The SEAL's Valentine. Laura Altom Marie
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Is He SEAL Enough For The Job?
The moment off-duty navy SEAL Tristan Bartoni meets feisty yet vulnerable Brynn Langtoine, he’s a goner. He sure didn’t have plans to be attracted to a recently widowed pregnant woman who is already mother to a troubled, grieving young son. Nope, the struggling SEAL came home to Ruin Bayou, Louisiana, to finally deal with his haunting past decisions—not to start a new relationship.
Brynn has enough problems without her hormones going crazy whenever Tristan is near. Her son, Cayden, constantly lashes out at her. Her baby will be fatherless. So...what does Tristan think he’s doing, making her life even more topsy-turvy than it already is?
But when it comes to putting her heart on the line, who could be more trustworthy than a navy SEAL?
“Hungry for more than cookies?”
Brynn asked, looking far too pretty in faded cutoffs and a pink tank that accentuated full breasts. With her hair in braids, she looked fresh from Tristan’s every naughty farm-girl fantasy.
He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I really should get going.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice raspy with what he could only guess was the same confusion dogging him. “You used to be the only person I could talk to—about anything. But ever since I had Mackenzie, you’ve been distant.”
“Sorry. Truth is, with the baby, I feel awkward being around you.”
“We can’t be friends? Because that’s all I’m asking for.”
He cocked his head. “Really?”
Everything about her from her flirty stance to her full, pouty lips to her heightened color told him she was a woman amenable to being kissed. Lord help him, but Tristan was up for the job. But Brynn was hardly the one-night-stand kind of girl he dallied with back in Virginia Beach. They knew up front he was interested only in fun and they were okay with it. He suspected Brynn, on the other hand, didn’t have a clue what she genuinely wanted—especially with regard to him....
Dear Reader,
As I’m writing this, we just celebrated Father’s Day here in the States and of all the heroes I’ve written, Tristan faces some of the toughest parenting battles.
Since Hubby had to work, we opted for a low-key lunch out at our fave Mexican restaurant. Though we didn’t do anything fancy, we still managed to at least share a meal and I got my requisite warm and fuzzies from being surrounded by most everyone I love.
Throughout this story, Tristan struggles with the fact that as a SEAL, his basic job requirement is that he isn’t always going to be home. Early in our marriage, I used to get so frustrated when Hubby had overtime. Now, I realize how blessed we are that he has a job. How fortunate I am to have a wonderful man in my life who loves me and his children enough to sacrifice much of his free time to ensure our kids and I lead comfortable lives.
Happy Father’s Day to all of the hardworking dads! Though I didn’t get to make the trip to Arkansas to see my dad this year, he’s always in my heart, and I know I’ll see him soon.
Poor Tristan, however, doesn’t know when—or if—he’ll see the son he loves again. Will Brynn and her family be enough to help him through his pain? I’m not telling....
Happy reading!
Laura Marie
The SEAL’s Valentine
Laura Marie Altom
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After college (Go, Hogs!), bestselling, award-winning author Laura Marie Altom did a brief stint as an interior designer before becoming a stay-at-home mom to boy-girl twins and a bonus son. Always an avid romance reader, she knew it was time to try her hand at writing when she found herself replotting the afternoon soaps.
When not immersed in her next story, Laura teaches art at a local middle school. In her free time, she beats her kids at video games, tackles Mount Laundry and of course reads romance!
Laura loves hearing from readers at either P.O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101, or by email, [email protected].
Love winning fun stuff? Check out www.lauramariealtom.com.
For my father, Edward Alisch, and the father of my sweet children, Terry Altom. I love you two!
Thank you for all you do!
Contents
Chapter One
Come on, baby... You can do it.
Brynn Langtoine crossed her fingers so tightly her knuckles shone white. Six-year-old Cayden had already been through so much in losing his father, he just had to make a home run for his little league tryout. Or, she prayed, for once come close to at least hitting the ball.
The metal bleachers were the only remotely cool thing on this muggy mid-April afternoon. Ruin Bayou, Louisiana, had its nicer points, but an agreeable climate wasn’t one. Fanning herself with the parent information sheet the coach’s wife had distributed to all team hopefuls, Brynn tried shifting to a more comfy position—no easy feat at eight-months pregnant.
“Relax,” her friend Vivian urged.
“Easy for you to say. Dom not only hits home runs, but sinks soccer goals