A Texas Soldier's Christmas

Nora set the flowers on the coffee table, then perched on the edge of a chair, the present on her lap. She gestured for him to have a seat on the sofa.

“Going to guess what it is?”

She couldn’t—wouldn’t—make too much of this. Ignoring the faint flutter of her heart, Nora tilted her head to one side. “Something the clerk at the baby boutique in town picked out for you?”

He flashed a cheeky grin. Not the least bit put off. “I’m more invested than that.”

She certainly hoped not. Because to have him invested in her life—in Liam’s—was the path to heartache, all over again. Doing her best to keep her guard up, Nora undid the ribbon.

Inside the box was a completely adorable red velvet Santa outfit, complete with cap and knit booties that looked like little black boots.

Zane turned his attention to the Pack ’n Play. Observing Liam, his expression grew tender once again. “I know Liam is a little young to know what the holidays are all about, but seeing as how this is his first Christmas—” his voice roughened slightly “—I figure he ought to celebrate it up right.”

Nora knew as an adoptive parent, versus a biological one, she should not be having postpregnancy hormonal shifts. But having Zane back in her life, even temporarily, was causing a seismic shift. She jerked in a quavering breath, still not daring to look her ex in the eye. “It’s lovely,” she murmured back huskily. “Thanks.”

He reached across the chasm of space between them, clasping her delicate hand in his rougher one. “So we’re good?”

Yes, Nora thought, her pulse racing despite herself. And no...

Luckily for her, she was saved from having to answer that by the ringing phone.

She rose to get it.

The news on the other end was not good.

* * *

“YOU HAVE TO go back to work now?” Zane asked.

Aware she had no time to don her scrubs again, Nora grabbed a belted cardigan-style jacket instead, looped the chained badge over her head and settled the ID between her breasts. She paused to pull on her favorite pair of Western boots. “It’s an emergency with a new resident. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to wait for a sitter to get here...so I’m going to have to take Liam with me.”

He followed her back to the Pack ’n Play. “Is that going to be a problem?”

Gently, Nora eased her son into a fleece jacket and cap. “No. He goes to Laramie Gardens with me every day.” It had been part of her employment deal, and the only way she would go back to work so soon. “I just usually have a sitter there with me. To keep an eye on him between feedings.” Which she usually did herself.

“Want me to go along and help?” Zane asked.

An extra pair of hands was always helpful, particularly when an infant was on the scene. Nodding, Nora collected the diaper bag and her purse, then gathered her son in her arms. “Actually, yes, if you wouldn’t mind. At least until I can get reinforcement.”

Together, they hurried out to the drive. Luckily, Liam seemed more dazed than unhappy to be woken up. Not always the case.

The pickup truck Zane had driven forever was parked behind her. “I’ll follow you over there,” he called.

Short minutes later, the two of them were walking into the home for senior citizens. Just before they entered the doors, Nora handed Liam, who was still strapped snugly into his infant carrier, off to Zane.

And not a moment too soon, it appeared. At the other end of the hall, a determined Russell Pierce was slapping a jaunty brown felt fedora on his head. In a safari shirt, khaki cargo pants and a worn leather jacket, he bore a striking resemblance to Harrison Ford. With a physical vigor belying his eighty-five years, he was arguing with the night charge nurse, Inez Garcia. “I’m telling you, nice as this visit has been, I have to go close up The Book Nook, and then get home to have dinner with Esther and the baby.”

Wordlessly, Nora directed Zane to take Liam into the community room, where help awaited him. “Hey, Mr. Pierce,” Nora said, sauntering closer.

“Well, hello there, young lady!” he said. “I was just about to call you. The rest of your special order came in.”

“Great.” Nora smiled and gently took his arm, attempting to orient him. “Do you know where we are?”

He looked around. Suddenly confused.

“Laramie Gardens, Home For Seniors,” she said.

He squinted, uncertain.

“Will you let me walk you back to your room so we can take your blood sugar and talk a moment?”

Mr. Pierce hesitated. “I still need to get home to Esther,” he said more urgently than ever.

“I know you miss her and want to be with her,” Nora said softly.

He nodded. Tears glistened.

