Read Online Baby, It's You (Uncharted SEALs Book 5) by Delilah Devlin - Free Book Online

there’d been bad blood between him and his father. “My dad’s heart is giving out. I thought it was time…”
    Mac nodded. “Didn’t say I wasn’t glad to hear it. Just surprised. You’re a stubborn son-of-a-bitch. And how’s that goin’?”
    Before Carter could answer, a flurry of clomps preceded a small tornado whirling into the room, Melanie in her wake. Emmy paused in front of Mac, her gaze growing large as she glanced upward. “You a giant?”
    Mac’s mouth twitched. “Reckon, I am.”
    Carter laughed. “Emmy, this is my friend Mac.”
    “Mr. McLane,” Melanie corrected.
    “Everyone calls me Mac,” the big man said as he glanced down at the little girl who was inching closer.
    “You Unca Carter’s friend?”
    “I am.”
    She chewed her bottom lip. “You from that stinkin’ desert?”
    Mac’s eyes widened. “I was.”
    Melanie cleared her throat. “She really does need to spend less time with Lee.” She handed beers to Mac and Carter.
    “Gonna take Unca Carter away?”
    This time, her voice was smaller, and Carter felt an unfamiliar twinge in the region of his heart.
    Mac’s glance went to Carter.
    Carter reached across to snag the little girl’s hand. She came, her heels dragging, and her gaze still glued to Mac. When he had her closer, he went with his gut and picked her up by the waist to set her on his knee. He bent closer to bring her gaze back to his. “If I go, I won’t be gone long. I’ll be back.”
    Again, she narrowed her eyes and chewed her bottom lip.
    He was really growing fond of her little frown.
    “You bring me back a present?”
    “Every time.”
    “Guess you can go.”
    Carter’s glance went to Melanie whose expression was set. He wished she was as easy to reassure. “I’d bring you something better than a Barbie horse.”
    “Better than a ’Merica Girl doll?
    He squinted his eyes. “As soon as I figure out what that is, I’ll say yes.”
    She pushed off his knee. “I show you.” She rushed to the stairs.
    “Walk, don’t run,” Melanie called after her.
    “Never get where I’m goin’…” the little girl muttered as she clomped slowly up the stairs.
    Mac sat back. “Holy shit. Pardon my French, Melanie. That girl’s gonna be hell on wheels.”
    “She does make you dizzy,” Carter said, grinning.
    Melanie drew a deep breath, and her mouth formed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Most days, she just plain wears me out. I better follow her. She’ll have emptied every cubbie onto the floor…”
    As she walked away, Carter watched until she disappeared, thinking about what Melanie’s life must have been like since she moved to the ranch with a toddler. Couldn’t have been easy, still recovering from her own injuries. Guilt ate a hole in his gut.
    “She’s nice. Cute, too.”
    “Emmy?”
    “No, the woman. That Emmy’s aunt?”
    “Yeah.”
    Mac grunted. “She’s a good-lookin’ woman.”
    Carter aimed a glare at Mac.
    Mac held up his hands. “Just sayin’. Things could work out pretty sweet for you here.”
    “She doesn’t want me returning to the SEALs—or any job that puts me in danger.”
    Mac sighed. “A woman has a right to have a say. It’s why I don’t have one.”
    “She’s not my woman.”
    “If she said that much, she could be. Guess you have more alternatives than I thought.”
    Carter shook his head. “How about you tell me about Charter. Tell me how I’d fit in with this fuckin’ knee.”
    As they settled back in their seats, sipping their beers, Carter listened with his head, but inside, he was torn. He had skills. Friends. A way of life that felt familiar.
    The ranch was in his past. Something he could pick up again, no doubt, but would he grow restless? The only reason he even considered making it his fulltime commitment was because he wanted a shot at Melanie. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted everything she was—soft, loyal, stubborn. All those letters he’d never responded to,