The SEAL's Christmas Baby

by Katie Knight

  “Wow. That’s awesome, Lila.” Preston smiled, his dark eyes warm with genuine happiness.

  “Yeah. I’m kind of proud of myself, doing it all on my own.” She shrugged. “There wasn’t anyone else I could depend on. I thought you were dead.”

  He flinched at that, but she refused to take it back. It was the truth, after all.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, visits with Santa will start shortly, please get in line over here. Thanks.” The owner of the lodge stepped down from behind the mic and Lila turned to Preston again.

  “That’s my cue to go,” she said, pushing to her feet.

  “Hey,” he said. “If you’re not doing anything tomorrow and I’m still around, would you like to spend the day together? It might give you an extra set of hands and give me more time with Parker.”

  Lila hesitated a moment. Part of her wanted to say yes and take whatever he wanted to offer them. But the other part of her was still unsure about all of this.

  “Mommy!” Parker yelled from behind her. “C’mon on! Santa’s ready!”

  “Please?” Preston asked, his gaze beseeching.

  “Fine.” She stepped back. “Come over at nine tomorrow and we can go from there.”

  Eleven

  Preston arrived bright and early the next morning at Lila’s cabin, intent on making that day the best day ever—as long as no phone calls came through to ruin it. He was still waiting on an update from his CO. Once his new orders came in, he’d have to leave as soon as possible. But for now, he had this precious time with his son to enjoy.

  He stepped up onto the wooden porch and raised his hand to knock on the door, only to notice a dusting of wood filings on the floor. Huh. That was odd. He bent slightly to look closer and spotted gouges and scratches near the lock, like someone had tried to jimmy it. Preston frowned. As far as he knew there was little to no crime in the area. Not that he was up on the California law enforcement statistics, but from his experience the lodge hardly seemed like a hotbed of criminal activity.

  Then again, he’d certainly learned that crime and violence was possible just about anywhere. He leaned in closer to inspect the strike plate, tested it. Yep, loose. His frown deepened to a scowl. Before he could check anything else, however, the door opened and Lila stared down at him with a puzzled expression.

  “Most people just knock, they don’t pick the locks,” she said with an arched brow.

  “Funny.” Preston straightened. “Did you lose your key to the cabin?”

  “No, why?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

  “Looks like someone’s tampered with the door here.” He pointed out what he’d found. “Have you noticed any other signs of a break in? Tampering with the windows or suspicious people lurking around?”

  “The only suspicious person I’ve seen lurking is you,” she said sharply before waving him inside. “C’mon, you’re letting all the heat out.”

  He exhaled then walked inside, his instincts on high alert. She wasn’t taking him seriously. Yeah, sure, he deserved that little dig. Lila always had been one to call a spade a spade. Her honesty was one of the things he liked most about her. But even if she was still hurt over his past deceptions, she should take him seriously when it came to potential danger. While she futzed around with picking up Parker’s toys and cleaning up after his breakfast, he discreetly checked the windows in the living room for signs of tampering. This was what he did, who he was. A protector. It made him feel needed to take care of her and Parker for as long as he was here.

  “Mind if I use your bathroom?” he asked once he’d found the living room windows locked and clear.

  “Down the hall, second door on the left,” she called from the kitchen, not looking up from where she was rinsing dishes in the sink.

  He inspected the bathroom and found everything okay. Checked the back door for signs of tampering or forced entry but found none, then moved on to the bedrooms. Lila’s was larger, with the bed made and neat as a pin. Parker’s was smaller and had messy sheets and toys and stuffed animals strewn everywhere. Preston checked the windows in both and found the one in Parker’s room closed but unlatched. His heart nosedived and a wave of paternal fear nearly knocked him to his knees. Then his years of military training automatically kicked in and he mentally retraced what he’d found so far.

