Second Chance SEAL: The Girl He Left Behind (Sunset SEALs Book 2) Read online

  Second Chance SEAL

  Sunset SEALs Book 2

  Sharon Hamilton

  Sharon Hamilton’s Book List

  SEAL BROTHERHOOD BOOKS

  SEAL BROTHERHOOD SERIES

  Accidental SEAL Book 1

  Fallen SEAL Legacy Book 2

  SEAL Under Covers Book 3

  SEAL The Deal Book 4

  Cruisin’ For A SEAL Book 5

  SEAL My Destiny Book 6

  SEAL of My Heart Book 7

  Fredo’s Dream Book 8

  SEAL My Love Book 9

  SEAL Encounter Prequel to Book 1

  SEAL Endeavor Prequel to Book 2

  Ultimate SEAL Collection Vol. 1 Books 1-4 /2 Prequels

  Ultimate SEAL Collection Vol. 2 Books 5-7

  BAD BOYS OF SEAL TEAM 3 SERIES

  SEAL’s Promise Book 1

  SEAL My Home Book 2

  SEAL’s Code Book 3

  Big Bad Boys Bundle Books 1-3

  BAND OF BACHELORS SERIES

  Lucas Book 1

  Alex Book 2

  Jake Book 3

  Jake 2 Book 4

  Big Band of Bachelors Bundle

  BONE FROG BROTHERHOOD SERIES

  New Year’s SEAL Dream Book 1

  SEALed At The Altar Book 2

  SEALed Forever Book 3

  SEAL’s Rescue Book 4

  SEALed Protection Book 5

  SILVER SEALS SERIES

  SEAL Love’s Legacy

  SLEEPER SEALS SERIES

  Bachelor SEAL

  SUNSET SEALS SERIES

  SEALed at Sunset

  Second Chance SEAL

  Treasure Island SEAL

  STAND ALONE BOOKS & SERIES

  SEAL’s Goal: The Beautiful Game

  Nashville SEAL: Jameson

  True Blue SEALS Zak

  Paradise: In Search of Love

  Love Me Tender, Love You Hard

  NOVELLAS

  SEAL You In My Dreams Magnolias and Moonshine

  PARANORMALS

  GOLDEN VAMPIRES OF TUSCANY SERIES

  Honeymoon Bite Book 1

  Mortal Bite Book 2

  Christmas Bite Book 3

  Midnight Bite Book 4

  THE GUARDIANS

  Heavenly Lover Book 1

  Underworld Lover Book 2

  Underworld Queen Book 3

  FALL FROM GRACE SERIES

  Gideon: Heavenly Fall

  NOVELLAS

  SEAL Of Time Trident Legacy

  All of Sharon’s books are available on Audible, narrated by the talented J.D. Hart.

  About the Book

  Navy SEAL Damon Hamblin’s life is in turmoil after he’s served with divorce papers during his last deployment. He crashes into a sleepy Florida Gulf Coast town to drown his sorrows and just fade into the background, where no one knows him and he can drink, surf and lay out on the beach until his insides heal. The last thing he wants is to rebound into another relationship.

  Martel Long came to Sunset Beach five years ago to visit a friend, and never left. She’s tried to forget the man who broke her heart back home, and had been doing a good job of it, until she comes face to face with him at a Bachelorette party for her best friend at a local beach bar.

  As sparks fly and old wounds are torn open, the sands at Sunset Beach help to heal a beautiful love story that could have been, and will be again.

  Begin Reading

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Table of Contents

  Copyright © 2020 by Sharon Hamilton

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. In many cases, liberties and intentional inaccuracies have been taken with rank, description of duties, locations and aspects of the SEAL community.

  License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Author’s Note

  I always dedicate my SEAL Brotherhood books to the brave men and women who defend our shores and keep us safe. Without their sacrifice, and that of their families—because a warrior’s fight always includes his or her family—I wouldn’t have the freedom and opportunity to make a living writing these stories. They sometimes pay the ultimate price so we can debate, argue, go have coffee with friends, raise our children and see them have children of their own.

  One of my favorite tributes to warriors resides on many memorials, including one I saw honoring the fallen of WWII on an island in the Pacific:

  “When you go home

  Tell them of us, and say

  For your tomorrow,

  We gave our today.”

  These are my stories created out of my own imagination. Anything that is inaccurately portrayed is either my mistake, or done intentionally to disguise something I might have overheard over a beer or in the corner of one of the hangouts along the Coronado Strand.

