GINA WILKINS - The Soldier's Legacy

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.”