  Hard to tell if anything had been disturbed in the kid’s room, but based on the marks on the front door, if an intruder had broken in, they’d most likely entered from there, done whatever it was they’d come to do, then headed down the hall and exited through Parker’s window. If Preston’s instincts were correct, there should be signs of escape outside. But first, he needed to ask Lila if she’d noticed anything out of place or missing. From what he’d seen, she and Parker didn’t have much that would be worth big dollars, but she had mentioned coming into some money from the sale of that property she’d inherited, so maybe she had more expensive items around he didn’t know about. He locked the window and double checked to make sure it was secure before leaving.

  “Hey, Lila,” he said, emerging back into the living room. “Have you noticed—”

  “Ready to go?” she asked, cutting him off. She had a heavy tote over one shoulder and the plastic sled under her other arm. “Thought we could hit the hill again for a while.”

  “Daddy!” Parker came running over to him, arms outstretched. “Daddy! Pick me up!”

  The little boy’s slight lisp on the “d” in daddy was his undoing. So adorable. He wanted to keep them safe, but he also wanted to share a happy day with them. Besides, he wasn’t even sure if there had been a break in at all. Until he had all the evidence, there was no sense scaring them.

  “Hey!” He bent to sweep his son up into his arms and grinned. “How are you this morning?”

  Parker pointed at Lila. “Sletting!”

  “Yeah, I see that,” Preston said, following Lila to the door taking the unwieldy sled from her to carry. “Be sure to lock up tight.”

  “Always do,” she said, giving him a look.

  “I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t.” He sighed. He hadn’t intended to get into this now, but she’d all but led him into it. “Did you know the window in Parker’s room was unlocked?”

  Lila looked up at him after locking the front door, her expression surprised. “No. I check it every time I go in there and it was locked last night.” She frowned at Parker. “Honey, did you open your window?”

  The kid shook his head.

  “I doubt he’s tall enough to reach the lock anyway, unless he stood on top of something.” He followed her off the porch then around the side of the house toward the hill where they’d been the day before. As he passed by Parker’s window, he scanned the snow. They’d not gotten any new accumulation the previous night, so any tracks that were there would still be fresh. He prayed he wouldn’t see anything, that it was all in his imagination, that things were fine. But sure enough, there were footprints leading away from Parker’s window and toward the road.

  Dammit.

  “What?” Lila asked, glancing at him as they walked onward. “You look concerned.”

  “I’ll tell you later.” He was most definitely concerned but didn’t want to alarm Parker and risk the tentative accord they’d reached, so he kept it to himself for the time being. When they got back, he’d do a full reconnaissance of the place and set up his own perimeter to guard. He might only be here temporarily, but no one messed with what was his. No one. Even petty thieves. “C’mon. Let’s get to that hill before it’s too crowded.”

  They spent the rest of the morning sledding and laughing and having a good time. By the time they dropped the sled back off at Lila’s cabin then walked to the main lodge for lunch, they were all starving and in need of a rest. Preston got them a table in the dining room while Lila helped Parker off with his coat and gloves.

  “What can I get you folks today?” the waitress asked.

  They ordered their meals, then Preston added, “An
d a soda for me.”

  “I’ll take a water, please,” Lila said. “And a hot cocoa for my son.”

  “Got it. Three grilled cheese and tomato soups, a water, a soda, and a hot chocolate coming up.”

  The waitress left and Preston shrugged out of his coat, rubbing his hands together to warm them. “That was fun. Thanks for letting me tag along.”

  “It was fun.” She fiddled with her silverware on the table, then watched Parker as he scribbled on his placemat with the crayons the server had left for him. “Did you have fun, buddy?”

  “Yeah.” Parker continued to colour without looking up. “Thanks, Mommy and Daddy.”

  Warmth that had nothing to do with the flames crackling in the fire place in the corner, spread outward from his chest to his extremities. “You’re welcome, son.”

  Lila’s eyes met his when he said that and his breath caught. For a moment, the years slipped away, all the old hurts and new problems and just the three of them existed, like the family they always should’ve been. It was a gift he wouldn’t soon forget.

