Shattered was the best word to describe how I felt. I’d always been disconnected from my family, but I’d never been disowned.

“What father does such a thing?” I looked down at my boy and realized that he and I were a lot alike. My father disowned me when he realized I wouldn’t be his picture of a perfect daughter. Trenton Kehoe never gave his son a chance.

“I don’t know what’s worse, knowing your father and having him toss you aside or knowing he never cared about you to begin with.”

It was crazy to sit on a blanket at a park and discuss the injustices of life with an infant, but somehow it gave me strength.

I looked down at my phone to see if Dad had returned any of my calls. I’d left at least three messages asking him what I’m done with you meant. His silence was my answer. He

was done.

“I’ll never abandon you, Blue. I will be here for you every step of the way. I don’t care if you bring home an A or F. I won’t care if you fuck the entire cheerleading squad as long as you treat them right. All I care about is you.”

He lay on his back and kicked out his legs and arms. I laid my hand on his chest where his heart beat under my palm.

“Just know that you will always be the most important thing in my life … no matter what.”

“That’s a nice speech,” a voice said from above me. I looked up and saw Silas, and my heart danced with excitement. “I like the part about the cheerleading squad.” He pulled out his phone and pointed it at me. “Mind if I record that so when it happens, he has proof that you won’t hang him by his nut sack?”

I ran my fingers through my hair and held my hand up to block my face. “You don’t need to record that, I’m a woman of my word.”

Silas nodded and looked at the blanket before him. “Can I join you?”

I moved over and made room for him next to me, but he moved to the other side of Blue. “How long have you been listening?” I swallowed hard, trying not to let the embarrassment consume me.

He lay down on the blanket and propped himself on one elbow. His jacket fell open to show a muscle-hugging T-shirt. It would have been so easy to reach out and trace my fingers over the hills and valleys of his chest, but I didn’t.

“I’ve been here long enough to know that even though you were raised by two parents, your life wasn’t pleasant.” His position was almost one of protection as he shielded Blue on his side. One of his long fingers traced the train design on Blue’s sweater.

“How can I complain when I wasn’t starved or beaten or abused regularly? I sound like such a whiner.” My childhood had been perfect compared to Ryker’s and Silas’s.

“You don’t have to be beaten to be abused.” His eyes brimmed with tenderness and compassion.

“I know, but look at what you went through, and here I sit complaining about my life.”

He rolled to his back and looked up at the sky, the sun glinting off his eyes. They were a cross between deep ocean blue and gunmetal gray but edged more toward the blue.

“We each have a different threshold. Our experiences make us who we are.”

I also lay on my side and turned toward him. “Who are you, Silas?”

“I’m not sure anymore.” He rolled over so Blue was the only thing between us. “I woke up thinking I was one thing, and now I’m not.” He reached over and brushed back the hair that had blown in my face.

“You want to talk about it?” I could tell there was something going on with him. A glazed look of despair spread over his face. Without thought, I cupped his cheek. “Talk.”

The sadness was replaced by a fleeting smile. “I was hoping I could talk to Blue. He seems to be a good listener.”

I ran my hand down Silas’s cheek and pinched his chin. “Oh, he is. He’s cheap therapy. All he wants is a clean diaper and a full stomach. Blue’s a great listener. He never interrupts.”

“He probably gets that from his mother.” He scooted in so his chest touched Blue’s side.

“His mother is a mess,” I said, “but she’s working on it. That’s all we can do. We fall and get up. One door closes, and another one opens. It’s the way of life.”

His expression stilled and grew serious. “When the door slams in your damn face, what do you do?”

“Find another one to walk through.” Blue let out a little squeal, and I looked at my watch. It had been hours since he ate. “You hungry, little buddy?” My eyes snapped to Silas when I used his little nickname, and what greeted me was a heartwarming smile.

“Can I feed him?”

“You want to feed him?” I sat up and fidgeted in the baby bag for the water and formula. I measured it and shook it while Blue built himself into a frenzied fit.

“I’d really like to feed him. If you don’t mind.” He reached for the bottle and placed it into the baby’s rooting mouth. Silas stared at him and shook his head. “Man, you got screwed.”

