He never thought he’d see her again!

After being reported missing, presumed dead, globe-hopping photojournalist Mitch Simmons never thought he’d see his estranged wife, Zoe, again. Yet here he is back in their coastal Florida town, where Zoe is mayor. Turns out she isn’t the only one he left behind.

Discovering he has a baby son awakens thrilling new emotions in Mitch. And there are his still-powerful feelings for the high school sweetheart he vowed to love and honor forever. Thankfully, they’ll have the chance to find the love that was always there...

TARA RANDEL is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of fifteen novels. Family values, a bit of mystery and, of course, love and romance are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Tara lives on the West Coast of Florida, where gorgeous sunsets and beautiful weather inspire the creation of heartwarming stories. This is her sixth book for Harlequin Heartwarming. Visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at Tara Randel Books.

Also By Tara Randel

The Wedding March

The Bridal Bouquet

Honeysuckle Bride

Magnolia Bride

Orange Blossom Brides

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

His One and Only Bride

Tara Randel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08085-9

HIS ONE AND ONLY BRIDE

© 2018 Tara Spicer

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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Zoe stood beside a crib.

She looked at the baby, the fierce love etched on her face stopping Mitch from moving. He’d always thought Zoe was pretty, but now she took his breath away. Becoming a mother had transformed her. She was no longer just his high school sweetheart. Before him stood a full-grown woman, a mother, who had become more beautiful in the time he’d been away.

“Come see your son.”

Leaning on the cane, he made his legs move forward. When he came to the side of the crib and gazed down at the sleeping boy, with one thumb brushing his lips, his breath caught.

A longing, unlike any he’d ever experienced before, pummeled him. This was his son. His flesh and blood. A miracle.

Dear Reader,

It’s summertime in Cypress Pointe. Finally, you get to be a guest at the weddings you’ve been waiting for since the Business of Weddings series started. I’ve loved spending time in this beach community, loved visiting old friends and new, so wrapping up stories from previous books has been gratifying and a tad bittersweet.

His One and Only Bride features Zoe and Mitch Simmons. High school sweethearts, they thought their lives would be filled with days of happiness and a household full of children. Fate wasn’t so kind, and as the two ponder the state of their marriage, they learn the true meaning of love.

I had so much fun writing baby Leo. Children have a tendency to steal scenes in a book, and after all the angst and heartache it took for Zoe and Mitch to finally get this little bundle of joy, he was worth every moment. He brought me back to those early days of motherhood, remembering the ups and downs of parenting with fond memories and joy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the adventures in Cypress Pointe. What started out as a book about brides turned into a series about wedding professionals that I have loved from start to finish. I look forward to moving on with a new series full of strong heroines, daring men and lots of adventure. Until then, enjoy reading Zoe and Mitch’s story.

Happy reading!

Tara

To Mark, Sarah and baby Leo. Thanks for your friendship and letting me hang out with your son. Mark, thanks for always answering my questions.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Extract

Chapter One

“BY THE VIRTUE of the authority vested in me under the laws of the state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Zoe Simmons took a big step back as the groom hauled his bride in for an enthusiastic smooch. The bride wrapped her arms around her new husband’s neck while the guests clapped and hooted their congratulations.

Once the couple disengaged, with wide grins meant only for each other, Zoe peered around them to say, “It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you for the first time, Lilli and Max Sanders.”

Lilli sent Zoe a grateful smile, and Max winked before tucking his bride’s hand securely into the crook of his arm as they turned toward the happy faces before them. Linked in the promise of a new life together, the newlyweds strode down the aisle.

With a bittersweet sigh, Zoe watched them walk away.

When she’d agreed to officiate this marriage—a privilege she’d never considered as part of her duties as the mayor of Cypress Pointe, but then soon learned it was a tradition—she’d had good intentions. Lilli had been her friend for years and even though standing here stirred up a bittersweet web of emotions, Zoe wanted to be part of her friend’s special day. In the past few years, Zoe had generally avoided weddings, especially since...

Don’t go there.

The guests filed out of the pews, chatting and greeting friends and family. The mother of the bride, artfully dressed in a jade-colored designer dress and shoes, wiped her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. The bride’s father, tall and distinguished, spoke into her ear. The woman broke out into a wobbly laugh.

Never having known her own father, Zoe had walked down the aisle alone at her small wedding ten years ago. She tried to deny the slight hint of jealously at Lilli’s good fortune, then decided to be honest with herself. This wedding had been a million times different than her own.

“Zoe. Are you coming?”

Shaking off the direction of her thoughts, Zoe nodded, briskly placing her regrets where they belonged, buried deep down in her heart. Today was about Lilli and Max, not the what-ifs and could-have-beens shadowing her own life. There would be plenty of time later, when she was alone, to mull over the events that had led to her current state of affairs.

“I’ll be right there,” she told her date.

Date. It still sounded strange. She’d been out with Tim three times now. He was fun, smart and good-looking. What’s not to like, right? When he’d first approached her, it had been at a fund-raiser they’d both attended. After spending the entire evening talking, he’d asked her out. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Hadn’t she just decided to put herself out there? See what could happen? The initial date, dinner at an Italian restaurant, had been awkward but soon they’d eased into a companionable friendship. He made her laugh and went out of his way to take care of her. You couldn’t ask for more. So why did she hold back? Was she afraid to put her heart on the line? She hadn’t totally recovered from the fallout of her marriage, which probably said it all.

Gathering the binder containing the wedding script and her small clutch, she watched the scene playing out at the back of the church. The maid of honor fussed with the bride’s veil. One of the groomsmen slapped the groom on the back and made some comment they both laughed over. The flower girl, darling in a pretty pink dress, chased the ring bearer, who tugged at the bow tie circling his neck.

Zoe moved down the center aisle, savoring the sweet herb-scented fragrance of lavender bunches, tied together with twine ribbon, at the end of each pew. Wide swaths of lace were draped between the rows. The ceremony had been simple, along with the rustic decorations. Lovely flower arrangements of white, purple and yellow wildflowers spilled from dark brown rectangular baskets, adorning the platform in the front of the church. In the back, additional woven handbaskets of daisies complemented the bright bouquets carried by the bride and her attendants. The early June weather had been perfect. Not a humid Florida day, as had been predicted. Instead, a light breeze and sunny sky created a picturesque wedding tableau.

She reached the vestibule to find Tim waiting for her. He smiled as she joined him.

“I want to give my regards to Lilli before we leave.”

“I’m right here with you,” he replied.

Honestly, snagging Tim as her date had been the talk of the town. A handsome firefighter, dressed in a navy suit, they’d clicked despite his knowing her history. Her friends had been after her to start dating again. Mitch, your husband, has been gone for almost two years, they’d said. You’re young. You deserve a second chance at happiness, they’d insisted.

So why did she feel like she was cheating on a ghost? A ghost she was still angry with.

They had tried putting the pieces back together before his last assignment, taking a short trip to rekindle their marriage. But the reality was, she and Mitch had grown apart and there hadn’t seemed any possible way back to the love they’d once shared. He’d left her, after the last in a long line of arguments over a career he’d increasingly placed more and more value on than their relationship. Things had ended up with Mitch taking an assignment overseas where he’d gone missing and was presumed dead. They’d never located his body. Could that be the reason she was having a hard time moving forward?

Zoe stopped before the bride, beautifully attired in a frothy cream-colored gown. Lilli reached over to grab her hands. Max, handsome in his fitted tuxedo, stood beside her as if never wanting to let Lilli out of his sight. They were so ridiculously happy looking they could have posed as cake toppers.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks so much for being here,” Lilli said in way of greeting. “You were right. The vows you picked out for us were perfect. Max was never going to write his own, and to be honest, I probably would have been crying too hard to speak my own words if we’d gone that way.”

“I’m honored you asked me to officiate. Although, I’m surprised your mother didn’t insist on the pastor presiding over the wedding.”

“My mother is just so delighted I’m finally married. She never once staged a takeover. Well, not much of one, anyway.”

