Page 25 of The Seal's Promise
“Yah, he is, but he’s getting more and more curious about why some kids’ dads are present and his isn’t. I know Miles means well, and he’s a good influence on Max, but it only highlights that the one man that should be there has no interest.”
“It’s a tough lesson to learn so young, that someone who should love you unconditionally is absent. But you won’t be able to shelter him from that hurt much longer.”
She hesitated a moment, and he thought she wouldn’t respond.
“That’s actually why I was meeting with the lawyer. I’ve let his dad get away with not being responsible or contributing to Max’s care for too long.”
“You don’t get child support?”
“I was pregnant when we divorced. I never filed for it.” She looked up as if she realized she was telling him more than she’d planned. “Never mind.”
Dalton felt fury mixed with the impulse to shelter Brooke and Max from Tyler Banks fill him with such a swift and clear longing it made him pause for a moment.
“I’ll help carry this stack to the front desk—it looks like Max got sidetracked.”
Max had picked up a game controller in the kids’ area and was playing a video game.
“Thanks,” she said. “I guess it won’t hurt if you want to come to the batting cages with us.”
“Great, I’m in.”
He still needed to speak to the librarian about helping him covertly advertise the position at his grandmother’s house, but he wasn’t going to pass up a chance to spend more time with Brooke and Max.
Declan approached him at the front desk as Brooke checked out the books.
“Hey, Dalton, I heard you were back in town.” The man held out his hand and had an easygoing smile.
“Yah, my gran snapped her fingers and here I am. How are you doing?”
“I’m good, got my hands full most days but can’t complain.”
“Mr. Tate, did you know Mr. Dalton is a Navy SEAL?” Max chimed in.
“Retired,” Dalton corrected him.
“Good for you, glad you made it home safe. Listen, I gotta run before the sitter gets mad. If you ever need anything, my office is on Front Street.” He smiled but then leaned down. “Good luck in your big game tonight, Max, not that you need it with that arm of yours.”
“Thanks, Mr. Tate.” Max said it with so much pride, it made Dalton’s heart squeeze.
He really was a great kid, he thought as they all walked out of the library.
“Hey, maybe we should get your mom one of those fancy coffees over at your aunt May’s shop before we hit baseballs.”
“Good idea. Aunt May makes the best muffins.”
“That does sound good. Let me just put these books in the car.” Brooke stepped closer to him and he could smell her sweet scent. Then her arms skimmed along his as she went to take the stack from him, and he held on to them a beat too long, forcing her to look him in the eyes. A fresh pink flush bloomed in her cheeks and he knew their contact meant she felt the charge between them too. Then he let go and she sighed, but he didn’t think it was from relief—it had more of a disappointed lilt to it.
They walked to the coffee shop, each on either side of Max as he jabbered away about all the facts that he’d read about Babe Ruth. Dalton caught Brooke’s smile as she looked at him over Max’s head, but then a tall figure stepped into their path.
“What the hell is going on here?” Tyler Banks asked.
He had wavy brown hair like Max’s tucked under a ball cap, high cheekbones, a deep tan, and a sneer. He was wearing a collared shirt, casual shorts, and boat shoes, like a man who didn’t take life very seriously.
“Tyler, can you please watch your language around Max?”
“He’s going to hear it sooner or later.”
Dalton’s body tensed. This wasn’t going to be a happy reunion and he didn’t want to make things worse for Brooke or Max, but he wasn’t going to stand by while Tyler Banks was disrespectful to her.
