Читать книгу The Soldier's Legacy - GINA WILKINS - Страница 12

Chapter Two

“MARY PAT, STOP HOVERING. I’m fine, okay?” Trevor hated sounding cross and ungrateful, but he disliked even more being dependent on anyone. He’d spent the latter half of last year recuperating from the motorcycle accident that had come too close to ending him, and he’d only been off crutches for a couple of months since his last knee surgery. Now damned if he hadn’t injured the knee again, though fortunately not nearly as badly this time. But that didn’t keep it from hurting like hell.

Though his original injury had been due to a distracted driver crashing into his motorcycle, this time it was entirely his own fault. He’d thought his knee was recovered enough for some energetic kitesurfing, a sport he loved, with friends in Texas. He’d been wrong.

He’d felt the damned knee pop when he’d made an awkward landing, and the pain had been instant and excruciating. His friends had insisted on taking him straight to an emergency room. Now he was back on crutches for a week or so, under doctor’s orders to keep the leg elevated as much as possible and to take it easy for a while. Considering how busy he was with work at the moment, that wasn’t going to be easy.

Tonight he planned on relaxing with a hot shower, a cold beer and a baseball game on the TV while propping his leg on an ottoman. He hoped he wouldn’t feel obliged to entertain the guests staying on his second floor that night. Every once in a while, being the gracious host, at work and now even in his home, became utterly exhausting.

“I’d hardly call it hovering for me to just do my job,” his housekeeper muttered. With an emphatic thump, she deposited a tray on the low table in front of the easy chair in Trevor’s suite.

The driver he’d arranged to collect him at the airport had dropped him off at home an hour ago, and Mary Pat hadn’t left him alone since. She’d turned down his bed, fluffed his pillows and made sure he had water, pain meds, crutches, his cell phone and the TV remote within easy reach. As she’d said, it was her job. He just wished she wouldn’t be quite so conscientious for an hour or two while he sulked in private.

He hadn’t seen Jade or the kids since he’d returned. It was after nine, so maybe Jade was putting the kids to bed. Or maybe they were just thoughtfully staying out of his way.

Hands on her ample hips, Mary Pat displayed her frequent uncanny ability to know what he was thinking. “I advised Jade and the kids to give you some space this evening. I knew what kind of mood you’d be in. Jade told me to be sure and let you know she’s right upstairs if you need anything tonight. She’s a nurse, you know.”

“I don’t need a nurse. And I’m not in a mood.” He had to suppress a wince when he heard his own grumpy tone.

His housekeeper rolled her eyes expressively. “Oh, no, of course you’re not. Now, do you need anything else or are you going to snarl at me just for asking?”

“I don’t need anything else. Thank you, Mary Pat,” he added, apologetic.

“You’re welcome, hon.” She patted him on the shoulder, letting him know she understood his grouchiness was spurred by pain and frustration. Which made him feel even guiltier about taking it out on her. “And notice that I’m not saying a word about how you shouldn’t have been on that surfboard thing at all.”

Trevor grunted, knowing the lectures would come, both from his housekeeper and his mother. Maybe even from assorted friends and staff.

Mary Pat continued, “You shoot me a text or call me if you need anything at all later, you got it? Even if it’s in the middle of the night.”

“I’ll be fine, but thanks.”

Giving him a final pat, she bade him good-night and let herself out of his suite. As soon as the door closed behind her, he allowed himself one low moan when he shifted his throbbing leg on the ottoman, adjusting the ice pack covering his knee. He wore shorts and a T-shirt, baring his scarred leg for the treatment, and still the cold wasn’t helping much. The pain meds he’d been given at the hospital were wearing off, but he didn’t want to take more unless it became absolutely necessary.

He was aware that his disposition was growing darker by the moment. His business trip hadn’t gone particularly well, he’d foolishly reinjured his leg, he’d snapped unfairly at Mary Pat and there were guests in his home, so he had to be on his best behavior until he was back on his feet, regardless of his mood. The whole point of owning a house fifteen miles from the resort was to have a refuge where he could get away for a few hours from polite small talk, incessant smiles and perpetual hosting.

