by Elle James
Chapter 3
Kate slept that night with Lyla snuggled up against her. She couldn’t believe how much a little girl could move in her sleep. At times, she lay sideways with her feet pressed into Kate’s belly. At other times, she slept with her arm around Kate’s neck, her face buried against Kate’s cheek.
The sweet smell of baby shampoo etched itself into Kate’s memory. She’d pulled Lyla up against her and draped her arm over the child’s middle. Her heart swelled and warmed to her sister’s baby girl.
While she’d been busy building her career, she’d been missing the beauty of caring for such a wonderful little human being.
Sleep was slow in coming and greatly interrupted, but she couldn’t be upset. Lyla hadn’t asked to be caught up in whatever intrigue Rachel was up against. She hadn’t asked to be dumped into the inexperienced arms of her Aunt Kate. She had suffered enough. Kate accepted the responsibility of taking care of the little girl for as long as Rachel needed. That’s what family did.
Lyla settled into a deep sleep in the wee hours of the morning.
Kate finally slept as well. She woke before Lyla just as the sun was rising and edging around the curtains covering the windows.
Wanting to get a head start on the day, Kate rose, dressed in the adjoining bathroom and brushed her hair.
By the time she reentered the bedroom, Lyla was sitting up in the bed, yawning.
Kate gathered her into her arms like Chuck had suggested. “Come to Mama,” she said. She carried Lyla to the bathroom to relieve herself, wash her hands and brush her hair.
Once they were finished, she took Lyla’s hand. “Ready to find something to eat?”
Lyla nodded. “I’m hungry.”
Together, they walked into the living room. One easily trusting little girl, and one adult scrambling to figure out the ins and outs of parenting.
Sadie stood in front of a massive fireplace with Emma playing at her feet. “Oh, good. You’re awake.” She lifted Emma into her arms. “Hank told me to wake you by now. He was able to find you and Chuck a cottage just on the edge of our little town of Eagle Rock.”
A trickle of excitement and anticipation rippled through Kate, even while the thought of seeing Chuck again disturbed her. “That’s good news.”
“He contacted Chuck and let him know. Chuck will be here in thirty minutes to collect you two. I’ve been busy gathering items you might need for the cabin.” She waved to several boxes laid out across the floor. “You’ll need linens, kitchen utensils, towels and so much more. I tried to think of as much as I could. Anything else you might need, just give us a call, I probably have something. No use going out and buying all new stuff.”
Bemused, Kate shook her head. “I could have purchased all of that.”
Sadie smiled. “That would have defeated the purpose of looking like you’re joining Chuck with things from your previous home. I have a couple of outfits I picked up in LA for when Emma gets older. They might fit Lyla now.”
“I couldn’t possibly take Emma’s clothes.”
Sadie waved her hand. “Please. Lyla needs to have something to change into. She can’t show up in town in her pajamas. I’m due back in LA in a few weeks. I’ll pick out more clothes for Emma. She usually goes with me.”
“Are you still acting?” Kate asked.
Sadie laughed. “I am. I have gone longer between films, but I’m still showing up on the big screen.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it. Juggling a career and a baby daughter. How do working mothers manage?”
“We find good caregivers and make time to be with our children.” Sadie grinned. “I have a fabulous nanny in LA. She’s happy to work when I’m there. She keeps Emma at the studio so that I can see her on my breaks. Fortunately, I can pay her well enough that she doesn’t have to work when I’m not there.”
Kate didn’t say it, but Sadie implied that she understood not all working moms could afford to pay a nanny.
“Let me get those outfits. If they fit, you can keep them.”
“I can afford to pay you for them,” Kate offered.
“I wouldn’t let you. They’re my gift to Lyla. Poor little thing has to be feeling the stress of all the changes in her life.” Sadie held out Emma. “Do you mind holding her for a moment?”
Before Kate could beg off, Emma leaned toward her.
Kate had to take her, or the baby would have fallen.
Emma wrapped her arms around Kate’s neck and gave her a wet baby kiss.
