WindSwept Narrows: #8 Hannah Taylor

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “The address,” he kissed her and backed toward the door. “Tomorrow. Noon. I’ll see you there, Hannah. Night, Lili…”

  “Night, Noah…”

  “So tell me…how was your date?” Hannah asked as she got the little girl ready for bed.

  “It was fun. We had nuggets and milkshake. Then we went shopping,” Lili wiggled into the pajamas, tugging the top over her head and climbing into bed with a large book. “Noah said he’ll read me a story tomorrow night when we have our sleep over. I want to take this book, okay?”

  Hannah felt herself holding her breath.

  “Alright. This is our first sleep over,” she said quietly.

  “Noah says sleep overs are special an’ I have my own room,” she said with a bright smile. “With a big girl bed.”

  “Wow…that is pretty special,” she admitted with a kiss, settling back and letting Lili pick out her story for the night. She read the words, a tiny part of her mind wondering if she could truly handle a round life. There were so many pieces to juggle.

  Chapter Six

  Noah was on his way to the daycare when he noticed Eve looking frantic. He broke into a run when she waved him down, following her back inside.

  “I was going to call then I saw you headed here…” Eve led him to the room where the children were being led out. Lili sat on the floor, jumping to her feet and running to Noah.

  “Noah!” She jumped into his arms, her hands around his neck. “You have to help mama!”

  He quickly handed her off to Eve, dropping to his knees and lifting Hannah’s palm. “What happened?”

  “Lili said she just leaned against the wall and slid down,” Eve answered quietly, partially closing the door behind her. “I think she just fainted…”

  “Hannah…” He tapped her face lightly, watching her blink a few times before her eyes flew wide. His hands went to her shoulders, holding her still. “Whoa…easy…no bouncing up yet…”

  “I…how’d I…” Hannah pushed against the floor, straightening her back against the wall. “I guess I was a little light headed…I was playing on the floor with Lili and some of the kids…” She automatically accepted Lili into her arms with a reassuring hug. “It’s okay, baby…I’m good…”

  “Let’s take a trip to the health center and make sure,” Noah lifted Lili from her and held out his palm, frowning to himself.

  “The…I’m okay, Noah,” Hannah matched his frown. “Okay…I missed lunch…so I’ll grab a shake or something…” She waved at Eve after signing Lili out for the weekend.

  “I think you’ll come to the center with me and let me check you over,” he said simply, gripping her palm and leading her to the floor mover. They stepped on the slow moving panels and glared at one another. “You passed out, Hannah. Out. What’d you have for breakfast?”

  “Noah…you are not my doctor,” she said firmly.

  Noah caught himself from what he almost ground out. “Fine. Someone else can check you over, but you’re going to see someone.”

  “You’re being pushy.”

  “I’m being concerned,” he tossed back, taking her palm and leading her from the mover to the doors to the lower level of the health center. He swore loudly seconds later, barely catching Lili and setting her on the floor before breaking Hannah’s glide to the ground. “Okay…no protest this time. Lili, can you walk?”

  “Yep…I got feet,” she watched him lift Hannah in his arms. “What’s wrong with mama?”

  “Grab my jacket and stay with me,” He ordered brusquely, slowing only when he saw an orderly. “Carry her and bring her this way,” he ordered the man without stopping, seeing him lift Lili and follow at a fast clip to keep up with Noah. “Empty bay!” He called out as he entered the area, following the instantly pointing hand of the nurse on duty. “Put Lili on the chair, thanks, Mike. Carol!”

  “Right here,” returned the petite woman dressed in bright orange scrubs who came rushing in behind him.

  “I want blood work…electrolytes, blood sugar and a pregnancy panel, ASAP,” he ordered, quickly checking Hannah’s eyes before going to the small fridge they kept in each bay. He waited until the blood was taken before shaking the protein drink.

  “Name?” Carol held her marker poised.

  “Hannah Madison,” he answered firmly, aware of the instant silence around them. He popped the top on the shake and set it on the stand, his hands gently tapping her cheeks once more. “Hannah…come on…wake up…” He was sure he didn’t breathe until the pale lashes began to flutter.

