Page 27 of The Bachelor's Dilemma

“He might. I can manage, though,” Anna said.

“No. Myles carry me,” Zack said when his mother reached for him.

“No problem,” Myles said, swinging him up into his arms and holding him against his chest.

The heart was a funny thing. Myles didn’t think it could get any larger, but it felt as if it were swelling with love for this child he was only getting to know. Like must recognize like, and he knew he’d love Zack forever. Even if he never saw him again after this trip.

Anna tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow, and they walked in silence for another block. It felt right, Myles thought.

Like families he used to watch when he was a child. Longing for that special connection that joined father, mother and children, he felt the yearning again. Would he ever be part of such a family?

For a moment, the thought of making Anna and Zack his family flashed into mind. He’d have his son and a loving mother for that son. There’d be family gatherings on holidays and birthdays. He’d belong as he never had before. And his son would be secure all his life in love from his father and the only mother he’d ever known.

It was a perfect solution.

Myles caught his breath. It would work. He already enjoyed being with Anna. He thought she enjoyed being with him. Of course, it was too early to discuss marriage. But with a special courtship, could they both come to want the same thing? Marriage?

He couldn’t believe he even had such an idea. He’d never expected to marry. His work took him all over the world. And not to locations where he’d want a family. Maybe it was because he’d almost died in that land mine explosion. Was it a pie-in-the-sky notion, or one with serious merit?

A woman wanted more than a father for her fatherless son. She wanted to be wanted for herself.

Myles glanced down at Anna. She was pretty in ways that would last—not for her the flashy makeup and fleeting fashion statements his former girlfriend had embraced. She was nothing like Tiffany. She’d bring security to a marriage. He doubted Tiffany would ever have managed had she consented to marry him for their child’s sake.

Anna glanced up and smiled.

“Is he getting heavy?”

“Not at all. I’ve enjoyed tonight.”

More than He’d expected.

“Me, too.”

She squeezed his arm slightly and looked away, a slight smile on her lips.

When they reached Anna’s apartment, she invited him in.

“I’ll put Zack to bed and we can have some coffee, if you like,” she said, as she worked the key in the lock.

“Sounds great. I’d hate for the evening to end so soon,” he said. “I can help put him to bed.”

“You don’t need to.”

“Want Myles,” Zack mumbled, snuggling closer to the man who held him.

Anna laughed. “Okay, then. You have to get right into pjs and brush your teeth. No dawdling tonight. It’s late.”

“’Kay,” he said.

Myles carried Zack into his bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Anna handed him a set of pajamas and Myles set Zack on his feet and helped him take off the sweatshirt and T-shirt he wore. It wasn’t easy getting Zack to put on his pajama top; the child wanted to flop against him, already half asleep.

Finally, he was ready and Myles followed the two of them to the bathroom to watch Zack brush his teeth. Leaning against the doorjamb, he enjoyed the routine Anna and Zack had with his son standing on the closed toilet lid and first brushing his teeth by himself, then with Anna helping.

“All done,” he sang out when Anna had him rinse his mouth.

He jumped from the toilet, straight for Myles. Only his quick reflexes had him catch his son before the boy landed on the floor.

“Zack, don’t do that. It’s dangerous,” Anna scolded.

---