WindSwept Narrows: #8 Hannah Taylor Read online

  “Guys in New Mexico must be real slow,” Noah commented, sitting next to her and turning to watch her.

  “I know a lot of people who don’t want children,” she told him softly. “So a woman with a child…definitely off limits. I was talking to some friends…it’s difficult to remember you’re a whole person sometimes. All you think of is your work self and your mom self…and then one day you realize parts of you are missing.”

  “I went for family practice because I liked kids. I think the only time I wasn’t happy with…” He stopped and inhaled slowly. “I wasn’t fond of being a doctor in war zones, let’s put it that way.”

  “But you did it…it had to be difficult, especially seeing the kids,” Hannah reached for his palm. “Humans…sometimes we’re a sad lot…I think it’s another thing that drew me to the resort when Abby called. Maybe…just maybe…with enough extended family, we can raise a generation who cares and thinks of more than self.”

  “Is that how you see the resort? An extended family,” he repeated, considering her comment.

  “I do…try and keep a secret here,” she said with a laugh. “Friends of friends of friends and pretty soon, there’s a pool out to see how it’s going to come out.”

  “Lack of privacy?”

  “No secrets,” she responded slowly, her gaze falling to his palm where it rested on her knee. “If you talk about things…all things…and it’s honest…then what is there to be kept private? Why are secrets so vital? Most are used to hurt others, I think…”

  “Interesting notion…I know too many people afraid of talking. I think it might be another reason I like working with kids,” Noah commented thoughtfully. “They don’t play the social games. They haven’t been taught to be deceptive. No brothers or sisters?”

  “No. Just me. My parents are still married, but they aren’t happy. They just are…that’s a little sad to watch.”

  “They don’t come visit Lili? She’s adorable…”

  “She’s the best kid…” Hannah looked up and met his gaze. “They don’t know about her. They wouldn’t approve and she doesn’t need that. They live in Sacramento and we don’t talk much, so it’s good.”

  “They wouldn’t approve of you raising her alone?”

  “They didn’t like her father. He was Irish actually…we met when he was working with a software company on a work visa. We were going to get married and…and he was in a stupid car accident,” Hannah brought her hand up and swept it over her cheek. “Sorry. You think with time…”

  “Time doesn’t do anything but make us older, Hannah,” Noah carefully turned her and let her lean into him, his arms circling her from behind. “Well, I better warn you…my parents are happy…frisky even…” He felt her laugh. “I’m an only child, too…and they live a little north of here on Mercer Island. My dad was into computers from the beginning and has worked for the big company since it began.”

  “Does a computer dad understand when you wanted to be a doctor instead?”

  “It took some adjustment on his part,” Noah agreed with a chuckle. “Mom was thrilled…until I went into the military for a five year tour. I know she worried a lot and I regret that…not sure how to have avoided it, though.”

  “Why did you enlist?”

  “I needed to see,” he stared past her head at the wall. “I…I’m not really sure now. I wanted to be useful. I met Anya there and some others who live in the area now. It’s how they found me when they wanted another physician for the health center. I think maybe I like your idea…maybe, just maybe…we can make a generation that will think before they have to fight.”

  Hannah let her hands rest over his, their fingers entwined in the silence that settled around them. Small sounds of chatter came from the bedroom for a few minutes before the little girl wandered into the living area and climbed onto Hannah’s lap with a big yawn.

  “This is warm,” she said and snuggled against them both.

  “We’re useful,” Noah teased, his finger brushing across the little head lightly.

  “I guess it is your bedtime…” Hannah said softly.

  “And I’ll see you girls in the morning. Ten AM at the health center,” Noah was up and bending to kiss Hannah before striding to the door. “Good night, ladies.”

  Hannah watched Lili wave and smiled at him, the door closing with a solid click. She went quietly through the apartment, turning things off and joining Lili in her bedroom. She lay staring at the sky outside her bedroom for a long time before sleep finally let her rest.

