Shadow Pawn, page 19
“Yeah. I’ll never underestimate anyone based on appearances ever again after meeting her.” He leaned low, coming in for another kiss when Jayden’s cry had Adam’s head coming up. He pressed his lips together. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back.”
He hopped off the bed and strode out of the room, calling to Jayden as he walked, “Hang on, baby girl. I’m coming.”
She smiled. She’d never underestimate anyone ever again after meeting Adam.
And boy was she glad she had met him. Even if she had to be kidnapped to do it.
EPILOGUE
“Do you have the diaper bag?” Angela asked.
“Yes.” Adam adjusted the strap of the bag hanging from his shoulder.
“Bottles?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered indulgently.
“Gun and extra ammo?”
His eyes came up as he drew his head back and frowned at her.
Angela smiled. “Just making sure you were listening and weren’t just yessing me.”
“I would never just yes you.”
Even six months after almost losing her, he was still hypervigilant when it came to Angela.
He’d never ignore her. And it was impossible for him to tune her out, even when he needed to concentrate and he wished he could. She was under his skin and he didn’t think that was ever going to change.
“Did you grab the cell phone charger?” he asked.
“Yes. Did you remember to fill up the car with gas?”
“Yes.”
Going on a weekend trip with a baby was as much work and required as much stuff as deploying a platoon.
But that she had taken off two whole days from work so they could leave Thursday morning instead of waiting until the weekend was huge and he wasn’t going to discourage her from doing it again.
She still worked way too hard, even after cutting down on her hours considerably. At least, she had cut back according to Fern who was still his first and best source of information when it came to Angela.
Still, it would be so much easier to stay home and pretend they were away so everyone would leave them alone. There was something to that whole staycation philosophy.
But Angela had promised her parents a weekend with their grandchild. And—this was the part that had his pulse pounding—an introduction to her boyfriend. Him.
Then there was that ring box zipped into the pocket of his bag and his plan to pull Angela’s father aside for a talk and the big question. He’d faced scarier situations than this one, though right now he couldn’t think of one.
The cell in his pocket vibrated. When he pulled it out and got a look at the display, he froze.
Unknown caller.
It could be a solicitor, but he knew in his gut it wasn’t.
It had been six months since he’d gotten a call from Charley. Not since that day in the hospital.
He supposed he was due for one.
Swiping the screen, he connected and said, “Hello?”
“Hello, Adam. How are you?”
“Charley. I’m well. Though I’m sure you knew that.”
“I have a proposition for you.”
“No, thank you. I’ve, uh, got a full-time position.”
“Working for Miss Lewis. Yes, I know. But this would be a short assignment. Two days at most. You could knock it out over a weekend and get back to your job without anyone ever missing you.”
Unless her job got him killed or stranded in another country. Both of which were very possible, knowing Charley.
“I’m sorry. I’m going to have to pass. I’m sure you have other qualified individuals.”
“Of course. Many. But I like you, Adam.”
He laughed. “I’m flattered. It’s still a no.”
“This time… Drive safely on your trip, Adam. You’ll have precious cargo in the car.”
The line went dead as a chill chased up his spine at Charley’s creepy, all-knowing platitude that could just as easily be a threat as a genuine wish for his safety.
Charley was enough to make him want to get rid of his cell phone. And yet, he’d answered her call and would continue to do so. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Until he knew which one Charley was, he’d do just that.
“Ready?” Angela appeared next to him, holding Jayden in her carrier in one hand while rubbing her swollen belly with the other.
He leaned down and kissed her before grabbing the handle of the baby carrier.
“Never been more ready.” Ready to get out of town and to move on with his life—with Angela. And Jayden. And the baby the woman he loved was carrying.
His baby.
Turns out the withdrawal method of birth control wasn’t all that effective.
Try as he might, he couldn’t feel too bad it had failed. Neither did Angela, as she glowed with motherhood and happiness.
“My parents are going to love you,” she said as she smiled and his heart clenched with love.
He reached out and laid his palm over her belly.
“And I love you.” He would until the day he died.
And with the way he had Angela and the house and everyone living in it protected with state of the art technology, they were all going to live a long, long time.
Want to read another hot action and suspense-filled romance? Don’t miss Home Front. When an injury sidelines Navy SEAL Kyle Jones, he finds playing bodyguard to a sexy mega-star singer might be his toughest challenge yet.
Get Home Front
And check out the Hot SEALs series of standalones, which begins with Adam’s old SEAL buddy Jon Rudnick’s story in Night with a SEAL and continues with stories for each of his teammates.
