The SEAL's Christmas Baby

by Katie Knight

  “Guess you lucked out then, huh?” he said, finishing up the last of his chips.

  “Guess we did.” Tom grinned. “We’d come up here on vacation a few years back and when we heard the owners had put it on the market, we jumped at the chance. We’re so happy here, I only wish I’d stopped all that driving and grinding earlier and settled down.”

  “All done, Daddy!” Parker said, smiling at Preston with a face full of ketchup and mustard streaks. “Can I play?”

  “Wait a second, son.” He grabbed a napkin to wipe the boy’s face off. “Okay, go have fun. Just for a little while though, then it’s naptime.”

  Parker climbed off his chair and took off for the living room where the twins were already colouring.

  “Such a good boy,” Tom said, watching them. “Too bad you won’t be able to spend more time with him once you’re off on your next mission, huh?”

  With that he stood to help Nancy clear the dishes, leaving Preston alone at the table to think about everything the other man had said and deal with the weird yearning in his heart to stay where he was rather than return to his duty.

  He’d never doubted his path before.

  He was born to be a solider, born to serve his country. Everything else was just a means to that end.

  Wasn’t it?

  Fifteen

  “This is great,” Lila said, as she and Clara took a break at the bottom of the hill. They’d been up and down the slopes for the last few hours and while her muscles were tired, her spirit felt at peace for the first time in years. “I’m glad we decided to do this today.”

  “Me, too,” Clara said leaning back, eyes closed, her face tipped up toward the sun. “I can’t tell you the last time I had a day all to myself without the twins.” She glanced over at Lila. “Not that I don’t love them completely, it’s just…”

  “I understand, believe me,” Lila said, chuckling. “Sometimes you just need to be alone.”

  “Yep.” They sat for several minutes in silence as more skiers whooshed then on their way to the warming chalet nearby. Finally, Clara sighed and straightened. “So, what’s up with you and Preston?”

  “Nothing. Why?” Lila frowned. She’d been doing her best not to think about him today. Definitely not thinking about that kiss they’d shared or the fact that with each day that went by it became more and more obvious to her what an awesome dad he’d be to Parker. “We’re just friends.”

  “Uh huh.” Clara snorted. “Wish I had more friends who looked at me the way he looked at you.”

  “He doesn’t look at me any special way.” Lila fiddled with her gloves. “I mean, we were together for four months, but that was a long time ago. Things are different now.”

  Liar.

  “Well, all I can say is that as a woman who was very happily married for six years, I know when a man wants a woman. And Preston definitely wants you.” Clara nudged Lila with her shoulder. “He seems to do well with Parker too.”

  “Yes, he does,” Lila admitted. “But he’ll be leaving again soon with the military. I need a man who’ll be around, who’ll be there for me and my son all the time, not just when he’s home on leave.”

  “Understandable.” Clara poked a lump of snow with the toe of her boot. “I never thought being a single mother could be so hard until I had to do it. My Matthew’s job as a firefighter was dangerous and he worked long hours, but I always knew if I needed him, all it would take would be one call to the fire house and he was on his way. I can’t imagine what it must be like for military wives, knowing the man you love could be sent away at any time, or worse.”

  “It’s not easy.” Lila scooted on her seat. “Well, I can’t imagine it would be. I’ve never really had to deal with it.” She’d not planned on telling anyone her secret past with Preston, but the weight of it all was getting to be too much and if anyone would understand what she’d been through, it would be Clara. “Can I tell you something? You can’t share it with anyone else though.”

  “Sure.” The other woman leaned in closer. “I won’t say a word. Promise.”

  “When I said the other night at the restaurant that we’d been friends before, that wasn’t entirely accurate. We’d been a lot more than friends. We’d shared a steamy summer together right here at this resort, actually. I was young, right out of high school and working here as a waitress to earn money for community college in the fall. Preston was a bit older and home for a few months leave. It was lust at first sight for us. Gradually, it became more.”

  Her mind drifted back to those early days of romance. The walks in the rain, the night of them tangled in the sheets. The long talks they’d had about the future and what they wanted out of life. Hope still flickered inside her like butterfly wings. Maybe, just maybe there was a chance. After all, Preston had turned out to be alive and well after all the years she’d thought she’d lost him. What other miracles might lie in store for them ahead?

  “Wow.” Clara smiled. “Sounds like something out of a romance novel.”

  “Yeah, it was pretty special. Until it wasn’t anymore.” She exhaled and stared down at the snow beneath her feet. “At the end of that summer, Preston left for another overseas mission and I continued on here at the lodge. After he’d gone, I found out I was pregnant with Parker. I tried to get hold of Preston to let him know. That’s when I was told he’d been killed in action.

  “That’s awful,” Clara said, placing her gloved hand on Clara’s arm. “You must’ve been devastated.”

