A SEAL's Secret Baby by Laura Marie Altom

Author:Laura Marie Altom
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-08-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ellie woke in Deacon’s arms. Even though they’d slept till seven-thirty, the room was dark. Sleet clawed the windows.

Despite the ugly weather, Ellie snuggled closer to Deacon. He was so warm, and after yesterday, a bone-deep chill had taken hold. Her world felt upside down. She loved Helen. Ellie wasn’t yet sure what she felt for Deacon, but whatever it was, she needed him in her life.

The last man she’d shared this bed with had been Tom, but her life with him seemed a million miles away. And for once, that was okay. She would always love him, but that love had changed. Softened into a beautiful memory she’d forever cherish.

From behind her, she heard a sleepy groan. She closed her eyes in pleasure to feel Deacon’s warm breath, then a kiss on the nape of her neck. “Good morning.”

“Yes, it is.” Relaxed against him, Ellie felt as if the bed had become an island in the midst of her life’s wreckage. Before yesterday, she’d placed Helen high on a pedestal. Now, her mother-in-law had been reduced to mere mortal status, which made Ellie sad, but also a lot more mature. No one was perfect. Yet everyone deserved forgiveness for their mistakes. Ellie had already forgiven Helen, but would her mother-in-law be kind enough to do the same?

Squeezing her tighter, Deacon said, “Remember how we promised the peanut a trip to the mall to see Santa today?”

Now Ellie was the one groaning. “With any luck, she forgot. What were we thinking? The day after Thanksgiving should be spent lounging in front of a fire eating leftovers, not fighting mall traffic.”

“Agreed, but I’m not going to be the one breaking her heart. You tell her.”

“What am I supposed to say?” Tracing her finger down his forearm, Ellie suggested, “Santa is really a SEAL and he had to leave town on a mission?”

Deacon laughed. “That’s actually pretty good. Only a SEAL could easily accomplish all the big guy does in one night.”

That cocky statement earned him a smack.

“Santa!” Dressed in the footy pajamas they’d changed her into before tucking her in the night before, Pia crawled onto the bed, then proceeded to jump. “Santa! Santa!”

Deacon sat up, pulling his daughter onto his lap to blow a raspberry on her cheek. “I can’t wait to see Santa! But I think your mom has bad news.”

“You’re a rat,” Ellie exclaimed. Obviously, without major tears, there was no way they’d be able to skip this outing. “But since the mall doesn’t open till ten, let’s at least go out for a nice, civilized breakfast.”

“Hate to break this to you,” Deacon said, looking extra adorable with their daughter on his lap, “but I just saw an ad on TV that the mall is open at 6:00 A.M. for the whole holiday season. We could be taking pics with Santa right now.” He winked.

“Now, Santa! Now!” Pia leaped to her feet and resumed bouncing.

“You and I,” Ellie said to Deacon, “are no longer friends. Have you looked outside?”

“What’s a little sleet? Maybe if we’re really lucky it’ll turn to snow.

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