  Noah entered his home, tossed his keys to the counter and immediately went in search of his overcoat. It promised to be freezing in the morning. He pulled it off the hanger at the same time his vision caught on something silver in one pocket. His eyes grew larger as the silky piece of lingerie came slowly from inside.

  Silver and blue. He was staring at the bra but his mind had been sent to another vision. He saw the inside of the room at the inn. Only it wasn’t his room. He saw Lili sitting in the center of the second large bed. His mind flashed to the dreams he’d been having since the memorial. His hand tightened around the nylon and lace, draping it lightly on the corner of the mirror of his dresser.

  Chapter Five

  Noah was outside early taking advantage of the sunshine to put a few finishing touches on the fall clean up. He stood beneath the shower, hands on the tiles and head down as the hot water sprayed down. He was missing a weekend and somehow Hannah was involved in the time. He knew the reason it was missing and had been dehydrated for a couple days because of it. But the vivid erotic dream involving Hannah Taylor…he pulled his jacket on and headed for the car, unable to force answers to the questions.

  It was almost twelve thirty when they were having lunch. Lili busy chasing tiny crackers around her soup bowl.

  “I’ve got afternoon duty until Wednesday,” Noah said after a big bite of the fish sandwich he’d ordered. “How about dinner…just you and me.”

  “Wednesday,” Hannah repeated and nodded. “I can ask Sheila to sit with Lili. She lives next door. Not fish and chips on Wednesday?” She asked with a grin.

  “A little fancier…how about the restaurant in the casino?”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Then I’ll be over about six,” he said, walking her to her car outside the health center and waiting while she buckled Lili into her chair. He had her framed against the door, his palms on her waist. “Be careful…I’ll call you…”

  Hannah lost herself in the kiss, her palms clinging to the open edge of his jacket. One kiss led to another until he firmly stepped back, shaking his head.

  “I’ve got to go, Hannah…” but he swooped in for one more kiss, leaving her laughing as he ran for the entrance through the rain that had drifted into their day.

  Hannah wasn’t sure where the week was going. They talked on the phone and they exchanged texts like a couple of teenagers. And it was fun, she thought, eating lunch at her desk and working on her class notes.

  She was bent and buckling a low heel into place when the knock came on the door, sending Lili into alert mode. Hannah smiled as she watched Lili peer through the door.

  “Well?”

  “It’s the ab-dominal snowman,” Lili declared with a nod.

  Hannah closed one eye. “Maybe not?”

  “It’s Noah,” she admitted with a sigh and jumped down, pulling the door open. “Hi, Noah.”

  “Hi, Lili…I don’t know…I kind of like being the abdominal snowman,” he said with a wink that made her giggle. He felt his body and mind reacting to the woman in the short black dress, long bare legs and short heels.

  “Where you goin’?” Lili asked with a little frown.

  “I told you,” Hannah, held the jacket to her dress and dropped to her heels. “Noah is taking me to dinner.”

  “Without me?”

  Hannah felt her insides turn upside down at the wide eyes. This was new territory, she thought with a gulp.

  No
ah saw the exchange and lifted Lili off the floor. “How about a trade?”

  He laughed when the momentary brewing tears stopped, her head tilted slightly and eyes curious. “Trade?” Lili repeated.

  “Let me take mama to dinner tonight…and I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow night,” he offered, winking at Hannah as she stood up and slipped her jacket on.

  “Just you and me? Like a date?” She whispered in awe.

  “Yep. How about that?”

  Hannah answered the door when the light knock came, the teenager coming in with a grin. “Hi, Sheila…”

  “Hi, Hannah…hey, kid…ready to play?” She held out her arms and was rewarded by Lili launching herself forward with a giggle.

  “Okay…I got a date,” Lili told her as the pair wandered to the bedroom, a backward wave from Sheila telling her to go.

  Noah took her palm and led her quickly from the apartment.

  “That was very sweet of you,” Hannah said, holding his hand as they walked through the parking lot to the casino.

