Read Online The SEAL’s Surprise Baby by Amy J. Fetzer - Free Book Online Page A

stood by as Jack became a master in baby-outing logistics. In less than two minutes he had a picnic spread under a tree far enough away from the other people enjoying the park to be private.
    Melanie sat down and put Juliana on the blanket. Jack set out some toys, then opened the cooler and took out sodas. He offered one to Melanie and had his popped and half-empty before she’d taken a sip. She had the feeling that he wished it was a stronger drink.
    “You’re angry.”
    “Yes, dammit. You know, I’ve never proposed to a woman before. It’s not something I’m going into blind.”
    He looked more hurt than angry and her heart split a little. He deserved to know it all. “Well, I’ve accepted proposals before and as a result, I’ve got my eyes wide open.”
    His gaze snapped to her. “You’ve been engaged? When?”
    She felt his anger building and hurried to say, “Before I met you. One was a few months before.”
    Jack tried to keep calm, but the thought of Melanie agreeing to marry any man but him made him feel incredibly jealous and a little cheated. “What happened?”
    Melanie took the sandwich he offered and with her other hand stroked Juliana’s hair. “I loved Craig and he decided that his secretary was a better choice.”
    “How long were you engaged?”
    “Long enough for me to be selecting china.”
    Jack groaned. “The guy was a moron.”
    “Yes, well, I take great comfort that his marriage to her didn’t last as long as our engagement, but then about two years later I grew stupid again.”
    “Falling in love is not stupid.”
    “No, it’s not. Marriage to the wrong person for the wrong reasons is.”
    Jack held his temper. Why did she think that just because they’d created a beautiful child before marriage they were so wrong for each other? “What did the second guy do?”
    “You don’t think it was me?”
    “No, I don’t, because you’re a beautiful, smart woman, Melanie.”
    She held his gaze, wondering if he’d still be around if it wasn’t for the baby they shared. She’d always wonder that, and it was a bigger reason not to marry him. “I found him in bed with a flashy blonde.”
    “Bastard.”
    “He said I was uptight and couldn’t get with the program, whatever that meant. He was a professional football player.”
    Jack could hear the hurt in Melanie’s voice even though she obviously tried to hide it. “Well, there you go. Cheerleaders, road trips, potential for mischief.”
    Her expressive eyes blazed like embers. “And that’s a good reason to propose to me, then betray me?”
    “No, it’s not. There’s no reason for that at all. But it wasn’t your fault. The fault was in his character.”
    “Neither of them loved me enough not to stray, Jack. That’s a mistake I won’t make again.”
    She stared at her hands as she unwrapped the sandwich, and the pangs of sympathy and understanding swelled through Jack. She looked so lost and wounded. He clenched his fists against the urge to take her in his arms and ease the pain she was still feeling.
    After a moment Melanie let out a breath and took a bite of her sandwich. “Oh, man, this is great. What’s in it?”
    “Something Emeril made on TV.”
    Her brows rose, her smile genuine. “You’re turning into something I don’t recognize.”
    “I haven’t changed.” His gaze fell on the baby. “Well, maybe a little.”
    “How’s it been for you?”
    “Scary. Wonderful. Proud. Scary.”
    “You said that twice.”
    “It’s twice as frightening to know that I’m responsible for someone else’s happiness. At least till she’s eighteen, and by then I’ll have her locked in a tower.”
    “Only knights in armor allowed?”
    “Yeah,” he said, grinning. “I think of what she’ll look like in a few years, how she’ll think of me.”
    “Yeah, me, too,” Melanie said, and they both touched the baby at the same time. His fingers instantly wrapped around hers.
    She met his gaze.
    “Those other guys were