Page 13 of Loved by a SEAL

Eventually.

But it was too much fun to flirt with all the men out there without committing to anything serious. She was happy with the middle ground—having a little fun for a couple of months with a new guy before moving on.

“In a few years, that’ll be you two,” she said. “Chasing after your kids at barbeques.”

“I can’t wait,” Evan grinned.

“I agree—anything to not be pregnant anymore,” Alison said.

“Are you still having morning sickness?”

“That’s finally better. Now my back has been killing me. This kid needs to get out. The sooner the better.”

“A few more weeks, baby, then we’ll be home free,” Evan murmured.

“I’m a physical therapist,” Sarah said. “Maybe I could show you a few stretches to help. Unless your pregnancy is high risk, it’s safe to exercise. You should give me a call.”

“Yeah, that’d be great,” Alison said. “I’m a nurse, but I’ve had to change my shifts around for this last month. Twelve hours standing in the ER was too hard. Plus I can’t even help all of the patients with this huge baby bump.”

“I’d imagine. Let me give you my card.” She glanced around, her gaze falling on the empty lawn chairs. “Actually, my purse is in the house. Be right back.”

“I can get it from you later,” Alison said.

“It’s no trouble!” Sarah called out over her shoulder. Evan was already piling his plate high with food while Alison protested the platter of burgers that Patrick was offering her. Funny seeing her brother so damn domestic all of a sudden. Ever since he’d met Rebecca, he seemed content to play house.

Maybe he’d leave the SEALs. Eventually. Find some safe office job where the Navy didn’t send him out on dangerous missions all over the world. Their parents had recently retired to Florida, so they weren’t around to watch Patrick’s son anymore when he was gone. Then again, he and Rebecca were looking more serious every time she saw them. Sarah wouldn’t be surprised if one day her brother, who swore he’d never marry again, got down on one knee.

Huh.

Wouldn’t that be something.

Sarah made a detour toward the picnic table before heading to the house and grabbed a brownie from the platter.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” Rebecca said, tossing some empty plates in the trash. “Norfolk is so close and so far at the same time.”

“I agree, we don’t see each other nearly as often as we should. The bridge traffic’s the worst,” Sarah said.

Rebecca nodded, her face dropping, and Sarah cringed at her mistake. Rebecca was a widow whose husband had been tragically killed in an accident on the bridge a few years prior. According to Patrick, she still had a little fear of being over water.

And yet she’d ended up with a Navy SEAL. Huh.

“I’m so sorry,” Sarah said. “I didn’t mean to bring that up.”

Rebecca smiled. “No need to apologize. It’s in the past, and I’m happy now. For a long time I didn’t think I would be. I love your dress,” she added, clearly trying to change the subject. “It’s so cute.”

“Thanks. I found it at this little shop in Norfolk. You should come over one weekend—we can have lunch and go shopping.”

“Yeah, that’d be fun. Hey, is Alison okay? She looked like she might be in pain a few minutes ago. I was going to go check on her.”

“She said her back’s been bothering her.”

“Poor thing. I’ve hardly gotten a chance to talk to her all evening, I’ve been so busy with all the party stuff and chasing after the kids.”

“That’s right, I keep forgetting that you two were already friends before you each ended up dating a SEAL guy.”

Rebecca laughed. “Yep. I swore I’d never date again, but that was before I ran into your brother.”

“He can be rather persuasive,” Sarah agreed. “Probably his best and worst quality.”

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