Page 4 of Winter Surprise (Seasoned SEALs #4)

Eve hurried, closing the clinic on time.

She wished everyone on her temporary staff a Merry Christmas as she set the alarm then locked the door.

It had been a slow day as expected. They’d talked of their plans; the food they’d make, expected company, surprise gifts.

She kept hers private, but no one inquired.

Being the only officer in the clinic she was isolated from the casual banter of the junior enlisted personnel.

It was just one more reason she looked forward to spending the afternoon with Dylan.

The storm working its way up the Pacific Coast had slowed, changing the weather report to rain starting in the middle of the night and lasting all Christmas day.

She wanted to jump up and down for joy. She had half a day off from work and was headed to the beach with one of the hottest men she’d met in years.

And to top it off, he was nice. Then there was little Ian, the cutest baby she’d ever seen.

She pulled into his driveway, and he opened her car door. His short hair glistened with water droplets. His wetsuit hid none of his perfectly sculpted male body right down to the top of his tanned feet with sand-crusted ankles. He was magnificent.

“We’re all set up over there.” Dylan pointed to a large umbrella shading two beach chairs and a small tent. A curvaceous woman with curly auburn hair played in the sand with Ian.

Well, damn. Fuck even. Eve felt like a fool. Of course, someone as good-looking as Dylan would have a girlfriend. There was no way in hell she was going to play third wheel, or worse, be the babysitter while the two of them played in the surf.

“Thanks, but I can see you have company.” She was there by his invitation, so she didn’t feel bad about leaving her car in his driveway while she took advantage of her limited free time on the beach.

Walking to the back of her car, she popped the trunk.

“I’ll just grab my chair and find a piece of sand. ”

Dylan grasped her hand and pulled her close enough that if she took a deep breath her nipples would touch his wetsuit.

With two fingers, he lifted her chin until she met his green-gold eyes.

“The only company I have, or want, is you. That’s Linda, Vice Admiral Maddox’s daughter.

She got tired of surfing and volunteered to watch Ian for me while I caught a couple waves. ”

Great . Dylan Chaney was definitely connected.

His son’s grandfather was the commanding officer of Group 1, a captain.

The vice admiral’s daughter babysat for him.

She had absolutely no connection to anyone in the Navy, not even friends.

She was quite sure her commanding officer didn’t even know her name. This guy was so far out of her league.

He smiled and her heart melted. She lifted her beach bag from the trunk but as she went to close it, Dylan held it open. Pointing to her small suitcase, he asked, “You have a go-bag. Are you called away very often?”

She blushed. “No. I was hoping that you might allow me to take a shower to wash off the sand before we ate supper. It has a change of clothes and my makeup bag.”

“You are more than welcome to use my shower.” He grinned. “Maybe, if Ian is awake, we can take turns showering and watching the baby.”

“Absolutely.” Wordlessly they walked side-by-side to the beach.

She’d barely set the bag down when Dylan started the introductions.

She met Vice Admiral Maddox and his new wife Marta, and his three children.

Linda promptly handed Dylan the baby announcing that he needed changing and she didn’t do shitty diapers.

On that pronouncement, their family quickly left for their own beach encampment.

After lunch, Ian fell asleep, so Dylan carefully set the baby into the small, protected tent. “He should sleep for at least two hours.” He stretched his long, strong legs out as he settled onto the blanket next to her.

She could practically feel his eyes running the length of her body. She’d purposely worn one of her small bikinis, telling herself it was so she could get more of her body tanned. It was a lie. She wanted Dylan to see her body, to see beyond her Navy uniform. She wanted him to see her as a woman.

“Are you enjoying the day?” He’d removed his wetsuit and wore only a pair of baggy board shorts slung low on narrow hips; so low she wanted to trail her finger down the happy line that started at his navel and disappeared enticingly.

“It seems weird that I can lay out on a beach, sunning my body, with nothing else pressing to do. This is my first free time in many years. I used to spend every free minute studying. First, it was to become a nurse. Then I decided to become a physician’s assistant.”

