The SEAL's Stolen Child

by Laura Marie Altom

  “I have just the thing…”

  * * *

  “THOUGHT I MIGHT FIND you here.”

  Garrett woke from a fitful sleep to see Eve striding toward him, wearing one of his old Coral Ridge football hoodies. From a distance, softened by morning sun, time had stood still. She was sneaking off from cheer practice for a romantic rendezvous. Here, sheltered by this place time had forgotten, they’d take turns discovering each other, sharing not only their bodies, but minds and hearts.

  That was then, but her current betrayal was now. Sitting upright, he said, “You told my mom about the baby, but not me?”

  “Not by choice. After I fainted, after you’d gone off to God only knows where, I went to the doctor. Your mom had an appointment that same morning, saw some pregnancy-nutrition brochures I carried and voilà—a classic case of small-town news traveling fast. I assured your mom I would tell you in my own time. Once I was sure I’d carry the baby to term.”

  “But you’re nowhere near a fail-safe date.”

  “Tell me about it.” She cupped her hands to her still-flat belly. “Which is why I’ve been falling apart on you. More than anything, Garrett, I want this baby. And I want you. I’m sorry if I’ve yet again hurt you, but you have to know you’ve hurt me, too. Do you have any idea how bad it stung when you sent me away from your base? I’d traveled all that way to offer my heart to you and you threw my love away.”

  “Wait— Your love? You love me?”

  She threw her hands in the air only to let them slap against her thighs. “Of course I love you. I’ve always loved you. A thousand of my first marriages couldn’t equal a single night spent with you. You make me laugh and hold me when I cry. Your face is the first thing I want to see when I wake in the morning and the last thing I want to see before going to bed at night.”

  “Eve…” He went to her, hugging her, kissing her, nuzzling what he knew to be the most sensitive spot on her neck. “I’ve been such a jerk. Fighting and fighting what I felt for you, all because I was afraid of losing you all over again. I’ve been so afraid to trust what we share is real, that I’ve overanalyzed everything. Picking your every word apart.”

  “It’s okay…” She kissed his mouth, his cheeks, his closed eyes. “I love you.”

  “I love you.” He took her by her hands, leading her to the spot on the marble balustrade alongside the cypress where they’d painstakingly carved their initials. “And do you realize the first time we told each other those words was in this same spot?”

  She kissed him all over again, he assumed for remembering.

  How much time had he wasted with his doubts?

  Falling to his knees, he raised the sweatshirt she wore, her T-shirt, kissing her belly and the baby within. “You’ve made me so happy.”

  Hands in his hair, she hugged him to her. “Oh, before we get too carried away, which, if you keep nuzzling lower is going to happen in about three minutes, what would you think about us maybe getting a house in Virginia Beach? I’ll let Darcie and Zack take over most of Barnesworth’s day-to-day operations. The rest I can handle by email, fax and phone.”

  Glancing up, he froze. “You sure? That’s a huge step for you. Barnesworth Industries is your life.”

  “Correction—was my life. Now I have you. And once our baby comes, I want nothing more than to be a full-time mom.”

  “Woman,” Garrett said with a sexy growl, “you keep this up, you’re going to kill me with happiness.”

  “Then I’d better stop.”

  “Nah…” He unbuttoned her jeans and kept right on kissing.

  Epilogue

  “Push,” Dina urged Eve.

  Though Eve had been in hard labor only a few hours, it felt more like a week—especially with her supposed rock, Garrett, looking pastier with each contraction.

  “Garrett,” Dina snapped, “what’s wrong with you? You’re a SEAL! How is it you’re queasy during the most natural act in the world?”

  “Who says I’m queasy?”

  Eve glanced toward her man to find him deathly pale and leaning hard to the right.

  “I—I’m not believing th-this…” she huffed between rolling bouts of pain. “I—I’m doing all the work. A-all you’re supposed to do is h-hold my hand.”

  He stood, only to wobble. “I’m good.”

  “S-sit back down,” she told him. Delivering their child was proving tough enough without added worry about him. Honestly, the man had been shot. How was he now on the verge of passing out over the birth of their baby girl?

  “Nope,” he said by her side, “I’ve got this.”

  Judging by his still-white complexion, he wasn’t even remotely in control, but as her pain increased, thankfully so did his kindness. By the time their daughter entered the world, he’d almost regained his full color.

  After finally holding the dear, little infant she’d feared might never come, Eve succumbed to exhaustion. When she woke, she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Silhouetted by the rising sun, Garrett held their daughter, Marianne—Mari, for short—named after her mother. The sight of Eve’s big, strong man holding their itty-bitty baby girl was too much. Tears fell, but they were happy tears. A sign of deep-felt gratitude for her multitude of blessings.

  “Hey, sleeping beauty,” Garrett said, warming her through and through with his smile. “Mom went home to get some z’s a while ago, but me and Mari were beginning to wonder if you were ever waking up.”