Nora fought the lump rising in her throat. She put her arm through his, and together, they walked back toward his room.

An hour later, all was calm.

Nora went in search of Zane and the baby, hoping they were still in the community room. Only to hear sounds of what had increasingly become the norm.

“Yes, but it isn’t fair,” Wilbur Barnes said.

“All the activities are female oriented,” complained Kurtis Kelley.

“We want an equal-opportunity holiday around here!” Buck Franklin reiterated gruffly.

“Hey! We gave you fellas ample time to weigh in on the scheduled activities,” the always-elegant Miss Sadie said.

“You all refused,” retired librarian Miss Mim pointed out.

Nora crossed the threshold.

Zane stood in front of the fireplace, a wide-awake Liam cradled in his arms. The two of them were a picture of contentment. Leading Nora to secretly wish for the impossible...

“What do you think, Zane? You’ve got enough distance to lend perspective,” Darrell Enlow, the resident peacemaker, said.

Zane squinted at the group gathered around him. “I’m not sure you want to hear what I have to say.”

“Yes, we do!” everyone cried in unison.

Zane looked at Nora. Figuring it couldn’t hurt to get an outside opinion, she encouraged him with a nod.

He drew a breath, his attention focused solely on the thirty or so seniors gathered around him. “Well, when I hear you argue about whether hand-painting ornaments is an appropriate activity for guys I can’t help but think about all my fellow soldiers stationed around the world right now who are away from their families, who would give anything to be home with their loved ones. In fact,” he admitted, in a low, gravelly voice, “they’d be so damn grateful, they wouldn’t care what they were expected to do as long as they could spend time together.”

The ache in Nora’s throat came back, full force.

This was the Zane she had loved.

The big, strong guy with the heart as vast as the Lone Star State. The man who never let her—or anyone else who was depending on him—down. The soldier who was always ready and willing to render aid to someone else in need.

Who was helping her out with her son, even now.

Several throats cleared. More than one resident dabbed their eyes.

“You’re right,” Wilbur Barnes said finally. “We can do better.”

Zane shifted Liam a little higher in his arms. Her son reacted by resting his blond head contentedly against Zane’s broad chest. “Which isn’t to say I don’t understand your frustration,” he continued empathetically. “The holidays are a time when it’s just as easy to think about what you don’t have as it is to count your blessings.”

How true, Nora thought, aware right now she was acutely cognizant of how much she had missed him. And maybe always would...

“I also know that you-all would feel a lot less lonesome if you were helping someone else,” Zane concluded, his gaze softening as Liam yawned sleepily and cuddled even closer against him.

Smiling down at him, Zane stroked Liam’s downy soft head.

The moment so affectionate, so unexpected, it brought tears to Nora’s eyes.

Zane continued in a tone that was both pragmatic and gentle, “And I’ve got just the idea on how to make that happen.”

* * *

“THAT WAS BRILLIANT, getting them involved with the West Texas Warriors Assistance nonprofit,” Nora complimented Zane, as they walked out to the parking lot. Aware this was beginning to feel like a date, when it most certainly was not, she forced herself to put aside her increasingly warm feelings for the sexy soldier.

He opened the door for her, then stepped back to give her room to settle the sleeping Liam back in his car seat. “My family and the others running it can use the help, especially this time of year.”

Nora straightened and shut the door. To her relief, Liam continued sleeping.

Tilting her head back, she looked Zane in the eye. “I know Bess Monroe, the nurse who runs the rehab unit. I’ll call her tomorrow and see what we can do to set things up between us.”

Zane flashed another flirty grin. “I can help with that, you know.”

Awareness swept through her. Fighting the urge to touch him, Nora took a step back. “I appreciate your Good Samaritan spirit.”

“But?” The street lamps brought out the wheat-gold hue of his hair.

Resisting the urge to run her fingers through the thick strands, Nora frowned. “I can’t go down this road with you again, Zane.” And working closely with him, on anything, would lead to just that. A fact he seemed to know all too well.

He regarded her with barely veiled bemusement. “Our relationship doesn’t have to end badly. In fact—” he shrugged his broad shoulders laconically “—it doesn’t have to end at all.”