They both laughed. Lilli’s mother, Celeste, was a force of nature. No one said no to the woman—not about her fund-raising events and especially not about her superb taste in...everything else.

“I was as surprised as anyone when she actually let me plan my own wedding. I never thought she’d let me get away with barn chic, but I have to say, her input was invaluable. And we grew close during the planning.”

Zoe forced a smile. A mother who was invested in her daughter’s life. Imagine that.

“What more could I ask for?”

“White cowboy boots instead of sparkly sandals?” Zoe threw out.

“That would have been pushing it.”

“I wouldn’t have complained,” Max added, eavesdropping on the conversation.

Lilli playfully slapped his arm. “When Mom suggested we hold the reception at the Grand Cypress Hotel, I didn’t fight her. I knew Nealy would continue to carry out my vision over there.”

“And peace reigned.” Max glanced at Zoe. “I hate to rush you two, but the photographer is ready for us.”

Glancing around the foyer, Zoe noticed she was the last guest to give her congratulations to the couple. The attendants and relatives were mingling and the photographer politely hovered, waiting to take church shots with the entire wedding party and family.

“Looks like all you have to do is smile and look pretty for the camera.” Zoe hugged her friend. “I’ll see you at the reception.”

Max took Lilli’s hand, drawing it to his lips for a tender kiss. “After you, my wife.”

Lilli giggled.

The sight made Zoe grin as well: rough-and-tumble Private Investigator Max indulging feminine, soft-spoken Lilli. She’d put off the wedding date from the moment they’d gotten engaged, then had slowly dragged Max through the process of the engagement party and the ongoing myriad selection of flowers, music and so on that weddings required. He’d gamely participated when he would have been just as content getting hitched at city hall.

Another friend, Maid of Honor Nealy Grainger, hurried by in a gorgeous pale pink off-the-shoulder, full-skirted dress. “Come on people, we have a schedule to keep.”

A consummate event planner, she’d patiently walked the couple through the entire process, just as excited as everyone else in town to see the two finally married.

“Great job,” Zoe called out after her.

Nealy grinned and waved, the diamond on her left hand glittering in the overhead lighting. Zoe supposed she’d be invited to another wedding soon. It seemed all her friends were getting married lately. Could she handle all the happiness?

“Do you want to head over to the reception?”

Zoe glanced up at Tim. Taller than her, although most people were, his dark hair was neatly cut, his blue eyes lighting up when she met his gaze.

“Sure.” She opened her clutch and pulled out her cell phone. “I’m just going to call my mom and check on Leo.”

“I’ll get the truck and bring it around front.”

Standing on the sidewalk in front of the church, Zoe hit speed dial. Her mother answered on the third ring.

“Hi, Mom. How are things going?”

“Leo didn’t sleep much this afternoon. I’m getting ready to feed him now, then put him down for a nap.”

In the background, she could hear her son, Leo, rambling in his nonsensical baby language. Unable to hold back a smile, she chuckled at the sound of his voice, in awe of how quickly he’d become the light of her life. She’d always wanted to be a mother, but she’d had no idea how much this little bundle of joy would grab and hold on to her heartstrings. After several miscarriages, and almost losing hope that she would ever have a child of her own, he had been her miracle baby. Just a year old, he had her wrapped around his tiny finger. And Zoe’s mother? Let’s just say Samantha Collins was way more of an attentive grandmother than she’d ever been a mother when Zoe was growing up. Still, Zoe was eternally thankful for her mom’s help. She’d stepped up when Zoe had needed her most. Raising a child alone was not easy.

Nor was getting over the death of a husband.

Mitch had started his photojournalist career documenting local and regional current events. As his reputation grew, he covered noteworthy national news subjects, like elections and natural disasters, eventually moving on to photograph world-famous events and celebrities.

But on his last trip, he’d insisted on a different assignment than what he’d normally taken, traveling to a refugee camp to photograph and document its conditions. While there, he’d been killed. She didn’t have many details, only that there had been an explosion.

She closed her eyes and a picture of Leo popped into her mind’s eye. Chubby and healthy, his light fuzzy hair standing on end. The ready smile with a few teeth coming in and rosy cheeks that took her breath away. Hot tears stung her lids. Already at this young age, Leo had that cocky grin Zoe had loved on Mitch. If she’d found out she was pregnant before he’d left, would his knowing he’d be a father have changed things? Would it have kept Mitch from willingly plunging headfirst into danger?

She supposed she’d never know.

“He’s not a big fan of the peas I introduced this week.”

“That’s why he’s getting scrambled eggs. And bananas. Aren’t you, big boy?” her mother cooed. “You should see him holding his spoon. You’d think he could really manipulate it instead of pushing his food to the floor.”

“He thrives on messes.”

“He does, but who cares. His cuteness outweighs the cleanup.”

Zoe’s heart squeezed. She hated being away from him, especially since he’d experienced separation anxiety in the last couple of weeks. He loved his grandmother, though, and Samantha adored him, so Zoe had been able to leave the house today without the inevitable crying.

Leo’s and hers.

“I shouldn’t be late. Maybe I’ll be home in time to put him to bed.”

“Honey, enjoy yourself. Leo is fine. Stay out and have fun.”

Her admonition to enjoy herself took Zoe by surprise. Samantha had been Mitch’s biggest supporter and his death had deeply affected her. She hadn’t been thrilled about Zoe taking the plunge into the dating world. Since she’d favored Mitch so much, in her mother’s eyes, no man could replace him.

Zoe had held back for as long as she could, until the thought of spending the rest of her life alone began to depress her. She’d told her mother and Samantha had apparently gotten onboard.

“I know. It’s just—”

“Zoe?”

“Yes, Mom?”

“I have everything under control here.”

Zoe bit her lip. Growing up, her mother had never been big on responsibility, schedules or running a household. A budding artist, she’d get caught up in her newest project for days, immersed in paint and canvas and flourishes of ideas, forgetting she had to feed a daughter. Or bills to pay. At a young age, Zoe had taken over the mothering role. Old habits died hard, even more so when it came to her son’s welfare.

She blew out a breath. “I appreciate it.” Tim’s truck pulled up to the curb. “Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

Tapping the end button, Zoe walked the few steps to open the door, but Tim beat her to it.

“Have I told you how nice you look today?” he asked as, always a gentleman, he helped her into the cab.

For the wedding today, she’d found a pretty floral sleeveless dress with a flared skirt and strappy silver sandals to wear, in addition to getting her shoulder-length wispy-cut hairstyle trimmed and actually put on makeup. Very different from her stay-at-home uniform of mom jeans and baggy tops or the more professional wardrobe she used for her mayoral duties. It felt good to dress up for a change and, in a way, she’d wanted to please Tim.

She sent him a genuine smile. “Thanks. You look pretty spiffy yourself.”

Tim closed the door and jogged around the front of the truck. She tried to ignore the jitters that quaked over her at the thought of socializing at the reception. People still gave her the look, the one reserved for a wife who’d lost her husband early in life. Actually, Mitch had been lost to her a few years prior, but no one knew the miserable details. Placing her hands over her stomach, she told herself to calm down. She knew most of the people who would be at the party. Really, she could think of this as another one of her town events. Even though this party had more to do with hearts and arrows than a function benefiting Cypress Pointe.

Tim jumped back in the cab and placed the truck in gear. “I’m glad you decided to come with me today.”

“Thanks for asking. I was already scheduled to do the ceremony, but it’s nice to have your company,” she said, determined not to let reminders of the past ruin her present.

“Look, Zoe, I understand that I’m the first guy you’ve gone out with since Mitch...um...passed away. I know this decision wasn’t easy.” He paused. “You got this watery look in your eyes when you were reading the vows. I thought you might not make it through the ceremony.”

Yeah, she’d had a moment of self-pity. She’d hoped it hadn’t been that obvious. “Maybe we should talk about something else.”

“I want you to know I admire you,” he soldiered on. “Having a baby and finding out Mitch wasn’t coming home? I can’t even imagine the pain you must have gone through. And then performing this wedding today? You’re one tough cookie.”

In the past two years, she’d had to be. “Thanks. I think.”

