His One And Only Bride. Tara Randel

you remember him?”

      Mitch stared at the small animal with the fluffy mane. “No.”

      “We were in high school. My mother had missed my debate team competition and I was really upset. A few weeks later, a carnival came to town and you made me go. To cheer me up, you said.” A small smile curved her lips as she brushed her fingers over the lion’s mane. “You won this at one of the game booths. Told me not to be sad or scared because Leo the lion would look out for me.”

      Her misty gaze met his. “I found the lion when I was packing up our belongings at the old house to move here. I held on to this little guy and cried, over the memories we’d shared and the reality that I would never see you again.” She took a stuttering breath. “When Leo was born, I wanted to give him a strong name. I thought he needed it since he’d never know his father.”

      Mitch swallowed hard.

      He’d missed so much.

      And on the tail of that revelation, anger at the events that had kept him from returning home simmered, but he held it in check. He’d deal with it later, when he could sort through his emotions and vent without giving Zoe reason to keep him at arm’s length.

      “So, what do you think?” she asked.

      “I think I can’t wait to get to know him.”

      The frown again.

      “What?”

      “I just can’t picture you staying in Cypress Pointe long enough for any quality time with Leo.”

      “My priorities will change.”

      “Really?” Disbelief tinged her voice. “For how long?”

      He turned, bit back the impatient retort he wanted to hurl at her. “For as long as it takes. He’s my child, too, Zoe.”

      A mulish expression he recognized as trouble crossed her face. “We’ll see.”

      “Do you plan on giving me a hard time about my place in Leo’s life?”

      “No. But I won’t let you hurt him when you revert back to form and leave for weeks at a time. I won’t explain why his daddy isn’t here for the milestones in his life.”

      Did she have that little faith in him that she thought he would abandon their son? The steel in her tone reflected exactly that. She had no faith that he would put his son above his career.

      “I’ll be here.”

      She snorted. “Right. Like every other time you made that promise, only to break your word.”

      “This is different.”

      Her brow rose.

      Yes, he had let Zoe down. She’d never understood his need for adventure to begin with, but she had accepted it as part of the man she loved. However, once she’d wanted a baby, things had changed. With each miscarriage, he’d wanted out of the pressure and the expectations he couldn’t deliver on. She’d never stopped to consider how the loss of each baby took a piece of his soul, and because she was suffering, he’d never made his sorrow an issue.

      But now that Leo was here, she would never stand in the way of his being a father. He’d make sure of it.

      Leo rustled again.

      “He senses the tension between us.” Zoe adjusted the blanket over him. “Let’s leave him be.”

      Mitch gazed at his son, then at his wife. “This conversation isn’t finished.”

      * * *

      ZOE CLOSED THE door behind her, waiting for the soft snick. Mitch had hobbled to the living room ahead of her. She took this time alone to center her thoughts and tamp down her frustration.

      So Mitch was going to march into their lives and expect nothing had changed? That he had a right to make decisions affecting her son?

      Yes. Her son. She’d given birth to him. Raised him. Protected him. Worried over every aspect of his life. Even if Mitch hadn’t been injured, she didn’t believe he’d have stuck around to help her. His track record spoke volumes.

      Squaring her shoulders, she joined Mitch. He paced the room, his agitation evidenced by his clumsy gait. When he passed her, she saw that his face had gone even more pale, if that was possible. He rubbed his temple with his free hand while he leaned heavily on his cane with the other.

      “Mitch, there’s nothing to discuss.”

      “Really? I beg to differ.”

      “You haven’t been a part of his life.”

      “Not on purpose,” he said, his words clipped and angry.

      She glimpsed the hurt on his face but held firm to her conviction. “I have to look out for his best interests.”

      “And that includes keeping him from his father?” He made a turn, stumbled and reached out with the arm she noticed he kept tucked close to his body. He leaned over the couch to steady himself on the armrest. A small gasp escaped her, but his sharp look kept her from rushing to his aid.

      “You aren’t in any condition to take care of a child.”

      “Not now, but this condition won’t last forever.”

      Maybe she should have felt sorry for his plight, but she wasn’t willing to barter the welfare of her child over her sympathy for a man who had left her too many times to count. Did that make her cold? No. It made her a mother.

      “So you’re going to recover here? In Cypress Pointe?”

      “Yes.” He tried to walk again, but ended up sinking into a nearby chair. His cheeks were red from exertion now. Zoe knew he was a proud man and pointing out his physical limitations would only make the situation more tense.

      “And once the recovery is complete?”

      He dropped his head into his hand. Remained silent for too long.

      “Mitch? Your recovery?”

      His head shot up and he winced. “What?”

      “I asked about staying in Cypress Pointe while you recover.”

      “Yes...that’s...ah...the plan.”

      Unease slithered over her. “Are you okay?”

      He rubbed his head. “Don’t worry about it.”

      “Don’t worry? Mitch, you want to be part of Leo’s life. I have to look out for him.”

      “And you honestly think I’d hurt him?”

      “Not intentionally.”

      He grimaced.

      “Look at it from my point of view, Mitch. You aren’t yourself.”

      “So you’d keep him away from me?”

      “No, but I certainly can’t leave you alone with him until you’re stronger. He’s a bundle of energy right now.”

      He opened his mouth, presumably to argue the point, then stopped.

      She took a seat on the couch near him. Gentled her tone. “Mitch, I don’t mean to come across as the bad guy, but Leo is my responsibility. It’s not just you and me anymore. Our actions matter now.”

      “I’m not going to make demands.”

      “Sure feels like it.”

      He blew out a breath. “We need to calmly hammer out some sort of...agreement, concerning our son.”

      A shiver ran over her. She knew Mitch enough to know that when he set his mind on something, he didn’t give up. Mitch might be okay putting himself in harm’s way, but she never would be. And what if Mitch wanted to take Leo out of Cypress Pointe? She couldn’t entertain the idea.

      “I