Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Excitement hummed through his entire body as Seth shut the door to their suite. He’d found a pregnancy test down at the twenty-four-hour convenience store. This casino really had everything, but according to his wife, it was because it was owned by women.
He stopped for a moment to take in that word: wife.
In all his years in the Navy, he had never wanted to get serious with a woman. Sure, he had had some longer relationships, but with his job as a SEAL, he hadn’t wanted to settle down. Then he started at Task Force Hawai’i. The moment Autumn had given him shit, he had started falling for her.
Now he was married and hopefully with a baby on the way.
With quick strides, he headed to the bedroom, but her voice stopped him.
“Most women would be upset when their man disappeared right after sexing her up on their wedding night.”
She was in the living room, so he changed the direction. She was sitting on the large sectional. Her hair was up in one of those messy buns he loved. Wrapped up in the hotel’s robe, she was adorable and sexy at the same time.
“Most women aren’t you.”
Her mouth curved. “You always know what to say to me. You could probably make me believe you if you were a bad guy.”
After setting the bag on the coffee table, he settled on the couch beside her. “I just tell you the truth.”
The slight smile turned into a full grin. “That’s one of the reasons I will always love you.” She glanced at the bag on the table. “You just couldn’t wait?”
There was a hint of worry in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“I…I might not make a good mother. I’m kind of screwed up.”
“Would you ever let someone hurt your child?”
Her gaze cut to him. “Never.”
“That’s what matters. At least, that’s always what my mother says.”
She softened a bit. His mother had been in love with Autumn from the moment he introduced the two women.
And it still surprised him that Autumn didn’t see that she was a little maternal.
She never really wanted to punish the Believers.
Instead, she tried to get them the help they needed.
She wasn’t as cold and heartless as many people thought.
“Besides, you might not be pregnant. Better to know one way or another, right?”
She sighed. “Fine.”
Then she grabbed the bag and rose from the couch. He did too, and he took her hand. Seth tugged her closer so he could pull her into his arms.
“Either way, we have each other, love. Don’t worry.”
He gave her a kiss, and even just the brush of lips had need rising in him, so he forced himself to pull back.
“Go on.”
She nodded, squared her shoulders, and marched to the bathroom.
He had already read the package, and he knew it wouldn’t take long.
Still, he paced their bedroom. He had wanted to go in there with her, but he knew it would be weird and creepy.
He just wanted to know right away. Either way, they would deal with it.
The door opened, and alarm lit through him. Tears were streaming down her face.
“This one had to be wrong. We need another one.”
He stepped closer…then paused. She looked so fragile that he was worried that if he touched her, she might break.
“What was the result?”
She held it up, revealing the positive test.
Happiness hit Seth so hard he almost lost his breath. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted to have a baby with Autumn until that moment. He pulled her into his arms.
“Your heart is beating hard,” she murmured against his chest.
He pulled back so he could look at her. “I’m happy.”
“How can you be happy? I mean, I know we both said we wanted babies, but this is too fast.”
He cupped her face and used his thumbs to brush away her tears.
“We’ll figure it out.”
“We just got married!”
“I don’t think that matters. Marriage certificates don’t guarantee happy childhoods. And we got this, love. You and me together. We’ll figure it out.”
“I’m not mom material.”
He knew she thought that, but he knew better. “You are a good person.”
“I’m damaged.”
“Being damaged doesn’t mean you are not a good person. You are. How many support groups have you set up for former cult members?”
“I have too much money. I don’t know what to do with it.”
“You are a protector, babe. Just like your mother. I know you have issues with her lying to you about who your birth father was, but what was her last act?”
“To get me to safety.”
He nodded. “And that’s in you, babe. You help people get somewhere safe so they can grow.”
She sighed. “I have a dangerous job.”
“Yeah, and I know that Marcus has talked to Del about wanting to have kids.” The Team Charlie Leader was married to Tamilya, who served on Team Alpha. “I’m sure there are things they want to do. And, if you ever want to do something else, you could do that.”
“Not sure if I’m ready for that.”
They had discussed her starting a foundation and serving as its head, giving up law enforcement.
“Whatever you decide, we will work it out. Together.”
For a long moment, she looked unsure. Then, as if the words had finally hit her, a small smile curved her lips. “Together.”
He nodded, then did the one thing he wanted to do from the moment she told him the news: he brushed his mouth over hers. He was thinking about deepening that kiss and celebrating in the best way, but both of their phones started ringing. That meant something important was going down.
She sighed and pulled back from the kiss to grab her phone from the bedside table. She answered with the speaker on.
“Your brother is in trouble.”
They both knew the voice as Samantha Charles, a former CIA operative who helped them from time to time.
“Did he throw up on himself?”
“No. There are a couple of bad dudes with guns headed his way. He’s on his way to his room, so you might want to get down there.”
“Gotcha.”
“Congrats on the wedding.”
Then she hung up.
“I guess we’ll go save your brother.”
She nodded as she grabbed her shoes. “Then we come back here and celebrate.”
“Damn straight,” he said as he followed her out the door. “Like I said I will always help you kick ass.”
She smiled at him then headed to the door that he assumed lead the stairs. “Right back at ya.”
A man couldn’t ask for more than that from his bride.
Ian’s story is coming this Spring in the book Burned. If you would like to read Autumn and Seth’s story, pick up Justified Secrets, available at all online retailers.