by Elle James
He’d been her most amazing lover. But he was more than that. He’d more than proven his daddy skills, and he was fun to be with, smart and strong. He cared about the people around him and would do anything to protect them from harm.
After less than a week with Chuck, Kate could already tell she was falling for him. Hard.
“Are you and your husband settling in nicely?” Becca asked.
Kate frowned. “Did I say we were new in town?”
Becca shot a glance her way, and her cheeks reddened. “I don’t remember. I just assumed you were new because you said you hadn’t seen many children in town when we were back at the grocery store.”
Kate remembered what Chuck had told her about sharing too much information with anybody. “Oh, we’ve been around for a while. I just meant that so many of our young couples leave town because there just aren’t that many jobs in the area. Thus, fewer children Lyla’s age.”
Not that she considered Becca a threat, but what Becca shared with another stranger, might be that little bit of information an attacker could use to abscond with Lyla.
Kate wasn’t taking any chances, but she wasn’t going to be rude to the woman who only seemed to want a friend to talk with.
Mary and Lyla climbed the ladder and slid down the slide a number of times before they grew bored and climbed the monkey bars a few more steps away from where Kate sat.
Kate leaned forward, her gaze scanning the park for threats. So far, the park was empty, except for a man on the far side wearing a baseball cap and playing with a puppy.
He was far enough away, he wouldn’t be a threat. Kate could reach Lyla before he could make it there.
She settled back and enjoyed the sunshine, her gaze again swinging from Lyla to Chuck and back. This was what life with the Navy SEAL could be like. If he was interested.
She cautioned herself not to raise her hopes too much. Just because he’d made love to her once, didn’t mean he wanted to do it again. Hell, he hadn’t made a move on her since.
Her lips twisted. Had making love to her been that bad?
Chuck held the cellphone to his ear, trying to make out what Hank was talking about. The reception was spotty. He’d done his best to give his boss an update, but he’d had to redial a couple of times already because of dropped calls.
He was most interested in learning more about Kujo’s investigation of the cult community in Idaho.
“Kujo…into the camp…tight security,” Hank was saying.
Chuck hated that he was only getting part of the conversation, and he had to ask for repeated clarification. “He got into the camp?”
“No. He couldn…”
“Has he seen Rachel?” Chuck asked.
“Not yet…and children seem to…guarded and…out of sight.”
“Pretended to wander…the camp and… stopped before he…within a hundred yards.”
Chuck snorted. “Why would they be that closed and have that good of security unless they were hiding something?”
“Or someone,” Hank said.
“Exactly.”
The phone went silent.
“Hank?” Chuck listened. Nothing. He looked down at his display only to find Call Ended written across the screen.
Muttering a curse, he dialed Hank’s number again.
“The reception where you…is poor. Call me…cottage.”
“Will do,” Chuck said and ended the call. He’d spent more time than he cared to away from Lyla and Kate. And they had yet to partake of their picnic lunch.
He glanced toward Lyla who was playing on the monkey bars with Mary, the little girl they’d met at the grocery store.
His gaze went to Kate seated on a bench, not far from where Lyla was playing. She seemed content to chat with Becca while she watched Lyla play.
Anyone watching would think nothing of Kate watching her child play. She kept a close eye on Lyla, her glance rarely moving away from her niece. Then she leaned forward, her brow furrowing.
Chuck looked back toward Lyla, and he frowned.
Where she’d been a moment before, she was no longer. Then he saw both little girls running across the open field toward a man with a puppy.
Chuck was off like a rocket, running as fast as he could, pumping his arms and legs.
Lyla had a pretty good head start.
Kate was off the bench and well ahead of him, running for Lyla. She’d make it to her first.
The thing that had him scared was that Lyla could make it to the man and his puppy before Kate or Chuck could reach her.
His heart pounding and lungs burning, he ran fast, but not fast enough.
Lyla’s little legs carried her across the grass and right up to the puppy.
The man stepped forward and leaned over the child, his hands outstretched.
“No!” Kate yelled. “Don’t take her!”
Chuck caught up with Kate, passed her and dove for Lyla just as the man’s hand came in contact with the little girl.
With the grace of a hawk swooping in to claim his prey, Chuck snatched Lyla out of the clutches of the man and crushed her to his chest.
Kate came to a skidding stop in front of them, breathing hard, her hair in wild disarray around her face. “Is she all right?” she demanded between deep breaths of air.
“She’s okay,” Chuck said, his gaze on the man.
He’d scooped up the puppy and held it away from the small children, a frown creasing his forehead. “What the hell was that all about?” he asked.
“You were about to take my n—daughter,” Kate said, a glare drawing her eyebrows into a V.
The man laughed. “No, your daughter was about to touch my puppy.” He glanced down at the animal in his arms. “Duchess isn’t used to small children. She might have bit your little girl. I was reaching down to rescue her.”
Kate’s frown deepened. “But I thought…and you were reaching…and I couldn’t get…” She bent double and placed her hands on her knees, dragging in deep, ragged breaths. She waved toward Chuck. “Tell him.”