Instead of being repulsed by the baby spittle, Kate laughed. “Is she always this good with strangers?”
“Not everyone. She seems to be a good judge of character.” Sadie grinned and hurried from the room.
While Kate held Emma, Lyla found a basket full of brightly colored toys. She pulled out one toy at a time until the basket was empty.
Emma batted at Kate’s gold hoop earrings, determined to capture one and put it into her mouth.
Kate held onto the squirming baby, afraid she’d drop the child. She kept a close eye on Lyla to make sure she didn’t get too close to the fireplace or stick her fingers into a light socket. She’d heard that little kids did things like that.
Emma grabbed both of her ears and deposited a kiss on Kate’s cheek.
“Thank you, Kate.” Sadie emerged from the hallway, carrying a stack of little girls clothing. “I’ll take Emma.” She laid the stack of clothes on the back of the sofa and relieved Kate of her burden.
Kate glanced through the outfits on the back of the sofa and held them up to Lyla’s back, one at a time.
The child played on with the toys she’d found, oblivious to her aunt.
“All three of these outfits should fit,” Kate declared. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.” Sadie glanced out the front window. “Looks like your bodyguard has arrived. We can load the boxes into the back of his truck.”
Kate’s heartbeat sped. A cautious look out the window made it beat even faster.
Chuck dropped down from his truck and strode toward the house. Tall, broad-shouldered and rugged, the man had swagger and probably didn’t know it. Even the graying at his temples only added to his attractiveness.
Heat coiled in Kate’s core. She hadn’t been that aroused by a man in a very long time. And this guy wasn’t a spring chicken. Perhaps that’s what she liked most about him. He was mature, confident in his skin and exuded pure masculinity out of every pore of his body.
Sadie met him at the door. “Come on in, Chuck. We were just about to start breakfast. You can join us.”
His gaze scanned the room, slowing as it passed Kate. “Where’s Hank?”
“He’s been up for hours, working on some background checks for one of the other new agents. He’ll join us once I get the bacon cooking.” Sadie winked. “The man likes bacon. I’m sure it’ll harden his arteries, but he reminds me all the time that life’s too short to skip the bacon.”
“I couldn’t agree with him more.” He nodded toward Kate. “But I thought we’d hit the diner in town. We might as well establish our cover right away.”
“Oh.” Kate twisted her fingers into the hem of her shirt. She’d thought she’d have a little more time before she was alone with Chuck. Time to adjust to the thought of pretending to be his wife, acting like a loving couple with a daughter. “Okay. I can be ready in just a few minutes.” She shot a glance toward Lyla.
“I’ll watch her,” Chuck said. He held out his hands. “How’s my little girl this morning?”
Lyla lifted her arms, still holding the stuffed unicorn she’d picked out of the box.
Chuck lifted her up and settled her into the crook of his arm. He leaned in and gave her a noisy, smacking kiss on the cheek.
Lyla laughed and kissed him back with just as much bravado. Then she hugged him tightly around the neck.
Kate shook her head. She never got that kind of reaction from Lyla, and she was blood-related. The m
an had the child completely charmed.
And he was charming Kate in the process. “How do you do that?”
Chuck stared across at Kate, his lips still curved in a smile. “Do what?”
Charm the fool out of me, she wanted to say, but clamped her lips tight to keep from telling him exactly how confused he made her feel. “Nothing. I’ll be right back.” She spun on her heel, grabbed the clothes Sadie had given Lyla and ran into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Kate stood with her back to the door, pressing her hands to her heated cheeks. How did he do that? With only a smile, he turned her knees to mush. And the way he was so at ease with Lyla melted Kate’s heart like nothing she’d ever experienced.
She straightened and pushed back her shoulders. Kate hadn’t taken an indefinite leave of absence from her work to flirt with Lyla’s bodyguard. The sooner she got that through her head, the better. Having Chuck pretend to be her husband and the father of her child was a temporary arrangement, necessary to protect Lyla. Once the threat was vanquished, Kate would head back to LA, Lyla would return to Rachel and her husband, and Chuck would move on to his next assignment.