  “Oh, god…not again…” She peered at him, her mouth dry and heart thumping.

  “You skipped breakfast, didn’t you?” Noah pushed the drink into her hand. “Drink that. All of it. Now.”

  “You are bossy,” she made a face and took a sip before taking a larger drink.

  “Trust me, I can be worse,” he said flatly, pulling a stool over and sinking to sit at her side. “And if you think for a minute you’re getting behind the wheel of the car without drinking that whole thing, you’re greatly mistaken, Hannah.”

  “I ate toast this morning,” she said petulantly, taking another large drink. “This is pretty tasty.”

  “Toast is not a breakfast,” he read the results on the iPad at his side. “Your blood sugar was way below normal. Without food, you have no energy, without energy, you can’t go running all over the complex…”

  “I know, I know…I’ll…I won’t let it happen again, Noah,” Hannah finished the chocolate drink and handed him the empty bottle. “And I would not ever risk Lili if I didn’t feel…if I thought…”

  “I don’t think you planned to pass out, Hannah,” Noah interrupted. “Let’s see if you can stand up without feeling light headed.”

  “I really do feel okay, Noah. Honestly. Not…I’m not just saying this…” She slid to the floor beside the gurney, glancing around at the empty bay and then at her arm. “You took blood?”

  “Carol did…” He answered without remorse. “It’s how I knew your blood sugar was in the toilet. Okay…how about I ride to my place with you and we can get my car in the morning? Or tomorrow sometime…I’ll drive,” he accepted the nod and keys she lifted from the jacket of her pocket. “Let’s go, Lili,” he scooped her off the chair, watching her study the inside of the bay with a curiosity that seemed to come natural to her. “Wanna be a doctor when you grow up?”

  “Lots of machines,” she commented thoughtfully, thinking over his question. “Uncle Dylan can fly an airplane.”

  “Hmm…guess I can’t compete with that,” Noah admitted, bundling her into the car and waiting while Hannah was in the passenger seat. The iPad he’d slid into his jacket pocket sounded and he pulled it out, reading quickly and putting it away again. “We’re off for the weekend. Got everything we need? A stop at your apartment for anything?” He set his glasses on the dash and adjusted the seat. “Hannah…”

  “I’m okay, Noah. Honestly. I’m not a fainting kind of girl,” she told him firmly, making a serious mental note to get some of those protein shakes.

  “Yeah…okay…let’s go,” he started the car and slid his glasses back on his nose.

  “I didn’t mean to worry you, Noah.”

  “Hannah, I don’t think you did it on purpose,” he answered a little too sharply, his hand up and a deep breath taken. “I’m sorry. It’s a sunny afternoon. We’ll stop and buy some groceries and then head to the house.”

  “Grocery shopping?” Hannah laughed and shook her head.

  “I don’t eat in a lot,” he relaxed and matched her grin. “Just normal couple stuff.”

  Hannah was still laughing when they left the grocery store, taking charge of Lili while he loaded the back of her wagon with the things they’d bought.

  “We bought lots of stuff,” Lili commented, digging into the little box of cheese with crackers and munching as the adults sorted things out.

  Hannah stood in the middle of the large gleaming kitchen, cabinets open a
nd staring in disbelief.

  She went along the hall where she heard the giggling and deep laughter. She stood and stared at the canopy bed and a room filled with matching furniture.

  “Noah…what did you do?” She stepped into the room and opened drawers. Lili had put the clothes from her pack into the lowest drawer. She’d already begun putting the toys they’d brought on the brightly colored cubes.

  “We went shopping,” Lili announced with a giggle. “Noah bought a step for me,” she said proudly stepping up the short distance and hopping onto the bed.

  “Noah seems to have thought of everything,” Hannah stared at the disheveled hair, askew glasses and fading smile. She turned around and went back to the kitchen, keeping herself busy putting things away.

