Laura Altom - A Navy SEAL's Surprise Baby

He Needs Her

Fatherhood is the last thing on navy SEAL Calder Remington’s mind. On the job, he’s a hardworking hero; in civilian life, he’s a carefree bachelor. When he finds a baby—his baby—on his doorstep, he’s got no choice but to be a dad. He needs help, and that’s where super-nanny Pandora Moore comes in. She’s perfect in every way. Calder can’t deny that he’s powerfully attracted to her.

But she’s his employee, which puts her strictly off-limits. And though Pandora may seem perfect, she becomes evasive whenever talk turns to her past. Calder can’t help wondering if she’s hiding something. He never imagines that the truth may tear them apart—just as they dare to imagine a future together.

“If you’re not happy with my work…” Pandora took inordinate care with drying a saucepan.

“Did I say that?” I can’t even say why, but my gut tells me you’re hiding something.

“You’ve seen my references. If I’ve caused you to doubt my ability to care for your son, then—”

“Dammit, Pandora.” When he slapped his palm to the table, she not only jumped, but tears filled her eyes. He was instantly sorry, yet at the same time, he’d been trained to always follow his instincts. What was going on with her that he couldn’t see? “What’s with you? Some things don’t add up. Your first day on the job, when you didn’t have a cell or a way to even purchase a small amount of groceries without calling me for help. The fact that you lived in Norfolk, yet have never been to the beach. Your two mystery Saturdays. All I’m asking is for you to be straight with me. Is there something going on with you that I’m missing?”

“No.” She raised her chin, and her expression lost its earlier wide-eyed fear and turned to steely determination. “But if you’re unhappy with my performance, I’ll turn in my resignation in the morning.”

Dear Reader,

This story features a character and issue much heavier than I’ve ever dared deal with before. The character is Pandora from the first book in my Operation: Family series, A SEAL’s Secret Baby. Her issue is serious alcoholism. By the end of that first book, her volunteer counselor, Ellie, feared Pandora was a lost cause.

What Ellie failed to take into account was the strength of a mother’s love. It’s no secret I’m a big ol’ momma bear when it comes to my kids, and Pandora discovers she’s no different. Alas, she also finds that just because she knows she’s no longer the addict who once lost her child, that doesn’t mean the rest of the world will be so accepting.

What I never expected was how personal this story became. When we took in our son, Russell, we found ourselves on the opposite end of just such a heartbreaking situation in that we were the court-appointed family who received a dear child.

I can’t fathom how tough being a social worker must be. One time through this process was more than enough for me. My hearts goes out to all the men and women striving to reunite families who’ve lost their way.

As for Pandora and Calder, you’ll have to read on to discover if their sweet, unexpected family finds their happy ending….

Happy reading!

Laura Marie

A Navy SEAL’S Surprise Baby

Laura Marie Altom

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After college (Go, Hogs!), bestselling, award-winning author Laura Marie Altom did a brief stint as an interior designer before becoming a stay-at-home mom to boy-girl twins and a bonus son. Always an avid romance reader, she knew it was time to try her hand at writing when she found herself replotting the afternoon soaps.

When not immersed in her next story, Laura teaches art at a local middle school. In her free time she beats her kids at video games, tackles Mount Laundry and, of course, reads romance!

Laura loves hearing from readers at either P.O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101, or by email, BaliPalm@aol.com.

Love winning fun stuff? Check out www.lauramariealtom.com.

This story is dedicated to all of my

new Twitter friends on #YR.

From the day The Young & The Restless began, I’ve watched with my mother. My daughter has now joined in and even though they’d never admit it, the guys in our family occasionally follow along, too! The characters of this long-running daytime show have become like family to me, and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon each day has become sacred! LOL!

Since discovering Twitter, I’ve found a great wealth of fellow Y & R viewers who are always eager to discuss Genoa City’s latest gossip. As an added bonus, many have also become great friends.

Here’s to you Y & R! May your rich, wonderful characters be forever young and especially restless!

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

Pandora?

One glance at the next name on his nanny-candidate list told navy SEAL Calder Remington all he needed to know. She’d be a card-carrying unicorn lover or flake. He needed a Mary or Hazel. Someone not only dependable, but with impeccable references and the patience of Mother Teresa. The last four women had been nice enough, but they’d lacked experience. Ideally, he needed a grandmotherly type who’d successfully raised her own brood to be doctors, and now looked to pass along her vast parental knowledge to the next generation.

At twenty-eight, how much parenting knowledge could Pandora have?

Calder had pretty much resigned himself to not even let her in the house when the doorbell rang. He dropped his list and sighed. In light of the fluid situation, he adjusted his mission to ditching Pandora quickly enough to allow time for a nap before the next candidate showed.

Calder glanced at eight-month-old Quinn, who played on the floor with his favorite stuffed whale. “Might as well get this over with, huh, buddy?”

“Gah!”

Calder shook his head. “My thoughts exactly.”

He opened the door on a petite brunette whose black-rimmed glasses struck him as too big for her face. “Um, hello. I, ah, was sent by the Earth Angels agency to—”

“Appreciate your stopping by—” the August heat coming in the door already made him break out in a sweat “—but I need someone older.”

“Oh....” As if she were a leaky balloon, her shoulders deflated. “Maybe if you would just give me a chance? You know, like try my services for a week, then decide?”

Desperation fairly oozed from her pores. “Kind of you to offer, but—”

He didn’t think it possible, but when she glanced past him into the house, her complexion paled. He was shocked when she shoved him out of her way to sprint across the living room as if she’d just caught a Hail Mary pass and was intent on snagging a game-winning touchdown.

He turned to see what kind of nut-job stunt she was pulling, only to go weak at the knees. Quinn had turned blue. Pandora scooped him into her arms and turned him upside down. She delivered five raps on his back, then flipped him over to do the same in the front. No results.

Calder might be a navy SEAL and combat veteran, but he had never felt more helpless. Since May, he’d been meaning to take an infant first-aid class, but between work and single-dad duties, it was almost September and he still hadn’t found time.

She repositioned his son once more and then like magic, a grape popped from Quinn’s mouth onto the carpeted floor.

While Calder gaped, Quinn wailed.

Pandora hugged Calder’s panicked son, rocking him gently, calming him with a soft, sweet lullaby in his ear.