A Navy SEAL's Surprise Baby. Laura Altom Marie

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СКАЧАТЬ me about your eating habits, sounds like he needs me more than you.”

      “Probably true.”

      When Calder took his first bite, Pandora realized she’d been holding her breath in anticipation of his verdict. It shouldn’t matter whether or not he liked her silly sandwich, but it did.

      Only when he smiled did she exhale. “All I can say is wow. If the mashed-up food you feed Quinn is half as good as this, he is one lucky kid.”

      Fairly glowing from Calder’s compliment, Pandora had the feeling she was the lucky one.

      After his latest bite, Calder glanced at her, then cocked his head. “You look different.”

      “I’m, um, not wearing my glasses. They’re mainly for reading and driving. Long-distance stuff.”

      He nodded. “You look good—not that I mind glasses, just that...” He reddened. “I’m gonna finish my sandwich.”

      Mortification didn’t come close to describing the emotion surging through Pandora. She looked good? What did that even mean? In manspeak, was that a step above ugly, yet beneath homely? Moreover, why did she care?

      * * *

      “SO IT’S THE MIDDLE of the night,” Calder said to his friends during a break in day two of smart-bomb training. “I hear Quinn screaming, only once I find him in the kitchen with the new nanny, he’s already settled down. And damn if she doesn’t look pretty good in this skimpy naughty-nightie number. Her hair was all down and a little crazy and she’d even lost her glasses. Anyway, so next thing I know—”

      Mason whistled. “You two put the baby to bed, then got busy?”

      “Get your mind out of the gutter.” Calder smacked the back of Mason’s head with one of the wiring manuals they were supposed to be studying. “From there, she makes me a meat-loaf sandwich I swear was better than sex.”

      “Sounds to me like you’re not doing it right.” Heath high-fived Mason.

      Calder shot them both dirty looks.

      Cooper never stopped reading.

      “All I’m saying is I think I found a keeper.”

      “Don’t you mean Quinn found a keeper?” Deacon asked.

      “Who asked you, married man?”

      Finishing the last swig of his bottled water, Deacon shrugged. “Just pointing out that for a guy who hates female attachments, and considering this nanny’s only been on the job twenty-four hours, you’re sounding awfully content.”

      “What’s wrong with that? As long as I keep things professional with Pandora, I can see this working out for a nice long time. I do what I want. Quinn’s getting great care. It’s a win-win for all involved.”

      Heath snorted. “What’s the nanny getting out of it?”

      Calder winked. “The pleasure of seeing me.”

      * * *

      “IT’S A LITTLE BARE, but it has good bone structure.” Natalie, in her official capacity as the owner of Earth Angels, the child-care agency Pandora worked for, finished her walk-through of Calder’s home and set her clipboard on the kitchen counter. “I know it’s only been one night, but how was it?”

      “Good.” Pandora held Quinn, waging a playful battle over who had control of her glasses. So far, the baby was winning.

      “Care to elaborate?”

      “It was very good. Awkward at first, but I guess that’s to be expected. Did you know Quinn was literally left on Calder’s doorstep? Calder’s only had him a few months.”

      “Whoa.” Natalie sat at the table. “Sure your new boss wasn’t pulling your leg? He certainly didn’t divulge any of that while filling out his paperwork. Sounds crazy.”

      “Tell me about it. Remember how when I first asked about Quinn’s mother, he put me off? I assumed they must’ve had a nasty divorce, but I never expected anything like this.”

      Quinn squirmed to be let down, so Pandora set him on the wood floor she’d cleaned earlier that morning.

      “Luckily, Quinn doesn’t show signs of abandonment issues.”

      “He did wake up around two last night. Seemed more interested in having a nice cuddle than a bottle.”

      “Poor thing....” Natalie shook her head, then sighed. “Well, I’ve got two more stops, then a mountain of paperwork back at the office, so I’d better go.”

      When she stood, Pandora gave her friend a hug. “Even though your stay was official, it was nice seeing you. We should do lunch.”

      “For sure. And didn’t you have a visit with Julia last Saturday? How’d it go?”

      “I wish. Her foster family rented a beach house, so we needed to postpone until this week.”

      Just thinking about seeing her daughter filled Pandora with anticipation, but also resentment. To her way of thinking, Julia should’ve been returned at least a year ago.

      “I know that look,” Natalie said with another quick hug. “Be patient. Before you know it, you’ll be spending every night going over homework and driving to soccer practice.”

      Pandora crossed her arms. “From your lips to God’s ears....”

      * * *

      “YOU’RE HOME EARLY.”

      In the entry hall, Calder shrugged. “A few guys were setting up a volleyball game down at the beach, but I wasn’t feeling it. You two, on the other hand, look like you’re having fun.” Pandora sat on the floor with Quinn, building a block tower. When she placed the last block on top, he knocked the whole thing down, shrieking and laughing with delight. In the short time he’d had his son, Calder had never seen him this happy, which produced a mixed bag of emotions. Part of him was thrilled with Quinn’s smile, but another side of him regretted not having been able to produce the same results.

      Pandora grinned up at him. “It’s looking more and more like your son is destined to become Master of the Universe.”

      “Sounds like a noble calling.” That was it. The last of anything witty he had to say. Pandora and Quinn were back to their two-person game and Calder stood there like an oaf, not sure what to do with his hands.

      Why hadn’t he gone to the beach with his friends?

      He knew why. Guilt had damn near eaten him alive. The whole point of hiring a nanny—aside from caring for Quinn—was so Calder could get back some semblance of his former life. So why did he feel like a louse each time he tried to do just that?

      She glanced his way. “Want to take over for me? I should probably start dinner.”

      “Sure.” Inspiration struck. “But would you rather pack up the kiddo and head down to the beach to hang with my team? СКАЧАТЬ