  Noah pulled a sweater over Lili’s head and led her out the patio door, glancing back at Hannah in the kitchen. She fit there.

  No, she belonged there, he decided, absently keeping Lili in sight as she searched for eggs. She very carefully lifted them with both hands, laying each one into the basket before going off, tip-toeing around the straw and searching.

  It was after four when the fragrant smells began exiting the house and the sun was sinking behind the mass of trees. He got Lili inside, following instructions on shoe removal at the door, hanging her jacket on the back of a chair before leading her to the bathroom to scrub up.

  Hanna had their meal set out on the table by the time bath time was over and he somehow managed to get Lili into her pajamas. She looked up when he came out of the bathroom, her lower lip pulled between her teeth to keep from laughing.

  “A warning would have been nice,” he growled, but grinned, shook his head and stormed past her and down the hall to the bedroom, changing out of the wet clothing.

  “You jumped in with both feet, Noah,” Hannah set up Lili on the stack of pillows in front of the table. “It’s cool…aim for the mouth, please.”

  Lili nodded and lifted the spoon, scooping out the tiny potatoes and clams in the white soup. She dropped a couple crackers into the bowl.

  “I’ve never washed eggs before,” Hannah said as she ate the large salad she had prepared.

  “Chickens aren’t neat creatures,” Noah told her. “Are they in the fridge?”

  “Yes, in a clean bowl.” She ate thoughtfully. “How long have you had this house, Noah? It’s beautiful.”

  “My grandparents gave me the property when I entered college,” he said, lifting a slice of chicken and eating as he worked to recall the sequence. “I had a friend and he helped me design it with what I wanted it to be…took a few years. I started med school and my other grandparents built the house from the designs we had made.”

  “But…you haven’t lived here long…”

  “I left the military about four years ago and worked in a couple different hospitals, trying to decide where and what I wanted to do next,” Noah dragged a sliced of chicken through the lemon dressing. “A year in the ER…another year in geriatrics…another in pediatrics…then Anya called me. We talked…I interviewed…and returned.”

  “Your kitchen is almost empty,” she said quietly.

  “I’ve been here three months…working off shifts and extra shifts while we get up and running,” he shrugged. “The cafeteria was always open and easy. Things are only now starting to turn toward a normal schedule. It’s also why it took me so long to ask you out.”

  Hannah wasn’t sure why, but she felt her cheeks get warm. She busied herself cleaning up the kitchen. She slipped out of her shoes and was curled in the corner of the sofa, staring into the fireplace he’d started.

  “So you’ve been stalking me,” Hannah asked with a teasing grin. She’d accepted the tight little hug and watched her walk off chattering with Noah and her favorite book. Now he was back and all was quiet. Her heart was pounding wildly.

  “That’s a little harsh,” Noah with a chuckle, dropping to the floor in front of her. He leaned against the cushions, glancing over his shoulder to see her sitting cross legged behind him. He sighed when her palms began massaging his shoulders. “Now this…a guy could seriously get used to…” His words fell off when her teeth nipped at his ear. “I think my masseuse has gotten distracted.”

  “I want to check on Lili…where did you put the bag I brought?” Hannah stood up, walking backward toward the little girl’s room.

  “In the bedroom,” he answered, nodding toward the kitchen.

  Hannah had Lili tucked in, a chair set beside the bed and hopefully blocking her if she shifted too close to the edge. She walked past Noah, seated still on the floor and looking through something on his medical pad. She went to the bedroom and dug out her pajamas, changing quickly in the huge master bathroom.

  “Working?” Hannah asked, sliding onto the sofa behind him again.

  “Just checking some tests,” he answered, closing down the pad and setting it aside. He dropped his glasses on top and tipped his head back. “You know how much it messes with a guys brain when he finds his girl on the floor, unconscious?”

  “I thought we were past that,” Hannah said with a wince.

  Noah stood up and pulled her from the sofa, lifting her and laughing when her arms wound around his neck for stability. He tapped the switch on the gas fireplace as he passed, carrying her to the back of the house.

