Protecting His Pregnant Lover: Southern Soldiers of Fortune Book One

by North, Leslie

  USA Today Bestseller Leslie North invites you to indulge in a heart-pounding military romance with a hot, super-alpha Navy SEAL protecting the woman he loves at all costs...

  Grab your copy of Protecting His Kidnapped Family

  Available October 15th, 2020

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  * * *

  EXCERPT

  Chapter One

  At first glance, Noah Wild wasn’t sure which was the greater masterpiece—the design the tattoo artist was completing, or the ass of the woman the guy was inking. Both were breathtaking, that was for sure. Add in the fact that the woman, whoever she was, didn’t seem to care that her butt was in full view of an entire gallery of people who were there to celebrate said artist’s work and…

  Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

  Man, there was nothing Noah found more attractive than a strong, confident woman. Of course, being strong and confident meant that the women he’d dated had no trouble kicking him to the curb when he proved that he sucked balls in the relationship department. He’d gotten the memo—relationships weren’t for guys like him. So he wasn’t planning to do anything about his instant, intense attraction. He was fine appreciating her from afar.

  He tossed back another glassful of horribly overpriced booze, then set his empty on the tray of a passing waiter before grabbing another. It had been a long time since he’d gotten drunk, but why not? He had nowhere to be in the morning, and he was between SEAL missions, so why not indulge?

  His traitorous cock twitched as if in agreement.

  Stand down, sailor.

  Nope. Not going there. Not tonight. Not with a stranger. He had plenty of options in the available bed partner category. Women who knew the score and were more than happy to obey his rules—one night, no strings, no emotions involved. No sense straying from his chosen path to pursue a woman who might not agree. Even if she was gorgeous.

  Noah’s chest tightened as a couple other men stopped to admire the mystery gal’s curvaceous behind and he squeezed the crystal tumbler in his hand tighter. Stupid. What did he care if guys gawked at what she obviously didn’t mind having on display?

  Except for some weird reason, he did.

  Before he could stop himself, Noah’s feet carried him across the room and closer to the station where Rebel was working. The renovated Atlanta warehouse space was packed with people, all standing around talking or admiring the huge photos of the artist’s previous works adorning the brick walls. Noah’s was up there too, the guardian archangel inked across his lower right ribs and abs. Funny, since he’d never really been religious, and he’d always imagined himself more as a superhero kind of guy. Angels weren’t really something he gave much thought to in his career as a Navy SEAL. But when he’d finally managed to score a coveted appointment with the sought-after artist, he’d known the minute he’d seen the intricate design of Gabriel battling a demon that he had to have it on his skin.

  Speaking of skin, he was near enough to the woman to see her creamy flesh up close. The artist was focused on his work, despite the crowds and conversation around him, making precise marks with his needle. From where he stood, Noah couldn’t quite tell exactly what the finished design would be, but he didn’t care. Sexy woman, sexy spot for some art, no matter what that art ended up being. On closer inspection, he could see that the ink wasn’t on her butt, but rather on the curve of one hip. And that tiny, delicate black thong she seemed to think passed for underwear? Forget about it.

  He downed the rest of the contents of his glass in one swallow, glad for the distracting burn in his throat, then set the glass aside without looking, his gaze locked on the vision before him. God help him, he wanted to get closer—but he couldn’t quite figure out an angle of approach that didn’t sound sleazy or dumb. Despite his work and his tough guy persona, Noah wasn’t really all that smooth with the ladies. In fact, he rarely carried on more than brief conversations with them, mainly about hooking up. Now though, in front of all these people, he needed to play it cool and try to impress this woman while there was still time. If he waited for the artist to take a break, he might never get to talk to her, and that was a chance Noah wasn’t willing to take.

  Heat surged alongside the adrenaline in his system. Noah swallowed hard, his gut tingling.

  Say something, idiot.

