The Marine's Virgin Lover (9 page)

Janet seated herself in the car, “Do you think they’ve found anything yet?”

Shawn shook his head, “I don’t know. Seth tried to call me an hour ago. I’ll try him back again before we go up to their room. Maybe he can give me some good news to share with them.”

“I hope so. I can’t imagine what Brianna is going through. Trent either.”

“They’re doing okay. They have each other and that bond is strong. They’re going to get through this and we’re going to find their daughter.”

Janet smiled at him but said nothing. She was always so supportive, and he admired the way she could offer her strength without saying a word. She would make a wonderful mother one of these days. Maybe after this ordeal was over, he would broach that subject again. All of this talk about babies was making him wish to hold one of his own.

      
      
      
      
      
*****

“Sir,” the pilot said, trying to get Seth’s attention.

“Yeah?”

“There’s a slight delay in landing. It seems the hospital rescue chopper is on its way in with a burn victim and they have priority clearance to land. We won’t be able to land for at least another thirty minutes. Shall I keep circling in case that changes?”

Seth wasn’t happy about the delay, but it couldn’t be avoided. He and Chelsea were safe, the baby was comfortable and well cared for, and they had plenty of fuel. The victim being transported to the hospital was in dire need of medical attention and must be given priority. “No problem. And yes, stick close so that as soon as the pad opens up, we can land.”

“Will do.”

Chelsea could see Seth talking to the pilot and asked, “Problems?”

“Not really. The hospital chopper is on its way in with a burn victim and needs to land first. We may have to wait for a bit, but we’ll land as soon as we can.”

“Okay. I really don’t mind. Now that I’m not afraid of crashing, it’s actually somewhat nice up here. I can see so far.”

“Yeah. It’s pretty amazing.” He saw her try to hide a yawn and he realized the events of the last few hours were taking their toll on her. “Why don’t you close your eyes and rest for a bit? I’ll make sure to wake you up before we land?”

Chelsea hid another yawn and blushed, she had been hoping to hide how tired she was from Seth. She had thought about closing her eyes on the drive back into town, but hadn’t wanted to seem like she was taking advantage of him. Nodding, she settled the baby more comfortably in her arms, and closed her eyes. A little rest would hopefully help her regroup for the coming questions she was sure to be bombarded with once they arrived at the hospital.

Seth watched her close her eyes and grinned. She was really cute. He definitely planned on getting to know her better. Maybe she would let him cook her dinner. He wasn’t up for the restaurant scene, and they both needed to eat, and hospital food was not what he considered real food. Planning in his head, he quickly took a survey of his fridge and decided that pasta would fit the bill. They would deliver the baby to Trent and Brianna and then he would whisk her away to his condo. Over pasta he would get to know her better, and hopefully the promise of a real date the following night.

Pleased with his plans, Seth sat back and let his eyes wander over the horizon. What had looked like a disastrous day was working out very well. Very well and with nowhere to go but up.

      
      
      
      
      
*****

Chance exited the elevator on the rooftop level and walked towards the big wall of windows overlooking the city. Trying to connect a call to Seth again, he waited, watching one of the hospitals helicopters land and a flurry of medical personnel exit the hospital, stretcher in tow.

The call failed to connect and he tried again, watching as a patient was moved from the helicopter to the hospital stretcher and then, personnel moving quickly, ushered the patient into the hospital. He hoped that whatever was wrong with the patient would quickly be dealt with and watched as the chopper lifted off, headed no doubt to rescue yet another soul in desperate need of medical attention.

Turning away from the helipad, he once again listened as the call failed to connect. Walking to the other end of the small room, he tried once again, hoping for better cell service on the other side of the building. Seth had tried to call him for a reason and he couldn’t imagine going back downstairs without some sort of news for Trent and Brianna.

Shawn tried to call Seth once again only to have it go straight to voicemail this time. Maybe Seth’s phone had died, or he had turned it off for some reason. Figuring that if Seth really needed to contact him he would have called him at home, he pocketed his phone and ushered his wife into the hospital.

