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

filled with news about Emmy, the things Melanie was learning about ranch life, had revealed a woman hungry to be part of a family. Someone who wanted to be needed. Every time he’d balled up a letter and sent it sailing, he’d felt more than just a little a twinge of guilt. He’d told himself she deserved better, that she’d forget about him. But he’d never forgotten about her.
    Jesus, could he be falling in love with her? He knew how to love a brother SEAL. Knew what that felt like. What he felt for Melanie was very different and all mixed up with lust. If he couldn’t be sure where these feelings were headed, he had no business going anywhere near her. She deserved to be respected. And he owed it to Emmy to give fatherhood a try…
    “Dude, have you heard a thing I said?”
    Carter felt his cheeks heat up. “Sure. If my knee doesn’t heal enough for me to be in the field, knocking down doors, I can train operatives. Organize missions, maybe take charge.”
    “Guess you heard enough.” Mac leaned back and took another long draw of his beer. “You don’t have to take the job. But expect me to show up on your doorstep from time to time.”
    Carter nodded. “You’re always welcome.”
    “I’d like to learn to ride a horse.”
    Carter rubbed his knee. “Next time you come, I’ll set you up on a gentle old nag. Something your speed.”
    Mac chuckled.
    Emmy pounded back into the room, clutching a doll nearly half her size against her chest. The doll’s hair was wild and curly, and the same color as her own. She was dressed in jodhpurs and a button-down shirt, like she was ready for a ride in a dressage ring.
    “Isn’t she kind of prissy for a cowgirl like you?” he asked as Emmy turned the doll to face him.
    “Just showin’ you what a ’Merica Girl doll looks like so you don’t make a mistake like Unca Wayne.”
    “Uncle Wayne gave you the doll?”
    Emmy frowned and nodded. “I don’t like him.”
    Melanie sighed. “Emmy, that’s not a nice thing to say. Uncle Wayne went to a lot of expense to get you that doll.”
    Mac laughed. “Better not give her any prissy dolls, Carter.”
    Carter glanced at Melanie whose cheeks were pink from running up and down the stairs. “I think I can do better. Maybe it’s just the clothes. She does look a lot like you.”
    Emmy’s shoulders rose and fell. “Don’t have time to play with dolls. Hafta learn to be a cowboy.”
    “Why’s that, sweetheart?”
    “Someone has ta help Unca Lee ’round here.”
    Carter sucked in a deep breath. And there lay the problem. Carter’s heart wasn’t in the ranch. With his dad laid up, without hope of recovering, someone would have to take the reins.
    Carter nodded to the doll. “Emmy, you don’t have to be the one to help Uncle Lee. Not for a long time. And not unless you really want to. You like that doll, you go ahead and play with her. You don’t like her clothes, we’ll find some you do.”
    Emmy looked a little confused and gazed up at Melanie who hovered beside the sofa.
    Melanie’s eyes were misting. “Emmy, why don’t you come with me? I’ll get you cleaned up and ready to eat.” She turned to the men. “Lunch will be on the table in ten.”
    After they both left the room, Mac wore a little smile. “Now, that was interestin’.”
    “How so?” Carter growled.
    “I couldn’t tell which girl you were tryin’ to reassure.” His blue eyes sparkled, wrinkling at the corners. “Never would have thought you’d be any good around kids.”
    “I’m not. She’s…different.”
    “She’s you . A grumpy cuss. And she’s loyal.” Mac bumped Carter’s shoulder with his fist. “Let’s get in there before the food’s all gone. Think you should have warned them how much I eat?”
    Carter pushed off the couch and laughed.
    After the house grew still that night, Carter lay in the dark, nude beneath the sheets, thinking about Melanie and Emmy and the opportunity Mac had described. The money was beyond