“We thought you were trying to steal our little girl. Our mistake. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll leave you alone.”
Carrying Lyla in his arms, Chuck walked back toward the playground equipment.
Kate grabbed Mary’s hand and led her back, following behind Chuck.
Becca met them halfway across the field. “What was that all about?”
“Nothing,” Chuck said. “Just a misunderstanding.”
“Mary, did you get to pet the puppy?” Becca asked.
“No, ma’am,” she said and stood quietly next to her mother.
“Are you going to be here much longer?” Becca asked.
Chuck answered, “No. We have to be leaving. Remember that appointment we had?”
Kate glanced up at Chuck, her gaze questioning. But she nodded and played along. “Oh, yes. I almost forgot.” She turned to Becca. “I enjoyed spending time with you and Mary. Perhaps we can do it again, soon.”
“I’d like that, too. Will you be out tomorrow?” Becca asked, giving her a tentative smile.
“I’m not sure.” Kate shot a glance toward Chuck.
His lips tightened. He hoped Kate picked up on his desire not to make plans. Set up times to be places could be used against them. An attacker could arrange to be there ahead of time and surprise them, make a grab for Lyla and be gone before they knew what had happened.
“I’ll see you around,” Kate finally said and hurried over to grab the blanket off the ground and swing the backpack over her shoulder.
They walked back to the truck in silence. Even Lyla was quiet.
Chuck buckled her in and held Kate’s door for her while she climbed inside.
His heartbeat had barely settled back into a normal rhythm by the time he climbed into the driver’s seat.
If the man with the puppy had decided to grab Lyla and make a run for it, he could have done it.
Kate and Chuck might not have gotten to her
in time.
The whole situation made Chuck realize just how lax he’d gotten in his duty. He vowed to tighten up and take better care not to let his guard down for even a moment. Kate and Lyla were depending on him.
Chapter 10
Kate waited in the truck with Lyla while Chuck entered the house, checked it over thoroughly, and then returned with the all-clear sign of a thumbs-up.
She’d almost struck up a conversation a couple times on the short drive back to the cottage, but every time she glanced his way, his jaw was tight and his lips were pressed into a thin line.
Chuck appeared completely unapproachable and downright scary.
Instead, Kate clamped her lips together and waited for Chuck to loosen up. Apparently, Lyla running off to pet a puppy had rattled the SEAL. So much so, he had gone into professional bodyguard mode and was taking everything to the extreme.
Supper was the sandwiches Chuck had made.
Lyla pouted when they sat down at the dinner table. She was disappointed they hadn’t had time to have a picnic in the park.
To make up for it, Kate spread the picnic blanket on the floor of the living room, and they ate their sandwiches, as if they were on a picnic.
Chuck even pretended an ant got on his sandwich, sending Lyla into a fit of the giggles.
By the time Kate’s niece had her bath and dressed in her pajamas, she was already yawning.
Kate tucked her in, sat on the edge of her little bed and stroked her hair while reading from her favorite book.
Not three pages into the story, Lyla’s eyes drifted closed.
Making her voice quieter and softer, Kate kept reading. When she was certain Lyla was fast asleep, she rose from the bed. She tucked Sid Sloth under the child’s arm and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep tight, sweetheart. I love you.”
Kate stared down at Lyla, wishing with all her heart her sister was okay and would be back soon to claim her daughter. When Rachel did come back, Kate would miss being Lyla’s temporary mother. She’d miss reading stories to her and having picnics in the living room. She’d miss painting walls and eating hotdogs at the kitchen table. She’d miss being a family with Lyla and Chuck.
Her eyes blurring with unshed tears, Kate turned toward the door and stumbled into a hard wall of muscle.
Strong hands came up to cup her elbows. “What’s wrong?”
Chuck’s deep voice sounded so close to her ear, she leaned toward it, blinking back the tears so that he wouldn’t see them. “Nothing. I’m fine. Lyla’s fine. We’re all so freakin’ fine.”
Kate attempted to push past him, but he refused to release her arms.
“Seriously, what’s got you all wound up?”
“Is it wrong for me to want my sister to come back but want her to stay away at the same time?” She swallowed back a sob and looked over her shoulder at Lyla. “I never thought I wanted children.”
“Until you spent time with Lyla?” he said softly.
She nodded and a tear slipped from the corner of her eye. “Rachel had to be desperate to leave her. What could have gone so wrong that she would abandon that sweet little girl?” More tears spilled from her eyes. Tears she was helpless to contain.
Chuck tipped her chin up and pressed a kiss to her damp eyelids. “Rachel is going to be okay.”
“I hope you’re right.” Kate sniffed. “And when she comes back for Lyla…” Her lips twisted, and the tears fell faster. “I’ll miss her.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” Chuck pulled her into his arms and held her. “She has a way of fitting right into your heart, doesn’t she?”
“Yes.” Kate rested her cheek against Chuck’s chest, listening to the reassuringly steady beat of his heart. She’d miss Chuck, too. How could two people have become so much a part of her life in such a short time?
