Page 21 of SEAL's Secret

Hudson glared at him. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

“And there you go. A protective asshole like you will make a damn fine father.”

Hudson looked at him in disbelief as Sawyer smirked. “What? I like kids. I’ve dated all kinds of women, well, spent the night with them, at any rate.” He chuckled but didn’t look a damn bit ashamed of himself. “Single moms. Women who are just looking for a vacation fling. Hell, I even slept with a pregnant woman once. And before you judge, her asshole of a husband left her. She wanted one last fling, a carefree night, and I’ll tell you what—it was fucking hot.”

“Jesus.”

Sawyer clapped him on the shoulder. “Call her up and apologize. Send flowers or something. Women love that shit.”

Hudson let out a deep breath. “And then what?”

“It’s up to you, buddy. Date her. Fuck her. Marry her.”

Hudson glared at him.

“At least get on speaking terms with her again. Even if you’re not going to be with Layton, you don’t want your future kid to hate you.”

Hudson stilled. As crazy as Sawyer was, he had a point. Hudson had been so worried about how this would upend his life, he hadn’t put the priority where it should be—on his child. Just because Hudson had a messed-up childhood didn’t mean his kid would. Not if he got his damn head on straight and got involved like he should’ve been in the first place. Not if he got back on speaking terms with the woman carrying his baby.

Had Layton had any doctor appointments yet? Was she lifting heavy things trying to pack up her home? Damn it. He should’ve offered to help or at least hired some movers for her. What if she was putting their baby at risk?

“You know something? You’re right.”

“Course I am,” Sawyer said with a grin.

Hudson rose to his feet, noting that Wyatt was still watching him. “I’ll see you on base,” he told Sawyer. “I need to make a phone call.” And then he was jogging toward his car, his muddled thoughts suddenly clearing. He needed to shower, eat, and then head in for the day’s training. It was already afternoon in Virginia, however, and he didn’t want to wait until tonight. Calling Layton out of the blue to apologize would surprise her, but hell. Despite their few terse exchanges, he hadn’t said the two little words she deserved to hear.

***

“I’m sorry.”

Layton frowned as she held her phone to her ear, Hudson’s deep voice coming over the line. Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she hurried toward her real estate office, Layton feeling polished and put together in her dark suit. The pants were already snugger than they’d been a month ago, but supposedly, your body changed faster with subsequent pregnancies. Even now, the baby was growing. Time rolled on whether she wanted it to or not.

She was at her office for the last time to tie up any and all loose ends. Hand over her keys to the building. Pass on her existing clients. She had exactly one week to finish packing up her home and life, get her daughter ready, and ship off her belongings. Then she and Caroline would be flying to Hawaii. To their new home. To be closer to her sister. To…start fresh.

“What?” she asked Hudson, sure she’d misheard him.

Layton paused in the Virginia sunshine. It was a pretty spring day, although nothing like a balmy tropical island. With the time zone differences, she knew it was still morning in Honolulu. And Hudson was calling her out of the blue. They hadn’t spoken since that afternoon, only exchanged a few quick texts. She knew the team trained early from what Emersyn had told her, but Hudson had shocked the hell out of her by randomly calling.

For all Layton knew, Hudson had essentially shelved the entire situation, pushing it to the back of his mind, and moved on to the next woman willing to spread her legs.

Layton cringed at her line of thought. Whatever they’d had, it hadn’t been cheap sex. She’d trusted him. Felt safe with him. Shared something special. And both of them could’ve stopped things at any time. It had happened, and my God, it had been good. The last time they’d been alone, truly alone, he’d literally been inside her. She’d ridden him to ecstasy the night on thebeach, wild and free. His hands had been on her bare breasts, his thick cock buried so deep, she swore she could almost still feel the way he’d marked her forever.

He had, she supposed.

The baby growing inside her was proof enough of that.

That night had been a fantasy, and now, she was back to reality.

Hudson cleared his throat, continuing. “I said that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have rushed off and left you sitting there at the beach. It kills me that I handled it so badly. You told me you were having my baby, and I left you there alone.”

“You did,” she said in a clipped tone.

“I’ve been regretting it more every day. I was shocked and upset, but it was a dick move to leave you there by yourself. That’s not who I am, not that my behavior would lead you to think otherwise.”

Layton huffed out an irritated sigh.

Was he expecting her to forgive him just like that? Because he called a month later to apologize? That was rich. If she could act like a grown-up and plan for the unexpected pregnancy, so could he. The man literally deployed on complex, dangerous missions around the world. Briefed with his teammates and commander. Juggled a million different things. Surely, he could’ve handled an adult conversation with her.

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