  “Lili is a big part of you, Hannah,” Noah answered honestly. “They have the new staff position whittled down to three possibles,” he commented as they walked into the bustling casino and toward the restaurant.

  Hannah didn’t know where the night went. They talked and talked and ate dinner and laughed. She only called Sheila once and relaxed a little more when they danced to the quiet music in the lounge. She paid Sheila shortly before eleven, her fingers shaking when Noah closed the door and backed her against it, his mouth down in a slow, sensuous caress that had them both breathing raggedly.

  “I leave at noon on Friday…so do you,” Noah said when he lifted his head, his gaze sparkling through the lenses of his glasses. “Spend the weekend with me. You and Lili. At my house. There’s a bedroom she can have all to herself.”

  “I think I’d like that. I’ll put things in the car in the morning and…” Hannah nodded slowly.

  “I’ll come by about five-thirty tomorrow for Lili…we’ll have to use your car. I don’t have a kid seat in mine.”

  “Noah, you don’t have to…” But she stopped when his finger touched her lips.

  “Never break a promise to your girls,” he said with a teasing wink, dropped a light kiss on her lips and opened the door. “Good night, Hannah.”

  “G’night,” she closed the door and leaned against it.

  Noah sat and looked at the list on his desk the next morning.

  The unused return flight boarding pass.

  The bra.

  The fact that he felt better than he had in a very long time Saturday afternoon.

  Lili’s knowledge of him.

  The dreams or flashbacks.

  All revolving around Hannah. He added another piece that had arrived in the mail.

  A ‘Thank you for using our wedding services’ brochure from the inn where he had stayed.

  He tapped in the number and waited. Charles Tempest answered the phone.

  “Mr. Tempest, this is Dr. Noah Madison…” he got no further.

  “Dr. Madison! We were just talking about you and the new bride!”

  “We’re that memorable, Mr. Tempest?” New bride?

  “You’re the only midnight, hallway ceremony we ever performed here at the Last Rose Inn,” the man announced with a rough laugh. “And your new bride is a redhead to boot! Brings luck to the wedding house. What can I do for you, Doctor?”

  “I need a copy of the form we completed and the license. Could you fax them to my office for me?” Noah recited the number.

  “We’ll get ‘em to you right now. Tell your new bride we all said hello!”

  Noah looked at the dead receiver and lowered it to the cradle. When you go class, Madison, you go all the way, he told himself, turning in his chair and lifting the two sheets of paper from the fax a few minutes later.

  Midnight hallway wedding ceremony.

  There was no denying the bold, concise left handed printing that was his. Let alone the signature. He didn’t know Hannah’s handwriting, but didn’t doubt the delicate and neat printing and signature at being hers. Now…all he needed was information on the how. Why would be nice…on his part, he could chalk it up to the massive amounts of vodka and orange juice he had drank.

  Hannah sat on the sofa, books spread around her when the knock came on the door. She watched Lili move the chair and peep out the eyeglass.

  “Who is it?” Hannah asked, as was expected in their game.

  “It’s…a flower…” She turned around and frowned at Hannah before hopping to the floor and waiting. She knew she wasn’t allowed to open the door unless it was someone she knew. “Who’s there?” She called out loudly.

  “The big bad wolf!” Came the growling answer.

  A squeal went out and Lili ran and dove into the arms Hannah had open as she rounded the sofa and pulled the door wide.

  “Wrong answer?” Noah asked with a laugh, holding out the red rose to Hannah. “Hi…” He leaned in and kissed her, the sweet taste of her in his memory. He straightened up and looked at Lili. “Ready for our date?”

  “Run get your jacket,” Hannah lifted her keys from the table. “Really…Noah…you’re sure about this?”

  “Positive,” he told her, thinking of the plans he had for the night. “I’ll get her back before dawn,” he promised with a wink at the wide eyes. “Anything she’s allergic to I should know about?”

  “No…nothing,” she dropped to her heels and zipped Lili’s jacket. “Be good…please…”

  Little arms went around her neck and she almost caved. This wasn’t like a babysitter. Why was this so different?

