by Lea Hart
Lexi walked out to the mailbox and pulled out the letters. Going through them, she noticed a fat one from her attorney. She had received a message from him yesterday and hadn’t had a chance to call him back. Her heart started to beat wildly in her chest, and her hands shook as she tried to open the envelope. Pulling out a stack of papers, she sent a word up to God and hoped her prayers had been answered. Scanning the documents quickly, she let out a scream and crouched on the lawn in front of the house. Tears started falling down her face as she cried in relief. The front door flew open. Laird stood there with Bella in his arms. Waving the papers, she tried to form a sentence.
“Are those what I think they are?” Making a couple of big strides, he was at Lexi’s side instantly. Bella started to fuss, and looked like she was working up to a cry. It seemed that watching her mom be upset was unsettling her. “Shh, it’s okay, Bella. I think Mom just got some really good news and she’s happy. Those are tears of joy…I hope.”
Opening her arms, she took Bella and held her tightly against her and nodded her head. “Very good news. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know that he can never come and make a claim.” Turning her head, she buried her face in Laird’s warm T-shirt and felt his big arm encircle them both. “Thank you, Laird. You became our hero when you helped me out on the road all those months ago, and it seems that you haven’t stopped. I’m not sure what we’ve done to deserve a man like you in our lives, but I’m grateful that we managed it.” Leaning up, she kissed him gently. “I love you, Laird, and I’m forever grateful that I forgot to renew my Triple A membership. Because if I had, we never would’ve met.”
Kissing her back, he felt his heart swell in his chest. “I would like to believe that we would’ve met one way or another. But I’m damn happy that it happened the way it did.”
“Me, too.” Looking down into her daughter’s beautiful face, she beamed. “Next week is Bella’s birthday, and we’ve made it through the first year successfully. There were a couple of tough moments, but we’ve survived and—dare I say it?—thrived.” Kissing her daughter’s head, she squeezed his hand. “We’ve managed to find ourselves a hero, Bella.”
Wrapping them a little tighter, he kissed Lexi on her head and then Bella. “Sweetie, I’m no hero. I’m just a guy who fell in love with you ladies. You do whatever is necessary to love and protect the women in your life. And that’s all I did.”
“I think this calls for a celebration. I’m going to plan a big birthday party for Bella, because we have a lot to celebrate.”
“We sure do. Let’s have it in Ocean Beach because you ladies are going to be moving in and I think it would be a great way to announce that we’re now a family.”
“Are you sure that you want to take us on, Laird?”
“Absolutely.” Letting out a loud whoop, he hugged them both tightly.
CHAPTER EIGHT
One Week Later
Bella’s Party
Laird let out a loud whistle and everyone quieted down and turned in his direction. He stood in front of the table that held Bella’s huge castle birthday cake. “Everyone, gather around, because it’s time for a birthday song for our princess.” Searching the crowd for his girls, he saw Lexi making her way through the group of people gathered to celebrate her daughter’s birthday. “I want to thank everyone for coming and helping us celebrate Bella’s first birthday. Also, I’d like to announce that the girls have agreed to move in and we’re going to become a family.” A large cheer from the crowd erupted as Laird held his hands up. “I know it’s hard to believe that I got them to agree to take me on, but somehow it happened.”
Lexi came to stand next to him and beamed up at him. Feeling his arm wrap around her shoulders, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She watched her daughter wave her hands and grin at the people nearest to her. Whispering in her ear, she said, “Bella, they came here to help you commemorate your birthday.”
Laird cleared his throat and looked out at the group of people that had come out to celebrate with them today. There were friends of Lexi’s and their families as well as his. “I want everyone here to know that our Bella has the heart of a SEAL. I remember when I was in BUD/S, I had an instructor tell us not to judge a person by the size of their flippers.” Hearing a laugh ripple through the crowd, he knew more than a few of the guys remembered hearing the same thing. “The guy was trying to tell us big guys not to get full of ourselves. Just because we were physically bigger than some of the other guys, it didn’t necessarily guarantee our success. There were more than a few guys who beat me to the shore who were half my size. The thing that I learned most from sixteen years on the Teams was that all that mattered was a person’s will to succeed and the size of their heart. So just remember that about Bella, she’s going to do things at her own pace in her own way and the size of her flippers won’t matter a bit. I also have a feeling that she’s going to need us all to help paddle the boat from time to time.” Staring down at the girls that he loved, he winked. “Take a look out at the crowd, Bella. This is your Team and they will always have your six.”
A large cheer erupted from the people gathered. “Happy Birthday, Bella.” Laird said loudly. Guiding Lexi to the other side of the table, he lit the single candle on top of the large cake. “Are you two ready?”
Lexi glanced up at the man who had come into their lives and given them everything they ever needed and reached up to kiss him. “More than ready. Thank you, Laird.”
“No, sweetie. Thank you for entrusting your and Bella’s happiness to me. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
The people gathered started singing “Happy Birthday” and Bella snuggled into her mom’s arms and considered all of the smiling faces. I guess for a Team they’re not bad. She thought. After all, they’re letting me have cake. Okay, Team, let’s do this.
THE END
CORONADO SERIES
Latched is the first book in the Coronado Series
Betrayed by her ex–fiancé, Birdie James decides a sexy fling will give her the excitement she needs without the problems of a relationship. Luckily for her, Mr. Right Now is gorgeous, interested and curls her toes with one look. There’s just one problem.