“If you were already a nurse, why did you decide to go back to school and become a physician’s assistant?” She loved that he sounded truly interested.

“As a nurse, I did three tours…in theater.” She’d hesitated because she’d spent six months at a forward operating base in Afghanistan that had been, and probably still was, consider top-secret.

“While there, I could do so much more for the men than I could once I returned CONUS. Stateside, my nursing license really limited what I could legally do to help anyone who came into the emergency room. That’s been my specialty my entire career.

I have no idea where they’ll send me now that I’m a PA. Needs of the Navy as you well know.”

They both chuckled.

“I wanted to be able to do more. Help more. That’s when I decided to become a physician’s assistant.

I can now do almost everything a physician can, even assist in surgeries and write prescriptions.

” She huffed. “My nursing friends thought I was crazy because it meant giving up my evenings and weekends, and every free moment to study. Like I said, it’s strange not to have technical books to read. ”

“You could keep studying and become a doctor.”

“I have no desire to study that much. I would be pushing forty by the time I got through medical school and residency. I have no desire to continue to allow medicine to be the entire focus of my life.”

“What do you want the rest of your life’s focus to be?” Dylan rolled onto his side and propped his head in his hand, looking down at her.

Rolling onto her side facing him, she mirrored his pose.

“You might think this is ridiculous, but I want it all. I love serving my country and I intend to make the Navy my career. I’ll turn thirty next year and to be honest, my biological clock is ticking.

As a PA, I understand that I only have a few more years before having a baby becomes risky.

I’ve always wanted a family, but I’ve never found the right man.

I’m afraid I don’t have time to wait for him to swoop me off my feet, fall in love, get married, and have a baby.

I’ve been seriously considering the shortcut. ”

“There seems to be a sperm bank on every corner here in California. You should have plenty of options.” There was no disapproval or chastisement in his voice.

“I don’t trust them. In my medical career, I’ve seen people lie about their medical background every day.

There’s nothing to say that someone who’s getting paid to jerk off is telling the complete truth on the form.

Besides, movie stars aren’t lining up to contribute and I’ll admit I’m vain enough about physical attributes.

” She rolled onto her back. “I’ve considered resorting to a one-night stand but then I’m faced with the same problem of unknown medical background.

Even though the guy could have movie-star looks and a buff body, he could be an alcoholic or a drug addict and hide it well. ”

“True.” He rolled onto his stomach propped up by his forearms. “Now that you have more time available, are you going to go hunting for Mr. Right?”

Was he fishing? “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll be sent back to the hospital after the first of the year as a physician’s assistant.

The hospital isn’t a great place to meet men.

I’ve seen too many medical romances go wrong and the gossip that follows to slide down that slippery slope.

” She opened her eyes, rolling her head to look at him.

“How about you? Are you going to take another chance on love?”

Dylan turned his head and stared at her; his eyebrows pinched together.

“Another chance?” A few seconds later, his face relaxed and he sat up crossing his legs in front of him.

“If you are referring to Kylie, I wasn’t in love with her.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about this.

The summer we were together, she was between her freshman and sophomore years at college.

I knew I was heading out on a six-month deployment that could easily be extended to nine or even a year.

I didn’t want a relationship and she said she didn’t either. I really enjoyed her company.”

Dylan’s smile said more than his words. “She was very intelligent. Fun. Young though. Sexually na?ve but anxious to learn. She was such a relief from the base bunnies. She wasn’t the least bit impressed that I was a SEAL.

It wasn’t until after I met her father, Captain Hubbard, that I realized why.

The man is practically a legend. Kylie had been surrounded by SEALs her entire life. ”

He let out a long breath as he looked toward the ocean.

“For the first time in my career, I simply enjoyed being with a woman knowing she wasn’t chasing a military ID card or another notch on her bed post for fucking SEAL.

When I left for the sandbox, it felt more like I was leaving a friend rather than a summer lover. ”

Eve couldn’t help herself, “Did you stay in touch?”