Slade locked eyes with her and suddenly she knew everything was going to be okay. “I’m thinking you and Jason are going to be the cure to whatever you think ails me. Now will you let me finish trying to tell you that I’m nuts over you. As in crazy in love—emphasis probably on the crazy. Don’t start with the ‘it’s too fast,’ or ‘we barely know each other.’ I think we had each other’s measure in about five minutes, and the knowing stuff—I’m pretty sure if this hits you like a jet on takeoff, it’s not going away and it’s not something you ignore. Now, if you leave, I will track you down. I’m not losing Jason twice. I won’t drag you back, not ever. But I will do everything I can to make you want to come back and I promise I’ll do that every time.”
Bethany’s lips twitched. “Way to sweet talk a girl, Slade. But I think I might be able to work with that.”
Slade straightened. “So you’ll move down to San Diego? Move in with me? Marry me?”
Bethany blinked. “You ex-SEAL’s sure don’t waste time.”
“Oh, come on; we both know where this is heading. We also know that Jason needs parents—”
“You’re marrying me to give him—”
Leaning over, he kissed her. When he leaned back, she caught a breath. He smiled. “That’s why I’m asking you to marry me. I never figured I’d find you.”
“Me?” she asked, still breathless from the kiss.
“You. The girl who’d drive me crazy, the woman who I couldn’t walk away from, the one who’d end up making me want to wake up with you in my arms every damn day. Marry me, Bethany. Or don’t. It’s your choice. I won’t take that from you. But I swear I will ask you every day until you say yes. I will want you, every night, to be in my bed.”
She shook her head, but she reached out and slipped her ha
nd into his. “This is not going to be easy.”
Slade grinned. “Yeah, but you know it’s going to be fun.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “Now, come on, you need to meet some of the family. Carlos and Maria are setting up a beach party for us in a little cove near my place. And Jason needs to learn that not all beaches are like they are in Oregon—rocky and colder than a Norse hell.”
Chapter 15
Slade watched Bethany hold Carlos’ baby. She’d fallen head over heels in love with the little charmer at first sight, and now he was thinking of all kinds of possibilities: Bethany holding Jason as an infant. Bethany hold her own baby. Bethany holding their baby.
“That kid is amazing.” Travis held out a bottle of water.
Slade blinked and glanced at where Trent was teaching Jason to stand up on a surfboard. “Yeah, he’s good.”
“So, you’re not angry with Tayra for not telling you?”
Slade glanced at Trent. “Not telling me what?”
Trent rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. One look at the two of you—just about anyone can see he’s your kid. But Brock won’t see it. Guy’s blind when it comes to some things.”
Slade downed half the bottle of water. “She thought she was doing the right thing. But she’s gone.” He glanced at Trent again. “You working on getting Bethany to spill about the new program she’s designing?”
Trent grinned. “Yeah. It’s cool. We could use tech like that. Did you know she thinks she can hack the computer of that front organization we’ve been trying to get into? When’s she coming on board with the team?”
“I’m working on it.”
“Lot of negotiation pending? Sounds like that damn girl from GOTE.”
Slade shifted into work mode. “You find out who’s financing Guardians of the Earth?”
“Dude, I’m just an idiot surfer.” Trent spread his hands and put on his best dumb face. He was good at getting people to see what he wanted them to see.
Bethany gave up the baby and headed for where Jason was lounging in a folding chair. The boy was yawning and looked about two minutes away from sleep if you went by the heavy eyes. Surfing lessons had worn him out. Slade gave a nod to Trent and moved to intercept Bethany. “Looks like someone is ready to call it a night,” he said.
She hid a yawn of her own behind a hand. “Would it be rude if we headed back to the B&B?”
“We’re spending the night at my place. It’s just a mile up the road. Travis already moved our stuff. Come on. I’ll take Jason.” Slade didn’t wait for a response; he bent over and lifted up Jason with one arm wrapped around him. “Hey, kiddo. Time to move.”
Jason blinked, tried to find his feet, and settled for wrapping an arm around Slade and letting Slade half carry him. “Hey, you gonna be my dad now?”
Slade lifted an eyebrow. They hadn’t said much to Jason, but the kid was bright and he had eyes in his head. It wasn’t surprising that he’d put two and two together. Slade was going to see about getting him into a good school this fall—another battle he’d have with Bethany. He grinned. He expected there’d be lots of them, which meant plenty of chances for make-up sex, too. “Maybe,” he said.