Page 242 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“She’s hungry is what she is,” the nurse said with a laugh. “You should probably sanitize your hands before you take her.”

“Of course. Would you hand me that?” Delaney asked, pointing at a bottle of hand sanitizer on the nearby table. WhenAddie gave it to her, Delaney liberally rubbed the solution over her hands, up to her elbows. Meanwhile, Hope’s cries became more insistent. Delaney held out her hands as the nurse placed Hope in her arms.

“There,” Delaney said soothingly as she held her against her chest. Gently, she rubbed a finger across Hope’s cheek. Hope turned her mouth to Delaney’s finger, the rooting instinct taking over as she sucked Delaney’s finger.

“Look at that,” the nurse cooed in delight. “Preemies normally have a hard time learning to suck, but Hope’s catching on fast. I’ll be right back with the bottle of breast milk that you pumped earlier.” She turned, walking briskly out of the room.

It was amazing how natural the instinct of motherhood seemed to come to Delaney as she rocked Hope, making shushing sounds to calm her. Addie had the feeling of witnessing utter perfection.

Delaney seemed to be reading Addie’s thoughts as she looked up and flashed an unencumbered smile so joyous it brought tears to Addie’s eyes.

Be happy.The words swirled through Addie’s mind, finding their place in her heart. Just like that, the muddy water cleared. She laughed inwardly. She’d been borrowing trouble for a long time. When real trouble came knocking, Maddox was there for her. Delaney was right. It was time to stop mourning the hypothetical. As much as she wanted to stay here with Delaney and Hope, she needed to find Maddox. “I have to go.”

“You’ve got this,” Delaney said, giving her a reassuring nod.

She touched Delaney’s arm. “Thank you.”

A smile ruffled Delaney’s lips. “You bet. That’s what family’s for.”

When Addie got to the door, she paused for one last look at Delaney, who was peering down at Hope, totally consumed in the softness and wonder of her new baby.

“One of those perfect moments that life is made of,” she uttered softly, gently closing the door behind her.

Addie found Corbin and Pops standing in the hall. “Where’s Maddox?”

“He went home,” Corbin answered.

The words came at her like an invisible punch to the stomach. Her hand went to her throat. “He left? Without telling me goodbye?”

Corbin gave her a funny look. “Just to get some rest. He said he’d come back in the morning to check on you and see Hope.”

“Seeing as how you treated him earlier, he probably thinks you don’t want anything to do with him,” Pops added, reproof sounding in his voice.

“We hope to have information soon on Brent Barrett,” Corbin said. “Then we’ll know for sure if the threat against you is over.”

Meaning Maddox would then go onto his next assignment, she thought glumly. For an instant, the old familiar despair settled over her like a boulder around her neck.No!She straightened her shoulders. She couldn’t lose Maddox again. She held out her hand to Corbin. “I need your car keys.”

His eyes rounded. “What?”

“I’m going to talk to Maddox. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Do you even remember where he lives?” Corbin asked, looking at her like she’d grown another head.

“I can figure it out,” she snapped.

Corbin gave her a probing look. “What’s this about, Addie?”

She lifted her chin. “None of your business.”

A new light came into Corbin’s eyes, a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re going after him, aren’t you? That little heart-to-heart with Delaney must’ve done you good,” he taunted. He wiggled his eyebrows. “Addie’s in love.”

Heat crawled up her neck as she shoved him. “You’re such an idiot,” she growled.

Pops gave Corbin a warning look. “Stop teasing her.” His eyes smiled. “Time to finally come out from underneath that tree, huh, Squirt?”

“What?” Corbin asked dubiously.

Addie rolled her eyes. “Never mind. Your pea-sized brain’s not big enough to comprehend it, even if I explained it to you.”

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