Lakeside Hero

A Soldier Returns

Former marine Alec Caldwell is happy to return home alive. The scars he carries—inside and out—are a burden he plans to face alone. All he wants is a quiet life devoted to helping wounded veterans. That is, until he meets pastry chef Marla Hamilton—who’s just too sweet to resist. But the single mother is fighting her own battles. The last man in Marla’s life hurt her and put her daughter in danger, leaving the child frightened of strangers. Alec seems like the thrill-seeking men Marla avoids. But can becoming a family give these wounded hearts a chance to heal?

“So nice to meet you—again,” she said.

He let go of her hand but kept his eyes on her. “By the way, that cake was…A-mazing. A-plus-amazing.”

She grinned at that. “I’m glad you liked it. So, what’s involved with running the Caldwell Foundation?”

“We train and supply rescued dogs as service dogs for disabled veterans.”

“Oh, that’s really amazing.”

“Hey, that’s my word. Find one of your own.”

“Incredible,” she quickly amended.

“You mean, you never would have thought a rich-man type like me had a noble bone in his body?”

“I mean—” She stopped and looked at her shoes. “Yes, that’s exactly what I thought, but not anymore.”

He laughed and glanced around. “I have a vet coming with his service dog to show people exactly what we can do. Come over and see me when you have a minute.”

“I’ll try,” she replied, hoping she’d stay so busy she’d forget him. She didn’t want to like Alec, but something about his shyness and his wit made her want to get to know him.

LENORA WORTH writes award-winning romance and romantic suspense. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence became a New York Times bestseller. Her novella in Mistletoe Kisses made her a USA TODAY bestselling author. With sixty books published and millions in print, she goes on adventures with her retired husband, Don, and enjoys reading, baking and shopping...especially shoe shopping.

Lakeside Hero

Lenora Worth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The water that I give them will become in them a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life.

—John 4:14

To my husband, Don,

as we celebrate forty years together. You are my lakeside hero.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Alec Caldwell stared at the remains of a wedding cake.

He also took his time studying the pretty woman who’d just burst through the door with the big round platter of the leftover cake.

She had hair the color of sun on wheat, reddish and golden all at the same time. And green eyes that sparkled brighter than the fake diamonds on that fancy cake.

Alec wanted to help her but he didn’t want to scare her. He’d been waiting for the valet to bring his car when the side door from what he figured to be the kitchen entrance of the Alvanetti mansion burst open and he came face-to-face with the bottom layer of the massive white wedding cake that glimmered with what looked like pearls and diamonds.

Alec had only been back in Northwest Florida for a few months now. Did they put jewelry on wedding cakes these days?

“Whoa,” he said while stepping back against the warm stucco of the towering beige mansion, his hands going up to stop the woman who carried the cake in a wobbly hurry.

A face peeked around the big chunky cake. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you—” Her eyes hit on the curving scar moving down his left jaw.

“I was about to leave,” he said before she could turn away. But she didn’t turn away. She just stood there, smiling across that white sea of sweetness, her expression bordering on shocked before she smoothed it into a sparkling blankness that rivaled the cake.

“Do you need help with that?” Alec asked, his manners kicking in. If he kept his face turned away into the late afternoon light maybe she wouldn’t stare at his scar again.

She shook her head and laughed. “No, I’m used to this. Do you need help finding the valet?”

Offended in the highest sense, Alec frowned and then mimicked a laugh. “No. I mean, I see him coming now, but thank you.”

Seriously? Had he been away at war for so long he’d forgotten how to carry on a conversation with a pretty woman? He hadn’t forgotten, but he sure didn’t like this feeling of being trapped. Or the way his heart seemed to skip a beat or two when she smiled.

He offered again. “While I wait, I can help you.”

“I’ve got this,” she said as she skirted around him. “Just part of the job.” She motioned to a big open van. “It’s going in there.”