Soldier Daddy. Cheryl Wyatt
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not. I never run from a challenge.”
Aaron didn’t doubt that.
“And the thing experts don’t tell you about the terrible twos is that they last for two years.” Sarah giggled.
He found himself laughing along with her. Stories rolled back and forth between the three. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had an easier, more carefree conversation.
Time to ask more questions.
Aaron rubbed his chin. “You applied to a Christian nanny agency. Tell me about your faith walk. What’s your current relationship with God like?”
Aaron studied Sarah as she talked of her faith and adventures in child care. Too often he found himself smiling at the animation in her face without being sure what she’d even said. Had Mina noticed his being enraptured with Sarah? Aaron looked toward Mina’s chair. Empty.
At what point had Mina gotten up and left the room?
He cleared his throat, not liking that he had been so into Sarah that he hadn’t noticed Mina’s departure. “Tell me more about your education and experience caring for children.” He adopted a serious tone, no longer lighthearted, and far from friendly. Like something he’d use on a Taliban defector he wasn’t sure was for real.
Sarah’s normally splendid smile dimmed enough to alert him she’d noticed. But soon her expressive face dazzled again as she lost herself in communicating how much she loved children. Her gestures became more exaggerated as she talked of interning at day-care centers and preschools. He loved her rendition of children’s shenanigans, and found himself smiling, completely enthralled. Again.
Until he remembered why she was here.
Not to keep him company. Nor to entertain him or provide the female companionship that he hadn’t known until this moment he’d been missing.
She was here for one reason only. And he wasn’t the reason.
She was here to watch his precious boys. He’d do well to remember that, especially since that elusive peace he’d longed for had finally come home the very second she’d stepped inside his doorway.
Feeling a tug toward Sarah that he wasn’t accustomed to or prepared to analyze, he forced his gaze to connect with his late wife’s picture, the mantel centerpiece. The one memento of Donna that he kept in view, nearly four years after her passing.
And the one reminder of why he could not afford to entertain foolish thoughts of long-term with any lady.
His gaze switched to Sarah.
Not even the one who’d awakened something in him that he thought had gone to the grave with his beloved wife.
Chapter Two
How had she died?
Sarah wondered the following day as she eyed the mantelpiece photo she assumed to be of Aaron’s late wife. After all, the woman in the picture held two newborn babies swaddled in blue camouflage buntings.
Adorna, the nanny agency owner, had informed Sarah that the twins’ mother had died when they were eight weeks old, but she didn’t elaborate. And Sarah hadn’t felt it appropriate to ask.
“Welcome back.” Aaron came up behind her. “Mina let you in, I see.” His gaze tracked where she’d been looking: the photo. He’d entered so silently it was eerie. She gathered he’d gained the ability from being a military special operative.
Sarah forced herself to seem oblivious to the profound sadness flashing across his gaze as it brushed the image. Then in awkward silence, he lowered himself to the footstool and skimmed his solemn gaze from the glass to Sarah. His face became completely unreadable.
Understanding dawned on her. How very difficult it must be for him to have to bring a stranger in to care for her children.
It took everything in her not to rush forward and say so.
A slightly frazzled Mina shuffled into the room with a tray, breaking the moment and preventing the opportunity.
Mina looked pointedly at Aaron, still seated. “The boys are about to come unhinged. They want to know when-when-when-when-when?” She darted a head toward Sarah and raised her brows.
Sarah bit her lip to keep from giggling, because it seemed to her Mina was just as anxious as the boys.
Sarah had to admit she was anxious, too. She’d hardly been able to sleep last night due to excitement over getting to finally meet the Petrowski twins.
Aaron rose. Again, as yesterday and the day before in the nanny agency upon first meeting him, Sarah was stricken with just how intimidatingly tall and watchtower-strong he was. Arms muscled into impressive facets made her glad he served in the job he did. If she were in need of rescue, she’d want someone this capable and strong. Blond hair with hints of starlike-silver above his ears was shaved into a military buzz. The masculine cut complemented his sturdy neck, jaw and otherwise exquisitely carved facial bones.
He gave the air a grand wave. “Let’s bring in the troops.” Exiting, he went to the doorway of the playroom, said something, and came back in.
Two sets of shoes clomped across an area of tile that she couldn’t see. So loud it sounded like a herd of…something. The kitchen door leading to the other end of the room banged open.
Two tiny humans who each looked like miniature Aarons in different ways bounded toward her, toting twin grins.
Her smile stretched, and her heart twisted into taffy. Twice.
Hunkered to his knee, Aaron drew them close. Tenderly, he sandwiched both in his massive arms. “Boys, I’d like you to meet someone special. This is Miss Graham. I’d like you to get to know her while I run to the DZ.”
Refuge had a drop zone? Duh, of course it did. She’d been skydiving before, so she knew a DZ was a skydiving facility. Made sense. Aaron was a commander of military search-and-rescue skydiving paramedic teams, the ones who dove into danger to rescue fellow military personnel as well as dropped feet-first into disaster to rescue civilians.
She’d looked up Pararescue on her computer after the agency’s owner had notified her she was a match for his family. How humbled and strikingly intrigued she’d become by Aaron after her extensive Internet and library searches. A real hero with uncommon valor and bravery.
Her attention shifted to the two beautiful boys smiling expectantly at her. She slid to the rug in front of them. The smaller twin with the shy grin hid behind the taller one, who didn’t look one bit bashful.
“Hello. You must be Braden,” she said to the taller one. Tipping forward, Sarah peered at the shorter twin. “And you must be Bryce. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Bryce inched forward. “Do you know I like fishin’?”
“I didn’t, but I’m glad I do now.”
Speaking of fishing…
Five minutes with the boys and she was hooked by the gills. She shouldn’t let hope rocket, but she couldn’t help it. The boys had climbed into her heart as fast as they’d clomped into the room. Yes, she had a past. But she knew the person she was today. She knew with confidence she would take the best care of these precious boys.
She could only pray that Mina and Mr. Petrowski would feel the same if they discovered the epic mess she used to be.
Fortunately, he seemed the kind of Christian who maintained a close relationship with God and who led his family with faith and strength. That meant he’d hear God’s voice and obey. And, hopefully, possess mercy for monumental mistakes.
Bounding forward, Braden performed a mutant wiggle dance. “And did ya know I like to play softball?”
“Really? Wow. Me, too!” Sarah tapped the brim of Braden’s ball cap and smiled at Bryce. “And I also like to fish.”