the young woman lifted her chin and he could see her profile more clearly he was immediately struck by her natural beauty. And by a deepening sense that she was terribly vulnerable, although if anyone had asked him why he felt that way, he’d have been at a loss to explain.
Her voice rose. “I don’t intend to make waves and take a chance on losing custody of my son again. You, of all people, should understand.”
Ah, so that was her problem, Thad mused. He could definitely identify. He knew Samantha had only been doing her job as a volunteer for CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates for children, when she had recommended that his late brother’s kids be adopted by outsiders, but he was still struggling to accept it.
“Everything worked out fine the last time we went to court,” Samantha reminded her companion. “You can trust the police. You’ll have to learn to do that, if and when you apply to become a CASA volunteer yourself, like you said you might.”
“I trust you more. That’s why I asked you to meet me here. I wanted you to know what happened. Just in case. You’re not assigned to look out for Danny anymore so there’s no conflict of interest. Right?”
“This has nothing to do with what happened in the past. I’m your friend. And I’m telling you to use your head. Make a police report. Let the pros handle it.”
Thad remained silent as Lindy paid for her food, turned and started to walk away without waiting for her outspoken friend to follow.
He continued to observe her wending her way through the crowd to a nearby booth. Clearly, she had problems. Perhaps serious ones. While her personal life was none of his business, he nevertheless felt concerned. It didn’t matter that such feelings made no sense. He was used to following his instincts. Doing so had kept him alive when he was overseas and it was a part of his character he nurtured.
The woman called Lindy never looked back. Never seemed to notice that she had attracted his attention.
Thad paused long enough to say a quick, silent prayer for her before stepping up to the counter, smiling at the clerk and placing his own order.
* * *
Lindy sat back in the booth and folded her arms. She was feeling a chill in spite of her designer jeans, sweater and embroidered denim jacket. “You might as well give it a rest, Sam. I’m not changing my mind.”
“Then at least let me tell John.”
“Not on your life. Your husband’s too good a cop. There’s no way he’d keep his mouth shut, not even if you asked him to. The guys who broke in were probably just dumb kids looking for drug or booze money.”
“The way you described them, they didn’t sound like typical juvenile delinquents.”
“They grow ’em big around here. I think it’s the Ozark water,” Lindy said, managing to smile past her burgeoning feelings of guilt over the deception she felt was so necessary. If she once mentioned the prowlers’ specific threats, she was certain Sam would feel compelled to inform her husband—and that must not happen.
“Um. Speaking of kids, how’s Danny holding up?” Samantha asked.
“He’s okay.”
“Good. You need to start taking him to church, you know.”
“What brought that on? Are you worried that I’m not being a good enough mother?”
“Of course not. It’s time Danny made some new, happy memories, that’s all.” Sam chuckled wryly. “You won’t believe who got roped in as Sunday school teacher for the second and third grade boys’ class at Serenity Chapel.”
“No clue.” Lindy picked up a narrow slice of steaming veggie pizza, inhaling the enticing aroma before taking a cautious bite.
“Thad Pearson. Didn’t you notice him in line behind us when we ordered?”
“You mean the guy who took over Pearson Products?”
“Uh-huh. Have you met?”
“Not exactly. I saw him from a distance when I dropped off my résumé. He’s certainly not the kind of person I’d picture as a Sunday school teacher.”
“Me, either. But he does an amazing job with the kids. It’s too bad he couldn’t adopt his brother’s orphans.”
“Why not?” Lindy took another bite.
“PTSD. He got a medical discharge from the marines because of post-traumatic stress. Unfortunately, that meant, as a CASA representative, I couldn’t recommend him as a prospective parent, even if I’d wanted to.” She focused her gaze across the room and brightened, her smile becoming a broad grin. “Well, butter me up and call me a biscuit. Here he comes.”
Lindy swiveled in her seat. The man was dark haired, muscular, athletic looking and wearing jeans that were worn but clean. He also had on a red polo shirt and matching jacket which bore the Pearson Products logo.
She was about to avert her gaze when it caught his and lingered a heartbeat too long. Blushing, she sank down in her seat and began wishing she could slide all the way under the table, especially when Samantha waved and hollered, “Thad! Over here.”
Lindy gaped. “What did you do that for?”
“So I could properly introduce you to Danny’s Sunday school teacher.”
“I never promised I’d start going back to church.”
“Ah, but you will. For Danny’s sake, of course.”
The hulking figure who soon hovered over Lindy made her feel as small as a child herself.
“Thad, this is Lindy Southerland,” Samantha said. “She has a son the same age as your nephew, Timmy, and I was just telling her about how the kids in your class at Serenity Chapel love having you as their teacher.”
“Pleased to meet you.” He nodded to Lindy as he answered Samantha. “I do my best.”
To Lindy’s surprise, the man looked almost as ill at ease as she felt. Was he glancing around the cramped dining area because he was wishing he could make a polite getaway?
“Please, join us. We have lots of room,” Samantha insisted. She checked her watch. “As a matter of fact, you can take my chair. I have to be getting back to the hospital ASAP. Nearly every bed in my wing is full. Doctors can get away with taking long lunches but we nurses don’t dare.” She gathered up her jacket and trash, slid out, took Thad’s drink from him and placed it on the table opposite Lindy before rushing off.
For a few long seconds, Lindy wondered if the man was going to grab his soda and flee, but he didn’t. Shrugging, he sat down with a resigned air, nodded another silent greeting and began to unwrap his foot-long sandwich.
“I apologize,” Lindy said, feeling her cheeks burn. “Samantha sometimes gets carried away.”
“No problem. As long as it’s all right with you.”
As soon as she said, “Sure. It’s fine,” he picked up his sub and began to eat.
Lindy felt strange sitting across the narrow table from a man—any man. Since being widowed she’d already had to withstand a few well-meaning efforts at matchmaking and had had no trouble doing so. Consequently, it was awkward to find herself trapped in this kind of social situation.
If the attractive man had not seemed so resigned to her presence, she might have left without finishing her lunch. Since he was essentially ignoring her, however, she had no such compunctions. She wasn’t sure what PTSD entailed but she figured polite silence couldn’t hurt him.
Half of Thad’s food was gone before he spoke another word. “So, you have a little boy?”
“Yes. Danny.”
His brow knit. He studied her. “Southerland. Any relation to the accountant who got himself shot a while