A quiet tap on his door deepened his scowl. It didn’t sound like Mary Pat’s usual firm rap. Had Jade come down to check on him? If so, it was thoughtful of her but not the greatest timing. Still, it would be rude to ignore her. Forcing himself into his usual practiced-host demeanor, he said, “Come in.”

The door opened slowly, but he had to lower his gaze to identify the visitor, who was much shorter than he’d expected. “Bella? Are you lost?”

The child stepped fully into the room, her expression tentative, one hand behind her back. He noted that she was dressed in blue pajamas decorated with leaping dolphins, and he wondered if she was supposed to be in bed.

“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked, though he wasn’t sure how much assistance he could provide at the moment.

“Mommy said you got hurt,” she said, her voice so soft he had to strain to listen. She pointed to his elevated right leg. “Does it hurt bad?”

“It’s felt better,” he answered candidly, “but I’ll be okay.”

Her brown eyes looked huge as she gazed at him with sympathy. “Were you trying to do a cartwheel?”

Reminded of their conversation the day they’d met, he smiled. “No, I wasn’t trying a cartwheel. But perhaps you can show me how you do them sometime.”

“Mommy says I have to do cartwheels outside unless I’m at gymnastics class,” she informed him solemnly.

“Then you can show me outside when we get the chance.” He studied her more closely. “What do have behind your back?” he asked in a casual tone.

Keeping her eyes focused hard on his face, as if to judge his reaction, she brought her hand around to show him a stuffed brown bear. “I brought this for you,” she replied in little more than a whisper.

Confused, he looked more closely at the bear. Looking well-loved, it was dressed in a pink T-shirt bearing the words Get Well Soon.

“GamGam gave me this when I had tonslisus,” Bella added earnestly. “It made me feel better. Maybe it will help your leg not hurt so much.”

Mentally translating tonslisus to tonsillitis, Trevor swallowed hard as he tried to come up with the proper response to her touching gesture. “That’s very kind of you, Bella. Thank you. Um—does your mother know you’re down here?”

Stepping closer to his chair, she set the bear carefully on his ottoman, next to his ice-pack-covered knee. “I don’t know.”

Which meant no, he decided. With a sigh, he reached for the crutches lying beside his chair. “I’ll take you back upstairs.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Jade stood in the doorway to his suite. Her arms crossed over her chest, Jade eyed her youngest in disapproval. “Bella, I’ve been looking all over for you! What on earth are you doing down here? Didn’t I tell you we have to leave Mr. Farrell alone?”

“You said he was hurt,” Bella argued. “So I brought Dr. Bear to make him feel better.”

“Oh. Well. You still shouldn’t have come down without telling me.” Jade shot a quick glance at Trevor, then motioned toward the door. “Back to bed, young lady. I’ll be up in a few minutes to make sure you’re tucked in.”

Bella took off without another word, leaving Trevor grinning despite himself. He stifled the smile when Jade looked around at him again.

“I’m sorry. I thought Bella was in bed until Erin let me know she was missing. I was in the rec room watching a TV show with Caleb.”

He leaned forward to pick up the toy. “She thought this would make me feel better. I’d hate to see her get in trouble for that.”

“She’s in trouble for sneaking downstairs without asking. I have to be able to trust her to follow my rules.” Jade tucked her hair behind one ear as she glanced down at his leg. He was sure she saw every scar he’d accumulated through the accident last year and the follow-up surgical repairs. They weren’t pretty. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“I’m good, thanks.” Setting the stuffed bear on the table beside him, he shifted his weight in his chair. The movement dislodged the ice pack from his knee. He made a grab for it, but it fell to the floor. Jade rushed forward to scoop it up.

“This isn’t very cold,” she said with a frown. “Do you have another in the freezer?”

“I do, but I can probably leave it off for a while. I’ve had it on for almost half an hour.”

“The usual recommendation is twenty minutes, so you should be good for now. Would you like me to put this back in the freezer for later?”

“Sure.” He motioned toward the opposite wall in the sitting area of his bedroom suite. His deep leather chair and a matching one, both with ottomans, faced a fireplace above which hung a large-screen TV. Flanking the fireplace on either side were well-filled bookshelves. A French door to his right led out to the patio, and his bedroom and bath were on his left. His home office opened off the bedroom, so that his private sanctuary was entirely separate from the guest quarters.

