The Soldier's Forever Family

As unplanned as he’d been for Joanna, as unsettling as the circumstances of his conception had been to their parents, little Simon had brought Maddie’s immediate family closer than they’d ever been. And she hated the thought of some stranger—even if he was technically his father—coming from out of the blue to disrupt the comfortable rapport they’d developed.

Would Adam want to insert himself into the boy’s life now that he’d learned of his existence? She conceded reluctantly that she could understand if he did, but how did they know if this would be a good thing for Simon? The child had been sheltered and cherished his whole life, given every advantage Joanna could provide for him, raised with love and encouragement and judicious guidance. They knew nothing about Adam.

Maddie had no doubt he was personable, good-looking, reasonably intelligent—how else could he have charmed her usually straight-laced sister into bed within a few hours of meeting her?—but for all they knew, he could be a real piece of work beneath a slick facade. Regrettably, Maddie had more experience with the type than Joanna. Joanna might have met a few players in academia, but as a defense attorney, Maddie encountered them every day. She’d gotten involved with some real jerks in her personal life, too. Fallen for a few before she’d decided she’d rather be single and sane than hooked up and stressed out. She might be the younger sister, but when it came to the dating game, she considered herself more worldly and realistic than her sister.

Despite Joanna’s assertion that she could handle this, Maddie wondered if maybe she owed it to both her and Simon to make sure their best interests were protected. She wouldn’t call herself an objective party, of course, since her full loyalty was squarely with her sister and nephew. Maybe Adam was a decent guy—maybe he’d be a great role model for young Simon—but being naturally cynical and experience-hardened, she felt compelled to find out for herself if he could be trusted.

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_4403ab6d-34c8-55db-ba3e-25df6667d6f0)

“ADAM? YOU WITH ME, bro?”

Frowning, Adam realized he’d been lost in his own thoughts during his meeting with Trevor Farrell, owner of the Wind Shadow Resort. Despite his efforts to pay attention, he’d heard maybe every other sentence Trevor had spoken during the past half hour. Shaking his head in apology, he murmured, “Sorry, Trev. Got a lot on my mind today.”

It wasn’t like him to be distracted, so he wasn’t surprised when his employer asked, “Is everything okay?”

Adam started to brush off the question, then hesitated. Trevor would surely run into Joanna and Simon at some point during their stay. Would he remember her from that long-ago weekend? Considering Trevor’s phenomenal memory, it was entirely possible.

“Do you remember when we met six years ago?”

Trevor lifted an eyebrow. “Of course.”

Adam had won an all-expense-paid, long-weekend visit to the then-new resort in a raffle to benefit a veterans’ charity group. Somehow Trevor had found out Adam was headed overseas for a tough deployment soon afterward, and he’d gone out of his way to greet him. He’d encouraged Adam to let him know if there was anything he could do to make the vacation more enjoyable. Having served a four-year hitch himself before opening the first in a planned chain of American beach resorts, Trevor was an enthusiastic supporter of the military. He’d encouraged Adam to look him up if he needed anything when he got out. Though Adam hadn’t really expected to take advantage of that offer at the time, he’d somewhat impulsively headed this way when he’d been looking for a job after his honorable discharge. Trevor had hired him on the spot.

Adam had thought he’d stay long enough to build a little nest egg and get used to civilian life again, then move on to the next adventure. Somehow, he’d ended up as Trevor’s unofficial second-in-command instead. And in the midst of that development, he and Trevor had become friends.

“Do you also remember the woman I met while I was here?”

A fleeting smile tugged at Trevor’s lips. “Her name was Joanna, and she was...memorable. I could tell you were mesmerized by her, and it was no wonder.”

Mesmerized. That was one way to put it, though hardly a comfortable description for Adam. Always respectful of his privacy, Trevor had never asked about Joanna during the past three years, nor had Adam mentioned her. But it seemed she’d made an impression on both of them.

He leaned forward in his chair, bracing his forearms on his thighs. “She’s here. She’s staying at the resort.”

After a moment of silence, Trevor tapped a few keys on his computer. “Joanna Zielinski,” he read from the screen. “She and a companion have a third-floor, ocean-view suite in Seafoam Lodge until the end of the week.” He looked up, meeting Adam’s eyes. “Awkward.”

“Her companion is her son. Simon. He’s five years, three months old.”

