Page 10 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

Myles started to say just look for me here every day, but thought better of it.

He reached into his pocket for his wallet, withdrawing one of his business cards. He couldn’t remember the phone number of the hotel. The business number of headquarters wouldn’t do any good.

He looked at her.

“I don’t remember the hotel number. Tell you what, I’ll get a cell phone later today and if you’re here tomorrow, give that number to you.”

He held out his card to her.

“In the meantime, this is information about the company I work for. The number on it is for emergencies. The company can always contact employees. They know where we are.”

“Okay.”

She smiled and then took the card. The company was a well-known construction firm that built large-scale buildings, dams, and roads worldwide.

For a moment, Anna wanted to give her number to this stranger. She’d run into him briefly yesterday and then again today. She didn’t know him from Adam, but he’d helped her yesterday. He didn’t know where she lived, so couldn’t be following her. If he were staying around here, this park was a nice place to sit in the sunshine.

He interested her in a way a man hadn’t in a long time.

She felt suddenly alive around him.

Blinking, she looked away. He seemed more confident and secure than the men she usually saw daily—without being overbearing or arrogant.

She checked on Zack again and then looked around at the other benches occupied with parents and others visiting the park. She always kept watch to make sure Zack was safe. Today, she’d forgotten to pay attention to Zack every second. He was fine, but it was unlike her to forget him, even for a moment.

Being with Myles stirred her senses and made her more curious than warranted. And had her offering to help where no help was asked for.

Maybe he enjoyed living in a hotel. Why had she opened her mouth and made such an impulsive offer? It was unlike her. Or at least the her she’d been the last year.

Anna waved to Zack when he yelled at her. He ran over, eyeing Myles suspiciously.

“Come and have a drink of water. You’ve been running around so much,” she said, drawing a bottle of water from her tote.

“Who is that?” Zack asked, staring at Myles.

“The man who helped me look for you yesterday, remember? Myles Riker,” Anna said.

Zack drank his water and then smiled.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi yourself,” Myles replied. He studied the child for a moment, then smiled. “You like the slides, I can tell.”

“Yes. I can climb up all by myself and then go down. Watch.”

Zack thrust the water back at Anna and ran back to the slide, waiting his turn to mount the stairs and slide down. He looked at Myles with pride.

Myles made a thumbs-up sign.

“He’s so proud of his accomplishments,” Anna said. “I keep hoping he’ll adjust to his father’s death. He keeps looking for Tom whenever we go out.”

“Tough break for both of you,” Myles said.

Anna nodded. “And scary if he runs off like yesterday.”

Myles stretched slowly and then rose.

“I have to get moving. I’m stiffening up,” he said. He reached for the paper and looked at Anna. “Want this, or shall I toss it?”

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