’t really matter either way. She had to go. As it was she was going to be late getting home to relieve Hannah.
    Keeping herself and her daughter safe was Isabel’s only concern at the moment. Handsome strangers were not in her plans for the future.

CHAPTER 3
    Isabel woke and stretched, feeling lazy. She had the day off. At least off from working at the club. She still had a mountain of laundry to do, groceries to buy, and a week’s worth of meals to prepare.
    She’d already learned that eating take-out drained her bank account faster than cooking herself. But if she planned wisely, she could cook enough on her day off to freeze meals to eat for the rest of the week.
    A soft cry from the crib in the corner caught her attention. Lola was awake. That had probably been what knocked Isabel out of her peaceful and much needed slumber to begin with.
    She added change, feed and bathe her daughter to the list of chores for the day and resigned herself that it was time to get out of bed.
    Swinging her legs over the edge of the mattress, she stood and felt the tingling in her feet. A long shift in stripper heels took more than one night’s sleep to recover from.
    That was why she earned the big bucks, she supposed. If it were easy, everyone would do it.
    Yeah, right. Spinning on a pole in a G-string while men ogled was a real dream job.
    With a sarcastic snort, she moved to the crib and smiled at her daughter.
    “Good morning, nena .” Isabel had