SEAL's Baby (Navy SEAL Secret Baby Romance)

by Naomi Niles

  “Never mind. You know where to pick Nona up, right?”

  I smiled. “Yeah, should I just keep her for dinner?”

  “Yes, please. I’ll pick her up in time for her bath and bedtime. I have to drive all the way to Fort Worth for the meeting.”

  “Okay, good luck.”

  “Thanks, Sissy. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  *******

  I woke up happy the next two days. One reason was because Dylan wasn’t home…and as bad as I hate to admit it, the other reason was because I knew I got to see Kyle again on Wednesday. Wednesday morning, I took a ridiculous amount of time picking out my scrubs. I stayed away from any of the green ones because asshole or not, what Dylan said had stuck in my head. I finally settled on a dark blue pair that I hoped made my ass not look so big. I left my hair down and curled it and shamelessly, I wore a little bit more make-up than usual.

  As I walked into the clinic, I hoped no one I worked with noticed. But as my luck would have it, the first thing my co-worker Joyce said was, “Damn, girl, you look hot today! You have a date?”

  I felt myself blush. “No…But thank you.”

  She made a mm, hmm noise and I blushed again as I went to put my things away. I came back out and started to work right away. My first two clients were elderly folks with hip replacements, and we just did some basic physical therapy exercises. I was at the front desk filling out some paperwork when I saw Kyle coming through the door. He had a ball cap on again, so I couldn’t see his face until he looked up. When he did, his brown eyes immediately locked onto mine and my breath caught in my throat. Jesus, even with staples in his head, this guy is hot. My heart sped up when he smiled. I smiled back and turned away. Joyce was looking at me, and it was her turn to smile. I narrowed my eyes at her, and she laughed.

  “I’ll be in the back for a few,” I told the receptionist.

  As I was headed past Joyce she said, “Have to go cool off, huh?”

  I gave her a nasty look and kept going. She was right, though. I had to get my own vital signs to calm down before I could see my patient. This had never happened to me before. Kyle was not the first good-looking guy to roll in here. I’ve always been able to maintain a level of cool professionalism and I’d never thought about them when I went home. Since Monday, Kyle pretty much took up residence in my thoughts. I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me, but this was not okay on any level. I had a boyfriend and an obligation to be a respectable member of the medical community.

  I went into the bathroom and wiped off my lipstick. I ran my fingers through my hair to try and get the curls out, but that just gave it kind of a messy, bedroom look. With a frustrated sigh I gave up and went out to get him.

  *******

  It turned out that dissuading his sister from coming into the back was a lot harder than it had been with Greg. Sarah was not going to be left out of her brother’s care in any way. It was sweet and annoying at the same time. Kyle seemed embarrassed by it and being the baby of my family, I could definitely feel his pain. Today, we did flash cards with simple words that would exercise his tongue and lips. He has pretty lips. They were full and pink, but not feminine at all. Sexy, that’s what they were. I tried not to stare at them, but then I remind myself that it’s my job to make sure he’s forming his words right. I have to consciously remind myself not to lick my own lips as I watch him.

  “You want to take a break and have something to drink, Kyle?”

  “Beer?” he asked with a grin.

  I couldn’t help but smile when he smiled at me. God…he’s beautiful. “I think we’re fresh out of beer. How about water?”

  He laughed, and his sister said, “He’d love some water.” I went and got the water and when I brought it back, Sarah took it out of my hand and opened it before handing it to him. Once again, he looked annoyed, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Sarah, while Kyle is taking his break, can you and I talk for a minute?”

  She looked at me suspiciously, but followed me to the back office and we sat down. It was strange because they looked so much alike that they could almost be twins. They had the same heart shaped faces, full lips, and dark eyes. Sarah’s seemed a lot more intense than Kyle’s to me. Out of the two of them, I would be willing to bet he was the fun-loving one. “Is he doing okay?” she asked as soon as we were seated.

