The Seal's Secret Child

The Seal's Secret Child
Elisabeth Rees

SHIELDING HIS FAMILYDefending an accused kidnapper could get attorney Josie Bishop killed—but facing the father of her child for the first time in seven years could destroy her heart. Yet when her ex-fiancé, former SEAL Edward “Blade” Harding, shows up at her door ready to offer his protection, she can’t deny him. Nor can she deny him the chance to know their son. When shots are fired at Josie’s home and a brick is thrown through her window on which a scrawled note says “Drop the case or pay the price,” Blade is more determined than ever to protect his newfound family at all costs. But can he overcome his past mistakes in order to make sure they survive their present…and possibly have a future together?Navy SEAL Defenders: Bound by honor and dedicated to protection.

SHIELDING HIS FAMILY

Defending an accused kidnapper could get attorney Josie Bishop killed—but facing the father of her child for the first time in seven years could destroy her heart. Yet when her ex-fiancé, former SEAL Edward “Blade” Harding, shows up at her door ready to offer his protection, she can’t deny him. Nor can she deny him the chance to know their son. Then shots are fired at Josie’s home and a brick is thrown through her window with a scrawled note that says “Drop the case or pay the price.” Now Blade is more determined than ever to protect his newfound family at all costs. But can he overcome his past mistakes in order to make sure they survive their present...and possibly have a future together?

Dear Reader (#ub9700055-23d6-5169-90d8-ca0f88097c00),

Blade and Josie’s story is the fifth and final installment of my Navy SEAL Defenders miniseries, and I hope you have enjoyed each and every one. I have genuinely loved getting to know all five heroes of the series, learning to understand their strengths and weaknesses and breathing life into their characters. Blade was perhaps the most complex hero of all, a man who has been forced to adapt to being a disabled man in an able-bodied world. He is my favorite character of the series—a man strong enough to protect Josie, yet tender enough to gently challenge her insensitive attitude.

When Josie and Blade reunite, it is inevitable that tensions flare. Josie has been a parent for six years, but Blade is thrown right in at the deep end and must quickly adjust not only to being a father but also to being a protector for his newly found family. With a little reliance on his faith, he rises to the occasion and becomes Josie’s surprising rock of support. I very much enjoyed giving these two a happy-ever-after.

The character of Archie is based on a real little boy of the same name, who has beautiful blond curls and a face full of freckles and is perhaps the most wonderfully mischievous boy I have ever known. He was a great help when fleshing out the character of Archie (it was his idea to introduce a budgie named Sherbet into the story), so I’d like to say a big thank-you to him for his fantastic input.

I look forward to welcoming you as a reader again.

Blessings,

Elisabeth

Josie looked Blade up and down. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“You shouldn’t have rushed out like that. You lost one leg already. Don’t risk injuring the other.” Her voice was kind, but her words cut him to the quick. “I was worried about you.”

He suppressed his irritation, reading between the lines. You’re not strong enough to handle this.

“I’m absolutely fine,” he replied. “But this situation is a lot worse than I imagined. I think I should stay here for a while to help protect you.”

Archie lifted his head from his mother’s shoulder and smiled. “See, Mom, I told you he was a superhero.”

“I already told you, Archie,” Josie said gently. “He’s only a man.”

But Josie was wrong. He wasn’t only a man. He was a father, and a fiercely protective streak had torn itself through his body. He sensed her difficulty in forgiving him for vanishing from her life all those years ago, but whatever differences they might have, they would need to work together to ensure that their son’s safety came first.

ELISABETH REES was raised in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, where her father was the parish vicar. She attended Cardiff University and gained a degree in politics. After meeting her husband, they moved to the wild, rolling hills of Carmarthenshire, and Elisabeth took up writing. She is now a full-time wife, mother and author. Find out more about Elisabeth at elisabethrees.com (http://www.elisabethrees.com).

The Seal’s Secret Child

Elisabeth Rees

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

—Matthew 11:28–29

For Josie, Archie and Morgan.

Contents

Cover (#u5b477294-2b1e-534e-b67a-decb4bca221c)

Back Cover Text (#u50e67aa9-fa74-5d06-a0b8-12fae8ec56f3)

Dear Reader (#u3277380c-17f8-5299-ad7a-96bb2109b1ef)

Introduction (#u96730bd7-21f4-5c43-b8c5-f1e63699a82c)

About the Author (#ubd14efdf-76a3-5745-adb1-103aabd38866)

Title Page (#u2bb27708-6005-54da-ab4d-3379f470b9cc)

Bible Verse (#u5a43a2ba-858f-51dd-88a4-10bc66809e92)

Dedication (#u95a857e8-a453-5e4d-a37f-afdfde2111d5)

ONE (#u12c44a18-6b57-5c5e-b476-3ab4c0201676)

TWO (#u95715b9a-50d7-57e9-a221-5546c830922c)

THREE (#ucdeb60ff-c111-5a32-aa31-211f612fcece)

FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

ONE (#ub9700055-23d6-5169-90d8-ca0f88097c00)

Josie Bishop took a deep breath, knelt to the carpet in her son’s bedroom and groped around underneath his bed. She was searching for discarded socks and underwear, but instead she found an old orange peel, sticky candy, half-eaten sandwiches and all manner of other unpleasant items that lurk in the depths of a six-year-old boy’s bedroom.