Page 13 of SEAL's Secret

“Good to see you again, Hudson!” she said too loudly, waving and abruptly walking away. He watched her in surprise, his mind trying to play catch up with whatever was going on. Had she expected him to call or text her? They’d both agreed their night together was just that—one night.

He’d obviously handled it wrong if it bothered her this much to see him.

“Come on, baby!” Layton yelled to the little blonde girl with the seashells. “Time to go!”

“What was that about?” Hudson asked, confusedly looking at Emersyn

“Aunt Emersyn!” the child shouted, running toward her with open arms. “We get to see you again soon! Yay!” Emersyn caughther easily, swinging her around as the girl giggled. Layton had paused to watch. To wait for the child.

Hudson did a double-take.

“Aunt?”

The girl was blonde and blue-eyed, just like Emersyn. And just like her mother—Layton.

Layton turned around to call her daughter again, and her eyes briefly locked with Hudson’s. He could see her trying to hold herself together and stiffened, unsure as to what to do. They weren’t dating. He wasn’t her boyfriend. But hell if he didn’t feel like shit for simply standing there when she was clearly upset. He’d held her naked body in his arms. Kissed her tenderly. Been inside her.

“We’ll have to catch up, Hudson,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve got some, uh, news to share. And yes, that’s my daughter. Caroline and I are moving to Hawaii.”

***

Hudson muttered under his breath as the conversation continued on around him, suddenly not in the partying mood at all. Emersyn had been mum about Layton’s sudden arrival, only saying that her sister wanted to talk to him soon.

Emersyn and Aaron had disappeared shortly after that, no doubt going after Layton. Layton and her daughter. He was in complete shock that she had a child. Layton had mentioned her divorce and cheating ex-husband, but not once had she told him about her little girl. Hudson didn’t know what to make of that. Sure, they couldn’t know everything about one another in the short time they’d had, but damn. He’d stripped her bare on thebeach. Kissed her. Made love to her. It bothered him that he truly knew so little about her.

He wanted to be annoyed that she’d kept it from him, but it’s not like he had any right to know. They’d had sex. There were no promises made. And she’d looked almost haunted by something when he’d seen her earlier. It made him uneasy. Was she sick? In some sort of trouble? If that asshole of an ex was harassing her or something, Hudson would tell him in no uncertain terms that Layton was off limits.

And what the hell did she mean that she was moving to Hawaii? Not even a month ago, she’d told him she couldn’t leave her life back home.

Her life that included being a mother to a little girl.

“What was that about?” Ryan asked, walking over to him with a beer in hand.

The others were gathering at nearby picnic tables, enjoying subs, chips, and drinks, but Hudson had stalked over to the water, trying to get his head on straight as he watched the waves crash on the shore. He was restless, and not in the way he’d been feeling for the past month. Hudson knew exactly what was bothering him now, and it was in the form of a five-foot-four blonde who’d reappeared like an apparition to haunt him, then vanished moments later.

“Dunno. Layton looked upset and said she’s moving to Hawaii.”

“No kidding?”

Hudson lifted a shoulder. “Guess not. She’d mentioned the real estate business is good here. She’s a realtor, but hell. I never thought she’d pack up her stuff in D.C. and actually come.”

“Who was the kid?” Ryan asked. The concern on his face made it evident he’d already guessed.

“Her daughter.”

Ryan let out a low whistle. “Wow. Is she divorced or something? You seemed into her that day we moved Emersyn into her place, but I didn’t know Layton had a daughter.”

“Me either,” Hudson muttered. “I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.”

Ryan studied him. “It looked like she panicked when she saw you walking over. Did something happen between you two?”

Hudson huffed out a breath. “Something happened all right. Or rather—all night. I know what color panties she wears but not that she had a child.”

Ryan looked at him in surprise. “Damn. Didn’t see that coming. Layton didn’t give me the impression of being the type of woman interested in only one night.”

Hudson licked his lips. “Me either, but it just sort of happened. I’d rather not talk about it.”

Ryan chuckled, annoying the hell out of Hudson. “Chicks love to talk, so you’re going to have to get over that shit real quick. Her sister is dating Aaron. It’s going to be hard to avoid Layton if she’s moving here.”

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