“What are you talking about?” I watched Silas look down at my son, and I wished I could hear what he was thinking.

“Yesterday he got the real deal, and today he’s got to suck on a rubber tip. That’s just bullshit in my book.”

The heat of a blush rose to my neck. Were we really talking about my nipples? “Do you think he can tell the difference?”

Silas gave me a look that said, you can’t be serious. “He’s a guy. We start this love of nipples and breasts early.” His eyes dropped to my chest, which was covered by a sweater, but might as well have been naked. “You have amazing breasts, by the way.”

It had been a long time since anyone had told me I had amazing anything. My mouth widened, and I lifted the corners heavenward. “You were peeking when I was nursing.”

His lightning grin made my insides turn to jelly. “Guilty, but not sorry.” He slipped the half-drunk bottle from Blue’s mouth. “Aren’t I supposed to burp him or something?”

I might have just fallen in love. For a man who didn’t want children, he seemed pretty interested in doing a good job with mine.

“I can do that.” I sat up and lifted Blue from the blanket. Silas shifted to a sitting position and held his hands out. “Just tell me what to do.”

Yep, I was falling, and it was too bad because Silas was everything I would have never considered—which was probably everything I should have.

I showed him how to prop the baby over his shoulder and tap on his back gently. Blue was over eight pounds, which was a decent size for a baby, but against Silas’s body, he resembled a preemie—so tiny and frail next to this mountain of a man.

He did this pat-and-rub thing that seemed to work, and when Blue let out a belch to rival a beer drinker’s, Silas smiled like he’d accomplished something major. He laid him back onto the blanket and resumed feeding.

“I’m really sorry for dragging you into that stupid ploy.” I reached down and picked at the little fuzzy bits on my sweater.

He gave a shrug. “No apology is necessary. I enjoyed it. Something about being around you and the baby makes me feel at peace somehow.”

A skitter of joy raced up my spine and settled in my heart. Silas Savage may think he doesn’t like kids, but judging by the way he looks at Blue, he’s lying to himself. “Well, if you’re ever looking for more peace, I’m always up for some help with watching this little bugger.”

To my surprise, he accepted. “How about this Friday? I can bring dinner.” He pulled the empty bottle from Blue’s mouth as soon as the crinkling sound of the empty plastic bladder filled the air. Up onto his shoulder went Blue, and the pat-and-tap motion began anew. After a series of less-impressive burps, he laid him back down on the soft blue blanket.

“It’s a date.” I slapped my hand over my lips. Was it a date? “I mean … I didn’t assume. It’s just a figure of speech.”

Silas leaned over Blue and touched his mouth to mine. “It’s a date,” he whispered against my lips before he pulled away. “It’s probably time we hung out together, since we’re married and everything.” The lazy heat of desire glittered in his eyes.

My heart flipped and flopped until it fell into my stomach. I had a date with Silas Savage. My spirits buoyed. My father had walked out of one door of my life, and Silas was walking in another.

It took every ounce of restraint not to lean forward and kiss him again. That little pass-by was hardly enough to satisfy. It was just enough to make me crave more.

Silas jumped to his feet. “I’ve got to get that bike back to Ryker.” His eyes skated over my body, and a look of regret washed over his face. “Wish I could stay longer.”

I jumped up and hand-pressed the wrinkles out of my jeans. “It was nice seeing you, Silas.” I packed up Blue’s stuff. “I need to be going too. I’ve got work to do.” As a virtual assistant, I did everything from newsletters to advertising. Today was web enhancement for a nutritional supplement company. I had to make a green smoothie look as appetizing as a burger and fries.

I’d come out here to clear my head of all the stressful shit that would sabotage my ability to think. Silas’s visit accomplished that, but now my thoughts were full of him. His smile. His touch. His kiss. I would rock that ad because I’d make that damn glass of greens look as appealing as a kiss from Silas, which was way better than a burger and fries.

He helped me pack up the rest, then he leaned over and picked up Blue. I loved the way he held him close to his chest like he was protecting him. I loved the way Blue relaxed in his arms. Oh, hell, I loved that, for at least the moment, I had someone to share my life with.

I knew it wasn’t forever, but then again, what was?