Nashville SEAL: SEAL Brotherhood: Nashville SEALs by Sharon Hamilton Page A

that you have to take a drink before you can talk or anything? Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” She kicked off her shoes, which made him feel a little bit better.
    “Come, sit. Here.” She patted the bed next to her.
    He took a seat in the reading chair several feet away from her, and waited. He wasn’t sure he was going to like what was coming next.
    “Jameson, you obviously don’t remember me.”
    Jameson’s full attention was on the little lady now. “I’m sorry, but, no, I—”
    “I know. Too many women, too many shows, and too many towns. How could you keep them all straight?”
    “I think I’d remember you. So what you’re saying is that you and I—”
    “Yes. Several times. At my parent’s ranch, too, in North Carolina.”
    The fog began to clear. “That was a long time—” He stopped and tried to remember her, and did. But, she was a blonde then. And yes, she was the one from Charlotte. “Lizzie?”
    She nodded, examining her fingers entwined in her lap. She wasn’t smiling when she looked up at him. “Good. I’m glad at least you remember.”
    “Of course I remember. One of the best weeks of my life. Your dad and mom were so nice to me.”
    She examined her hands again. “Both gone now, sorry to say.”
    He came over to her and kneeled in front, placing his hands on her upper arms and rubbed her gently. “I’m so sorry, honey. It’s the red hair. I never would have recognized you if you hadn’t told me.”
    He took her hands in his and pulled her fingers to his mouth, kissing them. She eyed him carefully as if thinking about bolting. He dropped her hands, but stayed kneeling in front of her.
    “How’ve you been, honey?”
    “I’ve been well. My folks passing has left me enough to have a little house in the country. I sold the horse ranch.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Well, I’m not. I mean, it reminded me too much of them. I just couldn’t keep it.”
    “I’m so glad you looked me up. I always wondered whatever happened to you. Thought maybe I’d see you sometime on the road.”
    “No, Jameson. I don’t do that. I’m not into taking numbers and waiting in line, even though it’s feeling a little like that now.”
    “Wait a minute, honey, I asked you here tonight, remember?”
    “Well, maybe you’re gonna reconsider this after what I have to tell you. I just wanted a quiet place to be able to have this conversation.”
    “What is it, honey?” His hand lay on top of hers still folded in her lap. His thumb rubbed her forefinger. Then he brought her palm up to his lips and kissed her tenderly again her familiar soft scent opening up something he’d buried.
    “You have a daughter, Jameson.”
    He stood, the shock of it sending him reeling.
    “How is that possible?”
    She angled her head and squinted, staring up at him. “Really? You don’t understand how it works?”
    “Well, I thought we—” He began to pace, rubbing the back of his neck. The room seemed extra warm, and he could smell faint traces of cigarette smoke that weren’t supposed to be in a non-smoking room. When he didn’t wake up from his dream, he stopped in front of her. “How old is she?”
    “She’s three. She was conceived that week we were at the ranch, I’m pretty sure.” At last a smile formed on her pretty face. “She’s lovely, Jameson. She looks just like you. She has your eyes.”
    “Why didn’t you come find me?”
    “I’m just doing good being here now, talking to you. I was prepared to spend the rest of my life and never tell you.”
    “Why?”
    “Oh, I guess I didn’t want to know that you might not be happy about it. I still don’t know how you feel about it. I’m not asking for anything. I just wanted you to know. I’m not asking you to marry me or meet her, or take any responsibility for her. My life has been fine as a single mother, and having her has been the greatest joy of my life, honest. It’s all good.”
    “I wish you had told me. It