Page 37 of SEAL's Secret

“Well, yeah. Last night—”

“Was fucking awesome,” he said with a grin. “You’re more sensitive everywhere now that you’re pregnant,” he added huskily. “I know we only had one night together before, but trust me, I remember every single moment.”

“Me too,” she admitted, meeting his dark gaze.

“I kind of don’t want you to leave,” he said, growing serious. He was still sitting on the bed, and she knew he needed to get up and get ready. The men trained hard, and Hudson was no exception.

“Me either, but I need to get us settled into our home. Caroline deserves her own room, and my new house is bigger.”

“I know. It’ll just feel lonely without you. You might’ve been sneaking out of my bedroom the other nights, which I totally understand given your daughter, but I liked holding you against me last night.”

“I liked it, too,” she assured him, “but I don’t want to confuse Caroline. She’s already confused enough about the move and not seeing her father.”

“Will he ever see her?” Hudson asked with a frown, clearly unhappy with the other man.

“Two weeks a year, and that’s it. He’ll devote two weeks out of every fifty-two to being a father. How shitty is that?”

Hudson bit back a curse. “I’m sorry.”

Layton shrugged. “Not much I can do. Caroline and I will move into my place—with actual furniture this time—and get settled in. But,” she added, blushing, “I hope you’ll come stay over some nights.”

“You couldn’t keep me away,” Hudson admitted. “And I am still taking you out. Our dinner out with Caroline the other night was fun but not exactly the quiet, romantic evening I’m determined to have with you one night.”

“I know,” she said, warming at the memory. Hudson might think he didn’t like kids, but he was a natural with Caroline. And her sweet little girl already had him wrapped around her finger. Hudson pressed another kiss to her forehead then rose and crossed to his dresser. His navy bedding, dark furniture,and simple décor suited him. It was masculine, just like the man himself, and she could hardly believe she was here in his bedroom.

“Oh, that reminds me. Austin texted me last night after you’d fallen asleep. Some of the girls want to have a BBQ soon. What do you say? We’ll pick a weekend that works for everyone.”

“Sure, that sounds fun. I kind of disappeared quickly at the last party,” she admitted.

“Well, those were unusual circumstances. Aaron and Emersyn will be there, plus Callie and Wyatt. Austin and Alexa of course. I’m not sure about the other guys yet.”

“The single guys,” Layton said with a laugh as she stood. “Em told me that Aaron’s pissed Ryan is always texting his sister.”

Hudson raised his eyebrows, standing there in only his boxers. He’d been naked when she’d fallen asleep in his arms last night, and she wondered if he’d tugged those on in case Caroline came looking for them. For a guy used to being a bachelor, he’d had to change his life rather quickly for them, and she loved that about him.

Loved.

Did she love him? It was way too soon in their relationship to be thinking any such thing, but she knew Hudson was a good guy with a good heart. Even though they hadn’t dated in the traditional sense, all the quiet moments they spent together meant something. Dinners at Hudson’s home. Breakfasts together some mornings—when he wasn’t leaving crazy early for PT. Those days, she’d stay in bed, thank you very much. They’d even played outside together with Caroline. Gone grocery shopping. It almost felt like they were a real family. Nothing had been decided yet. Layton had no idea where their relationshipwould go. It would hurt if things didn’t work out and she ended up simply co-parenting their baby with Hudson.

But what if something absolutely amazing came from this instead?

Chapter 22

Hudson pulled up to the parking lot near their favorite beach three weeks later, grinning like a fool. Layton looked cute as hell beside him, her baby bump barely beginning to show. She was already fifteen weeks pregnant and had explained that women showed sooner with their second baby. Her body was changing in intriguing ways, and he loved exploring her the nights he stayed over at her place.

He’d feasted on her last night and swore she tasted even sweeter than just weeks ago. Layton’s cries of pleasure were something he’d never tire of hearing. It didn’t seem possible, but she was sexier with each passing day. It had sucked having her move out of his home, but they’d both known the arrangement had been temporary. He hated to admit it, because he’d come to love having them there, but Layton was right about Caroline deserving her own bedroom and space. She might be a young child, but they’d only just uprooted their lives and moved to Hawaii. Being raised in foster care, Hudson was painfully aware how important it was to feel you had a place of your own. It was lonely as hell in his house now, a description he’d never once have used before, but he tried to get over to see them a couple nights a week.

“Are we here?” Caroline asked excitedly from the backseat. “We’re at the secret beach?”

Hudson eyed her in the rearview mirror. “That we are, your majesty,” he said with a nod, pretending to tip his cap.

Caroline giggled hysterically. She’d overheard Hudson call her mom “princess” and had declared that she would be queen. Shedid seem to rule the house, but the little girl absolutely loved when he played along with her game.

“Should I help your mom out of the carriage first or you?” he asked, pausing as he waited for her answer.

“I’m a big kid! I can do it myself,” she said, looking exasperated.

Hudson bit back his smile, exchanging a look with Layton. “She’s independent,” Layton needlessly explained.

---