The SEAL's Christmas Baby

by Katie Knight

  Her heart pinched at the thought that he probably wouldn’t, which meant she needed a reminder to keep her distance. Nice and cozy as things seemed now, with him back in their lives by miracle or happenstance, this wasn’t permanent. Preston had said himself he was just killing time until he heard back from his CO with new orders. Best to keep things between them polite, but distant. Allow him time to get to know his son without allowing Parker to become too attached.

  Preston would be gone soon enough, and they’d be on their own again.

  “Right,” she said, heading for the kitchen. “What’s everyone want for dinner?”

  “Actually, I was thinking I’d treat you both to a meal at the lodge again tonight,” Preston said, glancing up for the book they were reading. “Figured after the eventful day, you might be tired.”

  She was. Exhausted, truth be told. But over the past three years, she’d learned to live with tired. Tired was her way of life now. Whether it had been work, when she’d needed to work two jobs while heavily pregnant or in order to keep her and Parker afloat financially, or now, when she spent the time where she would’ve been working a nine-to-five making sure her son learned the tools he needed to be successful in life, she was constantly on the go.

  It hadn’t been until they’d come here that she’d allowed herself to slow down a tad and just enjoy the time together. In fact, she’d had more fun today than she could remember in a long, long time. Well, until the near-death thing at the pond. She leaned her elbows on the counter and winced slightly at her sore muscles, still a bit tense after the excitement earlier. “It would be nice not to cook for a change.”

  “Great.” Preston closed the book and set it aside before standing. “I’ll get my truck and pull it up outside.”

  Lila waved him off. “I’m not an invalid. I can walk just fine.”

  “Yes, but why should you when your carriage awaits?” He gave her a wink and that sexy little grin that always made her toes curls, even all these years later. “Seriously. It’s gotten colder and it’s slick out. Driving will be easier and quicker. Be right back.”

  While he went to get his vehicle, she got her boots on then helped Parker bundle up before doing the same herself. After Preston’s observations earlier, she walked through the cabin and made sure everything was locked up tight before heading out on the porch with Parker.

  She locked the front door behind them then climbed down the stoop and walked over to where his truck was idling on the road. The sun was setting and the sky was awash with brilliant streaks of purple and rose and gold. He was right about the temps, too. Where it had been nippy before, now it felt downright bone chilling. She didn’t have Parker’s car seat handy, but it was just a short drive to the lodge and the speed limit here was only ten miles per hour. Even if they hit something, it wouldn’t hurt anyone.

  With her seat belt fastened and her son tucked on her lap, Lila sat back for the short ride. This would be nice. A quiet dinner in the lodge with just her son and Preston.

  Expect once they were inside the dining room, it became apparently pretty quickly that she’d become the talk of the resort over the last few hours. She’d been there for a little over a week already and had greeted several of the other lodgers on a daily basis, but now people she’d never seen before came up and asked about her wellbeing. A few of the other residents even got nosier than that. One of them, a woman named Clara who was occupying a cabin not far from Lila’s with her twins, stopped by the table with more than curiosity glinting in her brown eyes.

  “Hello there,” she said to Preston, giving him an appreciative once-over. “I don’t believe we’ve met yet. Clara Watson. I’m staying just down the road in cabin six. And you are?”

  “Only here a few days,” he said, glancing at Lila before concentrating on his menu again.

  “I was so sorry to hear about your accident earlier,” Clara said, focusing on Lila instead. “How scary for you. And for poor little Parker. I can’t imagine what the twins would go through if they lost me too.”

  Clara placed her hand atop Parker’s head and smiled. Her twins were a few years older than Parker but the kids played together sometimes. Clara had lost her husband, a firefighter, two years ago during the awful wildfires.

  “Yeah, it was scary, that was for sure, but I’m fine now. Thanks.” Lila sipped her water.

  “So, how do you two know each other?” Clara asked then leaned closer.

