Return of a Soldier (Soldier Series Romance Novellas) Read Free Page B

a warm smile.
    I met his eyes and smiled back, feeling another flood of emotion at having Trent here with me.  I was so used to doing everything on my own that even the smallest things he did for Hannah and me were making me melt.  It was literally a relief to have someone else around to bear some of the burden of raising a child alone.  He’d been so kind to Hannah all afternoon as they played together, and I had to admit, I was happy to have someone else to go with me in the middle of the night to pick her up.  Even just having him listen to me while he was deployed made me feel like I had someone in my corner that I could count on.  I was sure Trent didn’t even know how happy I was to have him in Hannah’s and my life.  I wasn’t really one to gush over things, but I knew sometime we’d be able to sit down and talk, and I could tell him just how lucky I felt.
    I grabbed my purse and walked over, letting him take my hand as we exited the bedroom.   “All right,” he said.  “Let’s go get our girl.”
    ***
    I awoke the next morning to the smell of freshly-brewed coffee, bacon, and eggs coming from the kitchen.  I’d spent the night at Hannah’s bedside, finally falling asleep on the floor.  She’d been sick until 2:00 a.m., after which we’d both collapsed, completely exhausted.  I’d been planning to wake up early and make breakfast for Trent before picking up Hannah later in the day, but her unexpected illness had changed those plans.  I wondered what time Trent had gotten up since I hadn’t heard him at all.
    I quietly crept out of Hannah’s bedroom so as not to wake her and went into the bathroom to freshen up a bit before heading downstairs.  I was still in the jeans and shirt that I’d thrown on in a hurry last night, so I quickly stripped them off and turned on the shower.  I washed my hair, closing my eyes as the warm spray poured over me.  This was a far cry from the erotic shower that Trent and I had shared last night, but it was relaxing and exactly what I needed this morning.  I wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed and felt like no amount of caffeine could keep me awake at this point, but at least I would be somewhat refreshed to face the day.  By the time Trent and I had eaten breakfast Hannah would probably be waking up, so I’d need to fix something plain for her to eat and tend to her.
    I turned off the water and dressed, pulling on a fresh pair of jeans and green tee shirt.   There was no sense in wearing something cutesy for Trent this morning when I’d be taking care of Hannah all day.  I towel-dried my hair and quickly ran a comb through it, then dabbed a little bit of concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes.  My face looked pale, so I quickly swiped on a little pink blush as well.  Padding barefoot down the hallway, I quietly walked downstairs to find Trent setting our breakfast on the table.  He looked completely at ease in the kitchen, with everything arranged neatly on the counter and the dirty dishes already soaking in the sink.
    “Good morning,” he said , his voice deep, as his dark brown eyes gazed into mine.
    “Good morning,” I said, giving him a small smile.  I walked over and let him engulf me in a hug, relaxing against the warmth of his chest.
    “How’s Hannah?” he asked quietly, his lips brushing against my hair.
    “Better, I think.  Hopefully the worst is over—poor kid.  She’s still sleeping, so I’m just going to let her rest.”
    “Do you need me to pick up any medicine?”
    “No, it’s just a stomach bug.  She’ll be fine.  But it looks like we’ll be spending the day resting at home.”
    “ Staying here with you and Hannah is fine with me,” he said easily.
    I smiled up at him then stretched up on my tip toes to give him a kiss.  His warm lips hungrily met mine, and for a brief moment I felt a pang of regret at what this morning could have been.  “Are you sure?” I asked.
    “ Of course.  I