Return of a Soldier (Soldier Series Romance Novellas) (3 page)

I turned off the water and dressed, pulling on a fresh pair of jeans and green tee shirt.
  There was no sense in wearing something cutesy for Trent this morning when I’d be taking care of Hannah all day.  I towel-dried my hair and quickly ran a comb through it, then dabbed a little bit of concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes.  My face looked pale, so I quickly swiped on a little pink blush as well.  Padding barefoot down the hallway, I quietly walked downstairs to find Trent setting our breakfast on the table.  He looked completely at ease in the kitchen, with everything arranged neatly on the counter and the dirty dishes already soaking in the sink.

“Good morning,” he said
, his voice deep, as his dark brown eyes gazed into mine.

“Good morning,” I said, giving him a small smile.  I walked over
and let him engulf me in a hug, relaxing against the warmth of his chest.

“How’s Hannah?” he asked quietly, his lips brushing against my hair.

“Better, I think.  Hopefully the worst is over—poor kid.  She’s still sleeping, so I’m just going to let her rest.”

“Do you need me to pick up any medicine?”

“No, it’s just a stomach bug.  She’ll be fine.  But it looks like we’ll be spending the day resting at home.”

“
Staying here with you and Hannah is fine with me,” he said easily.

I smiled up at him then stretched up on my tip toes to give him a kiss. 
His warm lips hungrily met mine, and for a brief moment I felt a pang of regret at what this morning could have been.  “Are you sure?” I asked.

“
Of course.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Let’s enjoy breakfast then,” I said, breaking our embrace.  “Because I promise we won’t have a moment of peace all day as soon as Hannah gets up.”

“My turn! My turn!” Hannah shrieked hysterically later that afternoon.  She and Trent were in the living room, racing toy cars across the hardwood floor.  Hannah had been given them for her birthday a couple of years ago, but they’d been long forgotten at the bottom of her toy chest.  Trent had dug them out in an effort to find something to cheer up Hannah, who now that she was feeling better, was sad that she didn’t get to spend the day with her cousins.  Or she
was
sad until she remembered her new playmate in Trent.

“Oh, you think you can win this time?”

“Yes!  I’m good at winning.”

I laughed and left the two of them
happily playing together while I went upstairs to do a little packing.  I hadn’t told Trent yet, but I was taking Hannah and him on a mini-vacation later this week to a cabin at a nearby lake.  Although it wasn’t “our” cabin, I thought it would be a fun getaway for the three of us.  The lake was really popular during the summer but wasn’t very crowded this time of year.  We’d probably have the entire area to ourselves, with plenty of privacy and time for relaxing.  The water would still be a little cool for swimming, but we could spend a few days outside, picnicking and enjoying the great outdoors.  I was already envisioning Trent and I spending time alone under the stars after Hannah went to bed, snuggled up under a blanket on the front porch or walking down by the water.

I finished packing a bag for Hannah and was tossing a few things into my own small suitcase whe
n Trent appeared in the doorway to my bedroom.  “Packing a bag?  You’re not tired of me already, are you?” he teased.

I laughed and tossed the first thing I
could grab at him, which happened to be a lacy thong.

“Hmmm,” he said mischievously as he glanced down at the skimpy undergarment.  “I wouldn’t mind seeing you in this.”

“That’s for later,” I said, walking across the room and snatching it back from him.

He caught me in his arms and pulled me into an embrace. 
“Tonight?” he asked hopefully, bending down so that his lips brushed against mine in a soft kiss.

“
No, not tonight,” I said, trying not to let myself get distracted as I knew Hannah was just down the hall.  I could hear water running from the sink in the bathroom and knew she’d be out in any moment.  “I thought we’d go to the lake this week, spend a few days up at a cabin.”

“Hopefully not the same cabin we broke into last winter,” Trent said with a chuckle.

I laughed.  “You don’t think they’d want us back there?  We did close the door when we left.  And wash the glasses we used.”