Trevor could do the math just as well as Adam. His blue eyes widened, the only sign of shock he allowed himself to show. “So...”

“He looks just like me, Trev.”

“That’s not quite as reliable as a DNA test.” His friend frowned now, obviously weighing all the potential consequences. Trevor tended to be suspicious, so Adam wasn’t surprised when he asked, “Do you think she came here looking for you?”

“I’m almost certain she was as surprised to see me as I was her.”

“Almost certain.”

Adam nodded. Was Joanna really a good enough actress to have so convincingly pulled off that look of stunned dismay? He didn’t know her well enough to be sure, but her reaction had certainly looked real enough.

“Did you ask if the boy’s yours?”

Adam swallowed hard. “She said she was pregnant when she left here six years ago.”

“Which doesn’t mean she wasn’t pregnant when she arrived,” Trevor pointed out.

Was it possible she...? No. Adam pictured Simon’s face again and doubted it was coincidence that the kid was his spitting image.

“She just happened to show up at the resort where you work almost exactly six years after you met here? With a child who could be your son?”

Clearing his throat, Adam nodded. “From what little I could determine in a very brief encounter, yes, that’s her story.”

“Should we put Walt on alert?”

Walt was another of their friends. Another veteran. And an attorney.

After a moment, Adam shook his head. While he understood and appreciated Trevor’s concern, he preferred to handle his own problems as much as possible. “Not yet, thanks. I need to talk to Joanna first. Find out what’s going on.”

“That’s fair. So...how do you feel about all this, Adam? Are you okay?”

He wasn’t quite sure how to answer that one. He was still reeling, still a long way from coming to terms with the potential consequences of this morning’s shock. “I guess I’m kind of numb. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Like I said, I need to talk with Joanna.”

“And if the boy is your son?”

His son. The very words sent a tangle of emotions through him that he couldn’t begin to identify. As much as he hated to admit it, he suspected fear was among the strongest ones.

“I’ll deal with it.”

Somehow.

* * *

THE CHAUFFEURED VAN for the field trip was already parked beneath the spacious porte cochere of the guest relations building when Joanna and Simon made the short walk from their suite. In addition to the concierge desk, a soaring lobby and a well-stocked bar, this large, three-story structure held a coffee and pastry shop with patio seating, an arcade, a tech center, conference rooms and an extensive gift shop. The management offices were located on the top floor.

The three guest-quarters buildings were all designed in a style similar to this one, distinguished by thematic names—Seafoam Lodge, Sandy Shore Lodge and Gull’s Nest Lodge. Joanna had stayed in Gull’s Nest during her previous visit but had specifically requested Seafoam this time, only partially because it provided the best views.

Another boy and four girls clustered around the van, getting to know each other and the teachers who would escort them to the aquarium. Simon appeared to be the youngest of the group, or at least the smallest, but he was accustomed to that. The other boy seemed relieved not to be so outnumbered now.

Joanna spoke with both the teachers and a few other parents hanging around to make sure the van got away safely. She was pleased to see her son and the other boy talking, their heads bent over the shell in Simon’s hand as Simon shared everything he’d learned about lettered olives that morning. The other boy seemed interested, and one of the girls edged closer to listen, so Joanna was reassured that Simon would make friends here.

Two men stepped out of the building, both dressed in the emerald polo shirts and lightweight khaki pants that identified them as staff of Wind Shadow Resort. One was Trevor Farrell, the owner. Though she hadn’t seen him since arriving late yesterday, she recognized him from her previous stay.

Adam stood at Trevor’s side. They made a striking pair, both tanned and fit, Adam dark-haired and gray-eyed, Trevor a fraction taller, his hair lighter, his eyes blue. They wore the same basic uniform as all the resort staff, but it was obvious to her, at least, that these men were in charge. She wondered what Adam’s job was and when he’d started it. He certainly looked at home.

She was having a hard time drawing her eyes away from him. But then, she’d had that same issue last time, too. As it had before, his smile made her heart race. She hoped her cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt.

Ever the gracious host, Trevor stopped to greet the assemblage. “Good afternoon,” he said, his smile pleasant and practiced. “Getting ready to leave for the aquarium?”

One of the teachers, whose nametag identified her as Miss Deborah, grinned and nodded, making her blond ponytail sway. “We’re just about to load the van. As you can see, the children are excited.”