Well, for the most part, he thought with a glance toward the teddy bear. “There’s a minifridge with a freezer behind the door on the right side of the fireplace. You can just stick the pack in there, thanks.”

Jade followed his directions, then closed the cabinet again and glanced around. “This is a lovely space.”

“Thanks. I enjoy it. Is everything okay upstairs for you and the kids? Anything you need?” he felt compelled to ask, despite his discomfort.

“No, it’s perfect for us, thank you.”

“Did you and the kids have a nice weekend?”

“Very nice, thank you. We spent Saturday at the beach. Caleb and Erin swam while Bella built sand castles and looked for shells. They’re going to love living so close to the ocean. But I’m sorry your trip ended so badly.”

He wasn’t sure if she’d heard the details of how he’d reinjured himself, but if so, at least she didn’t seem inclined to lecture him. He replied offhandedly, “Just a minor setback. I’ll be back on my feet in a few days.”

“Speaking of which...” She reached for a throw pillow on the other chair and carried it toward him. Gesturing toward his elevated leg, she asked, “Do you mind? Your leg really should be higher to make the edema go down faster.”

“You’re the nurse,” he said with a slight shrug.

Her hands were cool and obviously skilled as she lifted his calf to slide the extra pillow beneath. She resettled the leg carefully, then pressed lightly against the visible swelling. “Is there much pain here?”

Both her tone and her touch were briskly professional, yet still he had to clear his throat before answering lightly. “It’s felt better.”

“You have pain meds?”

“I have them.” He didn’t promise that he would take them. Not unless absolutely necessary.

Obviously not fooled, she smiled dryly and started to take a step back. “Okay, macho man, that’s your call. You have my cell number. Call if you need anything during the night, please. It’s the least I can do in return for your hospitality.”

On impulse, he caught her wrist. He really disliked appearing weak and injured in front of her, sitting here with his leg on pillows while she stood there looking...well, looking so damned good. “I told you before, you don’t owe me anything.”

She looked down at his hand, then raised her gaze to his. “And I told you that you have my gratitude, whether you want it or not.”

He didn’t want her gratitude. Because he couldn’t say what he did want from her, he released her. “You should probably make sure Bella got back to bed safely.”

“Yes.” But she didn’t move away. He noted that she rubbed her wrist absently, though his clasp had been gentle. “I can tell you’re hurting,” she said quietly. “I understand you want to be cautious with the prescription meds, but can I at least get you an over-the-counter pain reliever?”

He nodded toward the tray on the side table between the chairs. “Mary Pat left snacks, a carafe of hot herbal tea, meds—both prescription and OTC—and some sort of healing crystal. I’m good, thanks.”

He saw her smile as she glanced at the tray. “I’ll say again, you have a treasure in her.”

“Yes. I do.” Feeling guilty all over again about having snapped at his housekeeper earlier, he promised himself he’d be on his best behavior during the remainder of his recovery. Or at least he’d try, he amended more realistically.

He didn’t try to detain Jade this time when she moved toward the door.

She didn’t look back as she left. He watched her until she closed the door behind her, cutting off his very nice view of her backside. Telling himself pain and exhaustion must be messing with his mind, he closed his eyes and put his head back against the chair with a low, frustrated groan.

* * *

TREVOR WASN’T AT the breakfast table Monday morning.

“He said he wasn’t hungry,” Mary Pat explained to Jade and the kids. “When I went in to tell him it was ready, he was already on the phone with his assistant. I’m sure he’ll be at his desk all day, working harder than ever and pouting because he’s supposed to be off his feet for a few days.”

Erin giggled. “Grown-up men don’t pout.”

“Oh, honey.” Mary Pat exchanged a laughing look with Jade. “Don’t you believe that for a second.”

Reminding herself that it was impolite to laugh at their host, even good-naturedly, Jade looked down at her plate where a flaky homemade biscuit was topped with a thick sausage gravy. It was hardly a health-conscious meal, despite the fresh fruit compote served on the side, but she had to admit it was tasty. And it was very kind of Mary Pat to cook for them. Still, maybe she could drop a few hints later that oatmeal or fruit and yogurt would suffice for a few days.

