His Made-to-Order Bride. Jessica Matthews

his mug in a salute. ‘I stand corrected.’

      ‘Regardless, you’re getting quite a reputation.’

      J.D.’s exasperation turned to amusement. ‘I am?’

      ‘Absolutely,’ Virginia declared. ‘Women are in and out of your house like it has a revolving door. Young, old and everyone in between. I don’t need to describe in detail what everyone believes. “Kinky” was mentioned. So was “gay”.’

      He rolled his eyes in disgust. ‘Oh for…’ His voice died. ‘Not true. Just because three or four women help with Daniel, that doesn’t mean I’m having a relationship with them. And, since I’m not, it doesn’t mean my sexual preferences are skewed.’

      Virginia interrupted. ‘No, but you know how people talk. Do you want Daniel exposed to rumour and innuendo? Children repeat their parents’ conversations, you know.’

      ‘My two neighbours are your age, Mom,’ he reminded her. ‘Both of them are dying for a grandchild to spoil, so they dote on Daniel. We have a wonderful arrangement—Martha cooks, Henrietta cleans and they take turns looking after Daniel in the mornings and bringing him to day care.

      ‘Then Katie picks him up when she gets off at three and watches him until I come home later in the evening. When she’s unavailable I call some other friends I know who are willing to look after him for a few hours. He’s used to being around different people.’

      ‘Aha!’ Virginia stated triumphantly. ‘Daniel doesn’t know a stranger. Anyone could request to take him home and he’d willingly go with them.’

      J.D. rubbed the back of his neck. ‘We have safeguards in place, Mom. Not only do we have a schedule posted at home so he’s aware of where he’s going and with whom, but we’ve talked about strangers. And we have a password.’

      ‘I’m sure you have all the bases covered, so to speak, but your son needs continuity in his life. He shouldn’t be passed from caretaker to caretaker like an unwanted puppy. The poor child practically lives out of a suitcase.’

      J.D. thought of Daniel’s tote bag leaning against his closet door, waiting for someone to unpack the clothes and toys inside. He quickly squelched the guilt his mother’s comments created.

      ‘Daniel likes all of his sitters,’ he stated firmly. ‘This arrangement has worked well for everyone. But if it will make you happier, I’ll advertise for a live-in nanny.’

      ‘Daniel needs a mother, and you,’ Virginia emphasised, ‘need a wife. Please, don’t take this wrong, but you’re getting positively dull. The lively young man I raised has disappeared.’

      He gave a small smile, remembering the escapades of his younger days. The demands of medical school had curbed some of his spirit, but not all of it. Everything had changed, however, when Ellen had disappeared from his life.

      ‘He grew up, Mom.’

      ‘Nonsense. Ellen’s death was difficult for you, but after all this time you simply must close that chapter and begin a new one. It isn’t healthy for you or for Daniel.’

      ‘Mother—’ he began.

      ‘It’s time you started looking for someone to share your life,’ Virginia continued, as if he hadn’t tried to interrupt. ‘One of these days Daniel will move away from home and you’ll be left alone.’

      ‘Daniel’s four. I shouldn’t need to worry about that happening soon,’ he said dryly.

      ‘Believe me, the years fly by. It was only yesterday when you were his age, asking the same one hundred and one questions he does.’ Her eyes grew misty before she blinked the moisture away. ‘Just look at you. Thirty-six years old and a doctor. It doesn’t seem possible.’

      He hated it when his mother turned sentimental. He could hold his own when it came to facts and logic, but when she became emotional he had no defence.

      Virginia placed a hand over his. ‘I want you to be happy, James.’

      ‘I am.’

      She didn’t appear convinced. ‘You always told me how much you hated being an only child. You informed me on several occasions that our house was a mausoleum in comparison to everyone else’s.’

      The memory brought a faint smile to his mouth. Returning from a visit with his friends, it had been like stepping into another world, one without the boisterous noise of family living. While his buddies had envied him not having pesky siblings underfoot, he’d anticipated sleepovers at their houses with the same eagerness as Christmas and birthdays.

      Times were different, though. If things had worked out with Ellen, perhaps his childish dream would have come true. The proverbial lemons had rolled into his life and J.D. was doing his best to turn the sour fruit into lemonade.

      ‘I’m not getting married just so Daniel will have a mother.’ He spoke adamantly. ‘If I could juggle my career with the demands of an infant, I certainly can manage my work with a pre-school child.’

      ‘That’s not the point. You both would benefit from having a feminine influence in your lives.’

      ‘With all the women parading through my home, I thought I had plenty,’ he said, tongue-in-cheek.

      She narrowed her eyes in a glance intended to stifle his mocking tone. ‘A permanent feminine influence. In any case, I’m only asking you to start making yourself available. Start checking out the single young ladies in town for suitability, then let them know you’re ready for a relationship. You’re a good catch, if I say so myself.’

      ‘I’m not a fish and I’m not interested in being caught. When I run across the right person, I’ll act on it. In the meantime—’

      ‘If you think this so-called “right” person will fall from the sky and into your lap, you can think again,’ Virginia said tartly. ‘You have to put forward some effort.’

      Obviously nothing he said would change her mind. If allowing her to believe that he was obeying her suggestion gave him a respite from her interference, he refused to feel remorse over the small deception.

      ‘OK, OK. Point taken. I’ll keep my eyes open for Mrs Right.’ If the perfect woman crossed his path, well and good. If she didn’t, so be it. He didn’t intend to beat the bushes to find her.

      A satisfied expression crossed Virginia’s face. ‘I’m glad you’ve seen the light.’

      ‘Remember, though, Mercer is a small town,’ he cautioned, trying to squash any great expectations she might have. ‘Eligible women are hard to come by.’

      Virginia pursed her lips. ‘I suppose so. In that case, I’ll work on it from my end, too.’ She tapped a forefinger to one temple. ‘Moving to Mercer might be a drawback. You aren’t interested in returning to the city, are you?’

      ‘No, I’m not.’

      ‘Hmm,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘The location might not pose an insurmountable problem. Mercer is a quaint community. A bit lacking in cultural opportunities, perhaps, but there are worse places to live. I’m sure I can find a charming young woman who sees the benefits of marriage to a handsome physician. The advantages will certainly outweigh any drawbacks to living in a small town.’

      ‘I think I can handle this on my own,’ he said dryly.

      ‘I’m sure you can, but a little help wouldn’t hurt.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Oh, dear. Look at the time. I must be off. I’m so glad we had this chat and came to an understanding. Now, don’t you feel better?’

      He didn’t, but refrained from comment.

      Virginia gave him a hug which he genuinely reciprocated. ‘I’ll be in touch to check on your progress.’ After issuing her parting statement, she glided out of the room.

      Alone with his thoughts, J.D. stared at the swirls