Page 52 of Married to a SEAL

Chapter 16

One Month Later

Palm trees passed by the window of the SUV, and Rebecca gasped as they pulled into their neighborhood, taking in the cars parked up and down the road in front of the house.

“What’s going on?” she asked, looking around in confusion.

Their neat, perfectly landscaped little yard had been decorated with white streamers and silver and white balloons, and for a moment she thought it was a celebration welcoming her husband back to active duty after his recovery. Then she noticed the “Just Married” sign hanging on their front door.

Patrick glanced over at her, the corner of his mouth tugging up in a smile, and took her hand his much larger one. His thick fingers wove between hers, connecting them more intimately, and he maneuvered his large black SUV into the driveway and garage with one hand in a secure grip on the steering wheel.

“The guys on the team wanted to surprise us,” he said, his voice gruff. “Since we snuck off and got married a few weeks ago, they’re throwing us a reception.”

“Right now?” she asked, still in disbelief.

“Right now.”

“What’s a reception?” Logan asked from the backseat.

“A type of party,” Patrick explained, glancing in the rearview mirror. “This one is for us—because Abby’s mom and I got married.”

“A party?” Abby asked, her voice rising in delight. “Really?”

“Really,” Patrick said, a smug look of satisfaction on his face. No doubt he was pleased he’d pulled this off without any hint of her knowing. Cool blue eyes met hers, but she didn’t miss the spark of mischief in them.

“You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”

“I knew you’d want to do all the work,” he said easily, drawing her hand up for a quick kiss as he pointedly eyed the slight swell of her stomach.

She wanted to shiver in delight as his warm lips brushed over the back of her hand. Patrick’s lips on her skin always drove her crazy—and he loved to kiss and caress her everywhere. She was even more sensitive now that she was thirteen weeks pregnant, her hormones completely out of whack.

And Patrick seemed to enjoy touching her even more because of it—knowing that it drove her out of her mind.

Crazy pregnancy hormones.

He placed her hand back in her lap, his heated gaze momentarily landing on her bare thighs, which were peeking out beneath her gauzy sundress. His large hand slid around one leg, just above her knee, and he gave it a quick squeeze, letting his thumb move in lazy circles.

She blushed, feeling the familiar traces of desire coiling through her at his warm hand on her bare skin.

Patrick was still insatiable—he enjoyed touching and caressing her all day and making love to her all night. Setting her on fire with heated looks. They were always careful around the kids, but that didn’t stop her from loving all the attention he gave her. He always knew exactly how to send her up in flames—and wasn’t above flirting with her all day until they were finally alone in their bedroom.

And now he was her husband.

She caught Patrick’s hand in both of hers, feeling the tendons bulging beneath his warm skin. The callouses on his hands from days of PT and rigorous training.

The corded muscles on his forearms from hours of physical exertion always made her breath catch, and there was something erotic and sexy about his muscular arm resting on her bare thigh. Even though they were married now, a touch from him could still leave her breathless.

“You’re in so much trouble for not telling me about this.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“The house is a mess! We can’t have a party here. I’m finally over my morning sickness and have so much to catch up on. Even with all the work split between the two of us we’re behind—we have two kids!”

“That’s why I hired a cleaner while you and Alison were getting pedicures this morning.”

“We really can’t have people over tonight,” she continued. “Wait—you did what?”

“Hired a cleaner. Sent you and Alison out the door while I manned the fort.”

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