The SEAL’s Surprise Baby (7 page)

“Drink more coffee,” he said.

She had a second cup and played with her daughter for a little bit.

“I might as well go get ready for work,” she finally said.

The idea wasn’t at all appealing.

Jack noticed how reluctant Melanie was to leave, and he took the baby from her. She disappeared into her bedroom and thirty minutes later, almost to the second, she came out looking ready to battle the corporate world, in a dark-blue suit and a crisp high-collared white blouse.

All Jack could think of when she was dressed like that was that under it all she was wearing lace and silk. It drove him nuts to know it, and he whistled softly. “Look at Mama, Jules.”

Melanie flushed a little as she gathered her handbag and briefcase, which were exactly where she’d left them yesterday. As if on cue, the baby whimpered, reaching for her mother. Jack noticed the expression on Melanie’s face. Guilt. She held the baby for a little while, talked with her, then glancing at the time, finally handed her back to Jack. Jack
soothed his daughter as Melanie stepped into her high-heeled shoes.

“I’ll see you tonight,” she said.

“Can you get away for lunch?” Jack asked.

“I won’t know till I get to the office. I’ll call.”

“Try. I’m sure Jules would like to see her mother more than just for meals and baths.”

Jack knew it was a cheap shot, but it was the truth.

“I have to work, Jack, and no, don’t say that marriage will change that. I know it would. But I can’t marry for financial reasons and you know it.”

“You won’t do it for a name, for more time or for yourself. What will it take?”

Already half out the door, she met his gaze. “Love, you idiot,” she said, and closed the door.

Jack let out a breath. Love. He certainly liked Melanie, a lot, and he wanted her, but what did he know about loving a woman forever? His own reservations plagued him and he cuddled Juliana close, soothing away her whimpers. He spent the rest of the day trying to sort out his feelings for Melanie and wondering if he ever did love her and told her so, she would believe him or think that he was saying it just to get his name on a certificate for his child.

M
elanie laughed, a deep-throated sound that wafted through her backyard. But Jack, sitting across from her on the blanket, didn’t return it. Of course, the baby food dribbling down his face could have something to do with that, she thought.

“Well, when she doesn’t want something, she doesn’t,” he said resolutely.

Still laughing, Melanie came up on her knees and with a cloth, wiped at the globs. “Just think if it had been an apple,” she said, giggling.

“I’d be out cold.” Jack watched her, enjoyed the moment of having her close, touching him. She’d kept at least two feet away from him at all times lately. Since he’d kissed her.

“Oh, tough guy.”

“You smell great.”

“You smell like strained peas.”

“It’s hard for you to take a compliment, isn’t it.”

“No, not really.”

“You just don’t trust men to tell you the truth.”

“Well, there is that,” she said, and started to sit back.

He grabbed her wrist, holding her there. “I’ll always tell you the truth, Melanie. I swear on my honor I will.”

Melanie stared into his cool blue eyes and saw only sincerity. “I think I believe you.”

He grinned, then before she could back away, he kissed her, quick and deep, a warm play of lips and tongue that made her insides yank tight. She was breathless when she eased back and finished feeding the baby. Who, much to Jack’s disappointment, ate the peas she’d just spat at him.

“She knows you’re a pushover,” Melanie said at his pained look.

“I wish you were,” he muttered under his breath, and when she asked him what he’d said, he smiled. “How about you go out with me tonight?”

She blinked at him, stunned. She stammered a bit before saying, “But what about Juliana?”

“We get a sitter like normal parents. Diana will do it, I bet.”

“I haven’t had time with the baby, I’d rather—”

“Chicken.”

“Excuse me?”

Lord, he loved that righteous look of hers. “You’re afraid to be alone with me without Juliana as a buffer.”

She looked appalled. “I am not.”

“Good, then we’ll go out.” He whipped out his cell phone, dialed Diana’s number and within minutes lined her up as a sitter. Shutting off the phone, he smiled. “Dinner and a movie okay?”

“All right, fine. I’ll go.” What could she say? He’d backed her into a corner of her own making.

“I hear fear again,” he goaded.

She made a face at him just as the alarm on his watch sounded. He silenced it and said, “Time for you to go back to work.”

Where had the hour gone? she thought. She kissed her baby and was about to kiss Jack, when she caught herself.

“Got to go,” she rushed to say, and stood. Jack gathered up the baby and followed her into the house, then to the door.

“Diana will be here when you get home. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Melanie didn’t argue. She’d already learned that Jack was a determined man. She was losing every battle with him.

It was just plain weird to be this nervous, Melanie thought, checking her appearance in the mirror again. She wanted to look good. No, great, she amended, smoothing the line of her green tank dress. She hadn’t worn this since before she was pregnant and was pleased it still looked good. The simple lines were overlaid with a layer of chiffon flecked with gold, dressing it up a bit. Then the doorbell rang and her heartbeat danced a fine tune that told her this night meant more than just Jack’s getting his way.