  But the more he tried, the more words refused to come. Gah! Maybe it was the booze. Maybe it was nerves. Whatever it was, he was blowing his chance and…

  The woman turned her head to look at him, her chin resting atop her hands, her beautiful brown eyes narrowed on him and his mouth dried like the Sahara.

  Christ, she’s gorgeous.

  “I…uh…” was all he managed to get out.

  Brilliant, dumbass. Real MENSA level stuff there, dude.

  If his SEAL team could see him now, they’d be laughing their asses off. He had a reputation for being cool under all kinds of fire and now he stood here speechless over a woman and he didn’t even know her name.

  “It’s okay.” She laughed, the low, husky sound zinging straight to his groin. “Go ahead and stare. Everyone else is.”

  Face hot and breath lodged in his lungs, Noah just blinked at her. God, he hadn’t felt this green since high school when he’d finally managed to fuck the head cheerleader under the bleachers. But that prom queen had nothing on this goddess.

  Finally, he managed to redirect a modicum of blood supply back up to his brain. He swallowed hard and tried again. “Sorry. I was just admiring the art.”

  “Right,” she said, clearly not buying his excuse. But her dark eyes sparkled with mirth and Noah felt his awkwardness easing as he realized she was amused rather than offended. “Can’t say I blame you. Rebel does amazing work.”

  “That he does.” He managed to tear his gaze away from the woman’s ass and met the tattoo artist’s gaze. “Good to see you again, Rebel.”

  “Same, man.” The guy put down his tools and took off his gloves, then patted the woman’s shoulder. “All done, Serena. Let me just get a dressing on that and you’ll be all set.”

  “Cool!” She sat up slightly, wincing and careful to avoid putting pressure on her left hip as she perused her new ink, then glanced in a nearby mirror to see the final product. “That’s fantastic, Rebel. Thank you!”

  “My pleasure.” The artists stood beside Noah with a couple of gauze pads and a roll of adhesive bandage to hold them on. “That one was a bitch to get right. So many details.”

  “What’s it a picture of?” Noah asked, studying the colors riding the crest of Serena’s hip. Serena. Perfect name for a pretty woman.

  “The crusades,” Rebel said, stepping closer to the girl to cover the tattoo. “Come here and look for yourself—with Serena’s permission, of course.”

  Serena looked back at Noah over her shoulder then cocked her head, a cheeky smile on her face. “He can see mine if I can see his.”

  Noah didn’t think he’d ever pulled his shirt up faster in his life. “Mine’s the archangel Gabriel.”

  “Nice,” she said, leaning in closer to inspect his ink, the warmth of her breath raising goosebumps on his skin. “Fine. Check mine out closer too, if you want.”

  Oh, he wanted all right. More than anything in a long, long time.

  She thrust her newly-inked hip out at him and he crouched down to get a better look. Given the fact she was about a foot shorter than his own six-two height, it only made sense to lean down and get as close as possible, right? That was the excuse he was going with anyway. Except now that he was down here, this close to her, her sweet, floral scent surrounded him and the heat of her skin tempted him to throw caution to the winds.

  He bit his lip and fisted his hands at his sides to keep from reaching for her. “Beautiful.”

  Noah wasn’t just talking about her new tattoo either.

  God, he needed to get laid in the worst way. And not with just anyone. With this woman right here. His body all but cried out for her and if
he didn’t get her into his bed soon, he felt like he might die from wanting her.

  Thankfully, Rebel didn’t seem to notice at all. Just covered up all that beautiful flesh with gauze and bandages. Without looking up at the two of them, he said, “Noah chose that one because of his love for protecting people.”

  “Yeah?” Serena raised one brow at him, her gaze teasing. “What are you, a cop?”

  “No.” He straightened, his focus completely on her. “A Navy SEAL.”

  “Oh, wow.” For the first time since he’d laid eyes on her, Noah felt like the tides had shifted in his favor. She seemed suitably impressed with his service. “I’ve seen documentaries on you guys. You’re like a real-life Superman.”