  “We used to know each other a few years back and ran into each other here at the resort,” Lila said, not wanting to say too much. She was a private person by nature and all this attention made her itchy. On second thought, coming to the lodge’s restaurant might not have been the wisest idea after all.

  “How great!” Clara continued to look between the two of them like she was searching for clues. “I love a reunion. Listen, Lila. If you want to come over and hang out tomorrow, I’m in need of some adult conversation these days.” She looked back over to where her twins were fighting over the crayons at their table. “Or we could go for a walk. Or whatever you wanted, really. Just let me know, so I can get a sitter for the twins.”

  Lila gave a sympathetic chuckle. Kids were awesome, but a gal needed space too sometimes. “Okay. I hear you. I’ll see how things go and call you, okay?”

  “Okay.” Clara looked at Preston again and smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Preston said.

  Thankfully, the server came over to take their order and Clara went back to her own table. Lila ordered for her and Parker then sat back, hoping things would quiet down now that people had gotten a look at her and Preston.

  No such luck though. The waitress had no sooner left than Tom Coville, the lodge’s owner, came over. He was an older man, maybe late sixties, with short grey hair and kind grey eyes hidden behind his glasses. He and his wife, Nancy, ran the place full-time now since they’d both retired.

  “Ms. Holden, I wanted to personally apologize for what happened earlier at the pond. I assure you that I check that ice myself each day and it was fine this morning. Even with all the crowds today, it shouldn’t have failed. I’m not sure what happened, but please know I’ll make sure it doesn’t occur again.” His nervous gaze darted between her and Preston and back again. “And your dinner is on the house. Whatever you’d like.”

  “How do you tend the pond each day?” Preston asked, sitting back and crossing his arms.

  “After I do a visual inspection and take measurements, we have a small Zamboni that smooths the surface. Why?”

  “That could be the culprit then,” Preston said. “I used to play ice hockey a lot growing up and drove a Zamboni a few times. Maybe have the maintenance guy check the undercarriage. Sometimes a part’s defective and can actually cut or crack the ice instead of smoothing it.”

  “I’ll be sure to let the new man know. He’s still learning everything, so he might not have known to check. Thanks.” Tom seemed to relax a tad once he realized neither Lila nor Preston would be calling their lawyers to sue him. “Also, if there’s anything I can do to make your stay here better, please let me know.”

  Lila met Preston’s gaze for a moment, remembering their conversation from this morning, then said, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind a couple of free ski passes, if you’ve got them.”

  “Sure thing.” Tom smiled at her then looked at Parker, who was playing with his toy action figures Lila had let him bring along in his pockets. “And if you need someone to watch your son while you enjoy the slopes, please talk to my wife, Nancy. She runs a day care for the skiers with children too young for the sport. She raised our five kids and takes care of our twelve grandkids, so she’s more than experienced.”

  “Great. Thank you. I’ll definitely keep her in mind,” Lila said.

  “Or,” Preston rested his forearms on the table after Tom left, “you can go skiing, maybe with your friend Clara over there, and I can watch Parker.”

  She’d never really thought about it,
but maybe he was right. It would kind of be a win-win. She could have a girls’ day out and he could spend more with his son. The more she thought about the idea, the more it appealed. “Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Preston.”

  “Any time, sweetheart,” he said. That was second time he’d used the endearment with her that day and it sent a rush of awareness through her, same as it had earlier at the pond. Preston went back to playing with Parker like nothing had happened, but Lila sat there for a long moment.

  Somehow, Preston had managed to get inside her life again despite her intentions to the contrary. And now that he was back, she was finding it harder and harder to keep her barriers against him intact. But she would, because she had to. Nice as it was having a man in her life again, this man was far too dangerous to her heart. He was a phantom, here one day, gone the next.

  And if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up more devastated when he disappeared again than she’d been the first time around and that was unacceptable.

  She had to stay strong for Parker.

  Thirteen

  After dinner, Preston drove them back to Lila’s cabin and parked near the curb of the gravel road out front. Cutting the engine, he opened the door and got out, then leaned back inside. “Stay here and let me check something out first, okay?”

