The Navy SEAL's Bride by Soraya Lane Read Free Book Online Page A

to seeing.
    But it never came.
    Tom’s breathing slowed. He relaxed.
    Caitlin was nodding, the expression on her face hadn’t changed. “So that’s why you’re teaching at the moment?”
    Tom sighed. “That’s why I’m teaching for the rest of my working life.”
    Caitlin’s eyebrows knotted. “When you say the rest of…”
    “My ear could get worse but it’ll never get better, and that means I can’t do my job. Ever. End of story.”
    Tom wished he hadn’t snapped that last part out so harshly, but it was true. His career as a SEAL was over and he had to come to terms with it. And the fact that they’d lost one of their own when they were usually so careful, usually so precise. The operation had gone from as routine as could be expected for their kind of work to bad and then to worse before they’d even known what had hit them.
    “I’m so sorry, Tom. I don’t know what to say.”
    He gave her what he knew was a sad smile because it hurt just forcing it. “There’s nothing anyone can say that’ll make me feel any better, so don’t beat yourself up about it.”
    Caitlin stood up and walked over to check on Gabby, bending over her, running a hand over her forehead—the same gentle way of moving her fingers that she’d done to him, comforting him with one soft stroke, and he watched her openly while she did it.
    She scooped up her cat before walking back toward him, snuggling her pet to her chest.
    “I know what it’s like, Tom,” she said, sitting down across from him again. “I know exactly what you’re going through.”
    Her voice was low, tense, but it didn’t soften the blow any.
    Tom shut his eyes, clenched his fists and tried to push his anger away. Why the hell did everyone always think they could understand! He restrained himself, fought not to explode.
    “I don’t think that’s possible, Caitlin.” He kept his voice as even and calm as he could, but he jumped up, ready to leave, all the same. He should have kept what had happened to himself. This was why he didn’t tell people about what had happened, because no one could understand and no one ever would.
    “You’re wrong, Tom,” she insisted, eyes wide. “I’ve been there and I know how it feels.”
    * * *
    “You have no idea what I’ve gone through, okay? No one does.” There was a sharp edge of finality to his voice.
    The cold, bitter tone sent a ripple of nervousness down Caitlin’s spine. She went ice-cold herself. Didn’t know how to respond, what to do. Other than tell Tom to get the hell out of her house for speaking to her like that. But she was scared. Nervous about the change in him, how he could go from so earnest and gentle one moment to looking as if he was going to erupt like a long-dormant volcano the next. Opening up to her so genuinely then shutting down as if the conversation had never taken place.
    She wanted him out. Now .
    “I do actually,” she said, forcing herself to be as frosty to him as he had just been to her. Not prepared to quiver beneath his sudden show of strength, of power. Because if there was anything she hated, it was a man trying to assert his dominance like that. She could fall into a heap later, but right now she was going to stick up for herself.
    Tom glared at her before striding over to the sofa and bundling Gabby into his arms, scooping her up like a rag doll. He held her tightly to him, his big hands firm to her tiny body, mouth touching her hair in the gentlest of ways, so at odds with how dominant, how intimidating she felt he was being.
    “Thanks for dinner,” he said, walking straight past her. “I appreciate you helping me out this afternoon.”
    Caitlin stood dead still, cat still in her arms, trying to stop her mouth from hanging open as Tom swung open the door and walked out. Left as though they’d shared nothing, as if tonight had never happened.
    Good riddance.
    “Good night,” he called over his shoulder before shutting the door and disappearing into the