The SEAL’s Beautiful Nanny (The Admiral’s SEALs Book 2) Read online

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  About Leslie

  Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.

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  BLURB

  After a mission where he exposed one of his team members as a traitor, Navy SEAL Alex Vale just wants to be alone to process what went wrong. But when he gets home, he’s anything but alone. His ex-girlfriend, Soledad Hayes, is in his house and… surprise! She’s in labor. With his child. Alex would never abandon his child the way his own mother did, so he vows to be there for his son, Luke. If that means inviting Soledad and the baby to live with him until she can afford a place of her own, then so be it. He couldn’t risk giving Soledad his heart, but he still cares for her. But soon after Soledad and Luke come home, Alex learns the SEAL he called out is set on revenge. The safest place for Soledad and Luke is far from him—even if she’ll never forgive him for pushing her away again.

  Soledad grew up being taught that the Hayes women were cursed when it comes to men, and she’s no different. Falling for Alex was such a mistake. Even worse, she can’t stop thinking about the three of them as a real family, wondering what it would be like if Alex stayed around long-term. After all, it was his refusal to commit that caused their break-up in the first place. Alex might make her blood run hot and her heart sing, but she’s convinced he’ll also leave her. Soledad still loves him, but that doesn’t mean he loves her enough to stay. Even though she’d hoped—foolishly—that this time would be different, that the curse would be broken.

  When Alex is faced with his worst fears, it will take some doing… but maybe he can finally reverse the Hayes curse, overcome his own demons, and win Soledad’s heart forever.

  Grab your copy of The SEAL’s Pregnant Ex

  Available May 7th, 2020

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  EXCERPT

  Chapter One

  Alex thanked the ride-share driver, shouldered his duffel bag, and dug his house keys from the pocket of his BDUs. God, he was glad to be home. As he stood in front of his townhouse, he tried to let the tension roll off him. It wouldn’t go. He needed solitude and time to recover from his last mission, the worst of his career—and not for any of the usual reasons.

  He headed for the door, pausing to listen when he heard a dog barking. Maybe one of his neighbors had gotten a dog while he’d been gone, or maybe he had new neighbors. He’d have to check that out—it was always smart to be aware of one’s surroundings—but that could wait for a bit. After eight long months in Afghanistan, he could at least take the rest of the day off before rechecking the surrounding area.

  He shrugged off the barking and put his key in the lock, ready to get started on the R & R he’d promised himself, which would include some decision-making about his future.

  He shoved the door open and instantly sensed that something was off. He let the duffel drop to the floor as he scanned his surroundings. A woman’s purse hung from a hook near the door. There was something very familiar about the distinctive bag, navy blue with a small hot-air balloon embroidered on the flap. Soledad. He’d last seen it slung over her shoulder the day they broke up, before he left for his mission.

  A book on a side table caught his attention next. What to Expect When You’re—What the hell?

  Despite his reeling mind, his body reacted to the flash of movement to his right. With an iron grip he seized an arm, stopping its progress before it slammed something down on his head.

  “Soledad?” he asked.

  “Alex?” she whispered.

  They’d spoken at the same time, eyes locked. Hers were deep brown with gold flecks. They were what had attracted him to her in the first place. She’d held him mesmerized when he’d been buying a new pair of jeans at the department store where she worked. She’d waited on him, flirting a bit, and he’d asked her out before his credit card even processed.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded breathlessly, lowering her arm and the weapon, which he now saw was a ceramic pot containing an Easter cactus.

  “It’s my house,” he said, controlling his tone. “What are you doing here?” Before she could answer, his gaze slid from her face down her long neck to her breasts. How had he forgotten their fullness? Forgotten the valley between them and how he liked to…

  A wave of lust rolled through him as he remembered the last time they’d made love, just up those stairs in his bedroom. It had been bittersweet, both of them knowing the relationship was ending. The following morning she’d been gone from his life. But they’d been good together while it lasted, which had been way longer than any of his previous entanglements.

  Maybe she’d agree to some “nice to see you again” sex. Nothing serious. He’d never wanted that, which is what had split them apart. But a hot fling might take his mind off his troubles.

  Her eyes widened, and her face flushed. Was she reading his mind?

  “Oh,” Soledad grunted, doubling over, her hands going to her stomach.

  “Jesus,” he muttered, his eyes now glued to the large bump under her shirt. His lust disappeared. There was only one reason for that kind of belly on a woman who’d had the body of an athlete just months ago. His thoughts leaped back to the title of the book on the side table, the words processing in his head. What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

  “Are you pregnant?” He got the question out despite the rushing noise in his head. Pregnant. Soledad was pregnant and living in his house. What the hell?

  “No,” she gasped, still bent over. “I just swallowed… a basketball whole. Look at me. Of course I’m pregnant.”

  Okay. Now what did he do? He was a decorated and highly trained SEAL. He could handle a pregnant woman, right? Because she seemed to need something. This couldn’t be normal behavior. He shoved aside the million questions in his brain and took her arm.

  “You should sit down,” he said, trying to lead her toward the couch.

