The Army Doc's Baby Secret

Tonight had been different. Images of Tia, of Seth, had crept into his brain, and with them had come the first tentacles of fear. He’d let himself consider, for the first time in five years, that there was someone worth making it home for.

Two people, in fact.

It was an odd sensation, not exactly unpleasant, but...strange.

Why had he never felt this fear back when it had just been him and Tia, off on their own missions? Because there was no doubt that he’d wanted to be with her back then. Yet that worry about not making it home had never existed in the past.

Had Tia been right earlier, when she’d accused him of feeling invincible back then? It was a question that had been circling in the back of his mind ever since she’d said it.

He’d always been so sure of his ability, so proud of his tight-knit squad, that even though he’d known logically that missions could go wrong, in his heart he’d never believed it could happen to them.

For the first time, he began to consider how that might have impacted his young wife. But not for long. Tia’s voice quickly cut across his musings.

‘Well? Did you even think about how dangerous what you were doing was?’

‘What kind of a question is that? Close the door behind you, Tia, you never know if some raging harridan might follow you in from the street.’

‘Very funny. I’m not a raging harridan.’

‘I never said you were,’ he replied mildly, not even slowing down as he made his way along the corridor, unbuttoning his shirt as he went and hearing her furious, hurried steps tapping down the hallway behind him. ‘I merely observed that I wouldn’t want one to do so.’

‘Of course you did,’ she answered snippily, still hot on his heels.

He could pretend it was the adrenalin still racing through him, but he knew that wasn’t it. Tia had stayed. For him. And now she was bawling at him because she was concerned.

It should be too little, too late. Yet he was letting her carry on as if he were some starving man and she were throwing him scraps from the bin.

Life was so damned short. It was a fact he already knew well, but tonight had reminded him of it. As if he needed the reminder.

Tia was right: he had pushed her away five years ago. He had made cruel, devastating, accusations, to drive her from him. Of course, he hadn’t known she was pregnant, and he couldn’t forgive her for not telling him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t determined to be a part of his son’s life now that he finally knew Seth existed.

He just hadn’t worked out the finer points of how, yet. And until he did, all Zeke could do was to keep moving, not stopping long enough for Tia’s words—her concern—to get under his skin. To have any real effect.

He just needed to unsettle her long enough to buy himself time to think.

Evidently Tia didn’t realise where he was heading until he strode into his en-suite bathroom, dropped his shirt and tee into the laundry basket, and had his hands on his open jeans waistband.

She pulled up sharply as he’d anticipated. Just the way she had less than a day earlier in the lifeboat station. Her eyes lingering a fraction too long, pooling a fraction too dark, before she tore them away and scanned behind her to realise they’d just walked through his bedroom.

‘I take it that you intend to join me.’ His tone was deceptively conversational. ‘I must say it isn’t the reaction I’d anticipated, but I guess I’m not complaining.’

For a

moment her forehead furrowed in a way that was achingly familiar, then realisation crossed her features and then, oddly, anger.

‘Is this seriously a joke to you?’

Her tone was sharp, but her tongue flickering out over her lips betrayed her.

And fascinated him.

Which made it almost more dangerous than being out in that rolling sea. Suddenly, it didn’t seem so wise after all. Damn her for always finding a way to creep under his skin. Irritation slammed through him.

‘Not in the least. So if you don’t want to join me, I suggest you get out.’

If he hadn’t been ready, hadn’t steeled himself against it, it might have got to him when she flinched as she did. It might have felt like a weight on his soul.

Then, wordlessly, she turned and left the room, leaving him to shower in what he told himself was peace.