“I just mean you’ll move on with your life.” He turned his head in her direction. The surety in his gaze made her squirm. “Someday, you’ll find another man.”

Tim continued extolling the virtues that were Zoe Simmons while her stomach churned. She really wanted to make a go of it with Tim. Stop holding him at arm’s length. Let the relationship advance naturally. Grow closer. Maybe if he kissed her, she’d be able to open up to him and get past the reservations about the way her marriage had ended.

Before long, they pulled into the hotel parking lot scattered with crushed white shells. The charming southern plantation facade of the building greeted guests like long lost friends finally coming home. After Tim pulled into an empty space, Zoe grabbed hold of the handle and opened the door without waiting for him to do the honors. She slid out of the cab, shaking off her misgivings. She could do this.

Her feet hit the shells and she made her way to the wide veranda of the Grand Cypress Hotel. The porch was stocked with cozy rocking chairs situated in front of the wide windows with thick plantation shutters.

“Hey, Zoe. Wait up.”

She was being prickly, and she knew it. He’d made her sound like a saint and she was far from one. If she’d been a better person, she wouldn’t have been filing for a divorce after making one last-ditch effort to fix her marriage. Wouldn’t have screamed, I never want to see you again, the final time her husband walked out the door because her heart was breaking and she’d had enough.

Yes, she’d picked up the pieces after Mitch’s death. Grieved the man, as well as the marriage that had been collateral damage when his career had carried him to every corner of the world. If there was the hint of a government coup, political upheaval or celebrity scandal, Mitch was there with his camera. But the idea of a new man, Tim or anyone else for that matter, took some getting used to. One day, she would be totally one hundred percent over Mitch. Today was now or never.

Stopping by the glass-etched main entrance, she faced Tim when he caught up to her. “Please go inside,” she told him. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

For the first time he looked unsure of himself. “Was it something I said?”

“I need to gather my thoughts.” She tilted her head toward the building. “I’ll be in soon.”

“If you say so.”

A blast of air conditioning drifted over Zoe as Tim went inside. Heaving a breath, she lowered herself onto a rocking chair a few feet away and smoothed the cotton skirt of her dress with shaky fingers.

Mitch still had the power to reduce her to uncertainty. It hadn’t always been that way. When they’d met in high school, then married young, he’d always made her laugh. Given her hope.

But once he’d become Mr. Hotshot Photojournalist, things had begun to change. Subtly at first. He was a thrill seeker from the get-go; she shouldn’t have been surprised when he thrived at his job. She, on the other hand, had always been leery about walking into the unknown. She had been wounded as an innocent bystander in a bank robbery, and the helplessness she’d felt then had never left her. It had, in fact, spurred on her commitment to the town and the people of Cypress Pointe. Mitch, meanwhile, had craved the action and on the way to success, her concerns hadn’t seemed to matter to him.

Can’t blame him. You had your part in the breakup.

It was true, but she’d hoped Mitch would put their failing marriage first. When he didn’t, she’d become even more civic-minded, throwing her energy into projects bettering the lives of her friends and neighbors. But what if she’d tried harder? Maybe battled her fears? Gone with him a time or two to show her support? If she’d known then what she knew now, she might have made a different choice.

A couple headed in her direction, dressed up for the wedding-reception revelry inside.

“Good afternoon, Mayor.”

She waved. It still felt odd answering to that title. She’d always been Zoe. Just plain Zoe. Mitch Simmons’s wife. Leo’s mother. Samantha’s daughter. Now she had a responsibility to the good people of Cypress Pointe. She wasn’t completely sure how that had happened. One day she was busy with her latest community project, a food bank, when her best friend suggested she’d make an awesome mayor. Next thing she knew, she was running an election and won.

Now she ran a town, dealt with a town council, worked closely with the police and fire chiefs, along with other officials, and found herself thriving. Her ideas were accepted and embraced, and best of all, successful. Her passionate goal of keeping Cypress Pointe safe for current and future generations was falling into place.

“Are you going inside?” the man asked as he held open the door.

Not wanting to appear rude, she stood and joined the couple as they ventured inside. Following them into the cool, spacious lobby, her heels echoed on the marble floor leading to the assigned banquet room. As she entered, voices carried over the soft music flowing from hidden speakers. Waiters moved about the room with trays of hors d’oeuvres and flutes of champagne. The yummy aroma of a loaded baked potato made her stomach growl. She took a small plate and helped herself to the potato and a BLT on a cracker. She’d forgotten to eat lunch in her rush to get ready and had to stop herself from swallowing the comfort food too quickly. Taking a bite of the potato, she closed her eyes and savored the gooey melted cheese spiced with bits of bacon.

“Whoever came up with these hors d’oeuvres is a genius,” a familiar voice said beside her.

Zoe’s eyes flew open. “Bethany. I missed you at the rehearsal party last night.”

“My flight got delayed. I came in too late.”

“I knew you wouldn’t miss the wedding.”

“After hearing all your stories about Lilli making Max crazy by dragging out the wedding plans, I had to see the ceremony with my own eyes.”

Depositing her plate on the tray of a passing waiter, Zoe threw her arms around her best friend and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Bethany squeezed back. “Me, too.”

Zoe pulled away to scrutinize her friend. Bethany’s shoulder-length brunette hair gleamed under the subtle banquet room lighting and her mocha eyes sparkled. “I see the road agrees with you.”

“What can I say? I love my job. Even if it does keep me away from Cypress Pointe.”

Zoe hugged her again. “Which is more often than I like. But now you’re here. That’s all that matters.”

“Just for the weekend. I fly out Sunday.”

Tomorrow? Pushing away the pinch of dejection, Zoe smiled. “Great. We can catch up. Leo would love to see his godmother.”

“And I’m dying to see him. Half of my suitcase is filled with toys and adorable little outfits I couldn’t resist buying.”

Bethany might be busy, but she always had time to dote on Leo.

“Stop by in the morning.”

“I will.” She sized up Zoe. “You okay with all this lovey-dovey, happy couple stuff?”

Zoe laughed. Bethany was not a believer in happily-ever-after.

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sure? I thought I saw you tear up during the ceremony.”

Good grief. “Did everyone notice?”

“I suppose only people paying attention. I’d say the majority were focused on the bride and groom.”

Which, hopefully, meant only Bethany and Tim saw the moment of weakness.

“No matter. I’m good. Better than good.” She scanned the room. “I even have a date roaming around here somewhere.”

“So you’ve stuck to your moving-on plan?”

“Absolutely.”

“I guess Tim is a good choice...” Bethany’s voice trailed off.

“But?”

“He’s a firefighter. Why do you pick guys who run to danger?”

Why, indeed?

“Forget I said anything. If you like him, that’s good enough for me.”

“I do,” Zoe insisted. “He’s a nice guy.”

“But he doesn’t get your pulse racing?”

“Been there. Had the broken marriage to prove it. Next time, I’m going for solid and steady.”

Bethany snorted. “Good luck with that.”

Yeah, Zoe had a thing for thrill-seekers. Could it be because she lived vicariously through them? How’s that working out for you?

Not well.

Bethany frowned. “My folks are sending me the stink eye. Gotta run.”

It took everything in Zoe not to turn toward Mr. and Mrs. Donahue. Since the ill-fated robbery when Zoe and Bethany were young teens, they hadn’t wanted much to do with her. Unconsciously, she rubbed her arm, her fingers brushing over the raised scar.

Growing up, she’d based the idea of what a family should look like by the Donahues’ example. Bethany’s parents had normal jobs, normal hours and normal relationships, while Zoe had cooked her own meals and basically ran her mother’s life. Even today, she missed the security of their home, the comfort of their friendship, a life she’d been a part of for too short a period of time.

A waiter passed by again. The zesty scent of mac and cheese, served in little porcelain ramekin bowls, drew her from her thoughts. She wandered around the room, admiring the wildflower theme carried over from the wedding. Each table resembled a picnic table with yellow gingham cloths covered with burlap and lace runners. The centerpiece consisted of a small galvanized bucket with overflowing greens and wildflowers, surrounded by candles flickering in mason jars. Fat water goblets and white plates with yellow napkins circled by a wooden holder adorned each place setting. Simple and inviting. Very Lilli.