  “No. Can’t.” She didn’t budge, shaking off his hand on her arm. “I think… oh, my gosh.” They both looked down to see fluid run down her legs from under her shorts.

  “Shit,” he said, temporarily stunned into inaction.

  “My water broke,” she said as streams of liquid reached her knees.

  Yeah, he’d figured that out. He shook himself, jarring his mind to think and body to act. What was a rational question at that moment? Intel. He needed intel. “When are you due?”

  “Last week. I’m overdue by eight days,” she explained, straightening a little and sounding far calmer than he felt. “You startled me. Maybe that spurred labor on. I don’t know, but I think this baby is coming. Now.”

  “Don’t move,” he commanded, leaving her in the entryway and heading for the kitchen, where he always left the keys to his truck on a hook when he deployed. He hoped like hell there was enough gas in the tank to get to the hospital—and that the battery wasn’t dead.

  “Whoa, who are you?” Alex asked a knee-high brown-and-black dog that tucked its tail between its legs and backed away from him with a sharp bark.

  “That’s Frankie,” Soledad called. “Come here, girl.”

  He snagged the keys and returned to Soledad, who leaned over as best she could to stroke the dog’s ears.

  “She’s yours?” he questioned, eyeing the animal. Soledad hadn’t had a pet while they’d dated.

  “Yep. Frankie, meet Alex. Alex, this is Frankie.” Soledad spoke as though this was just a meet and greet and she wasn’t about to have a baby in the entry of his townhouse.

  “Later,” Alex said. “We need to get you to the hospital. Do you have a ba
g packed?” Isn’t that what women did to prepare for the birth? It seemed logical.

  “In the hall closet,” she said, holding on to her stomach again. “Light blue. On the floor.”

  He went to the closet and retrieved a Nike athletic bag. Frankie followed his every move, pushing her nose against his leg, and Alex realized she posed a problem that had to be solved in the next two minutes. “Can we leave Frankie alone? Is she trained?”

  “I already arranged for Gina to watch her when the baby came. Just go knock on her door.” Soledad reached for the bag, but he swung it over his shoulder.

  “Who’s Gina?” he asked.

  “Your neighbor,” Soledad said, shooting him a quizzical look. “Don’t you know her?”

  He shrugged. “Never bothered much with the neighbors.” As long as they weren’t a threat, they were irrelevant. “Which side?” He needed to meet his neighbor and dump the dog on her pronto if he was reading this situation correctly.

  “I’ve got it.” Soledad pulled out her phone and dialed. “Hi, Gina. My water broke, so I’m going to the hospital. Can you come get Frankie?”

  Soledad listened for a few seconds before speaking again. “No, I’m fine. Alex just arrived home, so he’ll take me. I appreciate it.” She clicked off and turned to him.

  For a brief moment he wondered if he’d suffered some sort of memory loss. Had he known about all this? The pregnancy? The dog? Had his and Soledad’s relationship ended differently than he remembered? Had he somehow suppressed vital information about them during his last mission?

  “Oh, God. Another one.” Soledad doubled over with a contraction, bringing Alex’s thoughts back to the immediate issue.

  “Hospital. Now.” He took her arm when she was able to stand up, calculating that he had a few minutes to get her in the truck before another contraction hit her. An older woman he supposed was Gina was striding across the lawn toward them when he got Soledad outside. “Dog’s in the house.”

  “I’ll get her and lock up. Good luck, sweetie,” Gina said to Soledad.

  Alex didn’t take time for the niceties. He could formally meet and thank his neighbor later. He keyed in the code for the garage door and got Soledad into the truck, reaching around to buckle her in before going to the driver’s side.

  Thankfully, the truck started right up. As he backed out of the driveway and planned the fastest route to the hospital, his mind spun with another concern. The one he hadn’t let himself fully acknowledge until then. Was this baby his child? He did some quick math. Highly likely, he decided, considering he and Soledad had dated exclusively for several months prior to his last deployment.

  Later he’d ask the questions and figure it out. For now, he sped toward the hospital, hoping for light traffic and a string of green lights. Soledad made a call to her obstetrician’s office to let them know she was in labor. Other than that, she said nothing on the drive, but he could hear her trying to manage the pain by breathing through the contractions. She was making the sounds he associated with birth scenes in movies, but this wasn’t a movie. This appeared to be his life.

  With the ruthless concentration he’d learned as a SEAL, he controlled his emotions and focused on the task at hand. After the ten-minute drive, he whipped into the driveway of the red brick structure and pulled up to the emergency room entrance. An orderly came out with a wheelchair for Soledad. By the time Alex parked and jogged in, she was at a reception window. Her face was covered with a sheen of sweat as she huffed out rapid breaths, but she was safely at the hospital. His job, at least for now, was done.

  He glanced toward the waiting room, expecting to remain there, but the nurse talking to Soledad waved him over and soon let him know that she had a different idea.

  “That’s right. Just breathe. You’re doing great.” The steely-haired woman with a name tag that read “Marge” turned to him. “I have a few questions. What was she dilated to at her last appointment, and when was that?”

