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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
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
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,”