  Then the waitress brought their drinks and the moment was gone.

  “So, I know you like to sled,” Preston said, tearing the wrapper off his paper straw before shoving it in his glass and taking a sip. “Any other winter sports you plan to try out during your stay? If I remember right, there’s skating and skiing here too.”

  “I do like to ski,” Lila said, running her fingers up the sides of her water glass, the condensation there glistening under the lights above their table. His throat dried as he remembered her touching him that way, soft and smooth. When it had been skin under her fingers instead of glass, it had been so, so sensual. As if sensing the erotic turn of his thoughts, she cleared her throat and clasped her hands in her lap. “But I’m not sure Parker’s ready for that yet. Skating either. His motor skills are fine for his age, but I’d hate for him to get hurt on the ice.”

  “Hmm. Well, you won’t know until you try.” He couldn’t resist reaching over to ruffle the kid’s hair while he frowned down at the purple horse he was working on. Parker had a habit of sticking out his tongue when he concentrated. Preston did the same thing, as the guys on his SEAL team had pointed out on several occasions, mocking him for it. Just another connection with his son that made this time all the more precious. It still amazed him how quickly he’d come to care for the kid, how he’d lay down his life to the little guy right now if needed. He’d always heard that the bond between parent and child could be the strongest on earth, but he’d never experienced it before now. He’d only had that for a few short, barely remembered years when he was growing up himself, so to be so connected like this to Parker now was incredible.

  After lunch, they bundled up again and headed outside once more. Preston scanned the area and spotted the sign for the skating pond, which was located on the opposite side of the lodge from the sledding hill. “What do you say?” he asked Lila, keeping his voice low to avoid Parker overhearing. “Want to try skating?”

  “I don’t know,” she hesitated. “What if he can’t do it?”

  “Then I’ll carry him.” Preston grinned. “Seriously. Let him try. It’ll build his confidence. I won’t let him get hurt, I promise.”

  After a deep breath, she nodded and they started toward the icy pond where lots of other guests were already milling about. They stopped by the booth and rented their skates, then sat down to put them on.

  It had been a long time since Preston had ice skated, but he used to play hockey in school and he figured it was like riding a bike—the muscle memory too entrenched for him to ever fully forget. Lila, it turned out, was pretty good. She’d taken lessons as a little girl, she said as she turned and twirled on the ice. Parker was a bit too wobbly and after a couple of near misses in the falling department, Preston swept the kid up to perch on his shoulders. Better that way, given the number of people out on the ice anyway.

  Lila gave them nervous looks every so often, but eventually she relaxed when she realized Preston would never let their son plummet to his death. After an hour or so, they were even holding hands as they circled the pond. He couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was almost like he’d never left. They laughed, they talked, they bonded.

  “Are you having fun, buddy?” Lila asked Parker as she skated backward in front of them, her cheeks pink and her eyes sparkling with joy. “Let’s see if we can go a little faster, huh? Would you like that?”

  “Yeah!” Parker called, his high-pitched voice filled with excitement. “Go faster!”

  Lila had gained a bit of ground on them. The sun peaked out from behind the clouds, casting a shimmering radiance over the snow. Her blonde hair whipped around her cheeks from beneath her hat and her giggles filled the air, spurring him on as she clapped to encourage him.

  “C’mon, loser,” she called. “Put your back into it, Preston!”

  It all seemed perfect. Too perfect.

  An ominous cracking sound filled the air and Lila’s eyes widened with shock. Seconds later the ice in front of where she was standing gave way. More fissures opened, heading straight for her. Preston skirted to the side, around the cracks, and raced forward toward her. Too late. She screamed, scaring a nearby flock of crows and sending them flying into the air, squawking and keening. A hush fell over the crowds on the side of the pond.

  Fuck.

  Acting on pure adrenaline, Preston gripped Parker’s legs tight in his hands to keep from toppling him off his shoulders. “Lila! I’m coming.”