A riser had been assembled at the far end of the room for Luke Hastings’s band to set up their instruments to play after dinner. The opposite wall boasted a large window overlooking the hotel pool. From there, the hotel lawn swept down to the beach. There was a wooden outdoor deck on the far side of the building with an amazing view of the sand and water beyond. Truth be told, the private deck was her favorite place at the hotel. With today’s temperate weather, Zoe imagined the party would eventually spill outside.

“There you are.” Tim came up beside her, handing her a glass. She took a sip of the sparkling wine, suddenly at a loss for conversation.

Guilt itched over her. She shouldn’t be thinking about the past when she was on a date. “Sorry about before.”

“No need to explain.”

There was, but she kept quiet.

“Pretty room,” Tim said.

“Yes. Nealy did a stellar job as usual. Between her event planning company and her boyfriend owning this hotel, they’re a real power couple.”

Silence fell between them and she took another sip.

“When do you think the wedding party will get here?”

“Soon, I would imagine.”

Tim shook his head, gazing around the room.

Yeah, this had turned awkward.

“The only thing that would top this day is if I get called out to a fire. A real date-killer.”

Zoe laughed. She knew Tim wasn’t on duty, but appreciated his attempt at levity. If he could try, she would, too.

“Or I could get called into an impromptu late Saturday afternoon town council meeting, because we all know council people have nothing better to do than call weekend meetings.”

He chuckled and sent her a warm smile.

Should she take his hand in hers to reassure him they were fine, or was that rushing things? It had been so long since she’d dated; she was definitely rusty. Just take the plunge. She could do this.

“Ah, the life we live as public servants,” he said.

Actually, a public life hadn’t turned out all that bad. She gave to the town and her work brought a sense of satisfaction. She was keeping Cypress Pointe a good place to live, work and raise a family, ensuring that nothing threatened this quiet community she treasured. She didn’t imagine her motivation would ever be swayed.

As she looked around for a place to set down her glass, deciding to take his hand and finally show Tim she wanted their relationship to move to the next level, the volume level in the room rose. Guests shifted to the open doorway.

“Must be the happy couple now,” Tim commented.

Her timing stunk. To cover her disappointment, she said, “Now we can get this party started. Have I told you I like to dance?”

“I believe you have.”

Thankful to get this date back on an even keel, Zoe joined in the clapping as the bride and groom made their grand entrance. Toasts were offered. The meal was just about to be served when she noticed a new face appear in the crowd. Wyatt Hamilton, Mitch’s best friend, searched the crowd until his gaze landed on her. With a determined air about him, he worked his way across the room. What on earth could he want? She’d noticed him at the church earlier, but he’d left through the backdoor before the ceremony started, talking on his cell phone. Then Zoe had gotten busy and hadn’t given his exit a second thought. At the time, she figured he was talking to his girlfriend, Jenna, the caterer for this reception. From his serious expression and focused stride, a note of worry scurried over her.

“Zoe, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

She reached for her phone and came up empty-handed, which was highly unusual since she always kept her phone nearby when Leo was with a sitter. “I must have left my bag in the truck.”

He nodded at her explanation. “I need to borrow you.”

Tim stepped closer. “Right now?”

Wyatt sent him a dark look. “It’s important.”

Zoe grabbed Wyatt’s sleeve. “Is it Leo? Is something wrong?”

His expression gentled. “No. Not at all. I’m sure Leo is fine.”

Zoe let out a breath, then met Wyatt’s gaze. “What’s up?”

“Come with me.”

Beyond curious, Zoe turned to Tim. “I’ll be back as soon as this mystery is solved.”

Frustration crossed Tim’s face. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Thanks, Tim.” Zoe glanced at Wyatt again. Something was off and she wanted to find out what was bothering him.

Wyatt cocked his head toward the door leading to the backyard outdoor area. Zoe passed by him and then he fell into step beside her as they approached the pool, the chlorine heavy and pungent. A few folks lingered at the open-air cafe, but most guests were inside enjoying the party.

“Care to give me a heads-up?” she said once they were out of hearing distance from the crowd.

“You’ll understand in a moment.”

Tendrils of unease trickled down her spine. “You’re making me nervous.”

His quick smile put her marginally at ease. “It’ll be worth it.”

“Really? Does Jenna know what you’re up to?”

“Yes. And she’s with me on this.”

“Okay. Lead on.”

They continued walking. Once they reached the arch exiting to the cement pathway that led to the far deck, he stopped. “Go on out there.”

“What?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You got me this far and now I’m on my own?”

“It’s not my place.”

She stood her ground.

“It’s important.”

Disconcerted by this clandestine mission, she reluctantly made her way along the path. Tall sea oats swayed in the gentle breeze. A seagull squawked before diving for its prey. Out here, briny seawater tinted the air. As she grew closer, she noticed a tall figure standing on the far side of the deck, his back to her as he looked over the natural vista spreading out before him. She hesitated as fear gripped her. Surely, Wyatt wouldn’t have brought her here if it weren’t safe.

The solitary man remained still. Zoe’s heart began to pound. She didn’t have it in her to stop, as if an invisible force shoved her closer to her destination.

The man turned around.

She slowed her steps, wary now.

When he removed his aviator-shaped sunglasses, she gasped, her knees nearly buckling beneath her.

“Hello, Zoe,” the stranger standing before her said.

She blinked. It couldn’t be, could it? How could it be?

“Mitch?” she whispered past the obstruction in her taut throat.

“Yes. It’s me.”

The husband she’d thought was dead stood before her, very much alive.

Chapter Two

MITCH HAD EXPECTED his wife’s surprise. After all, to her, he’d risen from the dead.

His hand gripped the cane that had become his lifeline. He wanted to heave it over the railing, but that meant lifting an arm that still needed rehab to function properly. Instead of cataloguing his injuries, he focused on his shell-shocked wife.

“I don’t understand. We were told... I thought you were...”

“Dead?”

She reached out to place her palms on the deck railing.

“The report was mistaken.”

“But... How... Why?”

“I was injured in a truck accident while leaving a refugee camp.”

She visibly pulled herself together. Took a step toward him, faltered and stopped. “Pretty soon I’m going to have a ton of questions, but right now...I don’t know what to say.”

“How about ‘welcome home’?”

He watched her struggle with this major surprise. “When did you get here?”

“About fifteen minutes ago.”

“How?” Her gaze took in his appearance and he knew what she saw. A guy who’d lost weight, whose complexion had turned pasty after weeks in the hospital. Not the image of the healthy husband who’d walked out of her life nearly two years ago.

“Wyatt. I called him to tell him I was heading home. He picked me up at the airport.”

A flush of red crept up her neck. “You didn’t think to call your wife?”

“I did, but considering how we ended our last conversation, I thought it would be better if I talked to you in person.”

She ran a hand through her shoulder-length black hair. What had happened to the long straight strands that had reached to her midback? In the hospital, he’d dreamed of running his fingers through it. Had dreamed of her easy smile, which was nowhere to be found right now. Had he expected her to jump into his arms when she saw him again despite the circumstances? Expect that old feelings would rush over her again? Disappointment swamped him. She looked like the same Zoe, yet there was something different about her. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

“I’m sorry, you didn’t want to call me? Despite everything, didn’t you think I’d have wanted to know you were at least okay?”

He shifted as the weight on his weak leg grew uncomfortable. “I should have called, but after the accident and long recovery, I just wanted to get back to Cypress Pointe.”

She opened her mouth, then slammed it shut. His excuse probably echoed false, like so many of the ones he’d tossed her way in the past.

“Zoe, I realize this is a shock.”

“Really? A shock?” Her voice cracked. “We thought you were dead!”

“I get it—”

“Do you? We went for weeks not knowing where you were. I tried every number I could think of. Your assistant, Maria, got ahold of a few contacts who pointed us in the direction of Jordan. And then the only information she could find was that you were somewhere along the Syrian border. I hoped...prayed...”

