Redeeming the Billionaire SEAL(9)

He once again focused on Derek. It was none of his business whom Holly saw or what she did in her life. He had no right to even speculate. He refused to acknowledge the feeling of his stomach plummeting to his knees.

“If you have time,” Derek was saying, “I’d like you to meet my family.”

“I’d like that,” Chance told him honestly. He needed to be someplace else. Anyplace else. “Are they here?”

“Yep. My wife—you may remember Mary Beth Carter? She’s grilling some burgers as we speak. Have you had lunch? There’s one with your name on it.”

Chance nodded. “That sounds good. If you’re sure she won’t mind.”

“She’ll be tickled to see you. It’s just over this way.”

Chance would enjoy spending some time with the friend he’d come to see. And he would not give Holly a second thought. He could keep his eyes on the ball during a reconnaissance mission where he led his team deep into the heart of enemy territory time and time again. He should have no problem focusing on lunch with one of his good friends.

But by the third time Derek asked him if he’d heard what he’d said, Chance knew it was time to give it up. He shook Derek’s hand, nodded to his wife and thanked her for the great meal, promising Derek they would get together again before he left. He apologized for his inability to focus, blaming it on jet lag. As he walked back to the parking area, he couldn’t prevent his eyes from roaming once more to the spot where Holly stood.

“Are you Chance Masters?” A pretty brunette with her hair pulled into pigtails grabbed his arm.

Frowning, Chance nodded. “How can I help you?”

“Not me, Holly. I’m Amanda, her best friend and part-time babysitter. I was there last night watching TV when you brought her home? Anyway, I’ll explain all that later, or she can. Right now I need you to walk over to her and tell her it’s time to go.” She spoke fast, but he understood everything she said.

Chance frowned at the odd request. “Why would I do that?”

“Because that creepy guy won’t leave her alone.”

She grabbed his shirtsleeve and forcibly turned him around. There was Holly, a baby still in her arms. She was reaching out to take a kite from the man, who didn’t appear to want to relinquish it.

“Got it?” the brunette asked from just behind him.

“Got it.”

“Tell Holly I’ll see her back at the house.” She beat a path toward the main parking area.

As Chance stepped forward, Holly had apparently given up on retrieving the kite and was walking toward the parking lot at a swift pace, frustration and a hint of anger covering her face. The man she’d been talking to was trailing behind. Chance changed course, which put him directly in her path. She appeared shocked to see him there but immediately smiled in relief.

“You two look like you’ve had a good time.”

“Gootine.”

This one would be talking Holly’s ear off in a matter of weeks.

“Pekite.” The baby pointed to the kite in the man’s hand.

“Yep.” Chance nodded. “That’s definitely one pink kite.”

“Fye!” Emma pointed to the clouds.

“What brings you out to Kite Day?” Holly smiled up at him. He clearly read the silent message of “don’t leave us” in her eyes.

Chance glanced at his watch. “Did you forget you asked me to pick you up at three?”

That brought a full grin. “Oh! I did! I totally forgot.”

The man who’d been standing behind them stepped up next to Holly. He didn’t look happy. He wore a Western hat, had a short beard, thin nose and narrow, glaring eyes. He was shorter than Chance but a good fifty pounds heavier, most of it around the waist.

“Oh, sorry,” Holly said. “Blake, this is US Naval Commander Chance Masters. Chance, Blake, ah...Lufkin.”

Chance offered his hand to the man. He seemed to consider his options before he accepted it, apparently deciding that to refuse in front of Holly would not be wise. As first impressions went, Chance didn’t like the guy. Holly’s friend had been right. Something about him felt off. Holly seemed determined to leave his company. Hell, Chance would help her with that in a heartbeat.

“Are you guys ready to go home?”

“Yes,” she responded immediately. “It’s been a long day.”

“Why don’t you let me take you home?” Blake asked, his hand rubbing her back with a familiarity that suggested it was something he did all the time. “We could run into town and grab an early dinner?”

“Uh, thanks,” Holly said and moved away from his touch to stand next to Chance. “But actually I’m not hungry.”