“So, what’s on your schedule for today?” Mary Pat asked, including the whole family in the question. “Any big plans?”

“Back-to-school shopping,” Jade replied. “Backpacks, lunchboxes, school supplies, that sort of thing.”

“I need new shoes,” Erin reminded her. “My old ones are gross.”

“I want new shoes, too,” Bella piped in. “And a Hello Kitty backpack.”

“I need some new jeans,” Caleb grumbled. “Mine are all getting too short.”

“Okay, everyone, I know what we need.” Jade shook her head ruefully. She’d already done most of the shopping for the new school year, but her children still had their lists of “necessities.” It was going to be a long day.

“Why don’t you come with us, Ms. Mary Pat?” Erin asked, her face lighting up. “We’re going to have lunch out. And maybe get ice cream!”

“I never promised ice cream,” Jade challenged with a lifted eyebrow.

“I said maybe.” Undiscouraged, Erin forged on, “Anyway, it’ll be fun. So, want to come?”

“Thank you, Erin, but I really shouldn’t. I have work to do here, and I hate to leave Trevor while he’s recuperating.” Still, Mary Pat looked pleased by the invitation. “Maybe I’ll shop with you another time.”

“We’ll give you a rain check.” Erin had only recently learned the term, and she used it confidently.

Mary Pat chuckled. “I’ll gladly take it.”

When they’d finished eating, Jade sent the kids upstairs to brush their teeth and find their shoes for the outing. “Let me help you clean up, Mary Pat,” she said after they scampered away. She reached for the gravy bowl, which was still more than half-full, even though everyone had eaten heartily.

“Oh, I’ve got this. But you can do me another favor, if you don’t mind.”

“Name it.”

“Will you take a tray in to Trevor while I put away the rest of the food? I told him he’d be getting breakfast in his room so he’s expecting it, even if the grouch won’t admit he’s hungry.”

Jade wished fleetingly that Mary Pat had just asked her to scrub the kitchen floor, instead. She told herself that was a silly thought. She was hardly intimidated by Trevor. There was no reason for her to avoid being alone with him. She knew how to deal with grumpy men, so she could handle Trevor even if he was in a bad mood—though she doubted that his habitual courtesy would allow him to be anything but polite to a guest. From her own few observations and everything she’d heard from mutual acquaintances, he had elevated hosting to an art form, which was part of what made his resorts so successful and his investors so willing to gamble on him. “Yes, I’ll take it.”

“Thanks, hon.” Mary Pat gathered the gravy bowl and biscuit plate. “I’d hate for these good leftovers to go to waste.”

Five minutes later, Jade juggled a heavily loaded tray so she could rap lightly on the door of Trevor’s suite. Judging by the weight of the tray, Mary Pat hadn’t believed Trevor’s claims that he wasn’t hungry. Though the food was beneath covers, it felt like enough to feed two or three men.

She couldn’t help thinking of her brief visit with him last night. Even disheveled in shorts and T-shirt, grumpy and hurting, he’d been undeniably all virile male. Disconcerting so. Perhaps she’d been too strongly reminded of all the times she’d tended her husband after he’d injured himself in one of his daredevil sports.

She’d loved Stephen madly, but she’d never fully understood why he’d been so willing to risk breaking his neck just to challenge himself, to the worry of everyone who loved him. For a moment, she almost pitied any woman who’d let herself fall for charming, often reckless Trevor. But then again, she suspected he’d be a hard man to resist for any woman who hadn’t already lived through that constant anxiety.

Hearing muffled words she interpreted as “Come in,” she balanced the tray with one arm as she opened the door. The sitting area was empty, so she followed sounds to the attached office, a sunny room equipped with what appeared to be state-of-the-art technology. The office door was open and she could see Trevor sitting at his desk, his back to her as he worked a keyboard, making spreadsheets and other forms flash across the monitor in front of him.

“I told you I’m not hungry, Mary Pat. My damn leg is killing me and I have a hundred things to do. I’ll eat in a while.”