Janet had been strangely quiet for the last part of their drive, and he was growing concerned that the emotions surrounding the baby’s disappearance were getting to her. He hoped she could keep it together; Trent and Brianna were putting on a brave face and he hoped that Janet could do the same.

Exiting on the maternity floor, he directed Janet to the correct room, waiting for her to enter first.

As Janet entered the room, she was aware that this should have been a happy visit, and instead was one filled with uncertainty and fear. When Brianna saw her and started crying, Janet hurried to her bedside, taking her carefully into her arms and hugging her tight. Starting to cry herself, the two women found solace in each other’s embrace, letting the emotion of the day flow away.

Shawn gave Trent a questioning look but Trent just shook his head. Gesturing for Shawn to follow him into the hallway, he asked, “Any news?”

“No. Seth tried to call me about an hour ago but my phone was dead. I’ve tried to call him back several times but it either doesn’t connect or goes straight to voicemail.”

“Chance had the same problem. He went up to the rooftop to see if he could find better service. He should be back down shortly. Any idea where Seth was headed?”

“Up into the mountains above Morrison. Marco has a residence there, complete with a helipad. Seth should have done his recon already and know something by now. I guess we’ll just have to wait for him to contact us again.”

Trent cursed beneath his breath, “You know how I feel about waiting, right? Why don’t we just take my chopper up there and demand entrance. Marco’s headed to Italy so there’s not much he can do about it.”

Shawn nodded, “Believe me. I’ve already thought about it. But we don’t know who has the baby or what their capable of. Whatever we do, the safety of your little girl has to come first.”

“You’re right. I hate this.” Trent paced the hallway, frustrated, angry and fighting off a sense of despair that kept threatening to consume his thoughts. They would find his daughter and it would be soon, he hoped.

      
      
      
      
      
*****

“Sir, we’ve been given clearance to land.”

“Great.” Turning to Chelsea he tapped her on the shoulder, “We’re landing.”

Sitting up, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, anxious to reunite the baby with her parents but dreading what might come after that. Seth had assured her that the parents would want to keep the police out of it, but she wasn’t convinced.

“Remember, let me come around and help you out. The pilot can’t turn off the rotors, and I don’t want you to get blown away.”

Chelsea nodded, watching as the roof of the hospital came closer and closer. The landing went smoothly and before she knew it, Seth was helping her from the chopper, keeping hold of her arm and running with her towards the doors that led into the hospital.

Entering a wide open area, she glanced around and saw that the room only held one other occupant. Maybe Seth’s plan to take the baby down to the parent’s room before notifying the hospital or authorities would work after all.

Switching the diaper bag to his far shoulder, Seth wrapped an arm around Chelsea’s shoulder and asked, “Is she okay?”

Chelsea peered down at the blanket covered baby, relieved to see that she had managed to sleep through most everything. Smiling up at him, she replied, “Yeah. Amazing she could sleep through all of that.”

Seth laughed, “I hear babies can sleep through most anything.” Turning to head towards the elevator’s when a voice he recognized had him turning swiftly around.

Chance had given up trying to contact Seth and had been trying to figure out what he could say to Brianna when a familiar laugh permeated the air of the small room. Turning, he watched his brother smile down at a petite young woman carrying a baby.

“Seth?”

Seth turned upon hearing his brother’s voice, “Chance? What are you doing here?”

Chance took long strides across the room, grabbing his brother in a bear hug before releasing him, “Man, am I glad to see you. What are you doing here? Is that the missing baby?”

“Whoa. One question at a time. I tried to call everyone but the calls either dropped off, or wouldn’t connect. Chance, this is Chelsea Andrews, the young woman who has been taking care of the Coldwell baby today.”

Chelsea blushed when Chance winked at her and said, “You know I’m the better brother right?”

“Knock it off, Chance. Anyway, I can go into details later, but right now I want to deliver this precious bundle back to her parents.”

“Man, Trent and Brianna are going to be ecstatic. Brianna says she’s doing well, but she looks close to losing it. And Trent, his beast is barely contained.”