  “Hannah…honest…I’ll bring her back,” Noah said softly, groaning when a pair of swimming blue eyes lifted to meet his. She nodded hastily and stood up with a smile.

  “Have lots of fun…bye…I’m going to do homework…thank you, Noah.”

  “Later,” he promised, lifting Lili and chattering as they walked toward the parking lot.

  “What’re we gonna do?” Lili asked, helping him with the puzzling buckling system in the car seat.

  “First…get these things all done…” He stepped back, frowned and hoped he had it right before closing the door and sliding behind the steering wheel. Noah winced and reached frantically to find the seat release, shoving it back and looking over his shoulder to the other side where Lili sat watching him. “How’s chicken nuggets sound? Then we’re going shopping.”

  “Nuggets is good and milk, please,” Lili said politely.

  Noah took a large bite from the sandwich he ordered. Hannah kept a very neat, clean car. He carefully bundled up their trash and got rid of it before heading for the store he wanted in the large shopping district.

  “Wow…this is big…” Lili had one arm resting along his shoulders as he walked into the store, large layouts of furniture all around them.

  “Yeah…no kidding,” Noah had to agree. And it wasn’t something in his normal scope of experience, but he was nothing if not adaptable. It wasn’t long before a sales person appeared. “Bedroom furniture…a kids’ room.”

  “Can I get down?”

  “I think I can keep an eye on you…but stay close. I need you to test this out,” Noah lowered her to the floor, watching as she wandered around the collection of mock rooms that had been set up. “Which one do you like, Lili?”

  Noah knew he shouldn’t have been surprised. She darted through the rooms, stopping now and then and continuing on until she stood next to some bright yellow and white ruffles. The room had shelves and dressers; a desk and large toy box and a twin bed with a canopy.

  “Can you even get up on that thing?” Noah watched in growing amazement as she stood in the center of the room, a tiny frown on her face. But only for a brief minute. She immediately went to the small chair in the next room, hauling it to the bed and climbing on it and then onto the bed. She sat triumphantly in the center. “You are good,” Noah said with a nod of approval.
r />   “It’s nice,” she said, laying back in the bed, hands up behind her head. “There’s stars on the roof…see…” she pointed to the dangling stars on the inside of the canopy.

  Noah gestured to the sales person that had been helping him, speaking quietly. He wanted to make certain they could deliver tomorrow and that set up was completely included, especially the canopy with the stars. Considering he was buying the entire room, they were ready to promise him what he asked.

  “Let’s go, Lili,” He went to the bed and accepted her when she launched off the surface into his arms. “No flying when I’m not around, okay?”

  “Okay. Are we going to your house? Can we see the chickens again?” Lili asked, not noticing the surprised look from Noah.

  “How about tomorrow afternoon? It’ll be nice enough to go outside,” Noah promised, carefully buckling her into the seat. The bright over head lights in the parking lot lit up the backseat, his gaze landing on the tip of a plastic bag lying on the floor.

  It was a normal zip bag but inside was something that had him blinking, his head spinning as he lifted it from the floor. He looked from the long rectangular slim box to the child.

  “We’re going to your house?”

  “Tomorrow,” he told her. “When did you see the chickens, Lili?” Noah felt his mouth go dry when he tipped the device inside up to the light and saw the answer inside the pink box. He slid it into his pocket, tucking it carefully out of sight before striding around the car to sink behind the wheel.

  Three weeks ago. And according to the pink box, Hannah was pregnant. With his child.

  “When you were sad.”

  The memorial. It all went back to the memorial and his lost weekend. That explained how he got home. They raced across the concrete, laughing and screeching, so it wasn’t a surprise that Hannah had the door open. Lili launched herself into the open arms.

  “You two know how to make an entrance,” she laughed, carrying the little girl into the apartment with Noah behind them. She heard her keys drop on the counter and saw him reach for the note pad she kept there. She put Lili down, removed her jacket and peeked at the paper.