  “I’m getting around to it.” Eve held out her arms. “Bring me that adorable baby.”

  “Only been married three months and already you’re bossing me around.”

  “Get used to it,” she teased before inspecting their baby’s perfect fingers and toes.

  He kissed her forehead. “Already am.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask, but have you heard anything from the Henrys?” Dawn and Steve told Boyd he was their son right before Eve and Garrett’s small wedding. The Henrys had brought him to the ceremony and though initial meetings had been awkward, their relationship was moving in the right direction.

  “I did, and Dawn promised to bring Boyd by before school.”

  She winced. “She should’ve waited until after. That’s too long a drive before his classes.”

  “Would you hush and enjoy the fact that our son specifically asked to see you, me and the baby before school.”

  “He did?” Eve’s heart felt impossibly full.

  Garrett nodded, kneeling alongside her and their sleeping daughter.

  “Is this really happening?” She cupped his dear cheek. “We’re about to have both of our children in the same room?”

  “Yep.” He leaned in for a kiss. “Crazy, but true.”

  “I love you,” she said with a happy sigh.

  “Even though I damn near fainted while you gave birth?”

  “Especially because of that. You’re far too perfect. It’s good seeing at least a small chink in your armor.”

  He tilted his head back and groaned. “Why do I have the feeling I’m never going to live that down?”

  “Because you’re not?” Grinning, she tugged him in for a kiss.

  A knock sounded on the hospital-room door, then Dawn, Steve and Boyd came into the room.

  “She’s so tiny…” Boyd said from beside the bed, his eyes wide with wonder. “Was I that small?” he asked Dawn.

  “Yes, you were.” His adopted mother stood behind him, wrapping hi
m in a hug. There had been a time when Eve had been jealous of Dawn’s closeness to her son, but she now appreciated the woman’s love. Dawn and Steve had given Boyd the stability Eve wasn’t sure she and Garrett would’ve been able to provide—at least not back when he’d been born.

  In a couple weeks, the renovations on the beach house they’d purchased in Virginia Beach would be finished and stability would be Eve’s new middle name. Dina would have her own private guesthouse, so when Garrett was deployed, the women in his life would have each other for company.

  Boyd said, “She kinda looks like me.”

  “She sure does.” Garrett stood alongside their son. “But I bet she won’t be able to kick a soccer ball near as hard as you.”

  “Hey!” Eve and Dawn said laughingly at the same time.

  “This little girl will be able to do anything she sets her mind to.” Eve traced her baby’s nose.

  “Agreed,” Dawn said. To Boyd, she asked, “Ready to get to school?”

  “I guess. But will we get to see Mari again? And where’s Grandma Dina? Thought she was gonna be here?”

  “Of course you’ll see Mari.” Garrett ruffled the boy’s hair. “She’s your sister. And my mom said she’ll see you at your school play on Friday night.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Boyd smiled, completing Eve’s perfect new world. “I forgot. You and Eve are coming, too, right?”

  “Absolutely,” Eve said with a quick smile.

  Boyd hugged Garrett, then Eve, and even Mari. “I’m going to be a real good big brother.”

  “Cool.” Garrett must’ve noticed the size of their son’s grin, too, as he took Eve’s hand, giving her a discreet squeeze.

  Once their visitors had gone, Garrett climbed into the bed alongside her. “Happy?”

  “Beyond.” With their daughter nestled between them, they shared a kiss. “Did you ever dream we’d have both a son and daughter in this short a time?”

  “Honestly?” he said with a chuckle. “No. But I’ve gotta say, if being a parent is this much fun, how about we start right away on more?”

  “Absolutely, but under one condition.”

  “What’s that?” He kissed her again—this time, thoroughly enough for her to feel his love all the way to her toes.

  “You’re going to have to man up during delivery. If any of your big, strong SEAL friends knew the kind of wuss they’ve been working with, they’d laugh you out of the navy.”

  “You’re killing me,” he said with a laugh, “but all right, you have a deal.”

  * * * * *

  Be sure to look for THE SEAL’S VALENTINE,

  the next book in Laura Marie Altom’s

  OPERATION: FAMILY series!

  Available in January 2013!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Cowboy Soldier’s Sons by Tina Leonard!

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin American Romance story.

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  Chapter One

  We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

  —Shakespeare’s The Tempest

  Shaman Phillips wasn’t expecting a blonde bombshell to show up at the front door of the Dark Diablo farmhouse, but one glance at her shapely legs, long silky hair and beautiful face made him believe tonight might be a lucky night for a lone wolf. “Hello,” he said. “Can I help you?”

  “Hi.”

  Shaman decided the voice of an angel went with her amazing looks. She was way out of his league—and yet even a man with scars liked to gaze at beautiful things.