  His slow smile refused to be stopped. “I try. Why’d you pick the crusades?”

  Pink colored her cheeks before she looked away once Rebel was done, and adjusted her clothes. “I like to consider myself an SJW.”

  “SJW?”

  “Social Justice Warrior,” Rebel supplied helpfully from the other side of the table. “She does a lot of charity and philanthropic work.”

  Serena shrugged. “I like to do my part, pay it forward.”

  “Huh. That’s awesome,” Noah said. “Guess we both devote our lives to helping others.”

  “Guess we do.”

  The moment stretched between, the air around them sizzling with possibilities, until finally, Serena turned away to grab her purse. “Well, I should clear out of here so Rebel can get on with his next client.”

  “Hey,” Noah said, staying by her side as they headed toward the exit. “Want to grab a drink or something? I’d love to hear more about your work.” He held the door for her, not ready for the night to end yet. “If you’re not busy, that is.”

  She stopped at the curb and for an awful second, he thought she might say no. Then she took a deep breath and grinned, her teeth even and white beneath the orangeish glow of the streetlights. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  Grab your copy of Protecting His Kidnapped Family

  Available October 15th, 2020

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  BLURB

  Carolyn Evert couldn’t take the constant worry and stress that came with having a Navy SEAL fiancé, so she broke it off…then realized she was pregnant. After radio silence greeted her repeated attempts to inform Zach of the pregnancy, Carolyn moved on with her life. Little Austin is happy and healthy, and while she hates the idea of him growing up without a father, she’s determined to safeguard the jewelry store her mother founded and make sure Austin never feels unwanted. But everything changes when the store is robbed at gunpoint. Carolyn outwits the robber and defuses the hostage situation—then in strides Zach as part of the security response team. Zach quickly makes it clear he had no idea about the pregnancy, and Carolyn eventually agrees to let him into their son’s life…but she’s a lot more hesitant about letting Zach back into her own heart.

  Zach Vale won’t let anything keep him from being the best dad he can be. If Carolyn wants nothing to do with him, he’ll live with that. But he can’t help but want to protect her and their son. It soon becomes apparent the robbery isn’t an isolated incident—and more than Carolyn’s business is in danger, especially when she insists on investigating the robbery herself. As she works to solve the mystery of who’s behind the vicious attacks, Zach works to make himself part of their lives and keep them safe. After all, he’s still in love with Carolyn, and maybe if he can be her hero for once, he can convince her to give him another chance.

  Grab your copy of The SEAL’s Surprise Son (The Admiral’s SEALs Book One) from

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  * * *

  EXCERPT

  Chapter One

  “Just sold an engagement ring.” Jenna poked her head in the office of All That Sparkles.

  “Awesome.” Carolyn Evert looked up from the spreadsheet she was studying. “Which one?”

  “The one carat heart-shaped diamond set in platinum.” From the smile on Jenna’s face, she was pleased with herself—and she should be. Both her commission and the store’s profit would be very nice.

  “I love that one.” Carolyn sighed. “It’s so romantic.”

  The ring had only been on display since the store reopened a week ago. Now that the remodel was complete, the neutral cream colors were gone. In their place Carolyn selected soft gray walls, chrome-edged glass display cases, modern recessed lighting, and pops of a vibrant blue for accent. The store did indeed sparkle.

  “The couple looked at it yesterday,” Jenna said with a knowing grin. “I knew they’d be back.”

  “You can always peg them. Congratulations.”

  “Do you want me to start the closing procedure?” Jenna asked.

  Carolyn checked her watch. Ten minutes to close. “Sure. That’ll be great. I want to get out of here on time tonight.”

  “Got it.” Her most experienced salesperson scooted back out the door.

  The thought of how the ring’s sale would help the month’s bottom line brought a smile to Carolyn’s face as she returned to the spreadsheet. Her monthly expenses for All That Sparkles were significantly higher now due to a loan for the remodel and higher security costs.