He was definitely cranky, Jade thought with raised eyebrows. It was the first time she’d ever heard him snap. And it said even more about his close relationship with his housekeeper that he allowed himself to be less than proper and professional in front of her.

“I’m not Mary Pat, but I suspect she’ll be in shortly to make sure you’ve eaten despite your objections.”

He spun his chair in response to her voice, then grimaced when the sudden movement obviously caused him pain. He schooled his expression immediately, settling his features into what she’d come to think of as his “gracious host face.” She rather regretted that he felt the need to hide behind it with her when she’d begun to think of them as friends.

“Jade. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so rude. Thanks for bringing a tray. You can just set it there. I’ll eat when I’ve finished reading this report.”

The table he pointed to sat in front of a small sofa positioned between two bookcases. Like the cases in his sitting area, this one was also filled almost to capacity with books that looked well-read, she noted as she set down the tray with care. She always appreciated a fellow book lover.

Absently rubbing his right knee, he tilted his head toward her, still in apologetic mode. “I told Mary Pat I’d just have an apple or something for breakfast, but she’s determined to stuff me with food every chance she gets. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she recruited you to make the delivery.”

“I didn’t mind. How’s your leg this morning?”

“It’s better, thanks.”

Jade placed her hands on her hips and merely looked at him.

After a moment, he sighed faintly, sounding just perceptibly cross again when he conceded, “Okay, it hurts. And before you go all Nurse Jade on me, I had it propped up earlier. Just put it down for a while so I could get some work done.”

“I didn’t come in to nag you,” she assured him. “I just brought your breakfast. You’re a grown-ass man. Whether you eat—or elevate your leg—it’s entirely up to you.”

Her pointed retort seemed to catch him by surprise. After a brief pause, he laughed sheepishly. “Sorry. Believe it or not, I’m usually much more gracious to my guests than that. I have no excuse.”

“This is your home, Trevor, not your resort,” she reminded him. “And I’m a friend, not a guest. So, don’t feel that you have to pretend for me that everything is just hunky-dory.”

“Hunky-dory?” He chuckled. “Haven’t heard that term in a while.”

She smiled. “Something my grandmother said frequently. I find myself quoting her a lot these days.”

“I know the feeling. I hear myself sounding a lot like my dad at times, even though I’ve spent most of my life trying to be different.”

Maybe he realized suddenly how that could be interpreted. “My dad’s a great guy, of course,” he added. “I’ve always just wanted to explore my own paths, rather than follow in the family footsteps.”

His family’s fortune came from three or four generations of hotels and other real estate dealings, she mused. Did he really think establishing a chain of resorts was such a different path? Rather amused by what seemed to be his idea of rebellion, she spoke lightly. “I suppose we’re all influenced by family ultimately. Heaven only knows what my kids will pick up from me.”

She thought he relaxed with the quip, as though relieved by the redirection. “Nothing to worry about there, I’m sure.”

“Well, I have been known to let the S-word slip out in front of them when I get mad,” she said solemnly. “‘Oh, sheesh!’”

“Sheesh?” he repeated. “Who’d have guessed you had such a potty mouth, Jade Evans?”

His spontaneous laugh pleased her. It made her feel good to think she’d distracted him from his pain, if only briefly. She smiled back at him. “What can I say? I’m unpredictable.”

She’d been joking, of course, yet something in his expression looked a bit speculative when he murmured, “I’m beginning to realize that.”

Their gazes held for a moment, and then she cleared her throat and took a step toward the doorway. “Yes, well, this rebel has to take her kids to buy notebooks and backpacks for the first day of school. Is there anything I can pick up for you while I’m out?”

He was already turning back to his computer. “Thank you, but I’m good. Enjoy your outing.”

“Better eat some of that breakfast before Mary Pat comes in to check,” she advised over her shoulder as she left.

She heard him chuckle quietly, though he didn’t reply. He was likely already totally immersed in those “hundred things” he needed to do.

She could only imagine how much responsibility he held for his growing enterprise with its widespread properties and many employees, investors and guests. From what little she’d observed so far, she suspected delegation was not one of Trevor’s strengths.