He took a halting step forward to stand closer to his wife. Her familiar scent of vanilla mixed with a hint of floral enveloped him. All he wanted was to cup her sweet face and stare into her blue eyes. Instead, he met her gaze, which had finally moved from shock to anger.

The headache knocking at the back of his skull leaped to a full-blown hammer. He closed his eyes. Took measured breaths.

A soft touch landed on his tender arm and the muscles seized.

“Mitch. Are you okay?”

He slowly opened his eyes. “Pain. In my head.”

“Do you want to go inside? Get out of the sun?”

The old Mitch rebelled at her suggestion. He’d been cooped up for too long. Yeah, the bright light wasn’t helping the throbbing in his head, but he needed to feel the warmth on his skin, savor the earthy scent of sea and sand, listen to the waves rush upon the shore and ebb back into the blue water he’d dreamed of while gone.

“In a few minutes.”

The current Mitch tried to be more levelheaded, to take the advice of the doctors to not overdo. He hadn’t exactly been a model patient.

“At least sit down.”

He shook his head and immediately regretted it. “It feels good to stand.”

“Okay. Can I get you water?”

“Not right now. I just want to enjoy being here.”

A shadow crossed her face. He hadn’t known what to expect in terms of a homecoming. Confusion? No doubt. Awkwardness? Sure. Anger? Most definitely. Now that the conversation had stalled, he wasn’t sure which direction to steer it.

Zoe ran a shaky hand over her forehead. “So much has happened. Changed, since you’ve been gone.”

“I imagine. I know it’ll take a while to catch up.”

“Why did it take so long for you to contact...Wyatt?”

“I lost my memory after the crash. Only recently was I able to fit the pieces of my life together.”

The color washed out of her cheeks. “It was that bad?”

“Apparently. I remember driving down a dirt road, then waking up in the hospital. They told me I was unconscious for a week.”

“Why didn’t the hospital contact your family?”

“It was in a pretty remote area. I didn’t have my press credentials with me and my ID got lost in the confusion.”

Her brow wrinkled. “We got word that you were dead a year ago. What happened?”

“I kind of went rogue. After I left last time, with all that went down between us, I started traveling, working on my own and didn’t bother to report in to Maria. I don’t know how the rumor of my death started, other than I was near an explosion site early on, so I guess since I hadn’t spoken with anyone, they assumed the worst. The accident happened later.”

“But before, I tried to find you. I called different publications you’d worked with to see if you were on assignment and no one could get ahold of you.”

“I was off the grid.”

“Why would you do that?”

“It’s a long story. And since we’d decided to separate, I didn’t think it mattered.”

“This is overwhelming.” Zoe’s gaze swept over him again. Taking inventory of his shortcomings? He pushed himself to stand taller, even with the pain screaming in his leg. “I need to sit down.” She moved to a nearby wrough iron patio chair and dropped into the seat.

He followed, making sure she wasn’t looking before taking a bracing breath and lowering himself into a chair beside her. There was no way he’d admit how bad his injuries were. At least not until he got a handle on how things stood between them after his sudden reappearance. To his dismay, tears were rolling down Zoe’s cheeks. She brushed them away and said, after a bitter laugh, “When I got up this morning, I never expected to find out my husband is alive and back in Cypress Pointe.”

“I’m sorry, Zoe.”

She glanced at her clasped hands, then back at him. “You should have called me, Mitch. I would have come to get you. You are my husband.”

“Am I? Or was I?”

Her gaze slid away.

To be honest, he hadn’t been sure she’d come to his rescue. Sure, he’d never stopped believing, hoping, that her love for him would be bigger than their problems. Enough to push her out of her comfort zone and into his arms. But as his career took off, her connection to the people of Cypress Pointe had grown. Her loyalty to a town had been one of the sticking points in their relationship, so he’d decided to take the easy way out and call his friend instead of his wife.

“I wasn’t too sure about the husband part.”

She’d threatened to file for a divorce before he left. Had she followed through? He hadn’t signed any papers, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t had them drawn up. Is that why she’d tried to find him? To end the marriage for good?

“Yes,” she said in a quiet voice. “We’re still married.”

Question answered.

“I had the papers, but when we thought you were dead, I put them aside.”

The abbreviated relief evaporated. She’d made good on her promise. He hadn’t thought she’d carry through, but he had been wrong. About a lot of things.

He stretched out his leg to relieve the cramp twisting his calf.

“Everyone will be happy to see you.”

“Are you?”

“How can you ask me that?” Indignation laced her tone. “Of course, I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Glad he was okay” and “happy to see him” were two different answers. They’d had their share of epic arguments in the past but at her core, Zoe wasn’t mean-spirited enough to wish he’d stayed dead and gone.

She glanced at his cane. “So you’ll need more recovery time?”

He’d been told as much. Physical therapy. Probably someone to talk to about his memory loss. Figure out if there was any way to get back the life he’d lived before the accident.

Traveling for two days had sapped his energy. Layovers. Uncomfortable seats on long flights. Not to mention the unsettling sensation of being watched when he’d flown out of Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan. Did he need to add paranoia to his list of injuries?

A cough sounded from the steps. Zoe jumped and looked over her shoulder.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, guilt washing over her features.

She hurried over to a guy dressed in a suit and they spoke in low tones. Who was he? Why was Zoe so concerned about this other guy? He sent Mitch an I’m-watching-you signal and backed away. Ah. A new guy in her life? The territorial scowl explained it. Mitch wasn’t sure he liked the idea of his wife seeing another guy but, under the circumstances, he had no right to object. He’d made the decision to check out of her life a long time ago.

Zoe returned but didn’t take a seat. “Sorry. I needed to...um...”

“Let me guess. Your date to the wedding?”

Her face flushed. “Yes. I’ve only—”

He held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain,” he said even with his mind crying, Of course, she does! “You didn’t think I was alive. You never would have dreamed I’d show up here today.”

“Mitch, we have a lot to talk about.”

Yeah. They did. He rubbed the jackhammer tempo pounding his temples. “Maybe later?”

She looked like she was going to argue, then thought better of it.

“Where are you staying?”

He’d thought with her. Guess not.

“I’ll bunk at Wyatt’s place.”

“I’ll drop by later. I’ve got to let Mom and—” she stopped abruptly “—others know you’re alive.”

He dropped his hand to his knee. “Fine.”

“Mitch?”

He squinted up at her.

“I am happy you’re alive.”

He merely nodded. Relieved that she still had some kind of feelings for him, he watched her turn on her heel and hurry off, taking the arm of the man who was waiting for her before disappearing into the hotel.

So. This was what jealously felt like. He’d never experienced it concerning Zoe before. Didn’t much care for it.

Spent now, he rose and made his way back to the view he’d been savoring before Zoe had arrived. Taking a deep breath of fresh Cypress Pointe air, he suddenly wondered why he’d ever left her at all. Then, just as quickly, memories bombarded him, reminding him exactly why.

He yanked the sunglasses out of his shirt pocket and clumsily placed them over his eyes.

The beach looked the same. The water, still a brilliant blue-green, drawing tourists to the quaint seaside town. So much the same, yet his entire life had been blasted to oblivion. Upended by a decision that had nearly cost him his life.

It seemed like yesterday that he’d started his career here. When Zoe’s mother had given him a camera as a way of channeling his boundless energy, he’d taken to it immediately. The natural surroundings of Cypress Pointe had been an inspiring subject. Samantha had taken one look at his shots and proclaimed he’d found his calling. Skeptical at first, he’d experimented by finding different places and techniques to take photos, pleased he’d latched onto something constructive to steer his life. He had been eighteen, rudderless, except for Zoe, and he’d had no idea what his future held.

Eventually, Samantha had begun showing his photos in her art gallery. The popularity of his work had grown and before long, local and then national publications began calling for freelance work. New opportunities opened up. At first, Zoe helped him book assignments, but eventually her causes took over.

When things started to go south in the marriage, he took whatever job he could find just to get away again. It wasn’t until he’d left the last time that the job to photograph conditions at the refugee camp had caught his attention. Zoe’s kicking him to the curb had probably been a major factor in his choice. But who knew he’d have ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time?

