Hot SEAL, April's Fool by Becca Jameson (smart books to read .txt) 📗

Bill smiled. “I’ve always known that, son.”

Cole drew in a breath. “I made mistakes. A lot of them. But I promise you it won’t happen again. I’ve asked her to move to San Diego.”

Bill nodded. “Not surprised. I would be worried if you didn’t. You’ve spent enough years apart. April’s never been content. I don’t think she was able to find herself fully without you. She’s been…lost.”

Cole winced. “I’ll do everything I can to make that right.” He would. It wasn’t going to be an easy life as long as he was still with the SEALs traveling and working an odd schedule, but every moment with her would be cherished.

“I know you will, Cole.” Bill took another sip of his beer as the women came back into the room.

Cole looked up at April. She looked happy, making him wonder what she’d discussed with her mother. He wouldn’t ask though. She deserved to have someone to talk things over with. He just hoped she hadn’t used the time to decide not to join him as soon as possible. He understood the impossibility of her leaving with him tomorrow, but God he hoped she intended to fly out there within a week. Any longer would stress him out.

“Ready to go?” she asked as soon as she reached him.

“Sure.” He stood and headed for the kitchen to toss the rest of his beer before rejoining her and heading for the door.

April hugged both her parents tightly and told them she loved them. He could only hope that one day in thirty years, he would have at least a few kids who loved him and April so much that they still visited and adored their parents.

The rest of the evening was stressful. Mostly because Cole felt the clock ticking. He had fifteen more hours with April. It wasn’t enough time. On top of that, April set him in front of the television and handed him the remote before opening her computer, saying she needed to take care of a few clients.

He felt jealous of her clients while he flipped through the channels. He didn’t care what was on. He didn’t want to watch TV. The only thing he wanted to do was hold his woman and make sure she was on the same page as him. She’d indicated as much several times, but he still felt nervous.

They didn’t speak much after she shut the computer down, nor did they say many words after they moved to her bedroom. They didn’t need speech. They needed to feel.

Cole’s heart was pounding the entire time as he slowly stripped the two of them naked and then made love to her without ever losing her gaze. There was a heaviness in the air. Hope and promise in addition to uncertainty.

He wished he could stay up all night talking to her, but the stress of the last few days had worn him down, and he fell asleep almost immediately.

Cole awoke to find the space next to him empty and cold. April hadn’t been there in a while. It was early. Where was she?

He slid out of bed and padded into the kitchen where he found her surrounded by boxes and packing material. “April?”

She glanced up and smiled, brushing hair from her face.

He strolled closer to her, his heart racing. “What are you doing, ladybug?”

“Packing as much stuff as I can so my parents don’t have to deal with it.”

He stopped moving and lifted a brow, his gaze roaming around the room some more. She’d obviously been working for hours. How the hell had he slept through this? “April?” he repeated, needing to hear what he prayed she would say.

She stepped over several boxes and met him halfway into the kitchen, planting her hands on his chest when she reached him. Her head tipped back and she met his gaze. “I’m coming with you. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

He sucked in a breath and held it, hoping like hell he wasn’t misunderstanding as he reached for her waist. “You mean today? You’re coming with me today?”

“Yes. If that’s still what you want.”

Cole couldn’t catch his breath. He stared at her for several seconds before finally lifting her off the ground and spinning her in a circle. “Please tell me I’m hearing this correctly. You’re going to come home with me? Today?”

She giggled as he set her down. “Yes. It took some maneuvering, but I think I got everything worked out. I found another realtor to take all my clients. My landlord is going to let me out of the lease at the end of the month. My parents are going to wrap things up for me here. I just didn’t want to leave it so that they needed to work for days to get my shit in storage.”

He hauled her closer, never releasing her gaze. “I love you,” he murmured, barely able to speak.

“I love you too.” She leaned back. “Now that the secret is out, you think you can help me box things up?”

“I’d do anything in the world for you, ladybug.” He kissed her softly and then took a few more moments to stare at her. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t, Cole.” Her hands slid up his chest. “What do you want to do first? Eat breakfast? Pack some suitcases? Or morning sex?”

“Those are my options?” He chuckled.

“Yep.”

“I say we do all three. I’ll pick the order.”

Chapter 20

Two weeks later…

“So, let me get this straight.” Zig was grinning from ear to ear as he turned his chair to face April, trying to have a conversation with her. Unfortunately for him, Cole kept interrupting, not keen on having his teammate grill his woman over beers.

They’d met at McP’s after a long day of training, but now Cole was rethinking the idea. He should have just gone home to spend an evening with April. Bringing her out to meet all the guys perhaps wasn’t a stellar plan.

Zig continued,