It was no wonder he was in no hurry to add even more obligations to his plate. He would probably be relieved when the repairs were completed at her house, and so would she. The last thing she wanted to do was to become a burden on Trevor—or on anyone else, for that matter. She took care of herself and her own, and she liked it that way.

* * *

CALEB AND ERIN begged to run straight to the pool after the exhausting shopping trip, and Jade agreed. They’d been cooperative during the outing—for the most part—and hadn’t squabbled—much—so she figured they’d earned a swim.

They’d explored most of Shorty’s Landing, scouting out shops and parks to visit later. They’d been greeted warmly by the small town’s tourist-oriented business community. Rather than ice cream, they’d decided to stop in to a coffee-and-doughnut shop, The Perkery. Located on the main thoroughfare, nestled among a variety of shops, the colorful place had caught their eye and drawn them in.

The kids had been mesmerized by the glass display case filled with pastries, cakes and cookies. The shop’s owner, Elle O’Meara, had introduced herself and insisted on giving each of the kids a free treat to welcome them to town. She’d invited them to come back soon, and assured Jade she was available to answer any questions she might have about the community.

The kids were still on the sugar high from their doughnuts when they dashed out into Trevor’s backyard to play and swim. Jade had hesitated about putting on her own swimsuit to join them. Knowing Trevor was home made her self-conscious, for some reason. But telling herself that was foolish, she’d changed into a tankini and flip-flops and accompanied her children out to the pool.

Trevor probably wouldn’t come outside, anyway. And even if he did, she wasn’t bothered by being seen in a bathing suit. Considering she’d borne three children, she was content with her curves. School started the day after tomorrow, and she’d start working full-time on Monday, so she should take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with the kids.

Jade, Caleb and Erin had barely gotten in the water when Mary Pat came out with a tray holding iced lemonades. She set the tray on a patio table, and Bella settled into one of the chairs with a tumbler. Once again, Bella had donned her swimsuit, but it wasn’t even wet. She’d dipped her feet into the pool, but had resisted Jade’s attempts to entice her farther into the water.

Caleb and Erin scrambled up the stairs built into the manmade rocks of the waterfall, then descended noisily into the pool on the curving slide. “Mom, come play,” Erin called out, climbing the steps again. “It’s fun.”

“Maybe in a bit.” Tired from herding her trio from store to store, Jade was enjoying floating lazily in the cool, rippling water. The late-afternoon sun slanted across the surface and warmed her cheeks. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and float...

“Hi, Mr. Trevor!”

Jade’s eyes opened instantly in response to Erin’s cheery greeting, followed by a noisy splash as the girl sped down the slide into the pool. Seeing that Trevor had come outside on crutches and was making his way carefully across the tile, Jade swam to the side of the pool, pushing back her wet hair.

She frowned as she watched Trevor balance himself on the crutches, placing them carefully on the tiles while keeping his weight off his right leg. He wore navy board shorts and a gray T-shirt. Was he planning to come into the pool?

Echoing the thought, Erin called out, “Can you swim with us, Mr. Trevor, or is your leg too hurt?”

Standing at the top of the steps into the pool, he smiled. The sunlight slanted over his face, making his blue eyes glitter and bringing out the hints of gold in his light brown hair. The shorts revealed the scars on his right leg, and a few on his left, yet somehow he managed to look strong and self-assured even on crutches. Not to mention downright sexy, Jade thought, privately acknowledging her hormones were still fully functional.

Shaking her head, as much to clear it as to express disapproval, she said, “It’s Mr. Farrell, Erin.”

“Mr. Trevor is fine with me.” He set his crutches aside, slipped out of his sandals, and lowered himself carefully to the side of the pool, letting his feet dangle into the water. Smiling at Jade, he added, “I’m sure Mary Pat has told you we’re very informal here.”

Caleb swam up to paddle nearby, peering at Trevor’s legs as if assessing the damage to them. Jade knew that without his glasses, Caleb’s vision was somewhat fuzzy, but he was only mildly nearsighted, fortunately.

“How are you feeling, Mr. Trevor?” he asked with the careful manners Jade had tried to instill in him.