  Lila gave him a look. “Okay.”

  “Give me your keys.” He straightened. “It won’t take long. Sit tight.”

  He walked the perimeter first, the military-grade tac flashlight attached to his keychain coming in handy. There were no sign of fresh footprints outside the cabin or under Parker’s window, which helped to ease his lingering unease slightly. Then he went up on the porch and unlocked the front door. No new signs of forced entry that he could see. Good. Preston flipped on the lights and walked through each room, checking the windows and locks, then finally came back out on the porch and waved to Lila that it was all clear.

  She got Parker out of his car seat then walked the little guy up to the cabin. “Thanks for the surveillance, Ranger Rick.”

  Preston snorted. “Your sarcasm is always appreciated, ma’am.”

  Rolling her eyes and grinning, Lila took Parker inside and helped him off with his coat before removing her own and hanging them on the hooks near the door. “I need to get Parker ready for bed, but it you want to hang out, you can,” she said, picking up the tired boy and heading for the hallway. “We can talk about tomorrow.”

  “Sure.” He waited until she disappeared into the bathroom, then took off his jacket and slung it over the back of a chair. Stepping over several toys and wooden building blocks, he took a seat on the sofa to wait. Honestly, he was still a little surprised himself that he’d volunteered to watch Parker the next day. Sure, he’d helped care for his younger foster siblings growing up, but that had been a long time ago. From down the hall, he could hear the sounds of Lila and Parker talking and water splashing as she helped him with his bath and smiled. That smile, though, slowly faded to a frown as he wondered if he’d have to do that too. How often did kids need baths? And what about the toilet stuff? Was Parker potty trained or did he wear diapers and how did that work? Then there was the issue of feeding. Sure, he’d sat through a couple of meals with the kid, but Lila had always been there and in charge. She’d made sure Parker ate what he was supposed to and didn’t choke on his drinks and generally acted appropriately. What if something happened while Preston was watching him and he swallowed something he shouldn’t? Preston’s gaze dropped to the floor and the small plastic building blocks scattered there.

  Oh God.

  He’d been trained in basic first aid during his time in the SEALs, sure. But it was way different doing the Heimlich on a grown-ass man versus a tiny kid. His stomach churned and he clenched his fists reflexively, trying to work off some of his excess adrenaline. Maybe him watching Parker by himself tomorrow wasn’t such a good idea. When he’d offered, Preston had only been thinking about the fact it would give him more time with his son, but now the doubt demons were attacking with a vengeance and his usual stalwart confidence was faltering. Yes, he hunted terrorists for a living. Yes, he was an excellent marksman and could defuse a bomb in under thirty seconds. Yes, he’d strategized the takedown of corrupt hostile regimes around the world and led men into war. But none of that seemed to have prepared him for the daunting prospect of a day alone with a two-year-old.

  Preston swallowed hard and stood to pace the living room, needing to burn off his excess energy. Notes. He should take notes. Except he didn’t have paper or a pen. He pulled out his phone and brought up a memos app. Okay. Good. Now, what to ask. Bathing. Pottying. Feeding. Playing. What were Parker’s favorite games, toys, outdoor activities? Actually, he realized he knew some of the answers already. He typed in reading and sledding and coloring and felt a tiny bit better. The kid liked French fries and grilled cheese too, both of which Preston could make. So, he did know a few things. Maybe. Sort of.

  “All done. Parker’s in bed and already asleep. His eyes were closed before his head hit the pillow,” Lila said, walking back into the room. “What are you doing?”

  “Um, just trying to be prepared for tomorrow.” He frowned down at his phone screen. “How often does Parker get a bath?”

  She glanced at him from the open kitchen. “Every morning. Why?”

  “Making sure it doesn’t need to be on my agenda.”

