to your superior officer, who was very helpful.”
It wasn’t that simple for most people, and for a moment Matt admired her ability to not only find his superior officer but get him to tell her just where, on leave, he was. “But they neglected to tell you I was coming back?”
“They probably figured you’d tell me when I caught up to you.”
“Well, you’ve caught up to me, and I’m wondering why.”
“Like I said, a vacation. Oh, and I’m so sorry about your sister. It can’t have been easy on you or Lucas.”
“It hasn’t been, and I appreciate your sympathy for my sister. She was a good sort who never really got a break in life.” What was Ellie up to? It bothered Matt, not knowing. But what bothered him even more was how glad he was to see her.
* * *
This wasn’t at all what she’d expected, and she wasn’t sure which way to go with it, especially since Matt had made up his mind about what he was going to do. Get rid of Lucas then go back to the army. Which meant everything she’d hoped for when she had been told he’d gone home was up in the air. Ellie had assumed he was out of the army. He wasn’t. And she’d hoped he would be settled enough to want their baby. Again, he wasn’t. Also, he didn’t even want Lucas.
So where did that leave her? Basically, at square one again. Pregnant without a plan. Except she would tell him and still give him the opportunity to raise his child. That was only fair. “Well, I need a room. The hotel down the road is a little...dated. Is there someplace better?”
Matt chuckled. “Like I said, the best places aren’t running at full capacity yet, and the rest of the smaller places—I’m not sure you’d like them. Especially since I know, for a fact, you prefer satin sheets.”
Satin sheets. Yes, she’d loved the feel of them, and the feel of him next to her as she’d enjoyed the soft caress of both the sheets and Matt. “I’m not really concerned about sheets, Matt. I just need some food, then bed...” For her pregnancy first, but also for her because she was tired. She needed to put her feet up, close her eyes and give both her and the baby at least ten hours of down time. Maybe more, if she could.
“If you go down the road, about five miles in the opposite direction, there’s a place called Red Canyon Resort. It has nice rooms, decent amenities. Since it’s early in the season, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a room. But if you do stay...”
He stopped, paused for a moment, and that hesitation of a frown she’d seen on his face when he’d first seen her a little while ago returned. Only this time it didn’t transform into a smile. She hoped he was glad to see her. In fact, she’d thought he was. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“If you do stay, there’s not much to do unless you like hiking or rock climbing,” he finally continued.
“I’ll manage,” she said, scooting to the edge of the exam table, feeling a little more discouraged than she had before. Of course, she’d never been totally optimistic about asking him. That would have been foolish, given the circumstances. But she’d hoped. Right now, though, some of the hope was disappearing—because of Lucas, because of Matt’s military commitments, because he was more rigid than she remembered him being.
“Before you go, I’d really like to get a better look at you. Something caused you to faint, and I don’t know what it was.”
“I was tired from the drive. Hungry. Probably a little dehydrated. Once I get a room, I’ll eat, drink plenty of fluids, get some rest, and I’ll be fine.” Ellie scooted a little more until she was at the edge, then stretched until her feet were on the floor. As soon as she stood, though, she wobbled, and Matt was right there to catch her. Again.
“I think before you go checking into anywhere, I’m going to take you someplace to get something to eat. And drink. Your skin doesn’t pass the pinch test, so I think your biggest problem right now is dehydration. Are you diabetic, by any chance?”
“Nope. Just had a physical yesterday, as it turns out. Blood tests were good.”
“No kidney disease?”
“I’m fine, Matt. My doctor told me I needed to get some rest, which is why I’m here.”
“You live in Reno. You could have driven an hour over to Tahoe and checked into a world-class resort to rest there, instead of driving six hundred miles through the desert to rest here. If rest is what you’re really after.”
“Right now, it is. I don’t suppose there’d be a cab out here I could call. I don’t think I’m going to be able to drive.”
He doubted she’d even make it to her car. “Look, Lucas and I were headed home when you came in. How about you go with us, I’ll make sure you get plenty of liquids, and I’ll fix us a good dinner? Then later we’ll see if you’re in any condition to check into a hotel.”
Matt took Ellie by the arm and steadied her to the floor again, but instead of letting her attempt to walk to his truck he swooped her into his arms and carried her like he had that first morning, when she had been looking out the window and he had been looking at her—with a longing that hadn’t been quenched. He’d swooped her into his arms then, and had watched the satin sheet slither to the floor as he’d laid her naked body down on the bed, and laid his naked body over hers. Thinking about that, even now, caused her to shiver.
“This is very chivalrous of you,” she said, without protest. Ellie still liked being in his arms, still liked the feel of him pressed to her. Matt had the power to knock her completely off track, and she couldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t let the thoughts of how good they had been together seep in. Couldn’t let the thoughts of how nice it was to be in his arms, yet again, seep in either.
“I aim to give the best medical care I can, under the circumstances.” Matt looked over at Lucas, who was occupied with a toddler version of a video game. “You ready to go home?” he asked.
Lucas picked up his video toy and his blanket, and went directly to Matt’s side, the way he always did. Then fell into exact step with Matt, the way he’d only just started doing. “He doesn’t talk yet,” he explained to Ellie as they walked through the parking lot. “He’s lived in some pretty rough circumstances for a while and he’s a little delayed, but he’s bright. Understands everything. Very observant of everything around him. Just not talkative.
“He will, when he has something to say. Guess he just hasn’t had anything to say yet.” She wiggled into the passenger’s seat, while Matt strapped Lucas into the toddler safety seat in the crew cab, and within a minute they were on their way to what Matt had dubbed Matt Casa. She still wasn’t sure what to make of any of this, but one thing was certain—she did like the way he took care of Lucas. Liked it very much. And the way he took care of her went far, far beyond like.
What had she been thinking, taking that ten-hour drive in one long stretch, stopping only a few times for breaks? Well, a little rest, a little water, a good bed under her back for the night, and she’d be fine. But this sure wasn’t the way she’d wanted her first meeting with Matt to go. Seriously, fainting into his arms? Ellie doubted she could have made a more dramatic entrance if she’d tried.
Anyway, telling him about the baby would keep until tomorrow, when she was rested. Yep, back to the plan, but only a modified version of it since she already knew Matt’s intentions. No Lucas, no family commitments.