  “I was. For a while I was in shock. Then I grieved. Long and hard. Afterward, I realized I was completely on my own. I had to work hard to support myself and my baby and the stress took its toll. Then Parker needed surgery right after delivery and it was a big mess, financially and emotionally. Luckily, an uncle I barely knew died and left me his house in San Diego. With the housing market the way it is right now, I didn’t even have to fix the place up for it to sell right away. Got way more than the asking price too.” She shrugged. “So, yeah. Parker and I are finally set money-wise for a while. For the first time in forever, I don’t have to work. I can take time off and just enjoy being with my son and relax. Then Preston showed up here a few days ago and sent my world into a tailspin again. So, you can understand why I’m a bit apprehensive about all this, right?”

  “Damn straight.” Clara laughed and shook her head. “That story went from romance novel to Ripley’s Believe It or Not in two seconds flat. How crazy for you. I thought being reunited after years apart was good. What you just told me is…amazing!”

  “Hmm. The amazing part remains to be seen,” Lila said, just as Clara’s phone buzzed in her pocket.

  “Hang on. Sorry, it’s Nancy.” Clara frowned down at her screen. “I need to take this.”

  Lila nodded and Clara got up to take her call.

  It was such a pretty day, the snow sparkling in the sunshine and nothing but clear blue skies above. Christmas was less than a week away now and the energy of the season was buzzing. The whole lodge complex had been decorated to within an inch of its life for the holidays and all any of the kids could talk about was Santa.

  Clara returned a moment later, her expression crestfallen. “I’m so sorry, but I’m afraid I need to go back. According to Nancy, Bex is running a low-grade fever. He had a sinus infection before we came up here to the lodge and I think with all the time outside and the activity, it’s come back. Do you want to catch the shuttle with me or are you going to hang around a bit more and do another run?”

  “I think I’ll head up the mountain one more time,” Lila said, pushing to her feet and picking up her skis. “See you later?”

  “Yep.” Clara waved as she walked away, her rental skis under her arm. “Have fun and be careful.”

  “Always!” Lila waved back then headed toward the line for the ski lift. Sugar Tree wasn’t a huge mountain, but it was fine for Lila. She was a competent skier, but not super-confident. She just went for the scenery and the exercise, basically. N
ot to break any speed records.

  The line moved forward quickly and soon she was slipping her feet into her skis and latching them on then sliding onto the hard metal bars of the lift seat, her poles in one hand and the other clutching the vertical support bar. A man climbed onto the seat beside her and the lift jerked upward, creaking slowly toward the top of the slope. As the ground grew more distant beneath them the wind grew a bit stronger. She held onto the support bar tighter and glanced at her lift companion. She couldn’t see much of him, covered like he was from head-to-toe in a black snowsuit. The only part of his face that wasn’t covered in fabric were his eyes, and those were covered with metallic reflective goggles. He looked over at her and she smiled politely, not sure if he returned the sentiment or not since his mouth was hidden behind the zipped neck of his snowsuit.

  Lila focused straight ahead again, the summit of the slope inching closer as the creaked higher. The lift seat swung a bit because of the wind. Then her companion shifted his weight and the whole thing wobbled a bit more, making her hyper aware of how far off the ground they were. Yikes. It had to be at least twenty feet down and the snow was packed hard. She gripped the support bar tighter.

  The man beside her shifted again and stretched his arm out behind her. The seat tipped precariously and she gave an alarmed squeak. “Be careful!”

  His only response was a grunt before he moved again. This time the seat tipped so much he slid into her side, causing her to drop the ski poles under her arm. They drifted downward to land in the snow below. Her stomach nosedived too and she gripped the support bar with both hands.

  “Get back on your own side! You’re making the seat tip!” Thankfully, the summit was getting close and the ground beneath them was rising. It was maybe only ten feet away now. Still a drop, but perhaps not lethal. Still, the last thing she needed was to break something up here. “Seriously. Move it or I’m going to report you to the lodge staff!”

  Whether the guy didn’t hear her or didn’t care, this time he shoved her forward. The next few seconds passed in a blur. One moment, she was seated on the lift, the next, she was dangling in the air, holding onto the support bar for dear life. The man beside her just watched. She couldn’t see his face, but she’d swear he was wearing an evil grin. He’d deliberately pushed her off the lift. Why would anyone do that?

  “Help!” Lila cried, her desperation peaking as her shaking fingers began to slip slowly down the metal support bar, the material of her gloves hindering her ability to grip. “Someone please help me!”

  One hard shove from the man’s snow boot was all it took to send her plummeting toward the ground. The fall seemed surreal, like it was happening to someone else. Lila’s mind circled, circled, circled with images of Parker, Preston, the man from the lift. It seemed to take forever to hit the ground and yet it all flashed before her eyes in an instant.

  The impact knocked the air from her lungs and left her dazed and confused. Her back took the brunt of the fall. Cold hard snow bit into her flesh as she stared up at the sky above. Darkness crept into her peripheral vision and her eyelids felt too heavy to keep open.

  Vaguely she registered people shouting, warm hands trying to comfort her. Shadowy faces full of concern looming over her as a distant voice shouted for someone to call 911.