  “Agenda?” Lila snorted. “Pretty sure you offered to babysit tomorrow, not run a board meeting.” She fixed herself a cup of tea and offered him one, which he declined, then she joined him in the living room, taking a seat on the opposite end of the sofa from Preston. “Look, if this is going to be a problem, I can just call Clara and cancel my plans and—”

  “No, no. It’s fine.” He nudged aside a superhero action figure with the toe of his boot and sat down again. “I just want to make sure I’m prepared. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”

  “Oh, things will definitely go wrong, I can guarantee it.” Lila laughed, the lilting sound brightening the dark clouds of doubt around him slightly. “But that’s part of the fun of being a parent. Don’t worry so much. Kids are far more resilient than people give them credit for.” She tucked her feet beneath her, then winced. “Ow.”

  “What’s wrong?” Preston frowned.

  “Nothing.” She took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. “Still sore from falling through the ice earlier, I guess.”

  “I’m sure.” Preston sat back and patted his lap. “Give them here.”

  “What?” She stopped mid-sip of tea and wrinkled her nose.

  “Your feet. Put them over here on my lap. I’ll give you a nice massage.” He held his hands out. “You always used to like that.”

  She blinked at him a second before doing as he asked. Gently, he began rubbing her feet, surprised to feel how cold they were, even through her thick wool socks. “You should turn the heat up in here.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Your toes are freezing.”

  “My toes are always freezing—you just never had to deal with them in winter before. Stop fussing over me.” She shook her head and drank her tea while he worked on the arches of her feet. “Oh, yeah. Right there. That feels amazing.”

  This time it was Preston who chuckled. “You know that sounds kind of dirty, right?”

  Lila grinned. “What you’re doing to me right now, mister, should be outlawed, it feels so good.”

  Despite the stress still swirling inside him and the fact they were fully clothed and their son was asleep in a room right down the hallway, he couldn’t stop the rush of heat that sizzled through his blood at her words or the memories of them together that they conjured.

  Then, just as fast as the cloud of sexy descended, it vanished, when she said, “Honestly, if you don’t think you can handle a day alone with Parker, you need to tell me now. Do you really understand what you’ve agreed to? He’s a good boy and not much trouble overall, but there are still things you need t
o know.”

  Preston finished rubbing her toes, then set her feet aside to pick up his phone again. “Go ahead.”

  “Are you taking notes?” She raised a brow at him, then shook her head. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. I’m not sure what the cell reception will be like on the slopes so it’s better if you write this down just in case. First is mealtime. Parker doesn’t have allergies, but he currently hates veggies.”

  “He likes fries,” Preston said, looking up from his screen. “Those are potatoes.”

  “Yeah, but I’m talking green ones. Beans. Peas. Forget about lettuce or asparagus.” She sighed. “Despite the magic you worked the other night, my guess is if you serve any more green beans, they’re going to end up everywhere except in his stomach. He’s got a mean throwing arm and he’s not afraid to use it. You have been warned.”

  “Right. No green veggies.” Preston gave a curt nod. “What else? How often should I feed him?”

  “I’ll make sure he has breakfast before I go in the morning, but you’ll need to fix him lunch. I brought groceries on our way up here last week, so there’s still plenty of food left. I’d say go with something simple. Soup and grilled cheese. That’s his favorite.”

  “Okay. Cool. I had the grilled cheese down already.” He smiled. “What about snacks?”

  “I usually let him have one in the afternoon, especially if he’s been running around a lot and playing outside. He likes animal crackers and goldfish. There are packages of each in the cupboard.”

  “Got it.” Preston’s thumbs flew across the phone screen as he hurried to get it all typed in. “Speaking of playing outside… Anything he shouldn’t be doing?”

  “Well, skating, obviously. I’m assuming they’re going to shut that down anyway until Tom has a chance to inspect the pond and the Zamboni and make sure everything is okay. Other than that, not really. You already know he likes to sled. There’s also snowman making. And there’s the swing set at the park just down the way. He plays there a lot with Clara’s twins. Since Tom’s wife, Nancy, is watching them tomorrow, maybe you and her can meet at the park and have a playdate with the kids. Oh, and he takes a nap in the afternoon for about an hour or so, usually after lunch.”