Page 6 of Heart of a Hero

“Did you get a peek at his goodies?” Derek asked.

Conrad groaned. “No. We were each wearing shorts. God, sometimes I wonder about you.”

“But you got a look under the teacher clothes and found something yummy.” Maybe it was best he stop this conversation. Luckily Derek seemed to pick up on his thoughts. “Okay. I’ll be good. Anyway, I know Rodney was a bully and that your mom dumped him and that he left a bad impression on you. But you can’t let that stop you from seeing this man for who he really is. The guy isn’t Rodney, and just because he’s big and shaves his head….”

“He doesn’t,” Conrad said. “Guys who shave their heads still have stubble or a shadow, but Forrest doesn’t have any of that.”

“You mean he’s bald naturally?”

Conrad cleared his throat. “He doesn’t have eyebrows either. And his skin is really smooth.” He stopped himself from trying to remember if he saw any hair anywhere. “I don’t think the look is by choice.”

“Then you’re afraid of the guy for something he can’t control, just like all the people at the library were afraid of Harm before they realized he couldn’t talk. You remember.”

“I know what you’re saying, but my reaction to him was so visceral that it’s hard to get over it.” He took a deep breath.

“And yet you find him hot as all hell,” Derek supplied. “And there is the real rub.”

“You’re like a dog with a bone. Fine, he’s built and hot as all hell. Are you happy? He’s also Lizzie’s teacher, so he’s off limits, because there is no way I’m dating him. Not that he’s interested in me anyway, and I’m just getting myself spun up over nothing.”

“Whoa… okay. I get that. But this isn’t about dating or anything. At this point, it’s about dealing with your residual feelings about Rodney the douchebag and wading through those. You need to deal with them so you can let them go and move on. Let yourself get past what he did and how you feel about him. Your mom dumped him and seems to be getting over all that, judging by the fact that she was out to dinner with a silver fox the other day.”

“You saw my mom when she was on her date? I knew she was seeing someone, but I haven’t met him yet.”

“I didn’t either. I just saw them together, but he seemed nice enough, and I have tell you, he was really quite good-looking and your mom certainly seemed happy. So did he, for that matter.”

“I’m glad Mom seemed happy. She deserved it after spending all that time with Rodney. I hated the man, but he had her so wrapped in circles that she didn’t know which way to turn.” The time she saw Rodney backhand him was the wake-up call for her. Rodney had actually seemed shocked when Mom tossed him out of the house and threw his clothes out to him on the lawn. “All I can say is that I’m glad she never married the bastard.” They had talked of it, but Mom resisted. Conrad always thought it was because she still loved and missed his father.

“Well, he’s gone and has been for a while. It’s been long enough that you need to try to get over all of it. If your mom can, then so can you. So you have to promise me that if hot teacher shows any interest in you, then you’ll at least give him a chance.”

“Oh God. I am not going out with one of Lizzie’s teachers, no matter how hot he may be.”

“Daddy,” Lizzie said, and Conrad groaned before setting his beer on the table next to his chair. She crawled on his lap.

“I need to go. We’ll see you on Friday.” He ended the call and set his phone aside. “What’s going on? Did you have a bad dream?”

She nodded. “There is a monster under my bed. I heard Keenan tell the other kids that’s where monsters live. And I don’t want any monsters to eat me.”

“There is nothing under your bed except dust and the shoes you put under there. Keenan doesn’t know anything, and there’s nothing for you to be scared of. I’m here, and I’ll always watch over you and keep you safe.” God, he hated when she got like this. He hummed softly and rocked slowly until Lizzie fell back to sleep. Then he quietly carried her upstairs and put her in bed with her stuffed penguin next to her. He covered her up and left the door open.

Downstairs, he went back outside and brought in his phone and beer, trying not to think too much about… well, everything. He knew he shouldn’t get so overwrought over Forrest. Derek was right—he was just Lizzie’s teacher and that was all. He needn’t make anything more out of it.

“WHERE ARE we going?” Lizzie asked as she clomped slowly down the stairs. “Can I go to Gramma’s and you go do grown-up stuff?” She had been pouty ever since she got home from school. He’d asked her if she felt okay and he’d made a snack for her, promising to take her to dinner after the opening.

“We’re going to see an art opening. There should be pretty things there.” He knelt down in front of her. “We won’t be there too long, and afterwards we’re going to get pizza. Okay? Can you be good for me?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said as he helped her into her coat, and together they left the house. “I’ll do it,” she protested once he had her in the car seat. She belted herself in, and Conrad checked it was fastened properly before getting in himself. He was lucky to be able to find them a nearby parking spot. Once they were all set, he and Lizzie got out and headed to the center with a number of other people.

“You look really pretty,” he told Lizzie outside. She had picked out a pink dress with white tights and pink shoes. “Like a pink princess.” He held her hand, and they opened the door and stepped into a crush of people, all talking, drinking wine, and looking at the art on the walls and perched on stands.

It was an exhibition titled Nature’s Wonders, all by local artists. “Daddy, look,” Lizzie said, pointing toward a large sculpted bird that hung from the ceiling in flight. “It’s pretty.” She was fascinated and watched it turn in the shifting air. Then they moved on to some of the other art works, with Conrad keeping Lizzie close.

“You made it,” Derek told him with a hug. “And look at you,” he said to Lizzie. “So pretty. You’re becoming a young lady.” They shared a smile, but Lizzie pressed to Conrad, her shyness coming out.

“You can say hi to Uncle Derek,” he told her hopefully. She waved, and he lightly squeezed her hand. “I think the number of people is a little overwhelming for her.”

“Do you want to get something to drink?” Derek asked. “They have things upstairs, and I know there’s something you’ll like too. There are also fewer people up there right now.” He was all smiles. “This is the best opening we’ve had in a long time.” He led the way through the crowd to the stairs. They made it up, and Conrad got a glass of white wine and helped Lizzie with some sparkling white grape juice. He did not want to try to get red grape juice out of that dress if there was any spillage.

“Lizzie,” a deep voice said from behind him, and his daughter seemed to light up in front of him.