  I smiled. “Yes, he’s doing just fine. This is only his second appointment, so we’re not looking for a miracle breakthrough just yet. But, with some hard work, six months from now you’ll hardly see any signs of what he went through.”

  “Good. Then what’s wrong?”

  “Well, the thing is…I think you do too much for him.”

  The suspicious look turned into one of outright distrust. “What do you mean?”

  “Opening his drink and insisting on sitting in on his session, for starters.”

  “I’m supporting him,” she said. I could see a spark in her dark eyes.

  “I know, and I think that’s great, really. It’s just that what we’re trying to do here is make him more independent, right? If we do everything for him, then he won’t re-learn to do those things for himself.”

  Sarah wasn’t looking at me any longer. She was staring at a spot on the wall. She didn’t say anything for so long that I almost thought she wasn’t going to. At last, she said, “I was so scared.”

  “When they found the tumor?”

  She nodded. “Our mom left us when we were babies. My dad did his best, but he had to work to keep a roof over our heads and everything that comes with that. Kyle and I are really close because of all of that I always felt like his mom instead of his sister.”

  “Well, I think you did a great job, but with that being said, as hard as it is to watch someone you love struggle, in this case it’s actually part of his therapy.”

  She pursed her lips together and I braced myself for more argument, but she didn’t give me one. Instead, she said, “I can promise that I’ll try – how’s that?”

  I laughed. “That’s good enough,” I told her. When we came back out of the office smiling, Kyle looked from his sister to me and raised an eyebrow. I winked at him. I seriously do not know what is wrong with me. We moved on to some leg exercises, which I showed him how to do on his own, and we also worked on wheelchair transfers using his arms and his good leg. He’s really strong, so it won’t be long before he’s able to do it all by himself, with or without that other leg. When we wrapped up for the day, Sarah seemed satisfied with me.

  As I watched them go, I must have had a goofy smile on my face because Joyce walked up next to me and said, “I think you have a little thing for that one.”

  “No, he’s a patient.”

  “Oh, who cares? This is therapy, not surgery.”

  I laughed. “I don’t have a ‘thing’ for him.”

  “We’ll see,” she said with a sly smile. I didn’t want to protest too much, so I just silently walked away.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  KYLE

  I was lying in my bed, exercising my legs like Amber told me to, thinking about Amber and watching mindless afternoon television on Thursday when Sarah called. I thought about not answering it but, she would just race over here and beat the door down if I didn’t. She had no idea how hard talking on the phone is for me. I accepted the call and put her on speaker. “Kyle? Can you hear me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay, good. I know you don’t like talking on the phone right now. I just wanted to let you know that I’m sending Michael to pick you up at six tonight. Wear a clean shirt and shave – and don’t wear one of those ugly ball caps-”

  “Sarah. What for?”

  “For dinner.”

  I wondered why the clean shirt and the shave, but I didn’t have the energy to get all of that out so I just said, “Okay.”

  I was able to do a lot more for myself already. Dad got me a shower chair, and I was able to stand enough to get into it. S
o after I got off the phone, I went in and showered and shaved. I know my sister too well. If she’s telling me to put on a clean shirt, she’s having someone besides just me for dinner. I can only hope she doesn’t have a wild idea and think that she’s going to fix her brother up with one of her friends. Surely, she has to get that a guy who still talks like he’s got a mouthful of shit and has staples in his head isn’t up for meeting anyone new in the romance department. Speaking of which – I’m wearing the hat. Sarah was on a mission before I got sick to try and set me up with anyone she thought would make a good wife. She thinks I should be married before I’m thirty. Look how good that worked out for my dad.

  When Michael got to Dad’s place to get me at six, he took one look at me and whistled. “Well, look how pretty you are.” I flipped him off and he laughed.

  “What’s your wife up to?” I asked him. He grinned and held the door open so I could wheel out.

  “Who knows with that one? I haven’t been home yet, but I was given strict orders to pick you up at six and not be late.”

