The Navy SEAL's Accidental Wife: Ballybeg Bad Boys, #5

By Zara Keane

Healed by her touch…

After months on an undercover operation that went explosively wrong, former Navy SEAL JD Teller has one week to win back his estranged wife before the birth of their baby. Can he convince Naomi that she's the love of his life? Or will their happiness be torn asunder by a ruthless diamond smuggler with a particular hatred for JD

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beaverstone Press LLC
• Release date: Feb 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9783906245379

Book preview

Chapter One

JD Teller leaned against the yacht’s railing and watched as the French coast drew closer. The crossing from Corsica had been smooth, and he’d spent most of the journey chilling with the crew and practicing his French. Anything to distract him from the mess he’d left behind.

There was no prettifying the situation. Fact was, the operation in Corsica had been a total bust. The dude he’d hoped to apprehend had proven elusive, and the man’s diamond smuggling pals were as slippery as eels. All JD had to show for six months of undercover work were a few names of low-hanging fruit—minor players in a major diamond smuggling and counterfeit diamonds operation—and a new scar to add to his growing collection. In short, his first big job for Trident Securities had ended in a clusterfuck. Not JD’s fault. However, his failure to meet his target stung way more than the gash on his forehead.

His whole life, JD had reached whatever goal he’d set out to achieve. As a kid, he’d soon figured out he’d never be the smartest, strongest, or quickest of the bunch. What he had going for him was a willingness to work harder than everybody else. If that meant getting up a couple of hours before school to make sure his grades didn’t dip below a B average, then that was what he’d done. When he’d needed to put in more hours at the gym to reach the level of fitness necessary to qualify for BUD/S, he’d done so without complaint. And when his former commanding officer, Cash Kincaid, had offered JD the opportunity to work for his newly formed private military firm, JD had been determined to be the best operative at Trident Securities. So much for that dream.

Paul, one of the yacht’s crew members, joined JD at the railing and pointed at the ever-growing coastline. Not far now. We’re going to drop you off at the marina. You shouldn’t have trouble finding your hotel from there.

If you were staying in Nice, I’d invite you all out for a drink.

Paul’s grin lit up his otherwise plain face. If the boss didn’t want us to travel on to Cannes today, I’d take you up on the offer.

The boss was Darko Dunne, an Irish rock star who owed Trident Securities a favor. After JD had been forced to pull out of Corsica, Cash had arranged for him to hitch a ride with the yacht’s crew from Ajaccio to Nice.

Another time, maybe, JD said. Thanks for making a detour for me. I appreciate it.

It was no problem. We were due to sail to the mainland anyway. Darko and his family want to use the boat for their spring vacation.

When the yacht entered the harbor, JD stuffed the last of his belongings into his backpack and adjusted his shades. Under the glare of the midday sun, the sky was a bright blue speckled with an occasional wispy cloud. Had the circumstances been different, JD would have been thrilled at the idea of visiting mainland France for the first time. He’d seen pictures of the French Riviera, but none had done justice to the spectacular view he’d enjoyed on the trip over from Corsica.

After they’d docked in the marina, Jean-Pierre, the yacht’s skipper, shook JD’s hand. "Bienvenue à Nice."

"Merci et au revoir," JD replied, glad he could finally ditch the terrible French he’d pretended to speak during his undercover operation, and said his goodbyes to the rest of the crew. Then he slung his backpack over his shoulder and strode down the gangplank of the Poseidon. Outside the marina, he followed the signs to the Promenade des Anglais, the famous walkway along the beachfront. Despite it still being low season, Nice teemed with tourists. Thanks to the warm climate, even late April was warm enough to hit the beach. A pang of envy burned through JD’s chest when he glimpsed the carefree sunbathers and paddle boarders. What he wouldn’t give right at this moment to be a tourist—just a regular guy checking out the highlights of one of Europe’s most vibrant cities.

He glanced at the map on his phone and hung a left. Trident Securities had booked JD into a little hotel on one of the side streets off the Promenade. He was to wait there for further instructions, whatever they might be. With a bit of luck, they’d include an airline reservation straight back to the States. The closer the time got to the eighth of May, the antsier JD got.

His heart skipped a beat. I’m going to be a daddy.

On the rare occasions JD had entertained the idea of his future self becoming a father, he’d envisioned raising his kid in a house enclosed by a white-picket fence and sandwiched by neighbors who gave a damn. He’d be married to the woman of his dreams—her face was always a blur in these imaginings, but that part had never bothered JD; he reckoned he wouldn’t be getting married for at least another five years. In the meantime, he’d have retired from black ops work and taken over his uncle’s car repair shop in downtown Austin.

Reality painted a different picture. Knocking up a one-night stand and marrying her in Vegas the day before he was due to leave for Corsica on an undercover operation that would last several months hadn’t featured in any of his daydreams.

JD’s phone vibrated in his hand, and he held the device to his ear. Hey, Liam. What’s up?

Liam Ryan, the second in command at Trident Securities, was the operations coordinator for JD’s latest assignment. He was also JD’s reluctant brother-in-law. This latter fact was the defining one in their relationship.

You in Nice? Liam’s tone was brusque, but JD didn’t hold it against him. He could picture the big guy at his desk in Manhattan, bleary-eyed and armed with his first double espresso of the day. With the time zone difference, it was the start of Liam’s working day. Within a couple of days of starting work for Trident Securities, JD had figured out that Liam Ryan and mornings weren’t a good mix.

I just got off the boat, and I’m walking toward my hotel now. Any idea why Cash wants me to stay overnight? Have you guys booked my return flight?

A silence taut with tension descended before Liam finally replied. You’ll be staying in Nice for more than one night.

JD’s stomach performed a flip and roll, and his grip on the phone tightened. Surely Liam, of all people, had to understand? He had a kid of his own, after all. No way would JD miss the birth of his first child. I have to be home before the eighth. We had a deal, remember?

About that deal…I’m guessing you haven’t spoken to Naomi in a while.

An icy trickle of fear slithered down JD’s back. Is she okay? The baby—

They’re both fine, and Naomi is still pregnant.

JD released his breath in a whoosh. Thank God. You had me worried.

Sorry, man. I’m not awake. I was trying to tell you that Naomi left Manhattan.

Where is she? JD asked in a strained voice. Did she go home to Ireland? Naomi had stopped taking his calls before Christmas, reducing their contact to perfunctory emails in which she updated him on the progress of her pregnancy. Being stuck on another continent and deep undercover, JD had felt powerless to rectify the situation. Whatever it took, he’d make it up to Naomi, show her that he was the husband of her dreams. I know she’s upset, but I didn’t choose to be away for so long.

Yeah, but having her new husband leave her in the dust the day after the wedding had to bite.

Liam’s words were like a punch to the gut. You think I don’t know that? Haven’t you ever been deployed or on a mission for months at a time?

Sure I have, Liam said. Why do you think my first marriage broke up?

JD dodged a cyclist and shifted the phone to his other ear. "Did you call me to piss me off or to give me instructions? Naomi knew I was leaving for Europe when she agreed to marry me. I laid it all out. I told her I had to take the job for the money. Heck, you know I had to go. You assigned me."

Yeah, and my wife has been chewing me out about it ever since, Liam