"after reading this book I'm ready to read everything else she's ever written" Shameless Book Club
“her military men are Alpha with a capital A!" Guilty Indulgence
“We are hooked!!” Toni Trucks, star of CBS’s SEAL Team
Get Night with a SEAL
Lastly, did you know there are more Shadow SEALs stories written by some of your favorite romantic suspense authors that feature Charley and her mysterious organization as they recruit more unsuspecting SEAL heroes? All stories stand alone and can be read in any order. Titles, authors and links are below.
Cat Johnson Shadow Pawn
Elle James Shadow Assassin
Becca Jameson Shadow in the Desert
KaLyn Cooper Shadow in the Mountain
Donna Michaels Shadow of a Chance
J.M. Madden Shadow of the Moon
Sharon Hamilton Shadow of the Heart
Desiree Holt Shadow Defender
Elaine Levine Not My Shadow
Abbie Zanders Cast in Shadow
Shadow SEALs Facebook Reader Group
Shadow SEALs on Goodreads
ALSO BY CAT JOHNSON
Find the most complete, up-to-date eBook, paperback & audio list at CatJohnson.net/books
Want more sexy military heroes & Navy SEALs?
Hot SEAL, Dirty Martini -Clay
"adorably hilarious love story!"
"Hot damn, this story is HOT HOT HOT"
"Dirty, sexy and fun"
A Navy SEAL who wants seclusion. A diva who craves the spotlight. The deal they make could give them both what they need...if they don't kill each other first!
Hot SEAL, Tijuana Nights -Zach
“sexual tension out the wazoo!”
Navy SEAL Zach survived Houthi rebels, but he might not survive his sister’s best friend.
Hot SEAL, Runaway Bride -Nick
"deliciously page-turning"
Friends? No. Enemies? Maybe. Lovers? Never!
Hot SEAL, Heartbreaker -Brian
“adorable & funny Navy-SEAL-fake-date-love story!”
When one Navy SEAL heartbreaker gets a dose of his own medicine, he realizes love isn't the enemy, but he has to convince the commitment-adverse woman he's fallen for of the same thing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The recipient of a Publishers Weekly starred review, Cat Johnson is a top 10 New York Times bestseller and a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance that usually features hot alpha heroes (who often wear combat or cowboy boots) and the sassy heroines brave enough to love them.
Known for her unique marketing, she has sponsored pro bull riders, owns a collection of cowboy boots for book signings, and has used bologna to promote romance novels.
Join the mailing list at CatJohnson.net/news for subscriber exclusives, deal news and new release alerts.
SHADOW PAWN (SHADOW SEALS)
Copyright 2021 Cat Johnson
All Rights Reserved.
CatJohnson.net
Also by Cat Johnson
For Hire
Hot Chick for Hire
Spy For Hire
Billionaire for Hire
Hot For Hire
Hot Hero For Hire
Hot SEALs
Night with a SEAL
Saved by a SEAL
SEALed at Midnight
Kissed by a SEAL
Protected by a SEAL
Loved by a SEAL
Tempted by a SEAL
Wed to a SEAL
Romanced by a SEAL
Rescued by a Hot SEAL
Betting on a Hot SEAL
Escape with a Hot SEAL
Matched with a Hot SEAL
SEAL the Deal
Hot SEAL in Hollywood
Nacht mit einem SEAL
Night with a SEAL: Portuguese Edition
Saved by a SEAL: Portuguese Edition
Red Hot & Blue
A Prince Among Men
True Blue
Red Hot & Blue Collection
Red Hot & Blue
Red Blooded
A Few Good Men
BB Dalton
Model Soldier
Smalltown Heat
SEALs in Paradise
Hot SEAL, Dirty Martini
Hot SEAL, Tijuana Nights
Hot SEAL, Runaway Bride
Hot SEAL, Heartbreaker
Shadow SEALs
Shadow Pawn (Coming Soon)
Silver SEALs
SEAL Strong
Smalltown Secrets
Kissing Books
Red Hot
Zero Forks
Undercover Santa
Mister Naughty
Studs in Spurs
Unridden
Bucked
Ride
Hooked
Flanked
Thrown
Champion
Spurred
Wrecked
Studs in Spurs Complete Collection
Standalone
Cowboy Blue
Honey Buns
Watch for more at Cat Johnson’s site.
Cat Johnson, Shadow Pawn