  “I’m looking for Chelsea Myers.”

  “Ah. The Chelsea Myers who married my brother Gage in July. She’s Chelsea Phillips now.” Shaman leaned forward, out of the doorway, planting his well-worn boots on the porch. “They live at the Callahan place, Rancho Diablo, in Diablo.”

  The goddess stepped closer, her high fire-engine-red heels clicking on the wood porch. “My name is Tempest Thornbury. I met Chelsea and Cat in July, before I returned to Italy.” She held up a small Louis Vuitton bag, complete with tufts of tissue paper coming out the top. Shaman knew what Louis Vuitton was; his sister, Kendall, was a huge fan. “I brought this for Cat. Is there a possibility you could give it to her?”

  “Come on in,” Shaman said, tamping down the wolflike tendencies fighting inside him. “I’ll get their address and you can send it to her. It’d probably be quicker. I never know when I’ll see them, now that the school year has started.”

  Tempest smiled. “Thank you.”

  Shaman went to get the address, and she followed him into the house. He handed her a piece of paper. “Cat started school in the middle of August in Diablo. She’s real happy there.”

  “I’m so glad.”

  He decided his visitor was even more beautiful close up. The hot-red suit fit her curves to perfection. She didn’t wear a wedding ring or jewelry, just some gold hoop earrings that kissed her cheeks.

  “She’s a sweet girl,” Tempest added.

  Shaman nodded, suddenly uncomfortable and not sure why. His first thought was to seduce this angel—what man could resist?—but she was too perfect for him. How dumb was that?

  Ten years in the military, most of them spent in Iraq and Afghanistan, might have left him hungry for female companionship, but it had also left him with scars on his back, a chunk missing from his shoulder and a red slash across his sun-browned cheek. He was lucky those were his only visible scars. Many of his buddies hadn’t fared so well.

  A little less perfection in a woman would suit him better. “Sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

  Tempest smiled and turned on her heel. “I was hoping to see Cat and Chelsea, but I suppose they won’t be back until the semester is over?”

  “Can’t say.” He wasn’t familiar with Cat’s routine. “Chelsea and Gage just announced that they’re expecting a baby, so I don’t know how often Chelsea will be out here.”

  Tempest glanced back at him, looking pleased. “That’s wonderful! I’m glad to hear it.” She opened the front door before he could do so. “I didn’t get your name?”

  “Shaman Phillips.” He held the door for her, and as she walked out, caught a tease of a light flowery perfume. “You staying in Tempest, Tempest?” He grinned. “I didn’t realize you were named after the town.”

  She leaned into him, catching him off guard. “It’s a stage name. My real name is Zola Cupertino.”

  His brain tried to process that information, along with the distracting fact that she was dangerously close to him. And he didn’t think it was an accident. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she—

  “Soldier...” Tempest murmured.

  “Yes, ma’am?” he said, out of habit. She must have seen his military bag, and his combat boots in the living room.

  “I just got off a plane from Italy,” she announced. “I wonder if you might be interested in taking me out to dinner?”

/>   He blinked. “Certainly,” he said, trying to be chivalrous and not sound as surprised as he was by her unexpected invitation.

  She smiled at him, a sweet, slow, sexy smile, her angelic eyes free of artifice, but holding a silent plea. Maybe he didn’t want to see it. But she was still standing oh-so-close to him, and the next thing he knew, he’d taken the statuesque blonde in his arms and was kissing her like a dying man.

  She kissed him back hungrily.

  “Wait a second,” Shaman said. He was a lucky guy, but not this lucky. Angels didn’t just drop from the sky into his hard-edged world. “How did you say you know Gage and Chelsea?”

  “Met them this summer. Don’t stop what you’re doing, soldier.”

  He kissed her again, his mind trying to find the hook in the sweet deal she seemed to be offering him. She could have any guy in the world. Why would she choose him, instead of running from the sight of his scar-streaked face?

  What the hell. A man didn’t get too many gifts in life, and if this angel wanted to fly into his arms, he needed to quit acting like a skittish horse. “Hey, you want that dinner or not?” he asked, giving her one last chance to back away.

  “After,” she murmured, melting into him.

  He carried her to his bedroom, taking his sweet time, being careful with the soft suit and delicate white camisole. Her bra and panties were angel-wing white and breathlessly lacy, the kind that didn’t do much for support but everything for a man’s libido. Keeping the lights low, he whispered to her in soothing tones, expecting at any moment for her to tell him she wanted out of his bed. But she let him do whatever he wanted to her, and she was sweet like he’d never tasted sweet before.

  And when he finally entered her, Shaman thought he’d died and gone to some magical place he’d never known existed. In all the dirty, lonely nights he’d been scared out of his wits—and he’d been plenty scared, tough guy or not—he’d fantasized about a woman. Any woman. A soft, sweet woman to take away the pain.