A Navy SEAL's Surprise Baby by Laura Marie Altom Page B

face with his hands. “Sorry. That sounded like I think you’re eighty. Obviously, you’re not.” Her black yoga pants and pink T-shirt hugged her in all the right places—even her crooked ponytail enhanced her pretty glow.
    “I hope not.” Laughing again, she glanced down shyly before pushing up her glasses. “At eighty, I’m not sure I’ll have the energy needed to chase after your son.”
    “Okay, well, whatever your age, I very much appreciate all you’ve been doing—not only for Quinn, but me. You’re an angel.”
    She turned from him to place the folded clothes into a basket. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
    *
    S ATURDAY MORNING , Calder bumped into Pandora on her way out of her bedroom. “You smell good.” The second the words left his mouth, he kicked himself for yet again having nothing smoother to say. The more he was around Pandora, the more he sounded like a mooning fourth grader. Now that the weekend had arrived and Pandora was obviously dolling herself up for someone, he was merely taking a healthy interest in her day’s plans. Any good friend would, right? Only, were they even friends? To cover his confusion, he blurted, “Seeing someone special?”
    Quinn sat in his walker, grinning and drooling while pressing a squeaky frog head. “Rah gaa!”
    “Very . ” Was it his imagination, or had her green eyes grown brighter from the size of her smile?
    Mom? Favorite uncle? Grandmother? Boyfriend? So what if she did have a boyfriend? In the week she’d worked for Calder, she’d proved herself to be not only an excellent caregiver for Quinn but a great housekeeper and cook. Calder had no complaints. He’d never even caught her on the phone. Which meant if she did have a boyfriend, they couldn’t be all that serious, right?
    Squeak, squeak, squeak.
    Calder frowned. Even in his own head, he sounded crazy. “When will you be home? Not that this is your home, but it kind of is—well, you know what I mean.” Since she’d started caring for Quinn, Calder had backed way off from his own parenting duties. Aside from changing the occasional diaper or playing with his son, he really didn’t have all that much to do with the boy. Probably not a good thing, but it was what it was.
    Though in his own defense, Calder had taken Quinn back to the park all on his own—twice. He’d even wrangled the kid into the safety seat. Maybe he’d go again today.
    “I shouldn’t be later than four. Is that all right?”
    “Sure.” It was already ten. How hot of a date could she have with that little time? He was more relieved than he should be that she hadn’t asked for even more time off—like overnight!
    “Thanks.” She knelt to kiss the top of Quinn’s head. “I’ll miss you, sweetie.”
    What about me?
    *
    “W HAT DO YOU THINK she’s doing?” Calder’s SEAL pal Cooper dragged his chip through store-bought guacamole.
    On the apartment’s big-screen TV, Florida pummeled Georgia.
    “Beats me.” Before Quinn, Calder had also shared the apartment with Cooper, Mason and Heath. He’d been in his house a month, but he’d lived here with his friends for over three years, meaning this place felt more like home.
    “If she is on a date, the guy didn’t put much thought into it,” Cooper said.
    “That’s good, right?”
    His friend shot him a dirty look. “Maybe for you, but not her. This woman is caring for your kid. The key to you and Quinn being happy is keeping her happy.”
    “Good point.” What Calder didn’t understand was why Pandora’s pretty smile and green eyes refused to leave his head.
    He grabbed another chip and ran it through the guac. Now that he thought about it, Pandora’s eyes were a unique, avocado green. He’d always liked avocados.
    Quinn fussed in his carrier seat.
    Calder offered him a bottle, but that didn’t help. His diaper was dry and the kid pitched the pacifier Calder offered. “What do you think he wants?”
    “Pick him up.” Cooper shoved several chips into