“I’m better, thank you, Caleb. How’s the water?”

“It’s a great pool,” the boy answered enthusiastically. “I like the slide. And the waterfall.”

“Did you check out the grotto behind the waterfall?”

Momentary silence followed Trevor’s question. And then Caleb asked, “There’s a grotto?”

“What’s a grotto?” Erin demanded.

“It’s like a cave, right, Mr. Trevor?”

Trevor chuckled. “That’s right, Caleb. And having watched you two swim, I’m sure you can find it, if your mom says it’s okay.”

He glanced at Jade then to add, “It’s safe as long as we’re here to watch them.”

She gave a nod to Caleb, who started swimming toward the waterfall with Erin right behind him. During their one previous swim, they’d been too entertained by the slide and the diving board to pay more than cursory attention to the waterfall itself. Now Jade watched as they peered behind the falling water and grinned in delight at what they discovered.

“Can we go in, Mr. Trevor?” Caleb called out.

“Of course.”

Seeing them disappear through the fall, Jade looked up at Trevor with a lifted eyebrow.

“It’s a small cave room,” he explained. “There’s a curved rock bench and colored lights embedded in the walls. Mary Pat turned those on when the swimming started. You can swim in, hoist yourself onto the bench and relax while you watch the waterfall in front of you.”

“Sounds lovely. Did you design it?”

“With help from a pool architect,” he admitted.

Tilting her wet head, she asked, “And how many times have you been in there just to relax?”

He cleared his throat. “A couple, maybe.”

“That’s what I thought.” Everything she’d heard about Trevor from his family and his housekeeper—not to mention her own observations during the past few days—led her to believe he was quite the workaholic. His idea of relaxing with strenuous sports was significantly different from her own more languid pursuits. She shook her head, her wet hair tickling the back of her neck with the movement. “How’s your leg?”

“It really does feel better. Ice and anti-inflammatories have been helpful. Thought I’d get some water exercise while everyone else is out here.”

“Swimming is an excellent way to keep you active while you recover,” she agreed, sliding automatically into nurse mode. “The water helps support your weight so you don’t stress your knee. Just be careful not to twist it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His tone was good-naturedly teasing, his mood obviously much improved. “I won’t do any flip turns off the ends of the pool.”

“Wise decision.”

They shared a laugh as Trevor gave a light kick to ripple the water around her. Smiling up at him, she resisted the impulse to splash him back, though his grin let her know he was aware of her temptation.

“Do you want a lemonade, Mr. Trevor?” Bella asked, interrupting the cozy exchange as she approached with a glass she carried carefully in both hands for him.

Drawing his gaze from Jade, he turned to accept the glass with thanks, probably more to be nice to Bella than because he wanted the lemonade. And then he patted the tile beside him as he smiled up at the child. “Want to sit here beside me and put your feet in the water?”

Bella backed a half step away. “I don’t like to swim.”

“I wasn’t suggesting you put your whole body in,” he countered. “Just your feet. Like this.”

Holding his injured right leg still, he kicked lightly with his left foot, making the water splash. “Feels good.”

He took a sip of his drink then, looking unconcerned about whether Bella chose to accept his invitation. Seemingly emboldened by the lack of pressure, the child settled cautiously at his left side and let her feet dangle into the water. Trevor kicked up another spray, making her giggle softly and imitate him. He kicked again, and some of the water splashed on Jade this time, which led to both Trevor and Bella kicking more enthusiastically to make sure they showered her.

Laughing, she swung a hand to splatter them back, making sure most of the spray hit Trevor. Bella blinked, as if trying to decide whether to protest, then grinned and kicked more vigorously with Trevor’s encouragement. Jade noted in satisfaction that Bella seemed hardly aware that she was getting liberally splashed now. In fact, the child squealed in delight.

“Mom, you should come see this. It’s so cool!”

Looking around in response to the hail, Jade saw Erin sticking her head out from behind the waterfall. “On my way,” she called back. “Bella, do you want to go with me to see the grotto? We can put your floaties on, if you want, so you won’t go under the water.”