  I support two main charities. Navy SEAL/UDT Museum operates in Ft. Pierce, Florida. Please learn about this wonderful museum, all run by active and former SEALs and their friends and families, and who rely on public support, not that of the U.S. Government.

  www.navysealmuseum.org

  I also support Wounded Warriors, who tirelessly bring together the warrior as well as the family members who are just learning to deal with their soldier’s condition and have nowhere to turn. It is a long path to becoming well, but I’ve seen first-hand what this organization does for its warriors and the families who love them. Please give what your heart tells you is right. If you cannot give, volunteer at one of the many service centers all over the United States. Get involved. Do something meaningful for someone who gave so much of themselves, to families who have paid the price for your freedom. You’ll find a family there unlike any other on the planet.

  www.woundedwarriorproject.org

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Sharon Hamilton’s Book List

  About the Book

  Copyright Page

  Author’s Note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Reviews

  SEAL Prayer

  Chapter 1

  “Now this is what I’m talking about!” He poked his head outside, through the ten-inch opening in the sliding glass door and breathed in the cool early m
orning air.

  Bright blue sky. Shockingly white sugar sand beach. Not a cloud anywhere. Waves lapping on the shore. Nobody there.

  Special Operator Damon Hamlin of SEAL Team 3 knew this place would heal the black tarry puddle that was his soul.

  “A few beers, some margaritas, some moonlight sex, some wasted days. That oughta do it. Maybe I won’t go back,” he whispered to himself.

  A month ago, his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Charlene, had sent those papers straight to the forward camp they were holding up in Benin, West Africa. Of course, she didn’t care that he was putting his life on the line, trying to find bad guys. She just wanted out.

  I knew it was a mistake to leave after we had that big fight.

  But he never thought she would actually go to the trouble of actually attempting to have their marriage dissolved without as much as a phone call first. No, the woman couldn’t wait to shed off his carcass like a snake sheds his skin. More than likely, it was because she’d found herself another guy to perform unspeakable things to her body. That was Charlene, doing everything to excess. He’d liked it at first. Considered her a challenge. In the end, it was just drama, nothing but drama.

  In the thick manila envelope was a cover letter by her female attorney. Very terse and efficient, the letter spelled out the instructions for ending what was a volatile marriage anyway. There wasn’t an ounce of compassion or warmth in the words. And Charlene’s only personal part in all the papers was that she signed it. A “wet” signature, they called it. That was all she could muster. Probably all that was required.

  Wives who did this to active duty SEALs overseas on assignment were especially disliked on the Teams, and when word got round that Charlene had chosen to make their dissolution so public, he had got a lot of support. And that pissed him off too. Damon was not a wounded warrior. He had all his parts, even if he had a hole the size of California in his heart.

  His BUD/S and nearly ten-year buddy from Team 3, Renny Walker, had slept in the bunk beneath him in their railroad car bunker home-away-from-home—the closest thing he’d ever gotten to an African safari.

  “I’ve got to go to Florida to be at this wedding. When we get back home, why don’t you tag along with me?” Renny had teased, his hairy blond legs protruding from below.

  That got Damon thinking. What else did he have to live for? His job after he got home was always to get whole. That meant making sure he created some vivid memories that would wipe out any past Charlene history. Those were legendary fights and incredible make-up sex. He’d have to stuff all those things down just in case he was tempted to go soft and try to win her back. He didn’t consider that to be a manly thing at all.

  “I’m game. But I have no idea where to stay or…I’ve never been to Florida before. Don’t they have crocs and hurricanes and shit like that, Renny?”

  “Crocs are damned good eating when you can get them, and we haven’t had a hurricane at that part of the coast in over fifty years. But don’t stress about a thing. We’ve rented five little bungalows all next to each other on the beach. You can stay with me. They’re not huge but do have a bedroom and a decent-sized living room with a memory foam couch that is supposed to be comfortable. And, Demon Seed, it’s right on the beach, in case I didn’t say it before. On the beach!”

  Renny had been right. This view, the smell of the water, the sounds of the wind and sea birds as well as the waves lapping on the shore was exactly what he needed. It would save him from having to drink several gallons of alcohol on his road to oblivion. His liver and kidneys would be thankful.

  It was freakin’ gorgeous here. He liked staring at the horizon, that place where the sky and the blue water mated. Uncomplicated. It didn’t require any fuzzy logic, or any logic at all. It was an answer to prayer he hadn’t had the courage to ask.

  They’d gotten in so late last night that all he had seen were the stars in the sky and moonlight twinkling on the water. But he heard the waves all night long as he slept with the slider open.

  Yup, Renny’s descriptions of Sunset Beach were totally accurate.

  He stepped into his trunks, slid on his flip-flops, pulled a T-shirt up from the tiled floor by the hide-a-bed where he’d tossed it last night, and made his way out, over the sand dunes and onto the white sugary beach. The glare and brightness gave him a headache, and he resolved to get a decent pair of sunglasses ASAP.

  Black dots formed to the right and the left of him at the shoreline, which later morphed into people going or coming towards him. He let the early morning moisture kiss his face clean, which settled the headache he’d developed from all the drinks he and Renny imbibed on the plane ride from California.

