Page 38 of SEAL's Secret

“Just like her mother,” Hudson said with a wink. He was getting out of the car as Caroline unbuckled her seatbelt, but he left her door closed for now. Layton had explained all about the childproof locks on the back doors of vehicles, and he’d quickly made sure his were set. Caroline may be independent, but he didn’t want her rushing off in the parking lot and getting hurt.

Hudson lifted the back hatch, easily putting the three beach chairs over his shoulder. Caroline had turned around and was peering over the backseat, instructing them not to forget her bucket and beach toys. “Chloe’s mom said they might go to the beach this weekend,” she told them.

“Oh yeah? Do you think there are many beaches around here?” Hudson joked.

“Silly! We live on an island!”

Shaking her head, Layton went to gather her daughter while Hudson shut the hatch.

The party was in full swing by the time they arrived, and he quickly brought his girls over to say hello and meet Callie and Alexa. Working that thought over in his mind, he realized they were his girls. He and Layton had essentially slid into a relationship together. It was fast, but it didn’t feel wrong. The nights he didn’t see her, he made sure to talk on the phone or text. She’d excitedly tell him about a home sale she made or ahome she’d listed, and he’d share what he could of training that day.

It almost felt picture perfect, which was a dangerous thing to say. When Hudson was growing up, he was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Although he had a dangerous job, it wasn’t his career as a SEAL that gave him pause. Hudson had a gut feeling that something else was coming. He could be wrong, but his instincts were never off. He just wished he could pinpoint what specifically he should be watching out for.

“Hi! We’re so glad to finally meet you!” Callie gushed, giving Layton a hug. She looked surprised for a beat at Callie’s exuberance but then relaxed, easily chatting with the other woman. Caroline ran off to see her aunt, and Hudson felt himself relaxing.

“Hey man,” Sawyer said, handing him a beer. “About time you two showed up.”

“Yeah, yeah. Layton tells me this is nothing. Once the baby comes, we’ll be rushing and likely late to every single thing.”

“Sounds about right,” Sawyer said with a chuckle. He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you’re about to be a dad. It wasn’t too long ago we were cruising the bars every night. Now I have to go it alone.”

Hudson took a pull of his beer. “What about Ryan?”

“Eh. We’ll meet up sometimes at Coconuts, but I think he’s still hung up on Avery,” Sawyer said.

“I didn’t think they knew each other that well,” Hudson admitted. “She wasn’t here that long when she visited Aaron.”

“Some of us didn’t think you knew Layton in the biblical sense,” Sawyer smirked.

Hudson narrowed his gaze.

“Easy,” Sawyer said with a laugh. “You two kids are cute together. How’s it working now that she moved out again?”

Hudson shook his head. “It sucks. I liked having them there but understood why they needed to go. Their entire lives were boxed up in shipping containers. They need their own space to get settled in.”

“You just wish that space was in your house,” Sawyer said knowingly.

Ryan strode over to them, swiping his phone with a smile.

“What’s up, buddy?” Hudson asked curiously.

“Avery’s planning to come back to visit next month. She’s still hoping to take a full-time position with Doctors Without Borders, which Aaron is pissed about,” he added in a low voice. “He thinks it’s too dangerous, but I can’t wait to see her again. We’ve kept in touch.”

“I’d say so given that shit-eating grin on your face,” Sawyer commented dryly.

Ryan shrugged. “She’s fun. Funny. Gorgeous,” he added.

“There goes another one,” Hudson muttered.

Laughter erupted from the group of women a few feet away, and Sawyer’s gaze flicked from Layton over to Hudson. “Your girl looks pretty happy. She keeps sneaking glances your way.”

Hudson’s chest filled with warmth. She was his girl. He cared about her, liked spending time with her, loved their passionate nights, and she was having his baby. Did he love her? He had to admit he wasn’t certain yet. He’d grown up without normal examples of what love was like. The thought of anything happening to Layton made his chest ache, and he knew that he’d die to protect her. If that wasn’t love, he wasn’t sure what was. He hadn’t told her those three little words, but it felt like it wascoming. Each day that passed made him want her more and want for them all to be together—Layton, her daughter, and him—like a real family.

***

“What’s up, baby mama?” Hudson asked with a smirk as he strode over to Layton. After the two of them had arrived together with Caroline in tow, everyone had been congratulating them about the baby. It was the first time Layton had met the other women. She’d already met the team, of course, but Layton hadn’t stuck around the last beach party long enough to say hello, let alone meet anyone new. Maybe it should’ve felt awkward today, but instead, it just seemed right. The men were happy to see her again, and the women had welcomed her into their fray.

“I’m just chatting with Callie,” Layton said, beaming. She flushed as he ducked to give her a quick kiss right then and there. Callie was grinning at them, but Hudson’s attention was focused solely on Layton. When he looked at her that way, it made her heart catch. Neither one of them had said the L word yet, but she could feel it.

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