Page 33 of SEAL's Secret

“Hudson’s going to be worried.”

She shot her sister a confused look.

“He worries about you,” Emersyn said. “He probably won’t admit it, but Aaron mentioned it to me. You’re all alone when you’re showing properties.”

“Yeah, Hudson did say something along those lines. I’ve been a real estate agent for years. I’m not going to let Hudson’s worry prevent me from living my life.”

“I know. I just think he’ll be upset by this. So,” Emersyn added, spearing a piece of salad on her fork. “Could they still buy the home or is it off the market now?”

“It’s off the market, but honestly, they don’t want to deal with that mess. I can’t say that I blame them. We’ll do some more showings tomorrow evening instead. Both of them took off this afternoon, so I felt bad that things didn’t work out.”

“I probably wouldn’t want that house either. It sounds like some bad juju or something.”

Layton laughed. “It does. The home was gorgeous. We’ll find something else though. They both have high-paying jobs, so there are a number of properties in their price range. But what about you?” she asked. “You’ve been out of your place, too.”

“The new flooring arrived for my apartment, and the management office notified me that they’re installing it next week. Another crew already came in and ripped out the old. It’s a mess,” she said, shaking her head.

“I’m sure Aaron doesn’t mind you staying at his place,” Layton joked, waggling her eyebrows.

“Ha. I hear the same about Hudson,” Emersyn said. “What’s going on with you two?”

“It’s…complicated. There’s definitely chemistry between us. No surprise since he got me pregnant,” Layton added, blushing.

“You like him,” Emersyn teased.

“Well, yeah, but it’s too confusing of a situation. We’re basically just friends at the moment—and not friends with benefits,” she said, noticing the look on her sister’s face. “It’s all perfectly PG. Maybe the tiniest bit of flirting, but we’re trying to be adults about this.”

“Adults can flirt,” Emersyn countered.

“Well, duh. But we’ve got all these serious decisions to make. What will happen when the baby comes? Hudson deploys a lot. I don’t need to tell you that,” she said.

“It’s hard,” Emersyn said sympathetically. “I guess the baby will have to live with you and Caroline, right?”

Layton swallowed. “Yeah.”

“Hey. Why that look?” Emersyn asked.

Layton shrugged helplessly. “It’s just, sometimes when we’re there at Hudson’s, it feels almost like we could be a family. It’s silly to think that. Obviously, we’re not, and the living together situation is very temporary. My household goods are set to arrive next week, and then Caroline and I will be gone.”

“Not gone. Just moving into your home. Gone would by flying home to Virginia. Now that would be complicated, but there’s no reason you and Hudson couldn’t date now or something. Yeah, stuff happened backwards, but I can tell that he cares about you.”

“He doesn’t want to rock that boat. Bad analogy given he’s in the Navy,” she joked, “but it’s true. We’ve settled into a routine. We’re cordial to each other. Polite.”

“Polite doesn’t sound like how a baby got made,” Emersyn joked.

Layton gave her an annoyed look. “We’re being responsible now. We’re parents,” she added, emphasizing the second word.

To her surprise, Emersyn began to laugh. “You’re both into each other and just won’t admit it. I see it. Aaron can see it. Shoot, I’m sure strangers on the street notice the heated looks you two exchange. It’s always been that way, ever since the day the guys moved me in. Oh, that reminds me. I know you have movers, but Aaron offered to help.”

Now it was Layton’s turn to laugh. “You think Hudson would let that happen? The guy is crazy overprotective.”

Emersyn raised her eyebrows. “What?” Layton asked.

Her sister smiled. “That tells me everything I need to know.”

Chapter 19

“Is she asleep?” Hudson asked quietly later that night as Layton tiptoed down the hall. She sank down on the opposite end of the couch as him, and the gap between them made him want to tug her closer. Pull her hair out of that messy ponytail and run his hands through it. Show her that he didn’t want them to simply be temporary roommates.

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