  Damon turned right for no good reason and marched over the white sand littered with ocean debris. Broken pieces of shells, water-worn twigs, and pieces of sea glass, and rocks crunched under the weight of his flip-flops as he walked. Two elderly gentlemen on fat tire motorized bicycles zoomed past him from behind.

  “Morning, pilgrim,” the one with the ponytail called out, his voice booming in a deep Southern drawl.

  “Nice ride!” he answered back, admiring the expensive bikes. Their electric motors quietly did the work their legs didn’t have to, and it made him want to get one for himself. The tires reminded him of the old Schwinn he had when he was a kid, even though his dad had bought him a girl’s bike. The beast was way bigger than his little legs could peddle and stay seated. However, it saved injury to his balls, even though his classmates gave him all kinds of hell at school.

  But they were wheels, and allowed him increased autonomy and mobility.

  And a little trouble occasionally.

  He heard his name called so he turned to see Renny standing in the backyard with a bright beach towel slung low around his waist.

  “Hey, asshole, we’re going out for breakfast with the groom and guys from the wedding party. Are you coming?” Renny shouted at him.

  Damon’s stomach was in dire need of something to settle it down. “Don’t mind if I do,” he answered. He attempted to run up the beach in his flip-flops but nearly tripped, so he removed them and ran barefoot the rest of the way.

  The girl Renny had picked up last night stood behind him, also wrapped in a towel. She looked a lot younger this morning than she did in the bar last night. Her flawless tanned skin showed no evidence of her swimsuit line, either. Renny was more practiced in the art of dating since he’d been divorced for over five years. Legendary for picking real beauties, he preferred blondes. This one was stunning.

  “Hi, Shannon,” Damon mumbled in her direction, making her blush.

  She waved back at him with three fingers on her left hand, clutching Renny’s shoulder with her right.

  “So you want to ride with us then?” asked Renny.

  “Can I shower first?”

  “Yup. The bathroom is all yours.”

  The groom and best man along with two other of their friends had already seated themselves in the corner at a long table. Renny made the introductions.

  “Hey, Greg, this is my Team brother—Damon—I told you about. I hope you don’t mind that I asked him to tag along this morning.”

  The very tall groom with white-blonde hair, blue eyes, and a muscular frame, leaned across the table after he stood, gripping Damon’s hand to the point of causing pain. Damon hated guys who did this. But he made sure he was able to pass a little pain back in his direction, in case Greg turned out to be a real prick.

  “Welcome, Damon. Anybody who’s with this asshole is a friend of mine.”

  They took their seats as several other members of the wedding party filed in. Soon the table was filled with platters of eggs, bacon, and pancakes the size of dinner plates. Damon stuffed himself nearly to the point of explosion. He decided this would be a fitting way to begin his days of excess.

  “How do you know Greg?” he asked Renny after the other introductions were made.

  “He and I worked construction one summer before I came to Coron
ado. He was headed to the Air Force to go for the Pararescue Swim Program until they discovered the poor bastard had a vision problem and was rejected. Can’t be a pilot if you have bad eyes. We stayed in touch. I went off to BUD/S, and he got a pretty good job running a large construction crew, later owned his own business framing new homes. Somehow he wandered into a real estate office, and they talked him into sales. We were running around in our boxers, getting shot at, and killing those bugs the size of our little fingers—you remember those fuckers that smelled so bad?”

  “Hard to forget those little Vienna Sausages.”

  “Yeah, well, he was wearing a suit and making more than Admiral Byrne times two. I think he’d already bought a home by the time we re-upped.”

  “Smart dude.”

  “Now he’s marrying a rich girl. Dad was a big developer before he passed. We stayed friends, and he came out to San Diego once. Can’t remember what you were doing then.”

  “I think I remember him. You brought him to one of the bonfires years ago right?”

  “Yeah, I did. I didn’t realize I shouldn’t have. Kyle told me later on. He never liked Greg.”

  “I didn’t like him either. ’Course I kind of thought he had an eye on Charlene.”

  “That’s because Charlene had an eye on him. But don’t feel bad. She was interested in everybody.”

  “Don’t fuckin’ tell me that. That’s so disrespectful.” It was spoiling Damon’s appetite.

  Renny grinned back at him, appearing not to take the comment to heart. He wrapped his arm around Damon’s shoulder. “Best thing that ever happened to you. Did you get that tattoo?”

  Damon had promised to remove Charlene’s initials from his left bicep and replace it with a naked lady. “Didn’t have time,” he mumbled. Several of the groom’s party were staring at them, so he shrugged off Renny’s arm. “Get off me.”

  “Now you’re acting like a teenager. That’s how all newly divorced men act.”

  “Except it’s not official.”

  “Impending divorce. Excuse me, Professor Demon Seed.”