Page 197 of California Wild

Hayley exhaled, staring out the window as the city blurred past.

“Why are you here?” she finally asked.

Heath’s hands flexed on the wheel. “The last thing Jesse said to me before he left…” His voice was steady, but there was something weighted beneath it. “He asked me to check on you. To make sure you weren’t doing this alone.”

Hayley’s throat went tight.

Of course he did.

He wouldn’t say it to her. Wouldn’t tell her himself. But he’d make sure someone else was there.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

She clenched her jaw, turning away. “So you’re here to babysit me?”

“No,” Heath said simply. “I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”

She let out a rough, humorless laugh. “And what if I’m not?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he made a turn onto the Coronado Bridge, heading toward Jesse’s neighborhood.

“You’re taking me to his place?” she asked, suddenly tense.

Heath nodded. “Safest place for you right now. You know this town. The SEAL community—we take care of our own. I’m right down the street. No one knows you’re there. No one to bother you. You get some space. Figure things out.”

We.

That word settled deep in her chest.

She swallowed hard, staring at the road ahead. “We?”

Heath glanced at her, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You heard me right.”

She processed that in silence as the truck pulled up in front of Jesse’s duplex—a cozy, California bungalow, half of it a small, one-bedroom unit that was distinctly his. The other side of the house was larger—three bedrooms, a proper family home, semi-detached.

Hayley had never noticed before just how small Jesse’s side was. How much of his life fit inside such a compact space—as if he never intended to stay long.

As Heath parked, she hesitated before following him up the walkway.

Once inside, Heath sent a quick text, then moved toward the kitchen. “Coffee?”

She blinked. “Uh… yeah. Decaf, please.”

He raised a brow. “You can have caffeine when you’re pregnant, you know. You just have to limit it. One cup a day won’t kill you.”

She exhaled. “Fine. Just cream.”

He handed her the mug, then opened the fridge, frowning. “I’ll need to bring some groceries.”

Before she could reply, the doorbell rang.

Hayley turned as Heath took the five steps to the door, opening it to reveal a tall, slender woman with familiar features—warmblue eyes, dark blonde hair swept into a casual ponytail, an easy confidence in the way she carried herself.

“My sister,” Heath introduced. “Natalie.”

Natalie stepped inside, giving Hayley a once-over before smiling. “Hey. I would’ve brought scones, but Heath only gave me a five-minute warning.”

Hayley blinked. Heath had called in backup.

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