  She’d disagreed with her mother about the expense. And maybe she was taking a chance, but she subscribed to the theory that you have to spend money to make it. The interior of a jewelry store reflected its reputation and merchandise, she felt. Her mother had relented since she’d entrusted the store to Carolyn, who now held the reins.

  Carolyn owed her mother so much. Faith had founded the store after Carolyn’s father all but abandoned the family. Her hard work had put the business on the map in Sheridan Falls. Carolyn was in awe of someone who could do all that single-handed and raise two daughters, and she felt the pressure of measuring up to her mother’s standard as she faced a similar life as a single mom and business owner. Her best efforts might not be enough even with the assistance of dedicated employees—but her self-doubt hadn’t prevented her from taking a leap with All That Sparkles.

  She heard the click of the alarm. Someone was being let into the office area of the store. A state-of-the-art security system had been an integral part of their refurbishment. It made her insurance company happy and gave her peace of mind, plus, it allowed them to carry top-end merchandise, such as the engagement ring Jenna was celebrating. It was worth it, she thought, even though she grimaced every time she pulled up the expenditures page.

  “Mama,” her son’s voice called, bringing an instant smile to her face. A second later her babysitter entered the office with Austin on her hip, squirming to get down.

  “Hi, baby.” Carolyn took her fourteen-month-old son, hugging him tight to her and pressing her face into his thick dark hair that was so like his daddy’s. With his deep blue eyes, no one could doubt who his father was, not that Zach Vale apparently cared. She suppressed a sigh. Silence had greeted her letters and communications to her ex-fiancé telling him that she was pregnant. After sending one last notification of Austin’s healthy entrance into the world, Carolyn had stopped trying to contact Zach, who was off on a mission with his SEAL team. She couldn’t change that, so she focused on her son. “Did you have fun today?”

  Austin gave her a grin and showed her a toy tractor he had clutched in his hand, zooming it up her arm.

  “He’s been looking forward to coming all day,” Nina said, dropping the bag of baby supplies on a chair. “He loves being here, and he loves his mama.”

  “Thanks for bringing him to me.” Carolyn gave her son a kiss before setting him on the carpet to play. She’d felt guilty about working long hours while the store was being refurbished, because she had promised herself she would never let him feel abandoned by a parent. Nothing she’d ever done to get her father’s attention had been enough. She’d tried desperately for years working to be the best student and best athlete, hoping he’d notice. She’d even begged her mother for martial
arts classes because her father mentioned that he liked martial arts. She took classes for years, increasing her skill and moving on to grade after grade. Her father never once came to see her demonstrate her skills. Nothing had ever worked to get his attention.

  She’d never let her son feel as she had, which might be a struggle down the road. Eventually, she knew Austin would ask about his daddy. All kids did. Whatever she decided to tell him, she’d be careful to never let it seem that he’d been unwanted.

  “No problem,” Nina said. “I love the new look of the store. The blue sets everything off. On our way here, we took a little stroll past Castle Jewels.”

  “Oh?” Carolyn’s primary competitor had recently updated as well. “Is it nice?”

  “Classy looking. Lots of gold accents. But it was kind of stuffy, too. I didn’t feel like I could wander in and browse.” Nina wrinkled her nose. “I think you made the better choice.”

  “Hope so.” She watched Austin, who played with the tractor, running it over the pattern in the carpet and making goofy faces and sounds. He was so like his father, who despite being a SEAL had loved the silly side of life, too. It had been her choice to end their relationship, but she couldn’t help missing Zach. There had been a lot to love about him.

  “I’ve got to get going,” Nina said. “My boys have a baseball game tonight.”

  “I’ll let you out through the secure door.” Carolyn scooped Austin up and led the way to the showroom.

  Just as they reached it, the front door flung open, slamming against the wall, and a man burst through, gun in hand. Carolyn froze in place, hoping this wasn’t what it looked like.