Lieutenant Commander, Mark Frazier sees Birdie, and he only wants one thing. Her, forever. As a SEAL, he flourishes beneath both trials and adventure. However, changing the mission directive of this woman may be the biggest challenge of his life.
What happens when a woman whose life is based on certainty targets a Navy SEAL who thrives on the unknown? Can Mark find a way to overcome her stubborn mindset and convince her to give them a chance? Or is her heart latched against him?
Snatched is the second book in the series
When a stalker targets Rory Basso, she thinks she can handle the situation on her own. Then it escalates. Fearing for her safety, she take the advice of her best friend and hires a security professional to help her track down and eliminate the threat. But Max is more than she expects.
Max Bishop hasn’t met a target he can’t acquire or a mission he can’t complete. Until Rory. As a retired Navy SEAL and CEO of Security Alliance International, he has spent most of his life in charge. Now his mission is to convince this headstrong woman that he can protect her….and love her.
Can Rory trust Max with her safety and her love? Will he convince her to place her protection and heart in his hands? Or will the person terrorizing her snatch the opportunity away?
Attached is the third book in the series
Cary Simmons is a kindergarten teacher. Her boring life leaves her craving a summer of adventure, a kick start into an exciting future. However, when her car breaks down in the middle of the California desert, she decides to make the most of it. After all, a biker bar holds some pretty adventurous men, right?
Travis Mathers can’t believe his eyes when a pretty little thing walks into the roughest bar in Ripley wearing a flowered sundress. Instantly, the retired Navy Seal knows this woman needs his p
rotection, and he’s going to give it whether she wants it or not. Besides, who could possibly have more to show her about adventure?
Can Travis convince Cary that he can turn around her boring life? Can Cary fight the allure of a risk-taking alpha male? How long can they resist becoming attached?
Catch is the fourth book in the series
Rachel Miller made a mistake. A year later she is still paying the price. Too embarrassed to ask for help, she tries to manage it on her own. Until, that no longer is an option.
Retired Navy SEAL, Chris Iceman Ellis has spent his whole like protecting people. When he discovers that the woman he’s had his eye on for a year is being threatened, he steps in immediately. Whether she wants it or not.
Can Chris persuade Rachel to accept his protection and convince her that he will always be there to catch her?
What happens when a mighty warrior falls for a woman and becomes her hero… and she becomes his saving grace.
Match is the fifth book in the series
This is a collection of short stories about the couples, that didn’t get their story told in the first four books.
What happened when Birdie matched Ed up with her friend Amelia?
Also, what about Frank and Cat? Does he win her over and prove that he’s a good man?
And, please let Derick find someone. Maybe Birdie’s friend Gracie would be perfect.
Then of course, there’s Laird and Lexi…can he win the heart of a woman who has so much going on in her life?
And, finally David…sweet lord, please let this man find someone who will make him cookies.
All is revealed in this collection.
FIRST AND TEN SERIES
First Down
Star defensive end, Jack Ellis works harder than almost anyone in the game. His focus has been on his career and little else. Until… he meets Dr. Ana James. Immediately smitten, he makes a play for her attention.
Dr. Ana James is unimpressed with the flashy football player and does everything she can to resist his moves.
Not one to let an obstacle get in his way, Jack decides to up his game and prove to her that he’s worth the gamble. He wants Ana forever and makes the play of a lifetime.
Does he have the right moves to win her heart? Will he prevent Ana from making an end run? Or will Ana stop the play?
Second Down
Ronnie DuMond’s focus is on building her wealth management business.
Chase Bedford’s focus is on trying to convince Ronnie to give him a chance.
Does a head coach from the NFL team in Jacksonville, have the right moves to make a winning play?
Watch what happens when a sassy southern girl gets tangled up with a northerner. The sparks that fly between them make the blaze at Twelve Oaks look like a campfire.
This is a romantic comedy about two people doing their best to resist the pull of fate. As in most romantic comedies, true love wins out. Right after fate wrestles it to the ground.
Third Down
(December 2016)
Security Alliance International is a security firm that is owned and operated by retired SEALs. It is made up of elite warriors culled from some of the most revered military forces. Every operator has impeccable ethics and doesn’t quit until the job is done.
Vortex
Vivi DuMond’s clinic is caught in the crossfire of a turf war that threatens both her life and livelihood. Can the NOPD and Feds handle it or does she need more?
Joel McDade runs the Florida office of SAI and he’s been roped into protecting Vivi as a favor to his old client Ronnie DuMond. As much as he would like to refuse, he knows he can’t.
Can the retired Navy SEAL protect the good doctor and her clinic? Or…will the vortex of events make that impossible?
Watch what happens when two people are caught in a whirling mass of threats outside of their control. Will they be pulled in together or will the mass of conflict pull them apart?
Whirlwind
Sara Montgomery is being targeted by one of the United States’ most feared organized crime groups. What options does she have when the Outfit decides they want to bring her in? Will the FBI provide enough protection or will she need more?
Grady Merrick is a partner in the Florida office of SAI and discovers the threat and knows he has no choice but to protect his neighbor. His sexy, beautiful neighbor. This is one assignment he’s going to enjoy.
Watch what happens when two people find themselves in the throes of a violent and destructive force.
Will they survive the events or be caught in the whirlwind?
Tempest
(October 2016)