His Baby Secret (Book Two): His Baby Secret, #2

By Layla Valentine

Three best friends
One big secret
My brother's best friend is getting a big surprise…

Hannah:

We were inseparable. Best friends.
Me, my twin Harvey, and our buddy Dominic.
Only I loved Dominic in secret, and never told him till high school was over
And then he told me he loved me too…
Only then did he tell me he was joining the Navy
I hated him for leaving me,
And I found out I was pregnant the day he shipped out
He never found out
Seven years later, my brother's getting married, and the secret SEAL dad is finally coming back to Tucson as his best man.
Dominic Riley has a big surprise coming his way, seven years in the making…

Dominic:

Seven years ago, I left my heart in Tucson.
I've traveled the world,
Risked my life defending my country's freedom,
Seen things you wouldn't believe,
But I'd trade it all for one more day with her.
She hated my guts when I left,
Can she forgive me now?

This is the second book in the His Baby Secret series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Layla Valentine
• Release date: Feb 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201330705

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

HANNAH

"K ira, honey, you have to stop squirming. I’m worried I’m going to burn you." Hannah bit her lip, concentrating on keeping her daughter still while she negotiated a curler through a particularly rebellious strand of hair.

This is taking forever, Kira whined. And I don’t know why I need more curls. I already have a ton.

It’s just because today’s such a special day, Hannah said. Don’t you want to look like a little angel for Uncle Harvey’s wedding?

I thought I was supposed to be the flower girl, Kira said, dubious. Not an angel.

Hannah considered this for a moment, then laughed.

You’re mixing up Christmas with weddings. I was saying you’d kind of look like an angel, with a halo of curls. You know, something special. For a special occasion. Just for fun.

It’s not very fun.

Okay, fine…done.

If it had been up to Hannah, she would have spent at least ten more minutes trying to get Kira’s unruly mane to behave itself, but she knew her daughter would’ve had a meltdown long before that. In general, Kira was a polite and well-behaved kid. But she also had a wild, rebellious streak that she had to have inherited from her father. That, and his thick, slightly wavy hair.

Really, when anything was difficult with Kira, it was just easier for Hannah to lay some silent blame on Dominic. It helped lower her stress levels, and it wasn’t like he was even around for their relationship to grow toxic with her building resentment. Hannah sometimes wondered if Dominic ever paused, wherever he’d ended up, with an itchy nose, or a feeling that he’d done something wrong. She wondered if her thoughts had the ability to travel like that.

Finally! Kira leapt for joy, and Hannah cringed, barely able to lift the hot curler in time to avoid burning her daughter.

Careful, Hannah fussed. Those curls are barely holding. We need to find your headband. Have you seen it anywhere?

Nope.

Well keep a lookout for it. Let’s get you into your dress.

Hannah had just buttoned the final fastening on the overly elaborate flower girl dress that was a cute echo of her own maid-of-honor dress when her phone rang. It was Harvey.

Don’t tell me you have cold feet, Hannah said, answering the call. Taking advantage of her distraction, Kira scampered off. Kira! Not too fast! Look for your headband! Put your shoes on, please!

Ah, the sounds of sweet chaos, Harvey said. Can’t wait until Josie gets baby fever. Can you do me a favor, though? Don’t shout in the phone. I have a bit of a hangover.

Oh, must be nice.

You just need more reliable sitters.

Yeah? Is that what I need? You know any, send them my way.

Hannah had hated to miss the rehearsal dinner, but that was just how life worked, now. Kira came first. Before anything else, or anyone else. Hannah had wanted to be there to support her twin, but a rehearsal dinner at a restaurant, with an open bar, just wasn’t the right atmosphere for her six-year-old daughter.

We have a small problem, Harvey said.

If it’s your cold feet, Josie already told me she was going to shoot you in the butt. There’s no backing out of this wedding, Harvey.

I don’t want to back out of the wedding. The problem is with the limo driver. The one who was supposed to pick you and Kira up and take you to the ceremony.

Wait, wait, wait. Hannah squeezed her eyes shut, pressing the heel of her hand into her forehead. What do you mean, ‘was supposed to?’

Driver canceled. Out with the flu. It’s too late to get another limo.

God, can’t anything go right?

Is it such a big deal for you to drive yourself? It’s not that far away.

Car’s in the shop, Harvey. Because I thought I had a ride to your wedding.

Okay, easy fix. Call a cab.

Easy for who? Hannah fought a losing battle against a tide of despair rising within her. I’m a part-time secretary, Harvey; I barely have enough cash for the repairs for my car, never mind a cab ride to the venue.

What do you mean you don’t have—ah, hang on a second. Hannah sighed as she heard some rustling and Harvey’s muffled voice, probably through his hand. He was talking to someone, a man. Talking back.

For a single, heart-stopping moment, Hannah was sure it was Dominic.

Harvey had talked a lot about wishing Dominic could get leave so he could be the best man. It was so iffy, though, that Harvey had picked another guy in the police force to fill the position. That’s how unpredictable Dominic’s schedule had become. Hannah didn’t even know whether