Holly was being way too polite. Chance slid his arm around her shoulders, giving her a kiss on the temple. “I’m parked right over here, sweetheart.” Chance pointed in the opposite direction. “I’ll take their kite off your hands.”

When Chance grabbed the kite, the man didn’t immediately release it. Chance didn’t really care how he retrieved the baby’s kite. The man could hand it to him from flat on his back, or save himself a whole lot of trouble. But after staring at Chance a few more seconds, he did the wise thing and let go, dropping his hand.

Holly wished Blake a good evening. He returned a stiff smile, clearly not happy Chance had interfered with whatever he had planned. Chance understood all too well. The man was a parasite, thinking Holly was alone and vulnerable, which only proved that the guy didn’t know Holly at all. She might be alone, but vulnerable wasn’t in her vocabulary.

He opened the back door of his truck and set the kite on the seat. He didn’t have a baby seat. It wasn’t something he’d ever needed. Holly hopped up into the passenger side and set Emma on her lap, drawing the seat belt around both of them.

Chance got in behind the wheel and started the engine, still watching as the man walked off, finally disappearing amid the trees and parked cars.

“So spill,” Chance said. “What’s the deal with that guy?”

“I don’t really know.” She shrugged. “He moved here sometime last year. He came into the clinic for some flea and tick meds. The next thing I know he’s showing up almost everywhere I go.”

“He’s asked you out?”

“Yeah. Like today. I’ve never accepted. The last time, I was pretty blunt. And I lied. I told him there was someone else in my life and I would not accept any invitations from him or anyone else.” Holly took a deep breath. “I was afraid for a while I’d hurt his feelings and felt really bad about it, but two weeks later, here we go again. Small town. Guess it wasn’t that hard to find out the truth. There is just something about him that makes me very uncomfortable.”

“Has he ever threatened you?”

“No. Nothing like that. He’s always polite. But...he’s pushy. And he gets in my personal space.” She shuddered. “I just wish he would go away. Go hit on somebody else.”

Chance put the transmission in Drive. He would ensure Holly’s wishes were met. No woman should have to deal with a stalker. He glanced at the baby in Holly’s arms. “You haven’t introduced me.” He looked back at Holly. “Is she yours?”

That brought an immediate smile. “I thought you knew. This is Emma.”

Obviously some things had definitely changed around here. Holly was a mother. And no one had thought it important enough to share that little tidbit of information?

Chance turned the truck toward the exit and the road that would take them back to the ranch.

“I’ll send a ranch hand back for your truck, if that’s okay. I’d prefer to make sure you both get home safely.”

“Thank you, Chance.”

He couldn’t help but speculate about the father of the baby. Holly didn’t wear a wedding ring, and although they hadn’t had a chance to talk very much, surely she would not have come out to the barn and snuggled up next to him if she had a husband waiting at home.

A baby. Yet Holly still had that air of innocence. Obviously he was reading her wrong. Way wrong. Between her natural beauty and the fact she had a child, she couldn’t be all that naive. Obviously there was a man in her life or had been at some point. These days, women didn’t need a wedding ring on their finger to have a child. Some preferred it that way. He knew plenty of women, both in the military and not, who had one or more kids. Most said they neither wanted nor needed a man to complicate their life. He respected them even though he tended to be from the old school. Of the three Masters sons, he’d been the one closest to his mother and consequently had been raised with her principles. Old family values he’d never had reason to question. But in today’s world, those ideas were outdated.

Chance’s life didn’t make it easy to have a permanent girlfriend or a wife, although some in his platoon were married and, at least on the outside, appeared to make it work. He liked his life the way it was. He was responsible only to himself and during a mission, the safety of his team. Kids were not something he wanted to be around, let alone be responsible for. Generally a baby was not something that put a smile on his face. They were a constant reminder of just how narrow the line between life and death was. They made him see the hopelessness of ever having peace in this world. He needed to stay away from Holly anyway, out of respect. A baby might just be the ticket to ensure he kept his distance.