Page 17 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

A capable woman is a strong aphrodisiac.

The smaller boxes and crates finish first and are cleared out of the loading bay as the last large tower of plastic-wrapped boxes skids to a stop beside Sloane. A recruit cuts through the plastic with quick, jerky slices. The tower sways, and the recruit jumps out of the way as it starts to tip.

Toward Sloane.

I’m in front of her in a second, arms closing around her shoulder and waist as I swing us both out of the way.

The heavy boxes crash against the hard cement, but I’m surrounded with the scent of honeysuckles and the heat of Sloane’s body against mine.

Her hands grip my arms, chest heaving with her heavy breaths, and her eyes have gone wide and wild as they stare up at me. Her mouth parts.

And fuck, do I want to kiss her.

I’m more than tempted to.

9

SLOANE

Adrenaline rings through my veins with each quick beat of my heart. It’s pounding hard as I’m pressed against the front of Shepard and his wide, strong chest.

God, don’t think of that. What is wrong with you? He’s a jerk.

One who’s just pulled me out from under a toppled tower of inventory that would have seriously hurt me. I didn’t see it coming, too focused on my task.

I don’t realize I’m shaking until Shepard places his hand over mine and gives it a squeeze. His arm is still around my back, but it’s loosened a fraction. Those stony blue eyes analyze me, ready to set my nerves ablaze, but his voice is soft when he asks, “You alright?”

“Yes.” I step out of his grip, brushing my hand down my shirt to smooth it out, regaining my composure. “Thank you.”

Shepard’s hands drop, open, and close like he’s unsure whether I’m steady.

I turn from him to survey the damage, shaking my head and sighing. “I get that you guys are in a rush to get out of here, but you’re hourly, just like me. Not paid by the pallet.”

This time, no one grumbles back at me, and they put on those sheepish looks that come after being scolded by their mothers… or their drill sergeants.

I catch Shepard’s smirk as he steps forward to help the crew clean up the mess. It’s going to take at least another half hour to go through everything that's left.

After the loose stack is righted, Shepard is the one to open each up for me and look over my shoulder as I tally and mark items damaged. So far, this delivery has had no mistakes in its inventory or tracking information.

Good. One less thing to worry about.

Everything goes to its designated spot, and I take the broom to the debris left on the concrete floor, helping the recruits finish putting everything to rights before the shift is over.

And thank God, it’s over. I give Warren a cheerful wave goodbye and nod at the men as I charge out to my car. Time to pick up my daughter from school.

Something loose and heavy sinks in my stomach as I pull out of my spot and find Cole leaning against the exit with his arms crossed, watching me go. He meets my gaze through the passenger window, and I huff out a sigh.

I get that they want to protect me or whatever, but other than that vague threat from Caspian Vorn, nothing’s happened to warrant it. No one is likely to come after me, even if they do have my information.

What are they going to do? Take me out when I haven’t found anything concrete yet? Wouldn’t that just lead to more suspicion on them? I get that bad people have a different sense of morality, but they also have to possess some actual sense. You know, logic?

Besides, everything I’ve done is already logged in the system. It’s tagged and shared, and there’s nothing they can do to reverse that.

Well, I guess they could hack the government database, but what good would that do?

I shove the thoughts away as I pull into the near empty parking lot of Reese’s school. The moment I’m in park, I can see her burst out the front door toward my car.

She climbs in and struggles with her bag as she shoves it on the seat.

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