  “Hang on, ma’am,” someone said. “Help’s on the way.”

  Help. Yes. She needed help. Sharp pain shot from her spine up through her head and Lila’s last conscious thoughts were of Parker and how glad she was he had his daddy to take care of him now.

  Sixteen

  “Come on, honey. Let’s get you home and in bed,” Clara said after rushing into the cabin to find her son, Bex. “Thanks so much for keeping an eye on him and his sister, Nancy.” She grabbed her son’s coat and helped him put it on. “Hey, Preston.”

  “Hey.” He stood off the side with Parker watching. “Where’s Lila?”

  “Oh, she decided to stay at Sugar Tree for one more run.” Clara finished bundling up Bex then started on Tally’s coat. “She should be done soon. Don’t worry.”

  Clara straightened and looked between him and Parker, and Preston placed a protective hand on his son’s shoulder.

  Once Clara had left with the twins and he’d gotten Nancy packed off back to the lodge, Preston took the opportunity to do the premises check he’d been waiting for all day. He walked through each room, checking the windows and door locks, then went outside while Parker was napping to walk the perimeter of the cabin. All clear. Which was good, despite the fact he couldn’t shake the unease that had settled over him. He’d learned a long time ago to pay attention to his instincts. Just because you couldn’t see a threat didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

  Before heading back inside, he stopped to examine the exterior of the windows more closely, especially the one in Parker’s room. There were no new footprints, but the old ones still lingered since it hadn’t warmed up enough for the snow to melt. He crouched beside them now, studying them for any clues, but found nothing beyond the size and shape. Male with boots.

  Damn.

  He didn’t like unfinished puzzles. Preston was the type of guy who wanted all of his ducks in a row all the time. Every T crossed and I dotted. He didn’t believe in coincidence either. The fact that Lila’s front lock had been tampered with had to mean something. What exactly, he wasn’t sure yet. But something.

  Preston straightened and headed back toward the front of the cabin again. Then again, maybe he was letting his stress and uncertainty over his relationship with Lila get the better of him. Could be all of this was just random and he was trying to make a case for danger where none existed. After all, he had been hunting terrorists for the past two years.

  Nothing made a guy more paranoid than tracking mass murderers for a living.

  Forcing himself to relax, he rolled his tense shoulders then walked back into the cabin, feigning a calm he didn’t quite feel. “Hey, buddy. Want to go over to the park for a bit?”

  Being cooped up inside right now made him feel itchy, as if his problems were pressing in on him all the more. If he was honest, that was reason number five gazillion why he wasn’t prepared for a relationship with Lila. Yes, being with his son was great and yes, kissing Lila the other night had been even better, but he wasn’t ready. Might never be ready. He had so many things to take care of first—catch the mole responsible for his friend’s death, adjust to civilian life, find a new career, put down roots.

  “Reaty,” Parker said, coming up beside him. He had no coat and only one shoe on.

  Preston chuckled. “Not quite yet you’re not, little man.” He reached down and ruffled the little boy’s hair then took him by the hand. “Let’s get you dressed properly again. And what about the bathroom? When’s the last time you pottied?”

  Surprisingly, handling the essentials by himself wasn’t as difficult as Preston had imagined. Parker was two and a half and surprisingly adept for his age. It helped that Lila kept things well-organized too. There was even a tiny step stool close to the toilet so Parker could climb up when he needed, and then pull it over to the sink to wash his hands.

  Half an hour later, both he and his son were bundled up and heading across the road to the park. They were messing around on the slide when a shout cut through the air. Preston turned to see Nancy waving her arms and running toward them. By the time she reached him, she was out of breath and doubled over. Preston helped her to sit on a nearby bench, afraid she’d pass out before she could tell him anything.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “L-lila,” the woman managed to get out before starting a coughing jag.

  Adrenaline rushed his system and his blood pounded. “What about Lila?”

  Nancy held up a finger and took a couple of deep breaths before continuing. “She was hurt at the ski lift.” More coughing. “Tom told me when I got back to the lodge. I’m sorry.”

  “Hurt?” Heart in his throat, Preston took the older woman by the
arms. “How badly? What happened?”

  Shit. He should’ve gone with her. He was no expert on the slopes himself but maybe he could’ve done something to prevent this.

  “Mommy?” Parker came over, his eyes wide. “Where’s Mommy?”

  “She’s okay, kiddo,” Preston said, his bright tone sounding false to his own ears. He turned to Nancy and said, “Where is she now?”

  “Hospital,” she wheezed out. “Tom said they transported her there about forty minutes ago. “He tried to call your cell phone but couldn’t get an answer.”

  Dammit. Preston patted his pockets and realized he didn’t have it with him. He’d been so preoccupied, he’d totally forgotten it. Fuck. He’d missed Tom’s calls. He might’ve missed his CO too.

  “I need to get it from my cabin,” he straightened and took Parker’s hand. “Which hospital is she at?”