Nora tossed her bag into the car. “I think, given the very different things we want in life, that it already has,” she said, casting him a probing sidelong glance. “In any case, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It will be a very busy day at Laramie Gardens, with all the guests and family coming in.”

“I’m guessing it won’t be a happy occasion for everyone.”

Nora dipped her head, acknowledging wearily this was true. For every happy heart, there would be a broken one to mend. “I’m going to need all my energy to see them through it. So we better call it a night.”

Apparently not quite ready to give up just yet, he watched her climb behind the wheel. “Sure you don’t need my help getting Liam in the house, or seeing you get some dinner?”

Need?

No. She could do whatever was required all by herself.

Want was a different matter entirely.

* * *

“I HEARD MY dad had another episode last night,” Lynn Russell informed Nora the next morning.

Nora ushered the sixty-year-old noted actress into her private office. Although currently filming a television series in NYC, the glamorous redhead had flown back to enjoy the holiday with her dad.

“He suffered a period of brief confusion last night.”

“Wasn’t that the second time since he’s been here?”

“In the course of two weeks. Yes.”

Lynn settled in a chair on the other side of Nora’s desk. “Do you know why?”

“We initially chalked the first incident up to simple fatigue. He was exhausted by the plane ride and long drive here. Neither of which is easy for someone his age.”

“And the one last night?”

Nora regarded the medical chart in front of her. “We’re not sure. He hasn’t had much of an appetite since he moved in. So his blood sugar was a little off. We got the levels back to normal after he finished eating his dinner. And it was normal again this morning.”

“So that’s not likely it.”

“Probably not. But with folks his age, we keep a close tab on that just the same. He could also have been sundowning a little.”

Lynn turned off her phone and set her bag on the floor. “What’s that?”

“It’s a type of confusion that occurs later in the day. It can be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s or dementia. But I’ve also seen it brought about simply by a change in environment in an elderly person.”

“So, if it’s just the move back to Texas causing this...?”

“Then his occasional disorientation will ease as he adjusts to life here at Laramie Gardens and everything becomes more familiar to him.”

Lynn tapped her fingers, thinking. “And if not?”

Nora sobered. “Then treatment might be required. Which is why we have a geriatric specialist, Dr. Ron Wheeler, coming in tomorrow morning to go over his medical records and examine him. But not to worry, your dad is in fine spirits this morning. So you should have a nice holiday together.”

Her expression regretful, Lynn walked with Nora to the door. “I wish I could have convinced Dad to stay with me in New York City and continue to have home care help to assist him in my absence. But he was insistent he return to the place where I grew up and he and my mother spent their entire married life.”

Together, they moved down the hall. “I can see where that would be comforting.”

Lynn shook her head sadly. “He’s never gotten over losing her two years ago.”

Nora recalled Esther, who had worked side by side with her husband at the Laramie bookstore they founded. A kinder, more devoted couple could not have been found. “How long were they married?” She paused just outside Mr. Pierce’s door.

“Sixty-three years.” Lynn smiled and waved at her dad, who was standing in front of a bookcase of leather-bound classics. Treasure Island, Moby-Dick, A Christmas Carol, Gunga Din, The Catcher in the Rye, Don Quixote... Mr. Pierce had quite the collection. And he was deeply attached to them all.

“Wow,” Nora said. “I can hardly imagine what it would be like to be married that long.”

“I know.” Lynn grinned as she headed in to see her father. “Not many couples make it that long these days.”

Certainly, Nora thought, not she and Zane.

* * *

“IS LIEUTENANT LOCKHART coming for the feast this evening?” Miss Mim asked.

“We invited him to attend,” Miss Sadie said helpfully.

Nora cradled Liam against her shoulder, all the while keeping an eye on the dining room, where places for all one hundred and fifty residents, and the hundred special guests also in attendance for the buffet dinner at 4:30 p.m., were being set up.

Nora shoved aside her own need to see the handsome soldier. “I expect he’s with his own family today.”

“Ah...think again...” chimed in Miss Mim, who’d been matchmaking for the two of them since they were kids who hung out together every summer, when Zane visited his paternal grandfather.