Heavy footsteps pounded over the wooden deck, announcing an arrival. Mitch shook off his thoughts and turned just as Wyatt joined him at the railing.

“You okay?” his friend asked.

“Been better.”

“Zoe gave me the evil eye just now.”

“You aren’t the only one.”

“So how did it go?”

“As you’d expect. She’s angry but doing a good job keeping a lid on it.” He looked over the water. “Said we need to talk.” He eyed his friend. “Never good when a woman says those words.”

Wyatt remained quiet.

“Something I should know?”

When Wyatt didn’t meet his gaze, a bad feeling curled in his gut.

“Better you have a conversation with Zoe,” Wyatt told him.

“Now I have all kinds of what-ifs running around my head.”

“Just sit down with Zoe when you get home. It’ll be okay.”

A motorboat zipped by in the distance. Mitch longed for freedom from his injuries and the past, but knew that jumping in a speeding boat would never solve his problems.

“About that. Seems I need a place to stay.”

Wyatt turned his head, his expression incredulous. “She didn’t ask you to come home?”

“I’m thinking maybe I don’t have a home to go to.”

Wyatt blew out a breath. “You can stay with me.”

Mitch made a fist and squeezed. “I don’t want to put you out.”

“It’s not a problem.”

“Thanks. If you don’t mind, I’d rather we left here before the people inside find out I’m back. Talking with Zoe is about all I can handle right now.”

“You got it.” He yanked a set of keys from his pants pocket. “My truck is in the lot.”

Taking one last gaze at the boat, now far enough away to be only a speck on the tranquil waters, questions assailed him again. What would happen now? Old feelings for his wife, mixed with the conflicted emotions he’d stored away when he’d left Cypress Pointe for good, betrayed him.

Mitch leaned heavily on his cane, following his buddy to the parking lot, wondering how long it would be before the hurricane that had managed to wreck his life hit again.

* * *

“MOM? WHERE ARE YOU?” Zoe called as she closed the front door behind her.

She tossed her clutch on the couch, then kicked off her shoes and fell back against the cushions, exhaling the pressure that had been working up inside her chest since she’d left the hotel.

Mitch was alive! She still couldn’t wrap her mind around it. So many emotions, so many questions. What did this mean? Did she carry through with the divorce? Did they try to fix their marriage, in light of Leo? And why hadn’t she told him he was a father?

Guilt and anger walloped her. Yes, she should have told Mitch right away. But after learning he hadn’t called her immediately to let her know he was safe and alive, a selfish part of her had held back. She’d tell him later when she went to Wyatt’s house to talk to him, but back there at the hotel? She couldn’t. Her pride had made her mute about their son, along with the residual hurt that produced reservations about revealing the truth.

“Mom?” she called again. When she didn’t receive an answer, she hauled herself up and walked to the back of the house, sure to find her mother holed up in her studio. The southern exposure of light was an artist’s dream. Perfect for when Samantha was creating a new piece.

“Hi, Mom.”

Samantha never took her gaze from the canvas as she dabbed paint on the project before her.

“Is Leo okay?”

“Of course.” Her mother paused to glance briefly at Zoe, then back to her piece. “Why are you home early?”

“We need to talk.”

Samantha went still. She didn’t like dealing with real-world problems, preferring to let Zoe or an assistant take care of her life. Dealing with critical issues, like Mitch returning from the dead, were not her forte.

“Can it wait?” her mother asked, already looking for a way to avoid the conversation.

“No.”

“Let me just get this last shade...”

While she finished her task, Zoe roamed the room, thinking of a way to break the earth-shattering news.

Samantha laid down her palette and brush, then wiped her hands with a paint-spattered towel. “Are you going to explain why you’re home? Trouble with Tim?”

Poor Tim. He’d been just as shocked to see Mitch. Barely spoke on the uncomfortable ride to the house she shared with her mother.

“No. Well, yes, but not what you think.”

Her mother grimaced. “I knew this dating thing was too soon. You aren’t ready. He’s not right for you.”

Except, he had been. Until less than an hour ago.

“Mom. I don’t know any other way to say this without just blurting it out.” She took a breath. “Mitch is alive and here in Cypress Pointe.”

The color fled from her mother’s pretty face.

“But... How?”

“I don’t have all the details. Apparently, he was in some kind of accident and lost his memory. He was badly hurt and, until recently, unable to travel home.”

“Where is he?”

“At Wyatt Hamilton’s house.”

Her mother tossed the towel on the table. “We have to go get him. Despite your troubles, he should be home.”

Zoe reached out to grab her mother’s arm as she started to leave the room. “No.”

“Why not? He’s your husband.”

To say she’d been caught off guard when she saw him standing on the hotel deck was an understatement, but it didn’t mean an automatic reconciliation. Mitch was the father of her child, yes, and she had to figure out how to handle that, as well as the repercussions of him being back in her life. She could blame her confused emotions right now on the hopes and dreams of the couple she’d just married; it was making her vulnerable and lowering the wall she’d erected when she and Mitch had separated. At least, she desperately hoped that was the case.

Zoe rubbed her temples. “I know.” But it was so much more. Did she dare open her son’s life to a man who would rather wander the world without a shred of responsibility for the needs of a family? Was Mitch clueless or still only thinking about himself and not how his actions affected others? “First of all, Mitch needs continued medical attention. He looks terrible.”

The image of her once-robust husband was overshadowed by her new reality. Mitch had lost weight. The button-down shirt and jeans had hung from what used to be a muscular frame. And his beautiful wavy brown hair? Gone, revealing fresh scalp scars under the buzz cut.

“All the more reason he should be here where we can take care of him.”

“I understand you want him here, but I can’t. Not yet.”

Her mother gasped. “How can you say that?”

“Mitch didn’t call us, Mom. He contacted Wyatt, instead. Did what he wanted instead of what was right. Clearly, he hasn’t changed.”

Uncertainty strained her mother’s features. “He must have had a good reason.”

“Said he wanted to tell me he was alive in person.” Which on the surface made sense, but it was just one example on an ongoing list of ways Mitch always made decisions that suited him, not them.

“Well then, he was looking out for you.”

Maybe. “I need time to process all this.”

“So, what, you can push him away again?”

Zoe clenched a tight rein over her anger. Once again, her mother was not on her side.

It had always been like this. Samantha and Mitch were like peas in a pod. Artistic. Spoke the same creative language. She’d always felt like the odd one out, never fitting into her mother’s world, left out of an important part of Mitch’s.

Her mother never understood why she and Mitch had problems, even though Mitch knew early on in their relationship that Zoe didn’t want to leave Cypress Pointe. She hadn’t kept it a secret from him, and it hadn’t become an issue until his career began to take off and she was more involved in town activities. He at least tried to humor her, asking her to tag along, even though in time, a chasm formed between them. But Samantha never seemed to consider Zoe’s side of things, just like she’d never shown motherly concern when Zoe had been grazed in the upper arm by a bullet. Hadn’t worried about the scars that might form because her daughter had witnessed and been caught in the cross fire of a bank robbery. Samantha had been too preoccupied readying for her first major art show. Zoe could take care of herself, her mother reasoned, just like she’d always done.

“You may not like my decision, but Mitch is my husband. I will deal with the situation as I see fit.”

Samantha leaned against the wall. Crossed her arms over her chest. Her expression revealed she knew she wouldn’t win this particular argument.

As if just thinking of it, her mother asked, “What did he say when you told him about Leo?”

“I haven’t yet.”

“You didn’t tell him?”

Zoe swallowed the guilt rising in her throat. “I...I was going to, but he looked worn out. I didn’t want to shock him with the news until he’d had a chance to rest.” To her ears, it sounded like a lame excuse, but it was all she had. Just like Mitch, she’d withheld important information affecting their lives. What did that say about the state of their relationship?

“What if he hears about Leo from someone else?”

It shouldn’t be a problem. She’d passed Wyatt in the hotel just before she’d left, asking him to please keep news of Leo a secret until she could tell Mitch herself. He’d agreed, but by the scowl on his face, she recognized his displeasure. Didn’t matter, really. This was her call to make.