“We did?”

“Yeah, I washed them and put them back.  Good as new,” I said with a grin.  “Anyway, that particular cabin wasn’t on the lake, as I’m sure you recall, so it wouldn’t work for this trip anyway.”

“Well
, that’s a relief.  It was really more suited for two anyway.”

I smirked and glanced over at Hannah, who’d just appeared in the doorway. 
“Mommy?  Why is there a bag on my bed?  Am I going back to Aunt Marissa’s?”

“No, honey, not today.
  But after you’re feeling better we are going to take a trip with Mr. Trent.”

“
Really?  Where?  Where?” she asked, excitedly jumping up and down.

I glanced over at Trent and smiled as he watched her with amusement.  “Well, I thought it would be fun i
f we all went up to the lake together.”

“The lake?
  Yay!  Can we go tonight?”

“As soon as you’re feeling better, we’ll all go. 
Hopefully tomorrow or the next day.”

“I am feeling better,” she said, starting to pout.

“I know you are, but I didn’t book the cabin for today.  You were going to be at Aunt Marissa’s, remember?”

“Oh, right.”

“Let’s go get dinner started, okay?  We’re going to eat early tonight and then watch a movie together.”

“What’s for dinner?”

“Mr. Trent said he’d cook for us, so you’ll have to ask him.”

“Want to give me a hand, Hannah?”
Trent asked.

“A hand?”
  Hannah looked down at her hands and then back up at Trent, confused.

“He means do you want to help him cook dinner,” I explained with a smile.

“Oh.  Yes, I’ll help.  I like to help Mommy.”

“Great!  Then let’s go make something delicious and surprise your mom.”

“We get to have a surprise?”

Trent laughed as they walked down the hall together.  “Well, sort of….”  His voice trailed off as they continued downstairs, and
I smiled to myself.  Hannah was doing so much better that it looked like our week of fun wouldn’t be ruined after all.

***

Trent rounded the corner of the steep mountain road in the Jeep, driving us past pine trees and tall oaks with thick foliage beneath them.  I noticed the rustle of some branches and hoped it was just a deer or two and not some larger unwelcome animal.  I’d heard stories of people spotting bears up near the cabins and lake, but I’d grown up coming here and fortunately had yet to encounter any myself.  Hannah was hoping to see an alligator, but I had to regretfully tell her that we didn’t have any around here.  The possibility of seeing a turtle in the lake seemed to appease her though, and I hoped we’d actually be able to spot one.

On
the other side of the road, we had a magnificent view of the valley below.  The houses and roads looked so tiny in the distance, full of people and cars who had no idea we could spot them from high up above.  It almost looked like one of Hannah’s little play sets from our vantage point.  The mountain road twisted and turned as we neared our destination, and Hannah giggled in delight as each turn seemed to bring us closer to the edge and steep drop-off.  I held my breath as I dared to look straight down and reminded myself that I had no reason to worry.  The road was completely safe, with guard rails all along the side in case someone ever did get into an accident.  Weather-wise, it was a perfect day—perfect for our first afternoon up at the lake, and perfect conditions for driving the mountain roads as well.

Fifteen minutes later we were finally pulling up the gravel road to our cabin.
  It was a simple one-story wooden structure, with a large front porch and swing.  There were other cabins nestled amongst the trees, but I didn’t see any other cars around.  I hadn’t really expected any this time of year.  During the summer months this area was very popular, with kids swimming in the lake and families outside barbequing, but because it was springtime and we’d driven up in the middle of the week, I figured that we’d have the entire place to ourselves.

“We’re here!  We’re here!” Hannah shouted.  She unbuckled her seatbelt and stood up.  “Mommy, let me out!”

“Be patient, Sweetie.  Trent and I have to get out of the car first and open the door for you.”

“All right,” she
reluctantly agreed.

I glanced over at Trent and smiled.  “I’ll get Hannah.  Do you want to grab some of our bags?”