Seth nodded, “Let’s go. Chelsea, no matter what anyone says, I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done today. Let me tell you what’s going to happen so that you don’t worry, okay?”

Chelsea nodded, trusting Seth to deal with everything, “Okay.”

“We’re going to head downstairs and you are going to present little Miss Coldwell…”

“Faith.”

“What?” Seth asked his brother, frowning at him for interrupting him.

“They named her Faith.”

Chelsea smiled and whispered to the infant in her arms, “Did you hear that? You have a name. Faith Coldwell.” Kissing the baby on the forehead, she looked up to see both men looking at her with warmth and admiration in their gazes. Blushing again, she asked Seth, “You were saying?”

“After the reunion and a few questions are answered, you are coming with me and I’m going to fix you dinner.” Holding up a hand to stop her protests, he added, “And yes, you can call your sister on the way.”

“Her sister’s fine. A little frazzled with both boys teething but nothing she can’t handle.”

Chelsea looked at Chance, “You spoke to my sister?”

“Actually, I kind of shocked her. I went over there to see if she had a way to contact you and she passed out on me. The boys and I got along just fine until she came back to us. They’re both teething something fierce. Anyway, after realizing that she couldn’t help I headed over here.”

“Is she really doing okay?” Chelsea asked. Her sister had looked so tired when she had left around lunchtime that she had almost called in and cancelled this job. Now she was glad she hadn’t. It had been her pleasure to help return this precious little girl to her parents.

Turning back to Seth, she just raised an eyebrow at him, “What comes after dinner?”

Leaning down to whisper directly in her ear, “Well, I was thinking maybe we could explore this attraction you seem to have for me.”

Watching the blush rise in her cheeks, he chuckled and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. Her ponytail was in need of fixing, but he had refrained from remarking on that fact. He looked forward to releasing it from the clips that held it up and letting his hands run through her golden trusses.

Leaning close enough to whisper back, Chelsea said, “My attraction? How do you know it’s not your attraction?”

Leaning down again, he let his lips brush her ear as he answered, “Believe me, it is. I just wanted to make sure you recognized that tingly feeling for what it was. I wouldn’t want you to mistake it for something else.”

Chelsea blushed again and ducked her head. Her inexperience with men was coming out in a nervousness that she didn’t normally have to deal with. Looking at him from underneath her lashes she honestly answered him, “That sounds good.”

Seth looked at her for another moment and then straightened, propelling her towards the waiting elevator, his brother bringing up the rear. The sooner they returned this baby, the sooner he could make good on his promise. By the time he drove Chelsea home tonight, she would have no doubt about his attraction to her.

Chance asked to go in first, being that he wanted a front row seat when Seth and Chelsea entered with the baby in tow. Chelsea had insisted that they stop and change the baby’s soggy diaper before heading towards the Coldwell room. Chance had located an empty room and the task had been taken care of quickly and without anyone the wiser.

Chance pushed the door open to see Brianna drying her tears along with Janet who seemed to be as upset as Brianna was.

Brianna smiled at Chance through her tears, “Did you get a hold of Seth?”

Chance replied, “I couldn’t get the call to go through.” Seeing Trent’s look of frustration, echoed by Shawn, he hurried to reply, “I did actually find something out though. Hang on a sec.”

Stepping towards the door, he gestured to Seth and Chelsea and bid them enter the room. Chance quickly stepped back, not wanting to miss the reaction on either of the Coldwells’ faces when they saw their daughter.

Seth held the door open and followed Chelsea inside. He knew she was nervous of her reception but it couldn’t be helped. She was responsible for helping return little Faith to her parents and it was only right that she be the one to place the baby in her mother’s arms.

Brianna watched as Chance opened the door and spoke to someone waiting in the hallway. When he stepped back she watched as a young woman entered, carrying a baby. When the woman walked to her and handed the baby into her waiting arms, Brianna was so overcome with emotion all she could do was smile down at her daughter and cry.