Page 35 of Guarded By the SEAL
Wyatt awoke to sunlight streaming through the bedroom window, so damn tired despite what was obviously a later hour than he was used to getting up. Mornings usually began before the sunrise, but he’d lain awake for hours thinking about Teslyn and wondering why she’d balked in the middle of driving him wild.
His mind instantly resumed its quest to understand as his body remembered her kisses. He forced himself to drop the subject on both counts. If Teslyn didn’t want to sleep with him, that was her prerogative—whether he understood why, or not. He could only hope not to have a hard-on the entire time he was in her company, and that their newfound camaraderie could withstand what was bound to be a very awkward morning.
He needed coffee.
Ivy laughed in the distance and he grinned despite his aggravation. He’d never enjoyed kids before her, never knew what to say to them or felt like he was anything but terrifying in their eyes, but Ivy was different. She was precocious and adorable, and he would miss her when this was all over.
He swung his legs out of bed and tugged on a clean pair of briefs. At least he’d gotten to sleep naked and been in an actual bed, even if he was alone and sexually frustrated. Still beat the hell out of sleeping on the floor. He finished dressing and went in search of the girls.
Teslyn’s voice carried down the hall. “… put the chocolate chips on now.”
“Like this?” asked Ivy.
Something smelled wonderful and made him realize he wanted more than just caffeine. When was the last time he’d woken to the smell of someone cooking breakfast? Years, at least. He rounded the corner into the kitchen. “What smells so good?”
Ivy stood on a chair beside the stove, Teslyn cooking in front of it with Jett by her side. The little girl clapped. “Pancakes!”
“Pancakes?” he bent down and touched Ivy’s nose. “I love pancakes.”
She smiled wide. “With chocolate chips.”
“With chocolate chips?” he gasped, straightening as he met Teslyn’s wary gaze. “Good morning,” he said, smiling at her warmly. There was no reason for this to be uncomfortable. He wasn’t sorry he’d kissed her, he was only sorry she’d stopped him from doing more.
One side of her mouth hitched up into something resembling a smile. “Morning.” She turned back to the stove, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink. She was beautiful when she blushed.
She’s beautiful no matter what she does.
He bent down and rubbed the puppy. “There’s my little traitor. Which one of you did he sleep with last night?”
Ivy pointed to Teslyn. “Really?” he asked, and the little girl nodded with a conspiratorial grin.
“It’s not like I invited him,” said Teslyn. “I woke up around two-thirty and he was curled up next to me. I tried to shoo him away, and he had the audacity to lick my face.”
Wyatt laughed at the picture she painted. “Does this mean you two are getting along now?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m thinking about it.”
“I’m going to make some coffee,” he declared. “Want some?”
“Sure,” said Ivy.
Teslyn smirked at her sister before saying, “I’m more of a tea person.”
“I might have some.” Damn, he was in a good mood this morning. He opened several cupboards, looking for a stray tea bag as he considered that. Heneverwoke up in a good mood, especially after so little sleep. He found a tea bag and put water in the kettle before setting the coffee maker to brew.
Sitting at the table, he watched the sisters work together, the aroma of coffee deeply satisfying.
I could get used to this.
The thought was so sudden and unexpected, his face fell. Wyatt had a plan for his life, a plan that didn’t include marriage and children. He enjoyed being alone, free to date whomever he wanted whenever he wanted. Settling down was for men who liked predictability and safety. He liked his freedom, the unexpected and dangerous.
He chalked the thought up to temporary insanity, and moved to get coffee cups out of the cupboard. “Milk and sugar?”
Teslyn nodded. “Yes, please.”
“Yes please,” said Ivy, and he wondered if the girl was actually going to drink coffee. Teslyn didn’t seem to find it strange, so he went along with it, pouring two cups of coffee and making one cup of tea.
Teslyn laughed softly, taking one cup of coffee and pouring most of it back in the carafe. “She gets a tiny bit of coffee with a whole lot of milk.”