“Sure thing,” he said with a grin.  He leaned over and gave me a quick peck on the lips.  Hannah didn’t seem to notice or care, but I reluctantly pulled away and got out of the Jeep.  As soon as I opened the back door, Hannah jumped out.

“Let’s go swimming!” she shouted.

“The water’s going to be a little cold.”

“I don’t care; I want to go swimming!”

I laughed as I walked around to the back of the Jeep to help Trent.  “Well, you might care as soon as you jump in the lake.  It’s much colder than when we come up here in the summertime.  But we can try swimming after we unpack.  We have to bring our bags inside the cabin and unpack all the food in the cooler.”

“I’ll help,
then we can go swimming faster.”

Trent chuck
led beside me as he pulled his duffle bag and my small suitcase from the trunk.  His biceps bulged against the tee shirt he was wearing, and I couldn’t wait until we were alone later this evening.  Nothing would be better than sitting out under the stars with Trent’s arms wrapped around me.  “She’s a smart one,” he said, breaking my train of thought.  “You can’t argue with that logic.”

“No you can’t,” I agreed, bending down to kiss the top of Hannah’s head.
  I picked up Hannah’s bag and the small tote full of toys that we’d brought for her to play with.  “Here, do you want to carry this?”

“Yes, I’ll carry
that.  Come on, Mr. Trent is already waiting at the front door!”

Trent was already setting down the bags he’d carried on the porch and was walking back to the Jeep for another load.  “Don’t worry, Hannah, we’ve still got more to unpack.”  He lifted the cooler out from the back of the
Jeep and grinned at her.  “Do you want to carry this, or should I?”

Hannah eyed him thoughtfully, seeming to debate the matter.  “Maybe you should.  It might be heavy.  I don’t think my mom can carry that either.”

Trent and I laughed.  “Come on,” I said, giving Hannah a little nudge forward.  “Let’s go inside.”

Later that night, I quietly closed the door to Hannah’s bedroom, happy to find her fast asleep after our busy day.  Once we’d finished unpacking we’d changed into our swimsuits, dipped our toes in the chilly lake water, thrown a Frisbee around, played with some of Hannah’s sand toys on the makeshift beach, and then grilled hot dogs and s’mores.  After a bath and bedtime stories, I wasn’t sure who was more exhausted—Hannah or me.  While I had visions of a warm bubble bath or maybe snuggling up under a blanket with Trent on the wooden porch swing, he had something slightly more adventurous in mind.

“Let’s go swimming,”
he said, his eyes sparkling at the idea of the two of us out in the lake under the moonlight.

“Now?
  The water’s probably freezing,” I said with a giggle.  Hannah was sound asleep, and Trent’s suggestion made me feel like we were two teenagers trying to sneak out for the night.  I was ready to stay in for a relaxing evening while he seemed raring to go.

“I’ll keep you warm,” he said huskily,
walking over and wrapping his arms around me.  His muscular arms encased my bare ones, sending an electric current straight through me where our skin touched as if to prove his point.  Suddenly I didn’t feel quite so sleepy after all.

“Is that a promise?”

“Um-hmmm,” he mumbled, ducking his head down and brushing his lips against mine.

“All right,” I agreed, relenting
as I saw how eager he was.  “Let me go change.”  I disentangled myself from Trent’s embrace and flashed a grin over my shoulders as I went back to our bedroom.  My black string bikini had dried from our earlier adventures, so I slipped that back on and grabbed a giant beach towel.  Wrapping it around myself to stay warm, I walked back out and saw that Trent had already put on his swim trunks and a long-sleeved crewneck sweater and had gotten a large cotton blanket from the back of his Jeep.

“She’ll be okay,” he said, glancing over at Hannah’s door and sensing my reluctance.  “We’ll be right outside
, and we can come back and check on her.”

“I know.
  The poor kid’s out like a light.”

“Mission accomplished,” Trent said with a grin.