  “I like your pajamas,” he said, lowering her to the floor in front of him. “Do you always wear them?”

  “Well…Lili and I do have these naked weekends…but those are mostly in summer,” she told him, peeking up between partially lowered lashes.

  “I…” Noah felt his mind fumbling, watching her fingers working the buttons down the front of his shirt. “It’s okay if I chose to opt out of those…right?”

  “Sure…you can be a spectator,” she assured him, leaning close and kissing his chest.

  “I don’t even know what to say to that…”

  “It’s all part of the naturalist thing,” Hannah told him, moving her mouth over his throat as her palms pushed his shirt along his shoulders.

  Noah let the shirt fall to the floor, his hands rising to touch her waist, the skin bare because of the low riding harem pants. Then he realized she was quiet and sighed thickly. She moved slightly to the side, her fingers lightly tracing the colors on his right bicep.

  “Hannah…”

  She looked up and moved to the nightstand, turning the light on. He almost laughed when she moved him closer to the bed and pushed him to sit back on it.

  “She’s beautiful, Noah…a seraphim angel…” Blue eyes looked up from the delicately drawn and inked tattoo. “When did you get this?”

  Noah scooted to sit against the heavy headboard, his palm resting at her waist at his side.

  “The first month of leave when we were in Prague.”

  “It has your unit etched beneath it…Angels of Mercy…” Hannah put her palm up, turning his face to hers. “Why are you embarrassed by this? It’s amazing art…and it’s…it’s a part of who you are…”

  He caught her palm, holding it against his lips for a long minute.

  “I went on leave with a couple guys from the unit. Some of the units out there had taken to calling us healing angels,” his voice was low, filled with memories and sadness. “We’d just lost one of our guys in a mine field and…trust me, thinking wasn’t high on my list when we went out on leave. I came back with that…and so did the other guys in the unit. There were days I felt nothing like an angel. Days…when there wasn’t a damn thing you could do, no matter how skilled you were…”

  “She has red hair,” Hannah said softly, reaching for the hem of her top and pulling it over her head. She let it fall to the floor and moved to lay next to him, her palm up and urging his mouth to hers.

  “Just like my healing angel,” he whispered against her mouth, her lips parting and inviting him to play, teasing and arousing. He had no idea how very hungry he was for her touch. Noah pulled her over top of him, his hands quickly pushing the h
arem pants down her long legs before tipping her over and removing the final obstacles between them. No other woman had ever aroused him so totally, the soft sounds of her pleasure streaking through him like lightening.

  Noah lost himself in the sweet softness she offered. Memories of their wedding night flowing back to him when she moved against him, the sound of his name whispered in the middle of the night when he urged her closer, making love to her again. There was no shadows of red in his dreams, Hannah cuddled next to him beneath the blankets when he finally let himself sleep.

  He rose when it was still dark, disposing of the empty foil packets and wondering when she would tell him they weren’t needed. Wearing his jogging pants, he quickly did the standard pull ups he’d done since having the chin-up bar installed over entry to the walk-in closet.

  Hannah stirred, waking slowly and rolling to lean on her elbow, watching the muscles of his shoulders and back flexing. Without making a sound, she moved behind him, her palms out and caressing along his sides. She felt him start, immediately releasing the bar and spinning to face her.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you, I’m sorry,” she whispered, two palms caressing over his sides and down his arms, very slowly.

  “I…didn’t mean to wake you, Hannah.”

  “Why are you up so early on a Saturday?”

  “Morning routines…exercise and I was going for a run,” he explained, realizing his body was making vastly different plans at the moment with a naked woman stroking her hot little hands all over him.

  “I have to confess something, Dr. Madison…you have one very sexy physique hidden under those gold rimmed glasses and white lab coat…” Hannah hooked her finger in the waistband of his pants and backed toward the bed.

  “Hannah…” Her name came out in a low, husky plea, her hands pressing hard against his erection. Something wild about her kiss, her touch that sent every nerve in his body into high alert. She wanted him and she was hot and ready for him when he slid inside her, losing himself in their passion.