Page 25 of Single Mom’s Navy Seals (Claimed by the Alphas #2)

AVA

A cold blast of water hits my back, making me shriek as goosebumps erupt along my arms. I spin around, water gun raised, only to spot Eli darting behind a cactus, giggling like a maniac.

“I got you, Mama!” he shouts between fits of laughter, the sound bubbling through the scorching desert air.

“You little sneak!” I yell after him, grinning wildly as I give chase, sneakers slapping against the dirt. “No one ambushes me and Eli gets away with it!”

Just as I round the rock he’s hiding behind, a second jet of water hits me—this time from the side.

I whirl, startled. “What the?—?”

Cole stands a few feet away, water gun in hand, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

“Reinforcements have arrived,” he says coolly.

“Oh, you are so dead,” I growl, laughing despite myself.

Eli hoots from behind the rock. “Get her, Cole!”

“Oh, it’s on,” I say, lifting my water gun and charging.

For the next ten minutes, the three of us devolve into chaos—Eli zipping between boulders like a greased squirrel, Cole surprisingly fast on his feet despite his quiet demeanor, and me absolutely drenched, my hair plastered to my face.

We form shifting alliances, break them just as quickly, and laugh until my sides ache.

At one point, I corner Cole near the barn, water gun raised, smug.

“Any last words?”

He narrows his eyes, breathing hard. “You sure you want to do this?”

“Positive.”

Before I can react, he lunges—not to attack, but to dodge—grabbing my wrist at the same time. I squeal, twisting to get free, but I lose my footing on the soaked ground. In a blur, he catches me, and we tumble backward into the grass in a tangled heap.

We land with a soft thud, me sprawled awkwardly on top of him. For a second, neither of us moves. My hands are braced against his chest, and his fingers are curled lightly around my waist.

His chest rises beneath my palms, warm and steady. I feel his breath on my cheek, his body still beneath mine, like he’s afraid to move. When I glance down, his eyes are already on me, quiet and searching.

His hand moves gently, brushing a damp strand of hair away from my face. The pads of his fingers graze my cheek, slow and careful, like he’s memorizing the shape of me. My breath catches.

“You okay?” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.

I nod, but I can’t quite speak. The tenderness in his touch undoes me a little.

Then he shifts slightly beneath me, and my hand slips against his chest. He catches it, his fingers curling around mine. Firm and warm. Steady.

If he were anyone else, I’d think he was about to kiss me.

And for one breathless heartbeat, I’m not sure I’d stop him.

But then Eli barrels toward us again, his small body crashing into Cole’s legs. “Gotcha!” he yells, spraying both of us with a triumphant blast of water.

I scramble off, flushed and breathless, trying to laugh it off. Cole lies back in the grass with a sigh, eyes closed, water dripping from his hair.

“I think I’m officially outgunned,” he says.

“You’re not the only one,” I mutter under my breath, not sure if I’m talking about water guns anymore. I can still feel the ghost of his touch on my cheek, the warmth of his chest under my palms. He’s so steady, so quiet, but moments like that? They speak louder than words.

“Alright, Eli,” I say, smiling warmly at him. “How about we both call it quits and declare peace?”

He hesitates a moment, eyes narrowed suspiciously, clearly contemplating my sincerity. Finally, he nods, lowering his water gun.

“Deal, Mama. Peace treaty accepted.”

I grin broadly, holding out my hand. “Shake on it?”

He steps forward, clearly still cautious, but he takes my hand firmly, shaking solemnly. “Deal.”

“Good,” I say warmly, ruffling his damp hair affectionately. “Because Mama’s exhausted.”

He smiles sheepishly, clearly tired as well. “Me too. But that was fun!”

“It was,” I agree, feeling grateful for every second of his laughter and joy.

We stand together, both breathing heavily, soaked clothes plastered uncomfortably against our skin. The sun is beginning to lower, casting the desert in soft, golden light. The horses wander lazily in the distance, grazing quietly.

He looks up at me, serious. “Mama, can we do this anytime we want?”

“Absolutely,” I promise without hesitation. “We’ll play water fight every day if you want.”

He beams brightly, exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “Good. I like it here, Mama. It feels safe.”

My heart aches, love and protectiveness swelling painfully. “I’m glad, Eli. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

He nods solemnly, slipping his small hand into mine. Together, we walk toward the cabin, footsteps crunching softly in the dirt. As we near the porch, Eli pauses, tugging on my hand.

“Mama?” he asks hesitantly, eyes wide and curious. “Do you think Liam, Jax, and Cole like it here, too? Do you think they like us?”

Cole didn’t need to say anything earlier. The way he held me, careful and grounding, said enough. I think he does like us. Maybe more than he even realizes. My breath catches, heart speeding up at the question. I manage a gentle smile, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

“I think they do, sweetheart. They’re good men, but baby, you know that they are just staying with us for a little bit, right?”

He dismisses the last part of my response. “I think they like us, too. Especially you. Jax told me he thinks you’re pretty.”

My eyes widen, and my son gives me a devious little smile. “You were talking about me with Jax?”

“Uh-huh. I asked him if he had a girlfriend, and he said no—” Why does that make my heart skip a beat? “—and then I asked him if he would make you his girlfriend.”

“What?” I screech, eyes practically bugged out of my head.

“Well, yeah. You need a boyfriend, Mama, and I think Jax or Liam or Cole would all be good.” He gives me a pitiful look. “But you’re so short that I think you can’t be with people who are too tall, so that’s why I asked Jax. He’s shorter than them.”

“Eli, baby, hold on! You can’t?—”

“What? He said that he can’t make you his girlfriend unless you say so, but he thinks you’re very pretty.” He finishes with a bright grin as if he didn’t just completely upend my whole day.

Jax thinks I’m pretty? My son wants me to have a boyfriend?

