Free Tempted by a SEAL by Cat Johnson

been attached at the hip for so long, it’s surprising we never met before this weekend.” She crossed her arms and waited for his answer.
    They might have met last night, rather than this morning as their parents believed, but she still wanted to know where the hell he’d been the rest of the year. He had some explaining to do.
    He lifted his brows at her verbal challenge. “Not so surprising, actually. I’ve been out of the country.”
    “James is in the Navy,” her mother chimed in. “Remember? We told you that, Liddy.”
    “Yes, so you’ve said. But I have friends at school who have family members in the military and they come home often. All the time.”
    With all the nonchalance of a man who wasn’t about to rise to her provocation, Mack lifted one shoulder. “Luck of the draw, I guess.”
    “I guess.” Lydia nodded, not quite believing that.
    “So, are we all ready to eat?” Joseph stood up. “Your mother has been cooking for days, getting ready.”
    That seemed to pique Mack’s interest. He turned to face his father. “We’re not going out for brunch?”
    “With how good Laurie cooks? Oh, no.”
    “Aw. Thanks, love.” Lydia’s mother cooed. She slid her fingers into the crook of Joseph’s elbow. “Come help me get the food on the table?”
    “Of course. My pleasure.” The older version of Mack beamed down at his new wife.
    “Thank you, my love. So sweet. Isn’t he, Liddy?”
    “Yes, mother. Incredibly sweet.”
    “You two stay here and get acquainted while Joseph and I get brunch together. We’ll call you when it’s ready.”
    “Don’t come in before. You might walk in on me treating my bride to a big thank you in the kitchen.”
    Her mother’s eyes widened. “Joseph. Stop. The kids are here.”  
    Joseph laughed and the two giggled their way out of the room.
    Lydia scowled, stifling the urge to gag at the display, until Mack’s smirk caught her eye. “What?”
    He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Nothing. Just interesting, is all.”
    “What’s interesting?” she asked.
    “You mean besides the strange coincidence that made what we did together questionable, if not illegal?” His lips twitched.
    Annoyed at his teasing, Lydia crossed her arms. “Yes, besides that.”
    “That you seem to feel the same way I do about this ill advised, spur of the moment marriage of theirs.”
    She planted her hands on her hips. “Why is it ill advised? Is my mom not good enough for your father?”
    “I didn’t say that. I said ill advised because it came about so quickly. I’d never even met her until today.”
    “That’s your own fault. I’ve met him plenty of times. It’s been almost a year. If you wanted to have met her, you could have come home.”
    It was hard to believe she was defending this marriage when she felt the same way he did.
    Mack was right. It had come about too quickly. And too soon after her own parents’ divorce.
    But she was allowed that opinion. He wasn’t.
    She’d been here through the whirlwind courtship. He hadn’t. She’d be damned if Mack would get away with saying anything negative about the marriage or her mother. He hadn’t earned the right.
    He shook his head. “No, Lydia, I really couldn’t come home.”
    “Because of the Navy.” This time Lydia didn’t control the impulse and did let herself roll her eyes.
    “Yes.”
    His calm only ramped up her agitation. She let out a snort, which had him smiling.
    “What’s really wrong here, sweetheart?”  
    “I’m not sure I like your attitude toward my mother.”
    He let out a short laugh. “We’re in what has to be the oddest situation I’ve stumbled upon in my life and that’s what’s bothering you? Not that you and I spent all of last night getting sweaty together only to find out our parents are married to each other? Not that we’re pretending to not know each other at all, when in reality I know you very well—inside and out.”
    Lydia’s cheeks burned as the blood rushed to