by Lena Hart
When she hung up, keys jangled and slid into the door. She got up just as Mikey came running into the apartment. Nate came in after, his hands full of grocery bags.
“Mommy, look at my new toy!”
Mia looked down at the strange looking action figure, smiling at her son’s excitement. “It’s nice,” she said pulling him close to her. “Did you thank your dad?”
He nodded vehemently then ran off to continue his pretend flying and fighting.
Mia followed Nate into the kitchen. “Did you buy out the entire grocery store?” she teased.
Nate’s lips quirked up. “Too much?”
She cocked her head to the side. “I think you have enough to feed half the Duggar family.”
“Who?”
Mia chuckled. “Never mind.”
“I wasn’t sure what to get so I figured I’d cover all bases.” He stared at her for a long moment and she began to grow self-conscious.
“You look very pretty,” he said quietly.
Mia couldn’t help the blush warming her face or the small smile tugging her lips from the simple compliment. “Thanks,” she murmured, shifting nervously and brushing her hair behind her ear. She had let the thick, wavy strands hang down her shoulders, instead of in its usual ponytail. She doubted it was her hair that had caught his attention. It was her thin-strapped, high-waist summer dress. The simple dress was so long it reached her ankles, but the half-pink, half-peach color complimented her skin tone so well she was starting to think maybe she had chosen to wear it in hopes he would notice. Judging by the way he eyed her, he certainly had.
Wanting to break his direct attention from her, Mia moved to unload the shopping bags. She smiled when she saw the many boxes of macaroni and cheese.
“I see Mikey helped big with the shopping.”
Nate laughed, grabbing a few bags to unpack. “I didn’t realize there were so many until we got to check out.”
There was also a good supply of cheese crackers, string cheese, cheese dip, and of course Cheetos. The amount of food was enough to feed a large family. He must have spent hundreds of dollars here.
“I really appreciate you trying to make things comfortable for us,” Mia began, “but this really wasn’t necessary.” Tension invaded his tall frame, but she continued. “As soon as you give me an answer, we’ll be out of your way.”
Nate turned to her, his jaw set. “I want him to stay with me.”
Mia frowned, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“I want Mikey to stay here,” he repeated forcefully. “I’ve already missed out on so much and I want to get to know him. And I want him to know me.”
Mia looked up at him, shocked. Of all the things he could have told her, she hadn’t expected this. Though she would love for her son to know his father, she wasn’t prepared to be without him, and Nate hadn’t said anything about her staying.
“I-I don’t think that’s possible right now. Or a good idea,” she added. “There’s been so much change in his life already. This would just…complicate things for him.”
Nate’s eyes burned into hers. “You complicated this the moment you decided to keep him from me,” he barked. “I don’t want to fight you on this, but I will if I have to.”
His unspoken threat was loud and clear. Anger and a fierce protectiveness suddenly filled her. “How dare you?” she snapped with barely suppressed rage. “You will not take him from me, you hear me? You will not!”
Nate looked down at her with his own emerging anger and determination. “Don’t test me, Mia. He’s my son too.”
“No, he’s mine,” she said fiercely. “I carried him. I raised him. I wanted him. So don’t you dare stand there and pretend that you want him!”
He looked as if he wanted to strangle her, but she was too upset to back down. “You never even gave me a chance,” he said harshly. “You took that choice away from me so it’s your fault I’m even in this position.”
Pain and guilt sliced through her as his words dug deep. Some of the anger burst out of her. He was right. It was her fault—she had already acknowledged that—but she wasn’t going to let him take Mikey from her. She wasn’t.
“I just want to be in his life,” he continued. “And I will be, whether you like it or not.”
“Nate, I won’t stop you from seeing him, but he’s not staying—”
“He’s staying right here,” Nate bit out harshly. “With or without you.”
A cold chill ran down her back. She knew enough of the law that if he decided to fight her for custody, he may just win. She was on shaky ground and he had the stability and financial backing to his advantage.
“This was a mistake,” she whispered, backing away from him. She turned to leave, fully intending to grab her son and get as far away from him as she could. She got as far as two feet before he grabbed her arm and jerked her back.
“Mia, if you walk out of here,” he growled close to her ear, “I swear, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Will Mia take Mikey away from Nate?
Can they both compromise for their son’s sake?
Download Because This Is Forever to find out!
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Books by Lena Hart
CONTEMPORARY
Brides of Cedar Bend series
Something Old
Something New
Something Borrowed
Something Blue
To Be Loved series
First Love
Because You Love Me
Because You Are Mine
Because This Is Forever
Standalones
My Silent New York Night
Her Seductive Dare
It’s a Dare, Baby
SUSPENSE
The Queen Quartette series
His Flower Queen
His Bedpost Queen
Queen of His Heart
His Diamond Queen
City of Sin spin-off series
B is for Bedpost
The Devil’s Bedpost
HISTORICALS
Hearts at War collection
A Sweet Surrender
Amazing Grace
In the Morning Sun
About the Author
Lena Hart is a Florida native currently living in the Harlem edge of New York City. Though she enjoys reading a variety of romance genres, she mainly writes sensual to steamy contemporary, suspense, and historical romances. When Lena is not busy writing, she’s reading, researching, or conferring with her muse. To learn more about her upcoming works, join her Reader Group.
Connect with her on…
@lenahartwrites
LenaHartBooks
www.LenaHartWrites.com
[email protected]