Every nerve end tingling, Nora turned.

And there came Zane striding toward her in an olive green shirt, tie, blazer and jeans. He had a huge sheet cake in his hands. “Did your sister, Sage, make that cake?” Buck Franklin asked.

Zane chuckled. “She did. And she even put the great big turkey on it, just like I asked.” He held it out so everyone could see the decoration adorning the vanilla frosting.

Nora couldn’t help but compliment, “That was so nice of you and Sage.” His sister was a fabulous chef, as well as café bistro owner.

Zane grinned and regarded Nora mischievously, his eyes alight with interest. “Consider it the Lockhart family’s contribution for the feast today.”

It was something, all right.

Oblivious to the sparks flying between Zane and Nora, Wilbur Barnes stepped in to relieve Zane. “Thanks, son.”

Miss Patricia led the way across the dining hall. “I’ll make room for it on the dessert table.”

Suddenly, the world narrowed once again. Zane regarded Liam, who was looking around with a slightly perturbed expression on his cherubic face. “Not to worry, little fella,” he said, patting Liam’s head. “You’ll have a chance to have cake when I bring it next year.”

As if Zane would be there with them next November, Nora thought irritably. The practical side of her laid down odds he would not. Which meant for all their sakes she had to keep her guard up.

As the seniors gathered around them eased off to give them a little privacy, she nodded at the brash fabric knotted around his neck. “Where did you get that tie?” she quipped. “Pick it out yourself?”

He held out the brown, orange, gold and green silk. Then gazed admiringly at the upside-down design. “Neckwear sporting a traditional cornucopia is hard to find.”

Nora rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet.”

He chuckled, knowing—as always—he was doing a great job of getting under her skin.

Figuring she had no choice but to brazen her way through this situation, Nora cleared her throat. She had a job to do here, and her first order of business was getting rid of him. “Seriously, it was nice of you to drop by, but doesn’t your family want you to spend the holiday with them?”

Stubbornly refusing to take her hint, Zane shrugged his broad shoulders. “Mom served her dinner at noon. She didn’t want any football games interrupting the family meal.”

Trying not to think how much his nearness disturbed her, Nora returned, “I thought Lucille didn’t allow any televised sports at holiday get-togethers.”

One corner of his sensual lips slanted up. Dark silver eyes glittering warmly, he leaned closer and teased huskily, “I like the way you remember every little thing about me...”

She recalled way too much all right, Nora thought, flushing self-consciously.

Like the way he kissed and touched her. The way he smelled when he first woke up, or was fresh out of the shower. The way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t aware, like he wanted to hold that moment in his heart forever.

A riptide of sentiment swept through her. Followed swiftly by a physical longing that was just as intense.

“This particular memory was about your mother,” Nora fibbed, lifting a nonchalant brow.

He chuckled at her sassy tone. “Yes, well, Mom’s softening a bit in her old age. She allows a game or two to be on as long as we all have dinner together—uninterrupted—first.”

Nora let her gaze rove over his tall, solidly built frame. Told herself she wasn’t affected. Nope. Not one little bit. “Ah.”

“Anything we miss, she figures can be recorded and watched later.”

She didn’t want to kiss him again, either. Not today. Not tonight. Not ever. “Smart woman.”

Oblivious to the ridiculously out-of-bounds nature of her thoughts, Zane sighed and shook his head.

“Who, unfortunately, understands very little about the superstitious nature of sporting events. Luckily for me, the guys here do know how much viewer participation it takes for any team to win,” he announced, grinning when Nora groaned. “So they have told me, they are all in, and will be ready to cheer on my teams with me.”

Which meant Zane would be here for hours. As would she, since she was pulling a double today. It was all Nora could do not to stamp her foot in dismay.

“Just don’t let things get too rowdy,” she warned.

Zane grinned in all innocence and gave her a once-over that quickly had her tingling from head to toe. “Who, me?” he said.

Chapter Three

Nora didn’t know what was worse. Having Zane underfoot during the Thanksgiving feast, paying attention to her. Or having him underfoot, blissfully unaware she was even around.

