Ranger's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 2)

“Noooo,” I said pretending offense.

“Mmhmm,” she said back into the phone.

“What are you doing anyway? I would hate to pry you away from your jams, or bees, or whatever.”

“Too early for jams or honey. If you must know, I just put some soap in the mold. Lemon Lavender.”

“My favorite,” I replied.

In fact, I would say half my apartment was outfitted from her little shop. From our lotions and shampoos to half my pantry of jams and jellies and the like, it all came from her small farm.

“You wanna tell me what’s on your mind?” She prodded.

"Ugh, I don’t even know where I should begin,” I said taking a swig of wine.

“How bout you tell me how little Em is doing? Didn’t you text that you were taking her to the doctor this morning?”

"I did,” I said wondering how even to form the words. “She is good. Just a bad cold I guess.”

“And how is the good old doctor, Papa Smith?”

Savannah was the only one I told the identity of Emma’s father too. So naturally, she had taken a liking to calling Dr. Smith, Papa. Of course, this was only between her and me.

“He didn’t see us today. It was actually a different Dr. Smith.”

“I don’t follow? I get that Smith is a common name but how many could there possibly be in Sweet Haven, Georgia?”

"Just two. The one we normally see, and his son.”

“Hawk? Are you saying it was Hawk?”

“Yep. I guess Hawk is back in town.”

“Did he tell you? Did he say anything to you?”

“The man didn’t say two words to me before he up and left why would it be any different when he came home.”

“Well, what did you do. Did you tell him?”

“No!” I said filling with indignation again. “I tried to get in and out of there as quick as I could.”

“So do you think he figured it out?”

“I was really hoping he wouldn’t, but apparently he did because I barely walked through the door before he showed up demanding the truth.”

“And you told him, right?”

“I tried not to. If you ask me, Hawk doesn’t deserve to know the truth. It’s what he gets for leaving.”

“I know, Julie. But that is his daughter.”

“You know, he said the same thing,” I said setting down my wine glass.

“But really he isn’t. He wasn’t there when she was born. He didn’t wipe any butts. What right does he have to call Em his daughter when up until this morning he didn’t even care to know she existed?”

“Hey, I hear you. I think Hawk is just as much of an ass for up and leaving. That being said, you can’t really fault him for not knowing about Emma since you ne

ver tried to tell him.”