Page 18 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

For a moment, Myles wondered if he was losing it. The image popped, and he was back in the small hotel room.

“I’ll keep that under consideration,” he said. “I called about the apartment sublet. It’s still available and I’m going over on Monday to look at it,” he said. “It’s far from your place.”

“True, but a much better section of town. If they were subletting for longer, I might be tempted. But they want a short-term tenant. It sounds nice.”

“I’ll let you know if it works out.”

They talked for another half hour. Anna finally said she had to get her laundry now that it was dry and gave Myles her address for the morning.

He said goodnight. After replacing the phone, he gazed out into the dark night. He’d see her again in a few hours. How did he feel about that?

Anna hadn’t opened up to someone like Myles in years. She regretted that their companionable conversation had ended before she was ready. Riding down the small elevator, she wondered if she was being wise about going out with Myles.

What if she grew attached—or worse, what if Zack did? He still searched for his father everywhere. She didn’t want him doing the same for Myles if the man became part of their lives for the weeks he was recovering and then left. Little children didn’t understand.

She and Tom had known from the first they were meant for each other. To think about another man felt odd. But she’d done it. She’d accepted a date for Sunday. She and Zack would spend several hours with Myles.

Her heart gave an unexpected skip. It was just for the day. Neither she nor Zack would grow too attached in such a short time.

When Myles rang the bell the next morning, Zack ran to the door. His mother had told him about the visit to the zoo at breakfast and he was raring to go. Flinging open the door, he beamed up at Myles.

Anna entered the living room in time to see her son open the door without even asking who was there. She was trying to instill some common sense in him, but he was too excited today to pay attention.

“Hey there, Zack,” Myles said, stooping down to smile at the small boy at his level. “Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

Zack flung himself at Myles, his arms going around his neck. “The zoo is my bestest place. I love the elephants.”

Anna smiled at the stunned look on Myles’s face. He hadn’t planned on her exuberant son.

“Zack, you’re probably strangling Myles. Let go.”

“No. It’s fine.”

Tentatively, Myles’s arms came around the child, and he hugged him gently. “He’s okay, just excited, I think.”

“You’ve nailed that. We’re about ready.”

She put another bottle of water in the backpack and zipped it shut. By the time she donned her jacket and put Zack’s on him, Myles had straightened to his full height and reached for the backpack.

“What do you have in here, bricks?” he asked, hefting it.

“Just essentials.” She raised her hand and began counting on her fingers. “Water, sunscreen, wet towelettes, snacks, cuddle blanket, dark glasses, wallet—”

“Cuddle blanket?” Myles asked, dumbfounded.

She grinned.

“Zack’s still comforted by a certain blanket when he gets tired or cranky. Usually he keeps it on his bed, but we take it with us on longer trips, just in case. He likes to put it against his cheek and rub against it. I call it his cuddle blanket. Hopefully, we’ll leave the zoo before he gets tired. He can get really cranky.”

“I expect I’ll get tired long before he does,” Myles said, slinging the backpack over one shoulder.

“I can carry it,” Anna said.

She remembered his brief recount of the land mine. She didn’t expect him to carry her things.

“I’m okay with it. I didn’t realize you had to tote so much on an outing,” he said.

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