Bella looked tempted for a moment as she gazed toward the waterfall, but then she shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“How about if your mom and I both take you?” Trevor suggested. “Between the two of us, you’d barely be in the water. The grotto’s worth the trip, I promise. One of my young visitors told me it was like a fairy cave.”

Bella’s lower lip quivered. She wanted to see the cave, Jade interpreted, but was afraid.

Trevor slid into the pool and held out his arms to the child. “C’mon, Little Bit. Anyone who can do three cartwheels surely isn’t afraid of a little water.”

Bella scooted back rapidly, looking very close to tears now. “No. I don’t want to.”

“It’s okay, Bella, you don’t have to this time,” Jade said quickly. She needed to make it clear to Trevor that she didn’t want Bella pressured or embarrassed by her fear. “Maybe another day before we move into our house. But only if you want to.”

Catching on quickly, Trevor smiled at the child, though Jade wondered if she detected just a touch of disapproval in his expression. Did he think she should have pushed the child harder to overcome her fear—or was Jade merely being overly defensive? Either way, decisions like that were hers to make, she told herself firmly. She’d been doing just fine on her own, and she needed no advice from an overconfident bachelor.

“It’s fine, kiddo,” Trevor said, and there were no such thoughts mirrored in his tone. “Maybe you’d like to play in that patch of grass over there? You can practice your cartwheels or look for ladybugs.”

Looking relieved, Bella jumped to her feet and rushed away from the pool.

Jade had probably overreacted to the very brief exchange. Was she a little worried that Bella seemed so enamored with Trevor? She didn’t think that was an unfounded concern. Bella had recently seemed very aware of the lack of a father in her life, maybe from observations of friends who lived with two parents. Jade didn’t want her most emotionally vulnerable child to weave unrealistic fantasies that would only leave her disappointed.

Trevor looked at Jade, his expression somber. “She’s really afraid of the water, huh?”

Trying to put her possibly overblown misgivings from her mind, Jade nodded. “She is. I considered enrolling her in swim classes, thinking it might help, but the very suggestion upset her so much I didn’t have the heart to make her go. I thought maybe I’d try again next summer.”

“Your other two certainly aren’t afraid,” he observed, watching Caleb and Erin frolicking in the waterfall. “They swim like dolphins.”

“Yes, well, that’s because their father had them in the water as soon as they could walk.” Jade pushed a drying strand of hair from her eyes and glanced around at the kids. “Both of them could swim well before they were Bella’s age. She wasn’t quite a year old when he died, so he never got to spend time with her. I guess I fell down on the swimming training with her. Stephen was the athlete in the family, while I’m more the bookworm. It’s been a challenge to fill both roles since.”

“As busy as you are now, I’m sure you had your hands even more full for a while after he died,” Trevor replied.

“Three kids under eight,” she agreed quietly. “One not even walking yet.”

“I have a feeling swim lessons were low on your priority list.”

Which didn’t make her feel any less guilty that Caleb and Erin were having so much fun in the water while Bella played in the grass. That latent guilt also probably explained, at least in part, her reaction to Trevor’s attempted intervention.

“Mom, are you coming or not?” Erin demanded from the grotto entrance.

With a nod to Trevor, Jade kicked off from the pool wall and stroked toward the waterfall. By the time she came back out a short while later, Trevor was swimming laps from one side of the pool to the other, letting his arms pull him through the water rather than putting extra stress on his injured leg. And despite herself, she couldn’t help watching for a moment as the water rippled off his bare back and the waning sunlight glinted off his long arms. The man was well toned, there was no denying that. Not in the bulging-muscled, über-warrior physique Stephen had tried to maintain, but with the sleek body of a swimmer or a runner. Nice.

Shaking her head with a shower of glittering droplets, she climbed the steps out of the pool and called for her children.

“Time to get ready for dinner,” she said, motioning for Bella to join them. “That’s enough swimming for today.”

She expected a chorus of protests from her older two, but they gave only token sighs before following her out of the pool—a sign that the busy day had left even them tired.

She looked back from the doorway into the house to find that Trevor had paused in his swimming and was paddling lazily in the center of the deepest part of the pool. He was watching her again. He smiled when their eyes met, and she smiled back.