Saving Zola (Sleeper SEALs Book 4)
Page 21
“Sorry.” He pursed his lips. His eyes were wide with fear.
“I can’t leave her.”
“What?” He jerked in shock.
“I know. I know.” She lowered her gaze. “I’m supposed to be this high-power attorney and all. I’ve worked my ass off for this career. I made you quit your job to move here and be miserable. You work at a shit company doing something you hate, and you do it for me. I’ve made a total mess of things. But I didn’t know it would feel like this.”
She lifted her face. “I didn’t know I would love her so much. I didn’t know it would tear my heart out to leave her for even an hour. I can’t go to work tomorrow. I can’t go to work for eighteen years.”
Mike looked startled for a moment. His eyes slowly widened again as she watched his expression. And then a smile spread across his face, and he laughed. He tipped his head back and laughed so hard she got annoyed.
“This is serious, Mike. Why the hell are you laughing?”
He tugged her closer and kissed her forehead. “Zola. Baby. It’s okay. You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were going off the deep end with depression. And all this time you’ve been struggling over the decision to go back to work?”
“Basically, yes.” It made her sick every time she thought about it. She didn’t care about the sleepless nights or the feedings or the crying or the exhaustion. She didn’t want to miss a moment of Liza’s life. Not a single second.
He laughed again.
“You’re not disappointed in me? Or mad? If I quit my job, we’ll struggle to pay the rent.”
He kissed her lips gently. “Not worried at all. If you want to switch, we’ll switch. I can get a better job in a heartbeat.”
She batted her eyes, feeling her face grow heated and pink. “Actually…”
“What?” He sounded nervous.
“Your boss has called me several times since Liza was born. He called me several times before she was born too.”
“My boss?”
She shook her head. “Not your current boss. Your boss at the FBI.”
“He called you? Why?” He narrowed his gaze.
“To see how I was doing. Or perhaps to feel me out to see if he could get you back.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Apparently the guy they hired in Atlanta left. They still need someone. I think your boss was hoping I would fall into the mom trap and give up my job.”
“I can’t believe it. He spoke to you about me?”
“Well, he didn’t come right out and directly say any of that, but I read between the lines. He was feeling me out.”
Mike smirked. “Then it’s already decided.”
“Well, I don’t mean to make you feel trapped. We can discuss it. We can—”
He cut her off. “Stop trying to be all diplomatic, baby. It’s a perfect plan.” He squeezed her arms again, and then his face fell. “Wait. You’re willing to move to Atlanta?”
She chewed on her lower lip. That was the hardest part. But yes. She was. “Yes. It’s perfect really. You’ll get to do what you love. I’ll get to stay home with the baby—my new love—and my dad can visit every few weeks or I’ll come up here. We can make it work.”
“And you’ll be okay not working? It’s been your life dream.”
She shrugged. “I did it. I’m moving on. It seemed like the most important thing in the world to me. But then Liza came. And now she is. Does that make sense?”
He smiled at her. “Perfect. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I felt like a failure somehow. Millions of women work and raise kids. I’m defective or something.”
He chuckled. “You’re not defective. Everybody’s different. No one will fault you for raising our daughter.” He kissed her lips this time, nibbling a path to her ear. When he whispered against the sensitive globe, she shuddered. “I’m so relieved. I thought you were pulling away from me.”
“Never.”
“I love you. I love Liza too.”
“I know,” she told his shoulder. “I love you too.”
He pulled back. “Then it’s settled. We’re moving to Atlanta.”
“Yep.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Now, I figure we have about fifteen minutes before that hellion starts screaming again. Mind if we spend it making out?”
“Actually, I’m officially back in business. I’d rather we spent it making love.”
He groaned. “Even better. Even better, baby.”
Thank you to everyone for picking up this fourth book in the Sleeper SEALs series. This multi-author branded series includes twelve standalone books by some of your favorite romantic suspense authors. These stories can be read in any order. You can check out the rest of the books in the series on our website: www.SleeperSEALs.com/series-books or click the links below.
Susan Stoker – PROTECTING DAKOTA – 9/5/17
Becky McGraw – SLOW RIDE – 9/26/17
Dale Mayer – MICHAELS’ MERCY – 10/3/17
Becca Jameson – SAVING ZOLA – 10/17/17
Sharon Hamilton – BACHELOR SEAL – 10/31/17
Elle James – MONTANA RESCUE – 11/14/17
Maryann Jordan – THIN ICE – 11/28/17
Donna Michaels – GRINCH REAPER – 12/12/17
Lori Ryan – ALL IN – 1/9/18
Geri Foster – BROKEN SEAL – 1/23/18
Elaine Levine – FREEDOM CODE – 2/6/18
J.M. Madden – FLAT LINE – 2/20/18
AUTHOR’S NOTE
If you’re curious about Mike Dorsen’s life before this series, check out The Underground series.
Force (The Underground, Book 1)
The first book in my new series, Club Zodiac, releases January 23, 2018.
Training Sasha (Club Zodiac, Book 1)
If you’re interested in trying out one of my paranormal stories, I have recently released a new series called Arcadian Bears. This series is a spin-off from my most popular series, Wolf Masters.
Grizzly Mountain (Arcadian Bears, Book 1)
BOOKS BY BECCA JAMESON
Wolf Masters Series
Kara’s Wolves
Lindsey’s Wolves
Jessica’s Wolves
Alyssa’s Wolves
Tessa’s Wolf
Rebecca’s Wolves
Melinda’s Wolves
Laurie’s Wolves
Amanda’s Wolves
Sharon’s Wolves
Arcadian Bears Series
Grizzly Mountain
Grizzly Beginning
Grizzly Secret
Grizzly Promise
The Fight Club Series
Come
Perv
Need
Hers
Want
Lust
The Underground Series
Force
Clinch
Guard
Submit
Thrust
Torque
Saving Sofia
Sleeper SEALs Series
Saving Zola
Club Zodiac Series
Training Sasha
Spring Training Series
Catching Zia
Catching Lily
Catching Ava
Claiming Her Series
The Rules
The Game
The Prize
Emergence Series
Bound to be Taken
Bound to be Tamed
Bound to be Tested
Bound to be Tempted
Durham Wolves Series
Rescue in the Smokies
Fire in the Smokies
Freedom in the Smokies
Wolf Gatherings Series
Tarnished
Dominated
Completed
Redeemed
Abandoned
Betrayed
Stand Alone Books
Blind with Love
Guarding the Truth
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Out of the Smoke
Abducting His Mate
Three’s a Cruise
Wolf Trinity
Frostbitten
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Becca Jameson is the best-selling author of the Wolf Masters series and The Fight Club series. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two kids. With over 60 books written, she has dabbled in a variety of genres, ranging from paranormal to sports to military to BDSM. When she isn’t writing, she can be found jogging with her dog, scrapbooking, or cooking. She doesn’t sleep much, and she loves to talk to fans, so feel free to contact her through e-mail, Facebook, or her website.
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