When she came out of her room, Jack was talking
with Diana. Wearing a navy sports coat, khaki slacks and pale-blue shirt, he looked more like a college professor than a member of an elite commando team.

His gaze moved over her from head to toe and back up. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you.”

He smiled, hoping she believed him. “Ready?”

She glanced hesitantly at the baby and Diana.

“Oh, go on, we’ll be fine,” Diana said, nearly pushing Melanie toward the door.

After Melanie kissed the baby, Jack steered her outside to the car. A few minutes later they were pulling into the parking lot of a quaint restaurant on the waterfront.

“I forgot this place was here,” she said after the waiter had seated them.

“I bet there’s a lot of things you’ve forgotten since you had a baby.”

She had her face in the menu, a defense tactic, he decided. He liked that she was nervous. His own heart was beating double time.

“I haven’t forgotten anything, just lack the time.”

He pushed down the menu. “Didn’t you used to paint?” When she nodded, he added, “When was the last time you did that or went out with a girlfriend? Or soaked in a tub for an hour and painted your toenails or whatever it is that women do to look that great.”

She blushed, unable to be defensive when he complimented her like that. “When I didn’t have someone else to think about,” she said, and met his gaze over the menu. “Are you going to spend the evening
showing me the error of my ways—or are we going to have dinner and be adults?”

Jack’s smile was slow in coming and he sat back in his chair, ordered wine and nodded. The rest of the evening swept past them in a delightful blur. They talked of everything except marriage and their baby. They debated politics and she learned more about the Armed Forces and the restrictions it puts on the men and women who serve. He told her about his teammates, and of the few who were married, he mentioned their wives. He spoke quietly of an old mission, leaving out a great many details, she knew, but it was nice to have him confide in her at least that much. His face lit up when he talked about Lisa, his mother and late stepfather, but when it came to his real father, he changed the subject to woodworking. He wanted to show Melanie some of the things he’d made, but they were in storage, along with his tools. It made her see that other than his bachelor-officer’s quarters he had on the base, he had no real home. It left her stinging inside, because he was a good man and deserved more than he had right now.

She told him how she’d handled her broken engagements, how hurt her parents had been that she’d been betrayed, then she scolded Jack for calling her father.

“He already likes you,” she admitted. “Though when I was pregnant, he was ready to hunt you down.”

Jack just smiled, unaffected. “With a gun I’ll bet.”

Melanie didn’t respond to that, not wanting to ruin
the evening. “Whatever you said to him, he’s keeping it secret. He won’t tell Mom or me.”

“Good. It’s between us.”

Melanie’s look was wary, but Jack wouldn’t give an inch.

“A guy thing,” she said at last. “Okay. I won’t pester.”

“You wouldn’t get it out of me, anyway. I’m trained to withstand pleading and tears.”

Melanie laughed at his teasing, dined on incredible seafood and drank a little too much wine. When the meal was over, they decided to skip the movie and take a walk on the waterfront. The gnarled oaks were dripping with Spanish moss and lit with tiny lights, the wind warm and balmy as it rolled off the river.

Jack slung his jacket over his shoulder and strolled beside her, barely resisting the urge to wrap his arm around her and pull her close. She did things to him, made his palms sweat, made it hard to breathe sometimes when he was near her, and right now, she looked like a willowy fairy with her deep-red hair and the glitter of gold flecks on her dress. Suddenly she stopped, shaking a stone out of her high-heeled sandal, and he lent his arm, chuckling to himself when she continued their walk barefoot. She didn’t let go, her arm looped through his until she paused at the rail. Melanie inhaled the salty air. The slosh of water against the wall below beat rhythmically.

“I had a good time.”

“It isn’t over yet.”

She glanced his way. “It’s late, and Diana is—”

“She’s fine. So is Juliana.” When she looked to
argue, he sighed. “And here I’d thought we were being adults and you’d relaxed.”

Her brows knitted softly. “We are. I have. It’s been wonderful. But—”

“Hush up, Mel.”

“What?”

There was that look again, he thought. “You’re going to talk yourself out of a good time if you say anything else.” Jack stepped up to her, and without laying a hand on her, he kissed her.

Melanie didn’t bother to deny herself the pleasure. Staring at this man across the dinner table, heck, all week long only fueled her need.

He kissed thickly, a slow torture of his incredible mouth, his hands clenched at his sides, and when she dropped her shoes and pressed herself against him, only then did he wrap her in his arms and hold on. Their kiss grew vibrant and steamy, yet held a tenderness they’d shared only once, moments before he left for his mission fifteen months ago. It was a small taste of the man he’d been back then, of the woman she’d been, and that the moment could be recaptured hadn’t escaped either of them.

