Laura Altom - The SEAL's Baby

“I thought you might need help. What happened? How did he even get down here?”

“How do you think?” he growled. One glance at her crestfallen expression left Heath ashamed of his sharp words. “Sorry. I’ve got enough on my plate in carrying Sam safely up the bluff. I don’t want to have to worry about you, too.”

“Who said you had to?”

Having removed all the spikes, Heath wedged his hands under the dog’s fragile frame. Due to his negligence in not having remembered how much Sam enjoyed barking at the occasional sea lions who hung out on the point, the dog had been a while without food or water.

Crashing surf must’ve muted his bark.

“Drop it,” Heath said, already heading for the trail.

“Why are you acting like this?” She chased after him, which only made him feel worse, but no way was he slowing. “You should be thrilled Sam’s going to be okay.”

“I am.”

“So would it be too much of a strain to smile?”

“Shouldn’t you worry more about keeping your footing on these rocks?” He kept his gaze focused on the winding dirt trail leading up the bluff.

Sam whined.

“Just a few more minutes, boy...” Heath had never wished more he’d kept up with his physical training. Were he in top form, scaling the hill would’ve been no big deal—not that it was difficult now, he just lacked the speed he’d once had.

“If you’d slow down just a little,” Libby yapped, dogging his heels, “I could help soothe him.”

“I’ve got this,” he insisted. “Please—back the hell off.”

She held up her hands, stepping away per his request, but her glistening tears left him feeling dirty inside. What kind of man yelled at a pregnant woman? What had happened to his honor?

Ha! He and honor and giving a damn about anything parted ways around about the same time the love of his life died in his arms.

“Would it kill you to let me in?” The woman might’ve temporarily let him be, but there she was, right back in his business. “I just want to help you—you know, like you helped me.”

“I don’t need help.” Jaw clenched, Heath kept his gaze focused on the trail, mentally blocking Sam’s heartbreaking whimpers.

By the time Heath reached the trailhead at the top of the bluff, the dog’s ninety pounds had his untrained muscles screaming. How had he allowed himself to get so out of shape? Was he really so pathetic?

“You found him!” his mother cried as he approached. “Is he all right?”

“Find my keys!” he shouted back.

From behind him, the sounds of Libby’s labored breathing did little to improve his mood.

“Would you like me to drive or hold poor Sam on the way to the vet?” Libby asked.

“You have no lap,” he managed from between clenched teeth. His thigh muscles screamed from mounting the steep grade. Back when he’d been on the job, a trek like this would’ve been a cakewalk. Now, when his dog needed him, his body wasn’t delivering as it should. And that further pissed him off. But the anger was good. It gave him much-needed energy to fuel the rest of his way to the truck.

“There are very few people I’ve disliked over the years,” she said, “but you, Heath Stone, are definitely one of them. You’re thickheaded and stubborn and obstinate.”

“Aren’t those all basically the same?”

“Well...” His mind’s eye pictured her heart-shaped face all flushed and scrunched from concentration. And that image did nothing to improve his already dour mood. Because for the briefest flash of an instant, the thought of her coaxed his smile out of hiding. “They might be the same, but that’s okay, because I wanted to emphasize how truly awful you are. When you first rescued me, I thought you were the kindest soul I’d ever encountered, but—”

“Do you ever shut up?”

“No! And for you to suggest it just makes me loathe you that much more.”

At the top of the bluff, with both of them breathing heavy, Heath might have found the energy to laugh at her crazy-ass statement if he hadn’t been carrying his injured dog. As if he cared if she loathed him.

But then, when the trail widened, she passed him, and all those blond curls bounced with her every snappy step. For a woman in her condition, she sure could move. Though from behind, she didn’t even look pregnant. In fact, the way the morning sun shone through the flimsy fabric of her dress, not a whole lot of her was left to his imagination. His body’s involuntary—and swift—reaction to the sight of her soft curves soured his mood all the more.

“I can’t believe he’s all right.” His mom charged down the trail to meet them. “I set bowls of food and water in the truck.”

“Thanks.”

She reached to pet Sam, but Heath didn’t want to slow his momentum.

“Why’re you so prickly?” she asked when he sidestepped her. “Sam’s safe. You should be overjoyed.”

“I am. But he’s not out of the woods yet.” Plus, I just had my first erection caused by a woman other than my wife....

* * *

“HE’S GOING TO be fine, you know?” While driving Heath’s truck, for a split second, Libby took her eyes from the deserted highway to glance toward him and his dog. Sam had long since finished off his water and now started in on his food. His eyes had already brightened, and she found herself liking him much better than his doggy dad. “It’s okay for you to relax.”

“Could you please just focus on the road?”

Gretta followed behind them in her SUV.

Heath sat all stiff and straight and his handsome features were marred by the oddest expression. Was the big, strong guy trying not to cry? She’d been touched by seeing how much Sam meant to Heath. Was there a significance beyond any normal dog bond? Had he shared Sam with his wife?

Though it was none of her business, Libby couldn’t help but ask, “Did you and your wife get Sam together?”

For the longest time, Heath remained silent. The way a muscle ticked in his hardened jaw set her on edge. Had she picked at a wound still too tender for casual conversation?

“I’m sorry.” She steered the truck around a small branch that had fallen onto the road. “Please, forget I even asked.”

“Yeah...” When he finally did speak, his tone was raspy. He stroked one of Sam’s ears. “A friend told us his Lab-collie mix was having a litter, and we picked this guy out as a puppy. He had five littermates, but we could tell right away he was the one. He had spunk. He was always into everything. A little too curious for his own good—which I guess is how he landed in this predicament.”

“Poor guy.” She patted the dog’s head.

A glance at Heath had her thinking he might say something more, but much to her disappointment, he did not. Which made no sense—not so much the lack of conversation, but why his sudden silence bothered her.

* * *

THE RELIEF SHIMMERING through him after Sam’s positive health report left Heath a little punch-drunk. He’d dodged a bullet with that one. Everyone from his mom and uncle to his old SEAL gang kept telling him it was time to move on. He needed to get on with things. Get back to work. There was always lots of getting in their well-meaning speeches, but none of their words amounted to squat when it came to making him feel even a fraction better about having lost his wife.

If he’d then lost her dog, too...

Well, he was just damned lucky it hadn’t come to that.

The fact that he ultimately had Libby to thank for spotting Sam didn’t escape him. As soon as the dog was doing better, maybe he’d take her to a formal thank-you lunch.

While you’re feeling generous, think you owe her an apology for being such an ass on the beach?

Heath folded his arms, focusing on his dog rather than his pansy conscience, which had apparently gone as soft as his out-of-shape body.