Page 42 of SEAL's Secret

Hudson mulled that over. She’d mentioned it to him earlier in the week. For some reason, the idea of an open house gave him pause. When Layton did showings, she was with a couple or a family. She had their identification. Essentially any stranger off the street could come inside when she was alone and vulnerable in an empty home. It didn’t sit right with him.

“She mentioned the open house,” he muttered. “I don’t like it.” Aaron cast a glance in his direction as they continued their run. “I don’t think it’s safe,” Hudson continued. “She’s there by herself with strangers.”

“Maybe she could work with a partner or something,” Aaron suggested.

“Maybe. I’m not sure how it all works. I know real estate agents have showings all the time with open houses, but it bothers me that she’s pregnant and vulnerable.”

“Well, maybe she can buddy up until the baby comes. Or you can stand there and look mean, scaring off potential buyers.”

Hudson’s lips quirked. He sure as shit could play bodyguard, but Aaron was right. It might deter people if he was hovering around. Layton wouldn’t want that either. She was fiercely independent and took pride in her successful career.

Wyatt caught up to them, jogging along beside the other men. “I haven’t heard from the CO, so I think we’re good for the weekend. Not sure what’s on tap for Monday though. If this situation goes sideways, we might be going wheels up sooner than planned.”

“Understood,” Aaron said. “I already let Em know we might be leaving.”

“You good?” Wyatt asked Hudson when he didn’t say anything.

“Yep. Just thinking about Layton.”

Sawyer came up beside them, chuckling. “He’s got it bad. I can practically see the little hearts circling around his head. Our boy’s in love.”

“Don’t be a dick,” Aaron told him.

Wyatt shook his head. “Can it. Let’s finish up our run so we can get home. Callie’s waiting for me, and no offense, boys, but I’d rather see her than spend the morning with you.”

***

Layton crossed the sunny kitchen, glancing out at the palm trees swaying in the breeze in the backyard. It was harder than she’d thought doing an open house on a pretty Saturday. Her sister was watching Caroline, and rather than spending time with them, she was stuck at work. For some reason it hadn’t bothered her as much in Virginia. Now it felt like she was missing out.

A steady stream of potential home buyers had come through already. She was thrilled to get the foot traffic yet also equally eager to get out of there. It had been a busy few hours, and she was starving, not to mention ready to put her feet up and relax. That wasn’t entirely possible with a four-year-old at home, but maybe they could watch a movie until Hudson came over later.

When Aaron had dropped her sister off, it had inexplicably made her sad. She knew it had been late when the guys finished up the night before, but Aaron and Em had clearly made it work. If she and Hudson lived together, he could’ve crawled into bed beside her and held her close.

An older couple waved goodbye, ready to head out. “I think this property is too big for our needs, but my goodness, what a beautiful home!” the woman declared.

“Thank you for coming by,” Layton told them.

A family with a toddler came in next, and she could hear the young child crying as she whined about wanting to go home. Soon that would be her life again. Caroline seemed so independent, even though she was only four. A baby was goingto change everything. Hudson had been surprised by Layton’s list of baby gear the other day but had been all in, wanting to go shopping and pick things out together. He’d even planned to research car seats to make sure they were getting one with the latest safety features.

Layton greeted the next few people to come in, and thirty minutes later, she was finally, blessedly alone. She gathered a few things in the kitchen, readying to go lock up and remove the open house sign, when the front door suddenly slammed against the wall as it swung open.

She jolted in surprise, turning around to see who’d stormed in as her heart pounded. Too late, she realized her purse and cell phone were sitting on the kitchen island. She carried pepper spray and an emergency alarm with her at every showing. It was piercingly loud and would certainly draw attention—if she could get to it.

She stared in surprise as her client from Virginia appeared, looking disheveled. His clothing was rumpled, and there was a day or two’s growth of beard on his jaw. The man had always been clean shaven before, dressed impeccably. She had no idea what he was doing at her open house in Oahu or why’d he’d arrived looking so angry.

“Ms. O’Connell. I’ve been urgently trying to reach you,” the man said in a clipped tone as he quickly approached her. The stack of flyers she’d just collected fell to the floor as she took a step back, her nerves getting the better of her. He was agitated and smelled of cigarette smoke and alcohol. Layton hadn’t even seen him since she’d shown him the property in Arlington and couldn’t imagine why he would be here now.

“Mr. Harris,” she said, trying to stop the wavering in her voice. She spoke more loudly, trying to appear more confident than she felt. “What can I help you with today? I’m just finishing up here.”

“Like hell you are!” he roared, slamming a hand down on the counter. She jumped in surprise, and without missing a beat, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at her, nothing but pure evil in his eyes. “Don’t move!” he shouted, rushing toward her. Glancing at the kitchen island, she blanched as he suddenly darted for her cellphone. “You don’t need this anymore!” he yelled, throwing it into the dining room. She heard glass breaking as it crashed into something, and then a thump as the phone fell to the floor. “I already know you don’t respond to calls.”

She cried out as he grabbed her, pulling her against him and pressing the gun to her temple, the bite of the metal pressing into her skin. She trembled, absolutely terrified, and too scared to move or make a sound. “Lock the front door so we can talk, Ms. O’Connell. You have something of mine, and I’m not leaving until I get it.”

Chapter 25

“She’s not back yet?” Hudson asked with a frown later that afternoon. “I thought the open house ended already.”

“It did,” Emersyn told him, watching as Caroline worked on a craft at the kitchen table. “Sometimes they run later than expected if a potential buyer shows interest. Maybe she stopped by the office, but it’s unusual she didn’t text to say she’d be late.”

---