as if he no longer held any value, and more like a worthwhile member of society. So long as he could keep his eyes off the brunette on the other side of the room.
Tom cleared his throat then crouched down on his haunches, at the same height as the children watching him. Gabby was cute, but this little guy had spunk and he liked to encourage kids.
“The toughest challenge is when you train for five days on no more than four hours sleep. Your body is so exhausted you don’t know how you’re going to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But you do. That’s what makes a SEAL.”
The boy asking the questions shuffled closer. It made other kids do the same; they were hanging on his every word.
“So it’s kinda like being a superhero?” the boy asked.
Tom laughed, shaking his head and resisting the urge to ruffle the boy’s shaggy mop of blond hair. “Yeah, I guess. Only it’s like you’re going to die and you feel like …” He tapered off before saying the expletive that had nearly spilled. “Rubbish.”
Temporary silence filled the room and Tom looked up. Miss Rose had remained quiet, to the side of the room, but now she walked toward him, smile still firmly in place.
And suddenly he couldn’t take his eyes off her all over again.
“I think we should thank Mr. Cartwright for coming now,” she said, gaze firmly on those in her charge.
A groan rang out around the room, but not obeying her clearly wasn’t an option.
“Children?”
“Thank you, Mr. Cartwright,” they said in singsong unison.
Except for that one little boy again. “What about the trident?”
Tom’s head snapped up. “The trident?”
“Yeah, is it true you get one? Have you got it with you now? What’s it look like?”
The kid sure knew his stuff. Tom had no idea how he knew so much.
“No,” said Tom, before clarifying. “I mean no, I don’t have it with me now, but I was given one.”
He didn’t know why, didn’t know what made him do it, but he sought out Caitlin’s eyes, locked his focus on her. “Most of the men I know have given their trident away with their heart. When they get married, they’ve given it to their brides on a gold chain.”
Tom swallowed. Wished he wasn’t looking at the woman who’d taken his mind off everything yet put his brain on high alert at the same time. He shouldn’t have looked at her like that, didn’t know why he’d even disclosed the importance of the trident. Not in that context.
“How sweet,” she said, hands clasped together.
But Tom didn’t miss the gentle pink blush that had crept up her neck and was curling toward her cheeks.
He should never have said it, not like that. Didn’t know what had come over him.
He had nothing to offer a woman, not now. He didn’t know who he was, how he would ever cope with what had happened to him, what he’d had to give up. He was lost.
Before, he’d have done anything to meet a woman as sweet and kind as he imagined Caitlin to be. Now, he was damaged, and he didn’t want anyone else drawn into that web of pain with him.
No matter how darn cute her smile was.
Caitlin Rose faced her class and gave them her most serious of looks. “Gabby’s in charge for a moment while I see our guest out,” she instructed, knowing full well they’d erupt into chaos the minute she stepped out the door.
The truth was, she’d probably be better saying goodbye here, in front of the children. It was silly to walk out of the room with him.
But regardless of her worries, she was more polite than that. He’d volunteered his time and been sweet with the children.
She only wished she didn’t have to look into those dark brown eyes that seemed to have caught on hers from the moment he’d walked into her classroom.
“Thanks for taking time out to talk to them,” Caitlin said as she threw a final, stern look over her shoulder at the children. “It was very sweet of you.”
Tom held the door and she ducked beneath his outstretched arm to emerge into the hallway. She wasn’t used to that. To manners like that.
It had been a long time since she’d been in the company of a man, and even longer since one had treated her in that way. With courtesy. Kindness.
She felt him behind her, could sense there was something else he was waiting to say.
“It’s weird for me, talking about the Navy like that.” Honesty laced with uncertainty. “But Gabby wasn’t exactly taking no for an answer.”
Caitlin smiled—she couldn’t help it. She might not be attracted to the whole tough-guy persona, but she could appreciate a man acknowledging that a kid held all the power. She liked his manners.
“I’m sure they loved having you here. It beats most of the other parents we’ve had,” she told him, leaning against a locker as she stood facing him. He was at ease, feet shoulder-width apart, back effortlessly straight. “We usually have the odd doctor or even a lawyer, but a real-life Navy hero? Not often.”
Caitlin felt the smile flee her face as soon as the expression changed in his eyes. They turned stormy, the brown suddenly looking like the black of a raging thundercloud.
“I’m not a hero.” It sounded as though he had to bite down on his words to force them out. He didn’t look at ease any longer, his stance appearing fierce, displaying the edge of a temper.
Goose pimples sent a trail across her skin. “I can tell Gabby’s very proud of you,” she said, changing the subject and ready to back off. This wasn’t a situation she was prepared to be drawn into. “Thanks for coming in, I hope we meet again sometime.”
Caitlin turned before he had a chance to answer.
He might be handsome and kind to his niece, but she’d sensed something in him then she didn’t ever want to be witness to again.
She’d grown up with a military man for a father. Her one and only serious boyfriend had been a Marine. And they’d both known only one way to prove their point, to get what they wanted.
As far as she was concerned, big strong men had one thing in common, and their strength wasn’t something she’d ever fall for. Not again.
Caitlin stole a quick breath before pushing the door open and facing the kids again, knowing it would take her twice as long as she’d been out of the room to quieten them down.
Caitlin glanced over her shoulder to find Tom still standing there, his shoulders bearing the faintest droop.
But his eyes were still on her. Blazing.
She averted her gaze and walked into the room.
He