Don’t get personal with the hired help, she schooled herself.
In short order, she packed her toiletries and Lyla’s new clothes into her suitcase, zipped it and set it on the floor. Then she gathered Lyla’s blanket and Sid, reminded again of how little she had.
Her thoughts returned to her sister, and her heart ached. What had Rachel gotten herself into? Where was Myles? How could he let anything happen to his family? What kind of man let his wife ditch their baby and run?
Unless he hadn’t known Rachel would run away from him and take their child. In which case, was she running because Myles was abusive?
Kate wished Rachel was there. She had a hundred questions for her. The only thing she knew was that her twin was in trouble. When she was sure Lyla was safe, she’d work on finding Rachel and helping her through whatever trouble she was up against.
With the blanket under one arm, Kate wheeled the suitcase out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the living room.
Chuck sat on the floor, pulling Lyla’s hair up into a ponytail.
Lyla had been changed into colorful knit pants and a shirt with polka dots and ruffles.
“I found another outfit for Lyla,” Sadie said with a smile as she handed Chuck an elastic band. “And we thought Lyla might like her hair up and out of her face.” Sadie motioned toward the window. “It’s pretty windy outside today.”
The man handled the child’s baby-fine hair like a pro, appearing at ease despite how incongruous the big man looked next to the little girl.
When he finished, he rose to his feet, lifted Lyla into his arms, and nodded. “Ready?”
No, she wasn’t. Not when it meant being alone with this man who ignited flames in Kate when she’d thought herself flame-resistant. “Yes.” Given she’d more or less begged him to take the job, she couldn’t balk now. He was the only man she knew, or felt she could trust, to take care of her and Lyla until they figured out what to do next. “Let’s go.”
Chuck led the way through the door, pausing long enough to scan the area before holding the door wide for Kate.
Sadie, holding Emma on her hip, exited as well and stood on the porch. “We’re so glad you came to us, Kate.” She smiled. “Don’t worry. Chuck’s an amazing man. He had to be to make it into the Navy SEALs.” Sadie hugged Kate. Emma giggled and grabbed Kate’s hair in her fist.
Kate laughed, unclenched the child’s hand from her hair and kissed her little fist. “Thank you for helping and for all the things you’ve given us.”
“Maybe we can set up a play date for the girls,” Sadie suggested.
A play date. Sure, she’d heard of them, but she wasn’t sure she was comfortable with the idea. “Uh, that would be nice. I guess.”
“Let us assess the situation first,” Hank said from behind Sadie.
The former SEAL curled his arm around his wife’s waist and dropped a kiss on top of Emma’s head. “Let us know if you need anything. The cottage is right on the edge of Eagle Rock on a less traveled road. Only people with a reason to go down that road should be going down that road.”
Chuck nodded and held out his hand to Hank. “Thanks. I’ll keep a close watch over these two.”
“I know you will.” Hank clasped his hand. “I knew you were the right man for the job. You need anything, just give me a yell.”
Chuck led the way off the porch and to the passenger side of his pickup. “Do you have a car?”
Kate shook her head. “No. Hank picked me up at the airport. I didn’t want to risk driving cross-country with Lyla. Not when I might have a tail following me.”
“Good thinking. Though, if someone wanted to find you badly enough, they’d follow your credit card purchases.”
Kate frowned. “To move fast, I had to use what I had.”
Chuck settled Lyla into the back seat and adjusted the seat belt to fit as snugly as possible across her little lap. “After we meet the realtor at the cottage, we need to find a place to purchase a child’s car seat.”
“Definitely,” Kate agreed. “And we need to stock the pantry with food. I’m not sure how long we’ll be at this.”
“Hank said the cottage came furnished.” Chuck moved out, closed the back door and turned to hold the front passenger door for Kate. “That will be one less expense you’ll have to incur.”
“How big is the cottage?” Kate asked.
“I have no idea. We’ll find out when we get there.”