  Alex stared at the woman, wishing he knew the answers, but this was a language he didn’t speak.

  “Three,” Soledad grunted, “and it was on Tuesday.”

  “History of high blood pressure?”

  “No,” Soledad said.

  “Complications with the pregnancy?” Marge asked, checking off boxes on a clipboard.

  What was it with the questions, he wanted to demand. Just take her to a room before she had the baby right there.

  “No. Totally normal.”

  “We’ll get you upstairs right away. Dr. Shaffer called to say he was on the way. You come up with us.” Marge assessed his uniform. “Looks like you just made it. You’re the father, I assume.”

  Huh? What could he answer? Maybe? I don’t know? Christ, he hated being out of the loop and out of his comfort zone. Everything about this situation made him feel lost, but he had to respond.

  “He is.” Soledad spoke before he could and held out her hand to him.

  He didn’t hesitate to take it. As he gripped her fingers like a lifeline, everything else drained away for a moment. He was going to be a father. Today. Something he never expected to be, something he was scared shitless of being.

  What the hell did he know about being a dad? His own had been no example.

  Soledad gave him a tiny smile, and he put away the worry, replacing it with determination. Whatever happened, he’d be there for his kid and Soledad.

  Grab your copy of The SEAL’s Pregnant Ex

  Available May 7th, 2020

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  BLURB

  When former-SEAL Camden Thursday enters the garage at two in the morning, he’s intent on grand theft auto. Instead he’s confronted with more than a hot car—there’s a sexy mechanic too. His high school crush, wrench in hand, projects a “Dangerous Curves Ahead” warning far more tempting than any joy ride, but Camden isn’t here to try the road less traveled. He’s here to jack a car and prove he can do more than manipulate computer code for the black ops service he works for: Norse Security. So while Camden is looking to get physical on this job, he was hoping for someone to punch, not someone to plunder...

  Everly Knight is the baddest bad girl in town. As the daughter of a mobster and a name in the auto industry for hot cars, she could rest on her laurels and let her reputation proceed her. However, Everly has a deep dark secret: she wants nothing more than a shiny, new, legal garage all of her own. She’s just a few thousand away from cashing in and figures that one last illegal car theft could finance her legal dreams. That is until the geek from her past shows up as a hunky hero; letting Everly see that it’s possible to become more than just a tough girl.

  Camden may be all muscle, but it’s Everly who can stall the entire operation. She holds him hostage and offers an ultimatum: Take her on the ride or find himself a sitting duck for the mob. It’s not a hard choice when the bombshell revs his engine. But with warring goals and secret missions, they’ll find themselves fighting for their futures and racing toward a love they never saw coming.

  Grab your copy of Ride with the SEAL (Norse Security Series Book One) from

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  EXCERPT

  Chapter One

  Camden Thursday was over-prepared, as usual.

  Still, despite hours of memorizing code and enough binary hacks to make his eyeballs explode, nothing could have prepared him for what he was looking at now. Sure, he’d expected the tech in the Aeon Turbo G90 to be mind-blowingly impressive—given it was the most advanced vehicle on the roadways today and the federal government had the only prototype in the world. Or at least they had until the damned thing had been stolen and ended up here at Knight’s Body and Repair—quite possibly the seediest garage in Washington, D.C. What he hadn’t expected, however, was the female mechanic apparently trying to hijack the thing out from under his nose at two in the morning.

  Luckily, Cam wasn’t just a computer whiz Brainiac—as the other guys at Norse Security seemed to think. He was also a
former Navy SEAL with the brawn and physical training to handle any situation. Breaking himself out of that geek hacker box they’d put him in was the main reason why he was here. Well, that and this was his first mission for his new employer, a chance to prove to himself and the other guys he was just as GI Joe as the rest of them, that he was more than the resident “tech guy” on their team, more than a brain on legs.

  Silently, he waited until the woman was busy fiddling with something under the vehicle’s hood, then crept over to grab her from behind in a bear hold, preventing her from using that nasty looking wrench in her hand on his skull.

  “What the hell?” she gasped, struggling to escape from his hold. “Let me go!”

  He managed to corral her kicking legs between his own muscled thighs and pinned her against the car, holding both the woman’s wrists behind her back in one hand while reaching for her utility light with the other. Cam aimed the light at her face to see her better and—

  Oh crap!

  Of all the people to run into tonight, it would have to be his high school crush.

  Everly Knight still looked as beautiful as he remembered—all long, thick dark hair and big, brown doe eyes. She seemed to recognize him too, if her disdainful once-over was any indication. That surprised Cam, since he looked a lot different than he had twelve years ago. Adding one hundred pounds of new muscle would do that to a guy.

  “Well, if it isn’t Geek Squad. All grown up and looking for trouble,” she said, her gaze narrowing. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “The name’s Camden. Camden Thursday.” He stared down at her, noticing a slight bump on the bridge of her nose that hadn’t been there before, like maybe she’d been in a fight or broken it. He frowned. “And I can ask you the same thing. This doesn’t belong to you.”