Winter Nights with the Single Dad--A heart-warming Christmas romance not to miss in 2021! by Allie Kincheloe

Author:Allie Kincheloe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-15T14:11:56+00:00

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Aiden hated the damper he’d put on their evening by bringing up Britney. He could never forgive her for what she’d put Jamie through. Such a sweet, innocent child and she’d treated him like a disposable plate—tossed in the trash when his usefulness to her ended.

As a newborn, Jamie had drawn a lot of attention her direction. Everyone wanted to see the new baby and it had fed her desire to be in the spotlight. From what Aiden had been able to gather, Britney had lost all interest in the child about the time he learned to walk. That’s when the neglect had begun but it had taken another year before she dropped him off at St. Matthew’s with the front desk nurse, a diaper bag and a note basically saying, “Tag, you’re it, Daddy.”

Jamie had been underweight, and still in clothes a size too small. The boy’s innocent but terrified gaze had drawn him in. Even before the reality of Jamie being his son had settled over him, a fierce protectiveness for the child had filled Aiden’s soul. After giving the boy a thorough checkup, Aiden had begun the legal nightmare of trying to gain custody of his son.

Only the fact that his own parents were already registered foster parents had allowed Jamie to stay with them. Aiden had been forced to move back into his old bedroom for a while to be under the same roof as his son until the DNA tests could come back proving what Aiden already knew in his heart—Jamie was truly his son.

Even now, months later, the mere mention of Britney soured his mood and he didn’t see that changing in the future. Forgiving her might take longer than a lifetime. It certainly wouldn’t be anytime soon.

“That must have been very hard on Jamie. And you, as well.” Stella reached out and smoothed her fingers over his. “He seems to be quite healthy now.”

Aiden entwined his fingers with Stella’s and looked over at her. While her words were meant to be reassuring, they only brought back how far Jamie had come. “He didn’t speak at all for the first month that we had him. Wouldn’t say if he was hungry or cold. He didn’t laugh. Barely smiled. All we could get was him nodding for yes and shaking his head for no.”

“It must have been hard to see him that way.” Stella bit her lip like she wanted to ask more but wasn’t sure the question would be well received.

“Ask what you like,” Aiden offered cautiously, “but I reserve the right to limit my response if it’s too painful to discuss.”

Things like how he’d needed to have his son checked for more than just mental and physical neglect was a topic he refused to discuss. It had taken all he had to say the words to the pediatrician to have the exams done to be sure. Words he hoped he’d never have to utter again. Thankfully, it had proven to be “only” neglect and Jamie’s exams had revealed no physical abuse.

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