  It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Preston skated past her, managing to grab her arm and haul her away with him before she went under, though her feet and lower legs were soaked. She clung to him, shaking—whether from shock or injury he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that hypothermia was nothing to mess with and he needed to get them to solid ground. What seemed like a small eternity later, they reached a bench. He put Parker down then helped Lila onto the seat. His muscles were burning and his chest ached from exertion, but all that mattered was that Lila was safe. That the two people he cared for most in the world were safe.

  He crouched in front of her and cupped her chilled cheeks in his hands as the staff from the skate rental booth rushed over to place a warm blanket around her shoulders. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Are you injured at all?”

  “I-I’m f-fine,” she stuttered, still trembling all over. “C-cold though.”

  Parker climbed up on the bench and hugged his mom tight. “Mommy. Don’t cry.”

  “I-I’m not,” she said, sniffling. “J-just cold.”

  “We need to get you back to the cabin and out of those wet clothes,” Preston said, straightening. He turned to the guy from the rental booth and pointed at the small ATV cart parked behind the skate rental sign emblazoned with the lodge logo. “Can you take us back to her cabin?”

  “Sure thing, sir,” the guy said. “Let me tell my co-worker then we’ll get you all loaded up.”

  Preston helped Lila stand then picked up Parker again before taking Lila’s hand in his as they made their way over to the cart. The niggle of unease inside him grew stronger. After what he’d found at her cabin this morning, his first thoughts were that someone had done this deliberately. Which made no sense, since lots of other people had been skating on the pond before them without issue—and there was no reason for anyone to expect them to end up on that particular patch of ice at all. Also, why would anyone be after Lila? Still, he planned to look into things further, if for no other reason than to make sure nothing like this ever happened to her again.

  Twelve

  Lila stood under the steaming hot shower an hour later, glad the cold was finally seeping from her system. She’d been lucky. She knew that. If Preston hadn’t been there, she could have easily fallen all the way through the ice and then…

  She shuddered and rubbed her arms once more. Strange how the ice had chosen to break just then, but then she’d skated enough to know it wasn’t impossible. Anytime you wer
e using natural ponds versus an indoor rink, you ran the risk of the ice not being thick enough or it succumbing to wear and tear. The later had to have been what happened today since a sign posted near the skate rental booth promised that the staff inspected the pond each morning for ice thickness before opening it up to the public.

  Still, even knowing it had been an accident, Lila was still shaken. She finished soaping up then rinsing off before shutting off the shower and getting out to dry off. Thank goodness Parker had been with Preston and not with her at the time the ice had broken. If anything had happened to her son she didn’t know what she’d do. He was her only family now. It was just the two of them against the world. And if she’d fallen through and drowned? Well, then poor little Parker would be alone. Sure she had friends, but none that she felt could raise her son properly if she was gone. If anything happened to her, he could end up an orphan. She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against the vanity, the damp towel wrapped around her tight.

  Parker could end up an orphan just like his father.

  Exhaling slowly, she left the bathroom and darted the short distance to her bedroom, the sounds of Preston playing with Parker in the living room echoing down the hall. As she pulled on fresh clothes, her mind kept churning over the problem. The easiest solution would be to name Preston as her son’s guardian in the event anything should happen to her. He was Parker’s biological father and wouldn’t want his son to be all alone any more than she did.

  But the major, obvious, problem with that was Preston’s dangerous and nomadic lifestyle. He never knew where he’d be from one day to the next. He travelled for months at a time. Hell, according to the world at large, he didn’t even exist at all these days, at least not as the man she’d known and loved. There was no way they could make that arrangement work, if needed. Was there?

  By the time she was dressed and ready again, she still hadn’t worked out a solution to the problem. She walked down the hall to the living room to find Preston on the sofa with Parker, reading his dolphin book for the eleventy-billionth time. Preston would probably end up with it memorized too, if he stuck around long enough.