  “Great.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, whatever it is should be fun.” On the way to their house Michael said, “So…Storelli signed on.”

  You have to fucking be kidding me. I had waited for that man who owns a quarter of the real estate in Dallas to finally pick an agency to design and build his new home. It would be his family’s private residence and if his current house had anything to say about it, it would be a lavish one. “Fuck,” was all I said out loud.

  Michael laughed again. “Nope, it’s a good thing.”

  I felt guilty. I knew it was a good thing for his firm. I was just jealous that I wouldn’t be the one to do it. “I know, sorry.”

  “It’s a good thing for you. Storelli picked us because of your designs and mock-ups. I told him what happened and that you might be out for a while. He’s okay with that – as long as it’s you who handles it when you come back.”

  Excitement coursed through my veins for the first time since the day I took the nosedive. If I got this contract, it would be the biggest one I’d ever gotten. Not only would it bring in a fortune for the firm and me in commission, it would get my name out there. Storelli is one of the most connected guys in Dallas. His company designs and builds the rigs they use in the oil fields. He’s connected with anyone who is anyone in Dallas…this is huge. “Fuck,” I said again, only this time with a smile. Michael laughed.

  When we drove into my sister’s driveway, there was a little blue Honda sitting out front. “Looks like you were right, kid, we’ve got company,” Michael said. I’d wasted all my “fucks” already, so I stayed silent. Michael got the chair out and sat it next to my door. I put myself in it as he went and opened the front door so I could roll myself inside. I hadn’t gotten two feet before I was treated to a full-on frontal assault. My niece Kimber launched herself at me and landed in the chair on top of me.

  “Uncle Kyle! I was so worried and Mama and Daddy wouldn’t let me see you!”

  “Oh, baby, I’m okay.” She hugged me tightly and when she leaned back, I could see she had chocolate all over her face and hands. I looked down and it was all over the front of my “clean” shirt. I looked back up at her, and she giggled. I laughed, too, and tickled her before I made her laugh again by swiping my finger against my shirt and tasting it. “Mm!” I looked up and that’s when I saw a little blonde-haired girl with big green eyes standing a few feet back looking at us. “Hi.”

  She looked down at the floor. “Hi,” she said. I looked at Kimber.

  “Your friend?”

  “Oh, yeah! This is Nona. She’s in first grade.”

  “Wow. Hi, Nona.” That was a hard name to pronounce, but the little girl didn’t seem to notice. She peeked up at me through her hair and smiled.

  I looked back at Kimber and she said, “Can I see your owie?”

  “I’m not sure you can handle it, little girl.”

  She giggled. “I can handle it, mister!”

  “Are you gonna scream?”

  “No!”

  “Cry for your mama?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, but remember you promised no screaming.” I slid off my ball cap and just as I knew she would, she said,

  “Ew! Gross! Does it hurt?”

  “Not so much anymore.”

  “Can I touch it?”

  I laughed and put the hat back on my head. “No. Where’s Mom?”

  “In the kitchen. Can I have a ride?”

  “Of course.” I rolled the two of us into the kitchen, and I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw who the surprise guest was.

  “Mama, Uncle Kyle is here!” Kimber jumped off my lap as I stared at Amber in shock – and maybe a little bit of lust. My sweet little niece “whispered” the way five year olds do and said, “I didn’t say nuthin’ about the way he talks, either.”

  I laughed, Amber looked like she was trying to hold it in, and Sarah gave Kimber a stern look. “Why do you have chocolate all over you right before dinner?”

  I reluctantly took my eyes off of Amber. Damn. she looks hot in a pair of jeans. I looked at my niece and saw her little eyes filling with tears. “I gave it to her,” I said.

  Sarah looked at me and her eyes fell to the chocolate all over the front of my clean shirt. “Aye! What am I going to do with the two of you?” She took Kimber’s hand and led her out of the kitchen. I looked back up at Amber. She was smiling.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “You look like you didn’t know I was coming.”