Jack eased back, drawing in needed air and pressing his forehead to hers. “Don’t say anything.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Except…” Her eyes teared a bit as she tipped her head back and swept her fingers up over his jaw, across his brow. “I missed you, Jack. I really did.”

He groaned and held her, rubbing her spine, then whispering, “I hate that you had to be alone, Mel.”

“I didn’t miss you because of Juliana. I missed
the man I hadn’t had the chance to know,” she said, loving his arms around her, feeling safe and cherished.

Jack’s throat tightened and he kissed her again, gently, with a tenderness that spoke of hidden emotion and not need.

It didn’t scare her. The old feeling of distrust didn’t rear its head and warn her off. Melanie just let herself feel, without thoughts of marriage and their baby and what the future might bring. Emotions flowed within the fraction of time suspended just for them. She touched his face, his lips, pushed at his hair.

He kissed the corner of her mouth, her cheek, sank his fingers into the auburn mass of curls spilling down her back. She was so incredibly beautiful and strong, and Jack knew there was more between them now, at this moment, than there had been since they’d shared a bed fifteen months ago. He brushed his mouth back and forth over hers softly, and when some teenagers on skateboards came flying around the curve of the stone walk, he scooped her out of their path.

“Reckless kids,” he muttered, then asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, my hero, I am,” she said, smiling.

Jack’s gaze prowled her features and something inside him seemed to fill and fill, until the pressure in his chest ached. It left him stunned.

“Oh, dear, I think my shoe’s a casualty, though.”

Jack stared at her as she bent to pick up her maimed sandal. He took it, deemed it salvageable
enough for the walk to the car, then bending to his knee, he slipped both shoes on her feet.

Melanie held his gaze, feeling the air charge with a current she couldn’t name. Didn’t want to examine. “Come on, Sir Galahad,” she whispered. “Let’s go home.”

He stood, grasping her hand and tucking it in the curve of his elbow. “Galahad had pure thoughts, Melanie. I don’t.”

Laughing, they strolled toward home.

A few minutes later they stood on her porch, the door half-open.

“Do you want to come in for coffee?”

“No, if I come inside, I’ll want more than coffee.” His gaze raked her hotly. “And more than one kiss.”

“I see. Then I guess a nightcap is out of the question, huh?”

“Yes, it is,” he growled, backing her up against the doorjamb. “Because I can barely stand not having you, Melanie, but the next time I make love to you, I want my ring on your finger and vows between us.”

Before she could speak, he kissed her hard, closing his arms around her and pulling her body flush against his so there was no doubt in her mind what he meant, what he wanted.

Then he let her go, spun about and climbed into his car. He drove away, leaving Melanie weak-kneed and wanting, and distrusting her own judgment.

Jack felt the change between them, the strength of the bond that went beyond the child, but he kept it to himself. Melanie was a strong woman, but trusting
a man again scared the living daylights out of her. She deserved to be wary, and he still wanted to pulverize the men who’d hurt her.

He glanced at the woman pushing the stroller beside him in the park. Did she realize, as he had, that they’d fallen into a routine with each other? She might sleep alone every night, but she knew he was there. Just as he couldn’t forget what it was like to wake up beside her, to feel her long legs and arms wrapping him.

“That’s not the look of a proud father,” she said softly from beside him.

He smiled at the flush in her cheeks. “No Galahad here,” he murmured, adding a long velvety look over her body. It had become a joke between them, a message only they understood. He’d kiss her or touch her, she’d warn him off and he’d claim not to be Sir Galahad. Jack knew the only thing keeping them apart was her distrust. He was trying to earn her trust, though he hadn’t given her any reason to distrust him. He was paying for some other man’s crime, and while Jack wanted to bide his time, he was running out of it too quickly.

They’d circled the park and were heading back to Melanie’s place when she paused near a bench to adjust the restraining strap of the stroller. An elderly woman sitting there was feeding the ducks that lingered near the small pond.

“Oh, aren’t you a pretty little thing!” she said to Juliana, and leaned out to brush her fingers over the baby’s hair.

Juliana gurgled and made bubbles for the woman.

“Thank you. We think so,” Melanie said.

The woman looked up at Melanie. “She has your husband’s eyes.”

“Oh, we’re not married,” Melanie said without thinking, and instantly cursed her thoughtlessness.

The woman blinked, first glaring at them, then offering the child a look of pure pity that Melanie couldn’t ignore.

“You poor dear,” she cooed. “Raised a bastard because of selfish parents.”

Jack stiffened and pulled the stroller well back from the old woman. “I see that being inexcusably crass has nothing to do with age,” he snapped.