Wait.

“Who taught you about boyfriends and girlfriends?”

“I saw it on TV when I was with Jax. The ice queen’s sister kissed the guy with the reindeer, and I thought it was super gross because that’s not his mama. But Jax said that boyfriends and girlfriends kiss.”

“What else did he tell you about boyfriends and girlfriends?” I ask suspiciously.

“He said that they are like super best friends. They hang out all the time and tell jokes to each other and live in the same house sometimes.” I relax at that, but tense right back up at what he says next.

“I asked Jax if that meant that you have three boyfriends, but he said that you guys don’t kiss, so no.

So, you have to kiss them so you can be boyfriend and girlfriend. ”

“Oh my god,” I mutter, folding my head into my hands in disbelief.

“Okay!” Eli exclaims already moving on from the conversation. “I’m ready to water fight again. I catched my breath.”

“Caught,” I correct automatically. “And we are out of water. We should refill them.”

Eli snatches my gun from me and takes off toward the house. “I got it! I’ll ask Liam to help me. Be right back!”

I watch the door swing shut behind Eli, his small, excited footsteps fading into the cabin.

My heart still pounds erratically from our conversation, and I struggle to gather my scattered thoughts.

The silence of the desert around me is almost deafening, broken only by distant birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves.

The late afternoon sun bathes everything in a warm, golden glow that feels oddly comforting despite the chaos in my mind.

My thoughts inevitably turn back to Liam.

He’s been avoiding me all day, making himself scarce inside the cabin and offering no more than a grunt or two when we accidentally crossed paths.

He’s obviously still uncomfortable, and the tension between us has been nearly unbearable, and it’s only increased since the kiss with Jax.

That kiss completely fucked my head up, and I simply don’t know how to face him, how to talk about something that felt so right but complicated everything in my heart and mind.

Even worse, it’s not just Jax. That kiss, the spark of attraction that it ignited, has forced me to admit an uncomfortable truth to myself—I’m attracted to Liam and Cole too.

I want three men, and if I’m honest with myself, I want them all equally.

How screwed up is that? How desperate am I for affection, for love, if my heart thinks falling for three men simultaneously is a good idea?

And not just any three men—three protectors assigned by Morales to keep us safe from my abusive ex-husband.

The irony of that isn’t lost on me. It’s almost laughable if it didn’t ache so deeply.

Eli’s earlier words echo painfully in my mind. Jax told me he thinks you’re pretty.

My heart skips again, just as it did when Eli first said it.

The thought that Jax said that about me, even casually, makes heat rise in my cheeks.

But mixed with the thrill is the painful awareness of what Eli is really searching for in these men and the fact that he’ll never get it.

He’s spent his whole life without a father figure.

He’s always taken my vague answers about Randy in stride, but I’ve noticed the longing in his eyes more often as he grows older.

A boy needs a man he can look up to, someone strong and steady to model himself after.

I can’t give him that, no matter how hard I try.

Eli has already started seeking that from Jax, Liam, and Cole.

He watches them with wide, admiring eyes, seeking their approval, copying their mannerisms. It’s simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I know when they eventually leave us, it will devastate Eli.

He’s already attached, and honestly, so am I.

I exhale shakily, pacing across the dusty yard as I wait for Eli’s return.

The air is thick with heat, my wet clothes drying, sticking uncomfortably to my skin.

I stare blankly out at the pasture, watching the horses graze lazily, their movements slow and peaceful.

It’s such a contrast to the turmoil roiling inside my mind.

What can I possibly do to mediate Eli’s attachment?

I can’t put physical distance between him and the men without causing more harm than good.

We’re all stuck here together in this cabin, the isolation ensuring constant proximity.

Even if I manage to keep myself distant, I can’t keep Eli away without raising questions and causing hurt.

My mind drifts back to Jax’s confident, cocky smile, to the gentle warmth in Cole’s steady gaze, to Liam’s intense, protective eyes.

Could there ever be a scenario where things work out differently?

Jax seemed sure last night, confident enough to speak openly with Eli about feelings.

But as much as I wish that were true, I know better.

They have their own lives, their own responsibilities.

Morales gave them this job temporarily, and they’ve already been with us for a week.

It can’t be much longer now before they will have to return to their own lives, and we’ll have to face the threat alone.

It’s unavoidable, and it’s going to hurt like a bitch.

Before my thoughts spiral further, Eli bursts back through the door, water guns dripping, and his face lit up with excitement. Liam follows close behind, lugging two large buckets of water. He sets them down on the porch without so much as a glance in my direction.

“Thanks, Liam!” Eli beams up at him, grinning widely.

Liam gives Eli a gentle smile, the softness of his expression something I rarely see. “Anytime, buddy.”

Then he turns abruptly, walking back inside without acknowledging me.

The blatant avoidance stings, even though it shouldn’t.

Liam doesn’t speak to me anymore and barely looks at me.

I try to tell myself that that kind of coldness and distance between us is best. Doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t feel hollow every time Liam ignores me.

I push the hurt down, focusing instead on Eli’s happiness.

“Liam had the best idea,” Eli announces, gesturing to the buckets on the porch. “Now we can refill a lot! He’s so smart.”

“He is,” I agree, unable to keep a small smile from forming despite myself.

Eli’s grin widens mischievously, and before I can react, a cold jet of water hits my stomach, soaking me all over again. I gasp, laughing despite myself, and retaliate, spraying Eli until he shrieks with laughter and takes off running.

“Gotcha back!” I shout playfully, chasing him around the yard again.

“Not for long, Mama!” he squeals, ducking behind a cactus and squirting me from behind its spiny arms.

I dodge his attack, my laughter joining his as we sprint through the yard, the previous heaviness of my thoughts temporarily fading into the background.