  “My sister,” I said with a shrug.

  She laughed. “I’m sorry. I picked my niece up from school today and ran into her and Kimber. She invited us.”

  “Good,” I said. I didn’t want to try and say too much. Between the impediment and the goddess in blue jeans, I wasn’t sure I could manage much more than that.

  Sarah came back way too soon and tossed one of Michael’s shirts at me. “Go change,” she snapped. “And, stop covering for her when she does things she’s not supposed to,” she yelled after me. Fat chance that was ever going to happen. I changed my shirt and when I got back, they were putting things on the table. Michael was already in his spot and the two little ones sat at Kimber’s small table next to the big one. Sarah had moved out one of the chairs and I parked there. Of course, she put Amber next to me. I wasn’t complaining, but sometimes I just had to shake my head at the not so subtle way my sister has of doing things.

  “Michael, say Grace please.” Michael bowed his head and reached for Sarah and Amber’s hands. I took my sister’s hand on one side and Amber’s on the other. “Take off the hat, Kyle.”

  Shit! My sister is a pain in my ass. “I’d rather not.”

  “Kyle John Cloud!” She was using her stern mother voice. I’m not afraid of her, but I didn’t

  want to bicker in front of Amber. I took it off and felt the cool air of the room waft across the bald spot on the side of my head. It was mortifying, to say the least. That was until I felt the gentle squeeze of Amber’s soft hand in mine. I looked at her from the corner of my eye and she winked at me. I felt that simple wink all the way down to my core, and even as my brother-in-law thanked God for the food we were about to eat, I was having carnal thoughts about the woman sitting next to me.

  “So, Amber,” Sarah said as we began passing things around. “How long have you lived in Dallas?”

  “My whole life,” she said. I passed the potatoes to her and our fingers brushed as she took them. I wanted to brush my fingers over a lot more of her skin. “My folks have a ranch just out near Seagoville. That’s where I grew up.”

  “Oh, how nice,” Sarah said. “Do you have any siblings?” I handed her the meat and gave her an apologetic look. She smiled, and my heart sped up.

  “I have three sisters,” she said. “They’re all older than me.”

  “Oh, you’re the baby like Kyle.” I shot Sarah a look, but she just smiled at me and sai
d, “Kyle loves to ride horses, don’t you Kyle?” That time Michael gave her a look, too…she ignored him the same as she did me.

  “Yeah,” I said. I took a bite of my bread and hoped she wouldn’t ask me a stupid question while my mouth was full.

  “Do you ride, Amber?”

  “Yes. Not as much as I used to. Between work and…life, I don’t have a lot of free time.”

  “You’re so young, you should be out having fun every chance you get,” Sarah said as if she were forty years old herself. “Have you ever been married, Amber?”

  I dropped my fork. “Sarah.”

  Amber laughed. “It’s okay. No, I’ve never been married.”

  “I’m just trying to get to know her, Kyle.”

  I rolled my eyes and gave Amber another apologetic look. I was surprised when I felt her touch my hand lightly. I looked at her, and she mouthed, “It’s really okay.”

  I mouthed, “Thank you” – or something that hopefully looked like that.

  Sarah did most of the talking through the meal. She told Amber how she and Michael met and talked about our dad and his job in the oil fields. After dinner, Amber tried to help her do the dishes, but Sarah insisted poor Michael help her and pushed me and Amber into the den.

  When we were alone, I said, “I’m really sorry about her.”

  “I think she’s cute. She’s just trying to help out her little brother.”

  I shook my head. “She hasn’t noticed that I’m not so little anymore.”

  She was still smiling. She went over to the mantle and picked up a picture of me and Sarah that was taken when we were small on the Reservation where our grandparents lived in Oklahoma. “Is this you?” she asked.

  “Yeah, me and the pushy one in there.”

  “So cute,” she said. “Where is this at?”

  It took me three tries, but I finally said, “The Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma.”