Page 34 of SEAL's Temptation

“Hey.”His voice was huskier now.Low.“I wasn’t trying to make you sad, just letting you know how much I miss you.Oh, there’s Hudson and Layton,” he said, waving before turning his attention back to the call.

“She must be really showing in her pregnancy now,” Avery said.

“Yep.Hudson seems proud as hell about it, too.”Ryan chuckled as he heard Avery’s soft laughter.“Did I tell you they’re having a girl?”

“No, you didn’t.That’s great!I know Layton’s daughter will be so, so excited to have a sister.”

“That she is.Do you want kids?”Ryan found himself asking.

“I mean, sure, but not anytime soon,” Avery said with a small laugh.“I’m young enough that I don’t really need to rush into starting a family, but I see myself with that someday in the future.How about you?”

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought about it much until recently.”

“Oh yeah?”she asked, a teasing tone in her voice.

“Yep.My buddy’s going to be a dad, and now I’ve got a girl and all.I could totally see you pregnant someday, you becoming a mother.”

“Tell me you see yourself as the father,” she said with a laugh.

His lips quirked.“Yeah, I could see it.Seems crazy, right?We’ve never even lived in the same place.”

“But we will,” she promised him.

“We will.You’ve got those big dreams to chase down there in South America first,” he pointed out.“How are things there anyway?”he asked, his voice growing serious.

“Good.Busy and exhausting, but the people we’ve seen are grateful.The other nursing staff are wonderful.I’m lucky to have them on my team.”

“That’s good,” he said, unable to dampen the worry still churning through him.“What about any unrest in the area?”he asked.

“Well, of course there are cartels moving through the Darien Gap, but they’re not bothering us.Unfortunately, the migrants we’re helping are easy targets.They’re vulnerable without food or shelter.Protection.It kills me that they’re risking everything, but the medical staff haven’t been bothered in any way.”

“It better stay that way,” Ryan muttered, his voice darkening.

“We all work in teams, so no one is ever alone.The other nurses and I go back and forth between our housing and the medical tents together, and the village itself is safe.It’s filled with people.I’d be more concerned if I was isolated and alone.”

“Don’t let your guard down,” he advised.

“I won’t.So, who all is coming today?”she asked, changing the topic.They chatted for a few minutes, Ryan telling her about their plans for a little beach party complete with volleyball, sand, and surf.

Their conversation was interrupted by an American, male voice in the background.“Avery, I thought you might like an iced coffee,” a man said, and Ryan inexplicably tensed.Who the hell was bringing her coffee?He had no right to be annoyed, but it seemed like an overly friendly gesture.Then again, maybe the guy had gotten food or drinks for the entire team, and he was totally overreacting.

“Oh,” Avery said, sounding surprised.“Thank you.I’m on a call,” she added, and Ryan felt a small sense of relief.Whoever this man was, Avery clearly seemed surprised by the gesture and even somewhat put off.“I’m talking to Ryan,” she added, and his chest swelled.If she’d told this guy about him, then the man should know not to be hitting on his girlfriend.

“Sorry,” Avery said a moment later.“My colleague brought me a coffee.”

“Friend of yours?”

“Not really,” she admitted.“I’ll probably have to explain later in an email.”

Ryan frowned but understood.“He’s still lurking around.”

“Yep.Luciana ran into a store with one of the locals, so we’re waiting by the vehicle.Dr.Walters went to get a coffee and bought me one, apparently.”

“You don’t like him.”

“No.”

Uneasiness wound through Ryan.He trusted Avery’s judgement.Maybe the dude was just hitting on her, but she was forthcoming enough to let the guy know if she wasn’t interested.Was he being pushy about his apparent interest in her?Ryan knew nothing about the man but already didn’t like him.It didn’t miss his notice that Avery had called him a colleague, not a friend.When she spoke about Luciana, he could tell she both liked and trusted the other woman.

---