Page 7 of The SEALs' Single Mom Baby Surprise

Early. Like the man said, his best employee.

When she does arrive, it’s in a whirlwind. Her golden auburn hair is falling free from her ponytail, the pink ribbon sloping to the side already. It was obviously tied by her daughter, although when Boone said she was a young single mom, I didn’t picture one this young with a girl old enough to tie a bow.

“How old is your daughter?” I ask as she dumps her bag in her chair.

It’s probably good she doesn’t sit. She might feel the heat from Hastings having only vacated it minutes ago. Sloane turns to glare at me. The practiced kind that she wields effectively. Very much a mother.

But those eyes are startlingly dark blue, reminiscent of the night chasing the sun toward sunset.

“What?”

I point at her flopping ponytail. “The ribbon in your hair. You let her tie it. It’s going to fall out by the end of the day.”

She reaches up and takes it out, letting her hair fall. The wave of it around her heart-shaped face highlights both her youth and her beauty. It’s something I wish I could unsee.

Sloane folds the ribbon up gently and puts it in her desk drawer before she shakes her hair out with her fingers. “She’s six.”

I nod at the confirmation. Sloane was young when she had her daughter. I wish Boone had given us more details other than the vague warning that this woman has been through some rough things. I offer a small compliment. Best way to disarm a mom.

“Dexterous for six.”

Pride shows in her gaze—a fire I am familiar with spotting—but she doesn’t offer me a smile. “Smart as a whip, too.”

I remember my daughter at that age, although she’ll be forever stuck in my memory at nine. Taking too large a swallow of hot coffee, I let the burn fester in my chest. It’s only a mild distraction.

Shepard and Hastings emerge from the warehouse, and she spins to pin them with her gaze as well, crossing her arms. “What’s with the extra personnel today? Is this about what I found yesterday?”

Apparently, her daughter gets her smarts from her mother.

Shepard gives her a lazy smile, and she narrows her eyes at him. Sloane has him pegged already. It makes me laugh. Too bad for her that he enjoys a challenge.

Boone nods. “I called them. They’re old friends. They’re here to help with a bigger audit.”

Sloane shifts, still looking uneasy, but it’s obvious she trusts her boss.

4

JACK

Igrin at Sloane and her distaste at having us come in and take over. Her mouth puckers and her eyes narrow, and I already know being soft on her won’t work. It’s not going to be remotely possible.

This woman is begging to lash out, to find a safe target to unleash all of the pent-up anger and frustration on. I will gladly be the stand-in for her abuse.

“Don’t worry, we’ll only get in your way a little bit.”

She rolls her eyes and puts her hair up with a simple band. Bending, she shakes her mouse to wake up her computer. It comes on, and she turns to glare at me again, her hand on her hip.

Ooh, she’s sharp.

I press on her buttons just a little harder. “Like right now. Come walk me through what you found.”

She doesn’t jerk into movement like soldiers do when I tell them what to do. They assume it’s an order, but Sloane is a civilian. She looks past me to Boone for confirmation, and he nods. Sloane grabs her clipboard and marches into the warehouse without looking back to see whether I’m coming.

But I’m already on her tail. I try not to ogle her, but she’s prettier than I expected. And those pants are doing her all kinds of favors.

Shooting another look over her shoulder, Sloane can probably feel my eyes on her. It’s not personal, even if I can appreciate the way she downplays her beauty. She can’t hide it, though.

It’s my job to uncover how helpful she’ll be. How honest. How to best gain her trust.

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