Page 18 of SEAL's Secret

“I trust you received my message earlier. I need to see the property in Arlington again. This can’t wait. Please call me as soon as possible.

There were three more messages, each getting increasingly irate. She was getting annoyed by the time she heard the last one.

“I left multiple messages yesterday and haven’t heard a word from you. This is unacceptable.” He started cursing, and she cringed. After listening to the rambling message, she finally deleted it. She’d contact him when she returned to Virginia. Layton had already told her clients she wasn’t available, so there wasn’t much more she could do.

She ran a hand through her messy hair and then wandered into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she smiled. It was fully stocked now, unlike a month ago. What’d she expect? Of course it was. Emersyn lived here now, and life had moved on. It was weird how Layton’s own life felt like it was at somewhat of a standstill. Things were changing whether she wanted them to or not, and that was a tough pill to swallow.

And the baby?

Her hands started trembling. She had no idea how Hudson would react.

She should text him now. Make sure they were still on for later. Hands trembling, she shot off a message.

Layton:Morning. We still on for later?

Hudson:Morning, princess. Of course.

Layton:Okay. I just wanted to make sure.

Hudson:You seem nervous. Promise I don’t bite.

Hudson:Unless you want me to. ;)

Layton laughed despite herself. Hudson had no idea she was about to turn his world upside down, but she did enjoy his humor. He probably wouldn’t find things so funny later on though.

Layton:No biting. Today.

God, why was she flirting with him? This wasn’t a date. He wasn’t her boyfriend. Something about Hudson soothed her, however, illogical as it was. As he’d said, they barely knew one another. From the moment he’d helped her on the beach, she knew she was safe with him.

Hudson:Then I promise to be good—unless you wear that sexy little sundress again… See you this afternoon, princess.

Ummm, no. She certainly wouldn’t be wearing that. In fact, she hadn’t even brought it with her. Frowning at the time, she knew she’d be anxious until the moment she saw him later. And then? Then life as they knew it would change forever.

***

Hudson shoved his hands in his pockets, striding down the block toward a crowded area of Waikiki Beach. Sunbathers gathered on the sand, surfers were catching waves, and touristsmoved through the downtown city streets. A giggling group of teenage girls passed by, and he easily maneuvered around them. Scanning the area for Layton, he looked toward where they planned to meet. Hudson and his buddies usually preferred quieter stretches of beaches—kind of like where he’d taken Layton that night for beers. No doubt she wanted to be around a crowd now he thought wryly.

Not that he’d planned to maul her or something. He’d managed to keep his hands to himself yesterday, hadn’t he?

Moving around a slow group of tourists, his breath caught as he finally spotted her. Her long, blonde hair blew in the breeze, and she had dark sunglasses on. She hadn’t seen him yet, and he took in her strappy tank top and soft, cotton shorts. She was casually sexy, but Hudson figured he’d think she was sexy in anything. A sundress. Denim shorts. Those tiny little pink panties she’d worn that night.

Hell. He’d pocketed them on the beach and then been surprised to find them in his laundry a few days later. Hudson hadn’t meant to keep them as a souvenir, but something animalistic inside him thrilled at the idea of having that little scrap of fabric. Layton wasn’t his, but damn. The more time that passed, the more he wished she was.

Until she’d essentially dropped that bombshell yesterday, showing up on the beach with her daughter. She was alone now, as planned, and something about her seemed almost vulnerable with the way she stood. It bothered him that Layton didn’t want him to pick her up from Emersyn’s place. He’d offered once again earlier, and she’d once again declined. It felt almost ominous in some way, like she was drawing a line in the sand. She might want to see him today, but it wouldn’t be physical. He wouldn’t drop her off at the door and kiss her goodbye again.

Why would he? It had been a month. They weren’t anything to each other.

As he got within a few feet of her, Hudson finally let her know he was there. “Layton,” he said in a low voice.

She jumped but turned toward him, and he felt his heart thump in his chest. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips a pretty shade of pink. Fucking kissable, not that he’d be saying hello that way. He couldn’t see her eyes through the dark sunglasses but felt her looking at him. She had a nervous smile on her face. “Hudson. Hi.”

He cocked his head slightly, wondering why she seemed different than before. It felt like something about today really mattered, but he couldn’t pinpoint precisely what. Hudson and his teammates had learned to be both observant and intuitive in their line of work. It could literally mean life or death. He considered himself able to get a good read on people, to know their intentions, but at the moment, he couldn’t tell the first thing that Layton was thinking.

She wrapped her arms around herself, which drew his attention to the movement of her breasts. “You look nice,” Hudson said, his gaze scanning over her. Nice was an understatement. She looked fucking perfect, and he was kicking himself for not staying in touch. Emersyn lived here now. Of course, Layton would’ve been back at some point.

Clearly nervous, she shifted and clutched her hands in front of her. “Hey, it’s all right,” he said, wanting to soothe her. “You want to grab a beer?” He cocked his head toward a nearby bar. Music spilled out from inside, and conversations trailed through the air. What he really wanted was to get her alone—and not to have his wicked way with her either. He actually did want to talk.See where her head was at. Layton had been fun and flirty last month. Right now, she just looked worried.

“No,” she said softly. “I didn’t want to get together for a beer.”

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