All she knew for sure was that he was a hit at the table he was sitting at during the meal. Even from the other side of the dining room, she could hear the bursts of laughter in response to whatever stories he was telling.

And he was an even bigger hit in the TV room, watching the football games. Enough of a man’s man to appeal to all the guys and enough of a charmer to appeal to the ladies.

Luckily, she had a lot to concern herself with. Three bottle feedings and a number of diaper changes for Liam. A lot of families, and lonely residents, to speak with. By the time her second shift ended at eleven that evening, she was worn to a thread.

Aware the last football game was just about over, she decided to duck into her office and wait until Zane bid adieu to his new pals and departed. With a sleeping Liam snuggled safely against her chest in his BabyBjörn carrier, Nora sat down on the love seat in the corner of her office and let her head fall back against the cushions.

The next thing she knew she was snuggled against something big and solid and warm, struggling to wake up.

Blinking, she looked down. Liam was still snoozing in his BabyBjörn. It was to her left that...

Oh, my heaven!

She struggled to sit up.

Not easy when she was cuddled snugly into the curve of Zane Lockhart’s tall, strong body. But somehow she managed. Turning toward him, she leaned forward and watched his eyes open. Refusing to get lost in the mesmerizing depths, she declared, “You can’t sleep with me in my office!”

Night supervisor Inez Garcia loomed in the open doorway. “I totally agree.” She shook her head at Nora and Zane. “You-all ought to go home. Pronto!”

* * *

“THERE’S NO NEED to be embarrassed,” Zane said, stepping outside with her. The chill from earlier in the day had faded into an unusually balmy warmth. The night air was scented with approaching rain. “I’m sure it’s nothing your nurse-colleague hasn’t seen before.”

Irked to find the weather shifting as erratically as her moods, Nora stumbled slightly under the weight of the baby still strapped to her chest, his diaper bag and her own shoulder bag. “That’s not the point,” she grumbled.

Zane reacted as swiftly as usual, easing a palm beneath her forearm, the other around her waist. As soon as she steadied, he tenderly searched her face. “You okay?”

“Yes,” Nora fibbed, “I’m...”

He took the diaper bag from her resisting fingers, slung it over one broad shoulder and moved in even closer. “Barely awake?”

The sad truth.

She eased away from the hand beneath her elbow. “It was a long day.” A very, very long day.

He fell into step beside her. Staying close enough to assist her if need be, far enough away not to crowd her. His every action as perfectly gallant as always.

“Let me drive you both home.”

When even the gruff sound of his voice had her tingling all over? Not wise. Wishing she hadn’t parked quite so far away from the door, Nora kept her eyes on her waiting minivan. “It’s only two miles.”

Zane tilted his head at her and Liam. “Plenty of time for you to fall back asleep, jump a curb and hit a tree.”

She hated it when he was right. A sixteen-hour shift on a holiday, while simultaneously caring for her infant son, was too much. He, on the other hand, looked chipper as could be. But then Special Forces soldiers were trained to get by on very little shut-eye and still perform at optimum ability.

Using what felt like the very last reserves of her energy, she picked up her pace. “Then how are you going to get to your pickup truck?”

One half of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “I’ll run back. I haven’t worked out today. It’ll be fine.”

The wind gusted. With one hand, Nora held back the hair that had blown into her face. Maybe he did want a good run. In any case... With a sigh, she reluctantly gave in. “Fine. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I don’t.”

Not daring to look him in the eye, she used her firmest voice to let him know, “Once we get there, I’m not asking you in.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him shrug, his expression inscrutable. “Not asking you to.”

She turned her head to face him. They locked gazes.

Damned if he didn’t look serious about that, too.

With a sigh, Nora traversed the last ten feet to her minivan. Unlocked it via the keypad, then handed him her keys at the same time Liam finally woke.

Her little angel was not happy about being eased out of his cozy baby carrier, and into his car seat. He let his discontent be known with loud howls all the way home. And Liam was still crying furiously as Zane unlocked her front door.

“How can I help?”

Stubborn pride made her want to refuse. However, three months of experience had taught her self-reliance only took a new mom so far. If she wanted Liam to be as happy as possible, and she did, she had to let others assist her in situations like this.