FROM NAVY SEAL to babysitter, Ben thought with exasperation as he parked Mason’s truck, climbed out and began to extract Aaron from his car seat in back. This wasn’t what he had in mind when he’d accepted Dan and Mason’s invitation to the ranch, but he had to admit that Aaron could be fun, and he felt a certain sense of pride in the fact Regan felt comfortable enough to ask him to take the baby for an hour. She had gone to help another woman in town write a business plan. Regan had worked for years in the loan department of a bank and knew exactly what a loan officer would want to see. Mason’s brothers’ wives had all dispersed to various activities and when Mason expressed a need to catch up on paperwork, Ben told Regan he’d be happy to babysit Aaron.
Still, it galled him that watching babies seemed to be his most helpful skill these days. He had spent an hour with Dan earlier in the afternoon brainstorming better ways to teach shooting skills to participants in his training programs, and the task had interested him enough that he’d forgotten his circumstances for a while, but he couldn’t help feel Dan had made up the task to give him something to do. After all, Dan had been a Navy SEAL, too. He knew how to shoot.
Ben settled Aaron in the crook of his arm, shut the door and made his way to the park, where a half-dozen women stood chatting with each other while they watched over their kids.
Ben stifled a curse and the urge to head straight back to the truck when he caught sight of an all too familiar face. Caitlyn—the woman who’d taken one look at him and written him off. Stiffening his spine he made himself walk forward instead, doing his best to minimize his limp. He wouldn’t let her prejudice scare him away from the park.
Besides, he was enjoying the view. Even in jeans and a casual top, she looked far too sexy to be single. Lottie’s father had made a big mistake when he let Caitlyn go—unless she was always as cranky as she’d been yesterday at lunch.
He approached the small playground—just a square of sand with swings, a slide and a climbing structure—and debated what to do with Aaron. Judging by the way the boy squirmed, he wanted to get down and play, so Ben leaned on his cane and set him down carefully.
“Who’s the hottie?”
Ben froze when he overheard the hissed question. It had come from his left where Caitlyn and another young woman stood talking near the slide. He braced himself for Caitlyn’s scathing reply. Her friend might have missed the fact he was lame but Caitlyn would soon set her straight.
“I met him in town yesterday but I don’t know his name.” Was that regret in Caitlyn’s voice? Ben stood up and caught them both looking at him.
“Hello.” He wouldn’t pretend not to have heard them. It wasn’t like they’d been circumspect.
Instead of being embarrassed, the dark-haired young woman stepped over to him and boldly stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Mia Matheson. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
“I just came to town. I’m Ben Warren.”
“Hey, that’s Aaron!” Mia bent down to smile at the baby. “Are you staying with the Halls?” She was pretty, but all of Ben’s attention was fixed on Caitlyn as he answered.
“That’s right. I know Mason and Dan from the service.”
“Really?” Mia shot a look at Caitlyn he couldn’t determine. “Are you a Navy SEAL, too?”
“I was.” He gestured to his ankle. “I’ve been sidelined.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Well, the Navy’s loss is Chance Creek’s gain. Are you going to stay long?”
Caitlyn’s gaze flicked up to meet his as if she too was curious about that answer. He meant to say not long at all but the words stuck in his throat. “Maybe.”
“Oh, Pamela! Excuse me.” Mia rushed off to rescue her baby from the grip of an overly friendly toddler across the playground. Ben looked down to check on Aaron’s progress and was surprised to find that he and Lottie were sitting side by side. The babies eyed each other, their expressions serious.
He chuckled. “I wonder what they’re thinking?”
“Maybe they’re wishing they could apologize for their prior behavior,” Caitlyn said softly. “I’m sorry if I was rude yesterday. I was embarrassed.”
He hadn’t expected that admission. “Why?”
A flush spread over her cheeks like it had the day before and she pressed a hand to her face as if she could feel it. “Because of Lottie. That’s awful, isn’t it? Being ashamed of your own child?” Her color deepened. “Not that I’m ashamed of Lottie—I’m just ashamed… of me, I guess. When my aunt tried to make you ask me out I wanted to disappear. Why would someone like you want to date me?”
Ben wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “Because you’re beautiful and you obviously care about your daughter.”