“What are you waiting for?” her mother said. “Get changed.”

She turned to leave the room, then stopped and faced her mother. “I know you don’t agree with my decision, Mom, but please, respect it.”

Her mother’s eyes grew moist. “I do. We’ve been given a miracle. Make that two, with Leo.”

Zoe would have loved to hug her mother right then, but years of resentment stopped her. When she’d learned Zoe was pregnant, and then of Mitch’s subsequent death, her mother had finally broken free of her self-absorption. When Leo was born, Samantha had transformed into the caring and present parent Zoe had always longed to have. It confounded her, but she was unable to deny that she was ecstatic Leo had a grandma, even if she’d never been a mom.

Stopping in the living room to grab her shoes, Zoe made a detour to Leo’s room. The cutie lay on his back, breathing lightly, his lion blankie wrapped around his legs. Placing her shoes on the floor by the crib, she gently untangled the blanket and ran her fingers over his downy soft hair, then his warm cheek. An intense rush of love took her breath away. Leo was her child. Hers to protect, even if it was from his own irresponsible father. She’d do anything to keep her son safe. Would never let Mitch hurt Leo like he’d hurt her.

Leo moved in his sleep, settling into another position. Zoe watched him for a few more minutes, then tiptoed from the room.

A few minutes later, she changed into a short-sleeved T-shirt, denim capris and sandals. Before leaving her room, she gathered up a framed picture of Leo to show Mitch. She also had way too many pictures to count saved on her cell phone. He could scroll through her gallery to view dozens of other shots. She tossed the frame in her purse and went to the living room to retrieve her phone from her fancy clutch bag.

Before leaving, she returned to the studio. “Mom, I’m leaving.”

Samantha stood by her paint rack, studying a tube of paint. She glanced up, clearly startled.

“Make sure you deliver the news to Mitch gently.”

“I will.” Zoe bit the inside of her cheek. “You have the baby monitor turned up, right?”

“Yes. Leo will be fine.”

Zoe backed out of the room. The less they talked would probably be for the best.

Fifteen minutes later, Zoe sat in Wyatt’s driveway. She should have gotten out of the car already, but nerves kept her in place. Could she do this? Really, she had no choice. Mitch deserved to hear about his son from her. But telling him made this new twist in her life real. They were connected forever, no matter the state of their marriage. What would this look like now? Would Mitch want them to live as a family? Would he take off again because, let’s face it, he saw each job as an adventure, that might once again cost their family? Cost Leo his father?

Only one way to find out. Heaving in a breath, she opened the door and stepped into the early twilight. Hooking her purse strap over her shoulder, she forced herself to walk around the side of the house to the screened-in porch. Sprawled out in a lounge chair, Mitch was watching boats coming in and out of the marina.

She approached softly, so as not to surprise him, but he’d already half risen from the chair.

“Don’t get up,” she rushed to say.

He sank down quickly. “Thanks. My leg gave up working for the day. All the traveling has finally caught up with me.”

The lines on his face showed his exhaustion. His stiff shoulders suggested he hid a lot of pain. “Sure you’re up to this?”

“I’ve spent a lot of time with only my thoughts for company, so yeah, whatever you have to say, I’m up to it.”

She dragged a chair closer to his.

“My mom was overjoyed to hear you’re alive.”

“Not upset I didn’t call?”

She frowned. “Upset with you? When did you ever do anything to make her angry with you?”

Her bitter comment ushered a silence over them. In the distance, the clanging of a buoy rang in the dusk and the chugging of an idling boat engine sputtered nearby. The scent of diesel gas made her nose wrinkle. The temperate evening seemed to close in on her.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Zoe. Clearly, you have something to tell me and I can guess what it is. You’re seeing that guy from the wedding and you want me to sign divorce papers.”

“What? No.”

Trying to come up with the right words escaped her. She dropped her purse on her lap and took out the framed photo. Held it to her chest against the tight band threatening to cut off her breathing.

Mitch pushed up straight against the chair back. “Zoe?”

“I tried to find you, I really did, but it was like you’d fallen off of the face of the earth.”

He frowned. “And I already explained that was my doing.”

“Yes, but I want you to know I tried.”

Leaning forward, Mitch stared her straight in the eye. “Tell me.”

She swallowed, pulled the frame from her chest and stared down at her son’s precious face. Met Mitch’s gaze again.

“We have a son. His name is Leo.”

Chapter Three

OF ALL THE things Zoe could have surprised him with, news of a son shocked Mitch to his core. Especially after all the trouble they’d had trying to conceive.

Fingers shaky, he put all his willpower into calming them before hesitantly taking the frame she offered, unsure why he was afraid to look down.

“We tried for years,” he said, mostly to himself, attempting to make sense of her news.

She shrugged. “I can’t explain it. I only know we have a child.”

He angled the frame so he could see the picture. A boy, his eyes bright, mouth curved in a toothless smile. He had a child? His breath lodged in his throat as the reality looked back at him.

“This was taken a few months ago. He’s gotten some teeth in since then.”

Mitch marveled at the pride in Zoe’s voice. Yes, she’d pushed long and hard to have a child. Thought a baby would fix the problems between them when the reality of each miscarriage only made things worse.

“Why didn’t you tell me at the hotel?”

An expression that looked suspiciously like guilt flashed over her face. “I wasn’t sure how you’d react.”

“To the news of my own child?”

“You weren’t exactly on board with the whole baby idea.”

True, he hadn’t been at first but with each disappointment, the distance between them had continued to grow and deepen.

He studied the image again, using his professional eye. Definitely taken in a studio; he could tell by the backdrop. Good lighting. Nice angle. Clear contrast. Professional.

His son.

The reality had him spinning. He handed the frame back to her.

“Why didn’t you bring Leo here in person?”

“He was sleeping. The nights have been a bit rough since he’s cutting teeth. I didn’t want to disturb him.”

News of a son had never crossed his mind, but now that he knew, he wanted to meet him in person right away. “Then you should take me to see him now.”

He started to rise, clumsily swinging his leg over the lounge chair, groping for his cane and coming up empty. As he stood, teetering to one side, Zoe scrambled to help him by slipping her arm around his waist to hold him upright.

He met her gaze, pity shining in the sapphire blue depths. Her fragrance surrounded him, just as her arms did. This close, he yearned to lean on her. Absorb her strength. Instead, he pushed away, forcing every fiber of his being to remain upright.

“I don’t need your help.”

She blinked, then quickly looked away. Spying his cane on the floor, she retrieved it.

He snatched it from her, angry because her look made him feel like half a man. He didn’t want her sympathy. He’d be better soon. Return to the man he once was.

The pounding in his head called him a liar.

“Mitch?”

Slowing his breathing, it took a few prolonged seconds to answer. “I’m fine.”

“My car is out in the driveway.”

Gathering up her purse and the picture frame, Zoe moved ahead of him as he hobbled along, holding the screen door open for him. Night had fallen since they’d been discussing his son. He made sure to concentrate where he walked to keep from falling flat on his face in front of her.

Before getting in the car, the overhead streetlight revealed a car seat in the back. A stuffed animal lay beside it. Reality hit him a little harder in the gut.

“Are you okay?” Zoe asked from behind him. “Do you need help getting in?”

Mitch ignored the question and slowly ducked inside. Zoe closed the door for him, making him realize how her news, compounded by his injury, threw him more off balance than usual. He thought the accident was the only event to upend his life. How wrong.

As Zoe drove through Cypress Pointe, Mitch noticed Main Street hadn’t changed much. Some of the gift stores were closed for the night, but the local restaurants were hopping with customers. The wind flowing in from the window he’d cracked open carried the scent of burgers, making his stomach nauseous. After settling in at Wyatt’s place, he hadn’t had much of an appetite. Sometimes the headaches were so skull-crushing he couldn’t eat until the pain eased. Tonight was one of those episodes.

The sights grew more familiar the closer she drove to their neighborhood. When she passed by their street, a sense of confusion enveloped him. He closed his eyes, tried to visualize the location of their house. Finally, he connected the dots. “You missed the turn.”