Kate curled her fingers into the fabric of Chuck’s shirt. She didn’t want to let him go. Not now, not ever.
What was she thinking? She couldn’t be in love with the guy. Kate Phillips, marketing executive and career woman, couldn’t possibly be in love with a man whom she’d only recently met. She’d never believed in love at first sight, or even insta-love. Relationships took time to build and grow. Didn’t they?
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she whispered. “I don’t want to let go.”
Chuck brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “You’re a mess, you know that? For a woman who knew exactly what she wanted out of life, you’re going all wishy-washy on me.”
She laughed, the sound catching on a sob. “I know. It’s not like me to lose it.” Now, her tears were falling in earnest down her cheeks.
Chuck brushed away some of them with his thumbs, but there were too many to catch. “Darlin’, you’ve got to shut off these waterworks, or you’ll have me bawling before you know it.”
Kate smiled at the thought and scrubbed at the tears on her cheeks. “I didn’t think SEALs could cry.”
“Oh, they can, all right. Just don’t tell anyone. They’d never believe you anyway.” He bent and scooped her up in his arms.
“Are you taking me to bed to make mad, passionate love to me?” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “Because, if you are, could you please hurry?”
He hesitated in the hallway, his glance going to the open door of her bedroom. Then he must have thought better of it because he turned the opposite direction. “Let’s take this conversation to the living room. I can’t think when you’re naked.”
She looped her arm around his neck as he carried her to the couch. “Do you mean that in a good way or a bad way?”
“Both.” He sat on the couch and settled her across his lap.
“Are we going to talk? Or neck like teenagers?” She pressed her lips to his cheek. “You know where I want to go with it.”
He cupped her cheeks between his palms and held her still. “Kate, what are we doing here?”
Her heart stilled for a second, and then thundered against the walls of her chest. “I thought it was pretty clear. Why else would you carry me here and sit with me in your lap.” She frowned. “Am I getting mixed signals?” Kate wiggled on his lap, certain of a growing erection beneath her bottom.
“You’re right. I had every intention of kissing you, but it’s more than that. What are we doing? Where are we going?”
Her heart slid slowly into her gut, a bad feeling creeping through her soul. “I thought what we were feeling was mutual.” She swallowed hard. “Is it not?”
Chuck nodded. “I can’t deny that I have feelings for you. But I’m not sure where they’re going.”
“No?” Kate’s voice choked into a whisper.
“I was married once. I had it all. A wife, a little girl much like Lyla, and a home to go to.”
“And you lost it,” Kate concluded softly. “I’m sorry you had to experience that. But that was years ago. You can’t live forever in the past.”
“No, but it’s tainted my expectations for the future.”
“I don’t understand.”
“What if I fall in love again?”
An icy blade stabbed Kate’s heart. He’d said if.
Kate moved off his lap and sat on the couch beside him. “Go on,” she encouraged, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what came next.
“What we’ve had this past week has been amazing. I feel like I’m a part of a family again. And frankly, it scares the hell out of me.”
She frowned. “But you’re a Navy SEAL. You’ve been in battles that would leave me quaking in fear. How can a family come close to that kind of trauma?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again and giving her a bleak look. “I don’t know if I could handle losing my family again. If I give my heart to someone and she dies, I don’t think I could go on living.”
Kate pushed up off the couch, and walked to the picture window and stared at the curtains drawn for the night. “So, what you’re really saying is you don’t want to commit to anyo
ne, for fear of losing them.”
“Yeah.”
“I see.” She turned to face him, pasting a smile on her face, though her heart was cracking into a million pieces. “And what happened the other night?”
“It was amazing. You’re amazing.” He stood and walked toward her, his arms outstretched as if to embrace her. “But it should never have happened.”
Kate held up a hand and shook her head. “Stop.”
“Kate, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Who said you hurt me?” She lifted her chin and widened her smile. “All of this week has been a big act for the sake of protecting Lyla. I don’t expect anything else from you. The other night was just a bonus fling. Nothing more.” She ducked around him and headed for the bedroom, her eyes stinging.
“Kate…” Chuck called out after her.
“I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” At that point, she gave up trying to make a graceful exit and ran the rest of the way to the bedroom.
When she closed the door behind her, she leaned against it and slid to the floor, tears flowing silently down her cheeks.
What had she expected? A confirmed bachelor like Chuck wouldn’t just fall for a career-minded, almost middle-aged woman. Not when he could have any woman on the planet with just the crook of his finger.
When he’d made love to her the other night, it had been sex. Not love. To think otherwise was setting herself up for a heaping helping of heartache.
Kate pressed a hand to her chest, the pain radiating throughout her body.
“Damn. Damn. Damn.” She’d committed the ultimate folly and fallen in love with a man who couldn’t love her in return. They wrote songs about it. Unrequited love. That would be the story of her life.
When Rachel returned to claim Lyla, Kate would go back to her life as a corporate executive. Back to her tastefully decorated apartment in LA and a life she thought she loved and had…until now.