That was what Kate was afraid of. Any small cottage would be all the smaller with Chuck inside. His broad shoulders filled even the largest of rooms.
And if it had only a single bedroom? Where would they all sleep? That same trickle of excitement rippled through her center. All because of one tall, well-muscled Navy SEAL who would be Lyla’s bodyguard and pretend daddy for however long it took for Rachel to return for her daughter.
And what if Rachel didn’t come back?
Kate’s breath lodged in her throat. Being twins, she’d always felt an awareness of her sister. Surely, she’d know if something awful happened. But then she hadn’t known her sister was in distress. If she had, she would have offered to help in any way possible.
Yet, it had been Rachel who’d reached out in her time of need.
Kate hated that she’d been such a terrible sister she hadn’t known Rachel was in trouble. Hell, she hadn’t seen Rachel since she’d moved to Idaho over three years before. Sure, they’d talked on the phone, but Kate had always been in a hurry to end the call and get on with whatever project she’d been working. And she hadn’t met Lyla, until the child had landed on her doorstep.
Her heart hurt at her failure as a sister.
What was important now was to take care of Rachel’s daughter and then find Rachel.
When Chuck held Lyla in his arms, all the feelings he’d felt for Sarah came flooding back. No matter that it had been years since he’d held his daughter, the same emotions were still there. With Maya, he’d had the advantage of her growing on him from an infant to a healthy one-year-old. She’d sneaked into his life one day at a time. But Lyla was about the same size, if a year older, than Sarah had been when she’d been killed in a car wreck.
Sarah had had blond hair and smelled of baby shampoo, just like Lyla.
His chest constricted, making it difficult to breathe. He forced air into his lungs and marched on, like he always did, reminding himself this was a job. Once the situation resolved, he’d be on to the next assignment. Kate and Lyla would be gone from Montana.
Don’t get attached.
He glanced toward Kate.
She was a pretty woman with blond hair and blue eyes, much like Lyla. He could imagine her twin looking exactly like her and how much trouble they must have caused growing up.
He thought it strange that she didn’t have the slightest clue how to be a mot
her. What happened to good old maternal instinct? Kate seemed so awkward around her niece.
“Are you sure you’re Lyla’s aunt?” Chuck asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“I’m pretty sure. All I’ve had from my sister was an occasional photograph of Lyla. But there’s no mistaking her features. She looks just like we did at her age. But if you’re concerned I might have kidnapped the child, why don’t you take us straight to the sheriff’s office? I probably should have started there in the first place. My sister begged me not to take the situation to the police, or I would have.” She stared out the window. “Do you know where we’re going?”
“Not hardly,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I have the address. It can’t be too hard to find. Eagle Rock isn’t a large community.”
They accomplished the drive into town in silence. Kate glanced all around, keeping an eye on the road ahead and behind them. After what happened at her apartment in LA, Kate wasn’t sure about anything. The man who’d broken down her door had meant business. Thankfully, the cops had arrived in time to help.
Following Hank’s directions, Chuck drove through the quaint little town of Eagle Rock with its one main street, several side streets, a medical clinic, sheriff’s office, tavern and diner.
Kate stared out the window eagerly, wanting to know whatever she could about the little Montana town she’d be spending the next couple of days in while hiding out.
On the other side of town, Chuck slowed and glanced down at the directions on his cellphone. He turned left onto a short road that ended in a field of green hay.
Two houses lined one side of the road. One was white with blue shutters. The other, the one they were renting, was yellow with white shutters.
The houses were separated by a dingy white picket fence in need of fresh paint, and a row of pink, climbing, tea roses that softened its appearance and made it appear quaint rather than neglected. Chuck rolled down his window and inhaled the lush, rich scent of roses and freshly cut grass. Apparently, the yard had recently been mowed and smelled like spring.
Having lived in apartments when he wasn’t deployed, Chuck couldn’t help but feel a connection to this little cottage on the quiet little road. Yes, it could stand a fresh paint job, and the bushes needed trimming, but the yellow and white combination reminded him of daisies and sunshine.