She looked at him quickly, then back at the road. “No. I live at my mother’s house.”

He frowned, an action that brought on another round of pounding in his skull. The doctors had told him stress would aggravate his symptoms. He hadn’t believed them until now.

“Since when?”

“After I found out I was pregnant. I had a few...difficult months. I sold the house and moved in with her.”

“You sold our house?”

She bit her lower lip, never taking her eyes off the road. “I’m... At the time, it was a good idea. And living with Mom is a great help. She adores Leo.”

He started to nod, then stopped. The pain hadn’t abated. “I get it,” he snapped. With the pain came mood swings he hadn’t entirely learned to manage. “I wasn’t here to help you.”

“No. You weren’t.”

The tension rose between them and the remainder of the ride couldn’t pass quickly enough for Mitch. When they finally pulled into the driveway, he had the door open before she’d completely stopped.

“Mitch. Be careful.”

He pivoted out of the seat, ready to send a zinger Zoe’s way, just as Samantha came out of the house, joy written all over her face. She drew closer and he was afraid she might try to hug him, so he braced himself in anticipation. When she saw the cane, she slowed. Her eyes went wide at his appearance and she completely stopped.

“Oh, Mitch. Zoe said you were...”

The pity in her voice had him grounding his teeth. He leveled his voice. “Samantha. Good to see you.”

He hated looking so helpless, feeling so useless. A shell of the former man.

“Mom, Mitch wants to see Leo.”

“He’s still asleep,” Samantha said.

“We don’t plan on waking him.” Zoe rounded the front of the car to join them. She glanced at Mitch. “Ready?”

In response to her question, he took a halting step forward, then another. She turned and led him into the house, followed by Samantha. Thankfully, her expression had changed.

They entered the living room of the roomy ranch-style house. He’d spent most of his high school years here, visiting Zoe, but also putting some distance between him and his father. The memories were a bit fuzzy right now, but he would never forget that this was where Samantha encouraged his gift. Where he’d taken the first steps in realizing a career that had ultimately taken him away from his family and friends.

Your choice.

Yes, it had been. In pursuit of freedom and adventure, his life had taken a dramatic turn. The ultimate price to pay: nearly losing his life.

“This way,” Zoe said, leading him down the dim hallway. She pushed open a slightly ajar door and disappeared inside the room. Mitch hesitated. Once he went inside, viewed his son for the first time in person, his life would change forever.

Zoe stuck her head back out into the hallway. “Mitch?”

“Give me a moment.”

Annoyance crossed her face, then she was gone again. His world suddenly tilted out of control. He braced a hand against the wall, tried to wrap his mind around the fact that he was a father. Did he have it in him to act like one?

Even when they were trying to get pregnant, the thought of taking care of another life had frequently crossed his mind. He hadn’t taken the idea lightly, no matter what Zoe thought. But unlike most fathers, he hadn’t had nine months to prepare for his role. In his case, he’d had less than an hour to get ready.

Once the panic subsided, he hesitantly stepped through the doorway. A small lamp set on a dresser sent soft light over the room. The scent of... Was that baby powder? In the corner sat a shelf filled with books. Plastic toys littered the rug in front of it.

Zoe stood beside a crib. From across the room, he could see her leaning over. Attending to the baby? She looked at him, the fierce love etched on her face stopping him from moving. He’d always thought Zoe was pretty, but now, she took his breath away. Becoming a mother had transformed her. She was no longer just his high school sweetheart. Before him stood a full-grown woman, a mother, who had become more beautiful in the time he’d been away.

“Come see your son.”

Leaning on the cane, he made his legs move forward. When he came to the side of the crib, he gazed down at the sleeping boy, who had one thumb brushed up against his lips. Mitch’s breath caught and completely left him for a moment.

Zoe moved to give him better access. He stepped closer. Leo’s chest rose as he inhaled and exhaled. Mitch stared, then began taking inventory, like he imagined a father would upon the delivery of his child. Ten fingers and toes. Light colored hair, standing on end. Chunky little legs. Rosy skin. Spiky eyelashes caressing his cheek.

A longing, unlike any he’d ever experienced before in his life, pummeled him. This was his son. His flesh and blood. A miracle.

“He’s so small.”

Zoe fingered the downy soft hair sprouting from his head. “He’s actually at the correct weight percentile, according to his pediatrician.”

“So he’s healthy?”

“Ear infections have plagued him since he first came home, but the pediatrician is on top of the problem. He eats well. Babbles up a storm.”

Mitch tilted his head to get a different view. “What color are his eyes?”

“Blue.”

He swallowed against the sudden thickness in his throat.

With halting fingers, he reached out. He barely touched his son’s arm, so soft and plump, then moved to Leo’s face where the tips of his fingers brushed his cheek. When Leo shifted in his sleep, Mitch jerked his hand back to his side.

“He’s okay,” Zoe said in a low tone. “Just resettling.”

Right. People moved in their sleep. Even babies.

She gently pushed Leo’s thumb from the proximity of his mouth. “He never took to a pacifier, so I have to keep his thumb away from his mouth.”

Mitch didn’t know what to say. Taking care of a baby was completely foreign to him.

“I’ll give you a few minutes.” She pointed to a white radio-looking thing on the dresser. “The monitor is on. Call if you need anything.”

As she walked away, Mitch gazed down at his son. His chest swelled. Was this what pride felt like?

“Hey, buddy,” he whispered.

Leo puffed out a breath, but instead of panicking at the child’s response, Mitch smiled. The longer he stood over the crib, the more a sense of protectiveness seized him. Now that the initial shock had worn off, he desperately wanted to be a part of this child’s life. No matter that he and Zoe had made a mess of their marriage, he was thankful they had produced this miracle despite things not working out.

For some reason, thoughts of baseball crossed Mitch’s mind. Little League. Rooting for his son as his short legs ran the bases. Wait, was he walking on his own yet? Had he taken his first steps? He’d have to ask Zoe. Before long, he’d tell his son stories about all the cool places he’d traveled to in the course of his career. Eventually, he would take Leo along. Include him in the adventures. Silently, Mitch vowed to be present in his son’s life. He would never be like his own father, distant and disapproving.

Yes, he’d continue to travel for his job, but he’d never close himself off like his own father. So rigid in his ways, he’d tried to squelch Mitch’s spirit.

As he got older and increasingly curious, Mitch would often sneak off whatever military base they were on and explore the local sights and, more often than not, take off on thrilling adventures. His father never approved. Luckily, when his dad retired, he’d brought the family to Cypress Pointe, although he’d expected his son to carry on the generations-old tradition of joining the army.

Ironically, it had been all those years growing up traveling from base to base that had given Mitch a severe case of wanderlust. So, he would show Leo the world. Give him options. Nurture him in a way his own father never had.

The door opened behind him. Zoe’s vanilla and floral fragrance reached him before she did. She took her place beside him again.

“Why Leo? His name, I mean,” he asked after a prolonged moment of watching their son together.

Zoe crossed the room to a basket of stuffed animals. Removing a lion from the top, she returned to the crib and held it out for him to see.

“Do 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 don’t want us to be on opposite sides here, but things are different now,” she told him. “This is nothing like our old life.”

The defeat in his dark brown eyes nearly undid her, but she remained strong. For her son’s sake.

“This is a change of topic,” she said, “but do you have a doctor here?”

“I have a referral. I need to make an appointment.”

“That’s a step.” She hesitated. “We aren’t together, but I’ll try to work something out with you concerning Leo.”

The pain in his gaze made her pause. Emotional or physical? She couldn’t tell.

His shoulders sagged. Resignation seemed to deflate him. “Please call Wyatt and ask him to come pick me up. I’ll wait outside until he gets here.”

She rummaged through her purse to find her cell phone. Before she found Wyatt’s number and dialed it, Mitch said, “I will be a part of my son’s life, Zoe.”

His quiet, firm conviction made her fear that Mitch’s return from the dead could be the end of the quiet, stable life she’d built for herself and Leo.

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