Page 140 of Nanny for the SEALs

“Jason!” Brady stepped forward and embraced the man. “I told him to swing by if he got a chance. You and Maurice hit it off?”

Jason awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, we’ve had a good time playing house. Your kids are a hoot.”

I grinned at Maurice. His dark skin definitely had a tinge of cherry-red to it.

Asher clapped his hands together. “It’s past your bedtimes. Let’s get in bed and I’ll read you a story.”

“Can Miss Heather read it to us?” Micah asked sweetly. “We missed her.”

Rogan glanced at me. “Another time, buddy. Heather’s really tired…”

“I’d love to,” I replied. “One story won’t hurt.”

Jason hung out in the living room while the rest of us tucked the kids in bed. I read them a quick bedtime story, then kissed each of them goodnight.

“I like Uncle Maurice,” Dustin whispered to me when it was his turn. “But I like you more. Will you be watching us tomorrow?”

I smiled down at him. “Tomorrow is my day off, but I’ll be here to play some. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He grinned and closed his eyes.

Tucking the children in bed always filled me with happiness, but tonight it held a different feeling. It made me wonder about how my own child would be, if it was a boy or a girl, and if it would behave like Cora or the others. I found myself looking forward to finding out the answers.

As we left their rooms and closed the door, Brady whispered to Maurice, “So? What do you think about Jason? Is he, like, your type, or whatever?”

“Sweetie, you did very good. He’sdefinitelya bear.”

“Is that…” Brady looked at me, then the others. “Is that a good thing?”

“Oh, it’sverygood.”

Brady fist-bumped him. “Nice. And let me tell you: he’s working with some seriousequipment, if you know what I mean.”

Rogan groaned. “Did you keep notes on the dick sizes of everyone in our unit?”

“No,” Brady said defensively. “But I couldn’t help but noticing when we were in the shower together on base. Jason should need a permit for his junk, it’s so big.”

Maurice grinned. “You had me atequipment.”

We all walked back out into the living room. “Thanks for helping with everything,” Rogan told Jason.

They clasped hands and Jason said, “I love kids. I have seven nieces and nephews. If I could, I’d be a professional nanny too. Much more peaceful than what we did in the SEALs.”

“I don’t know,” Brady said. “You should have seen how Micah and Dustin were just a month ago. You’d rather spend a week in the Al-Hajarah desert than a week with them.”

“Jason and I are going out for drinks,” Maurice told me. “After the day you’ve had, I’msureyou need one. Come join us.”

“Heather can’t, because—” Asher started to say.

“Because I’m exhausted!” I quickly answered. I shot Asher a look. “I’m beat. You two have fun by yourselves. I’ll catch up with you about everything tomorrow.”

“Suit yourself. Come on, Jason. I’m taking you to the New Jalisco.”

“That’s a dance club, right?” Jason asked. “I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll teach you how to move that big, beautiful body.” Maurice turned around, mouthed, “Thank you!” to Brady, and then left with his new date.

“You don’t want to tell your best friend?” Asher asked.

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