Page 4 of A Trident Christmas Baby

As soon as Ace set the salad on the table, they both sat down. Ace looked at the food and smiled.

“This all smells so good.”

Alex grinned as she poured a little bit of salad dressing on her salad. She loved having dinners with Ace. They used the time to talk about their days. Well, at least, what he could tell her.

She had noticed that since he got home, he seemed a little tense, like something was bothering him. She even saw a flicker of something in his eyes. But she didn’t ask about it. She trusted him to tell her when the time was right. That was even if he could tell her. Growing up surrounded by SEALs and then working with them when she was older, she knew not to ask questions and that there would be times they couldn’t speak about things. All she could do was be there to support them.

Ace took a bite of the lasagna and sighed with satisfaction. “You outdid yourself, babe,” he said.

“Thank you. I thought you’d like it,” she told him, grinning as she started eating.

As they ate, Alex told him about what she had planned for the next couple of days.

“You sound like you have a full schedule,” he told her as he took his last bite and then wiped his mouth with his napkin.

“I do, but I promise not to overdo it,” she said, and he grinned.

Ace stood up and took their plates to the sink. When she started to stand up to help, he motioned for her to sit back down.

“I got the dishes tonight,” he smiled and winked.

Alex watched Ace quietly as he cleared the plates from the table. She noticed his jaw was tight, and he seemed drowned in his thoughts. She recognized the tension. It wasn’t just exhaustion or a long day. It was something deeper.

“Ace,” she said, her tone soft but firm. “Are you okay?”

He froze for a moment, the plate in his hand hovering over the sink. Slowly, he turned to face her, leaning back against the counter. He ran his hand through his hair, which he only did when he was nervous or worried.

“We got called up.”

Alex’s heart sank, though she kept her expression calm. She folded her hands over her growing belly, leaning back slightly in her chair. “When?”

“Tonight,” he replied, his voice low and steady, but she could see the flicker of conflict in his eyes.

She knew this was part of loving a man like Ace, a Navy SEAL who would do whatever it took to protect and serve. But knowing there was a chance he might not be here when the baby arrived left a pang of fear she hadn’t expected. As strong as she was, the thought of giving birth without him by her side made her ache.

“Derek doesn’t think we’ll be gone too long—maybe a few days.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded, her training kicking in to keep her emotions in check. Alex wasn’t stupid. She knew that things could go sideways and that what they thought could take days could actually turn into weeks.

“Derek said he’ll do everything he can to get us back here as soon as the mission’s done. He’s as torn up about this as much as I am.”

She stood up and walked over to him. She placed her hand on his cheek, and she tilted her head to meet his gaze. She wanted him to know that it was okay. Shit, it had to be okay.

“It’ll be okay, Ace. I’ll be fine. The only thing that matters is you and the rest of the team coming home safe.”

Ace’s expression softened, and his gaze was full of love. He reached up, brushing a stray hair from her face. “You know that coming back to you is what motivates me. Besides, I don’t want to miss out on this crazy life we’re about to dive into. And I definitely don’t want to miss Christmas with you.”

She laughed softly. “Just don’t do anything too crazy out there, okay? And that goes for all of you.”

Ace covered her hand with his own, turning his face to press a kiss to her palm. He chuckled, knowing full well that “crazy” was practically in his job description. “I will do my best.”

She lifted up on her tiptoes. “I love you,” she whispered before softly kissing his lips.

“I love you, too,” he whispered against her lips.

She slid her arms around his waist and hugged him, her head resting against his chest. He was her home.

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