The Road Not Taken (The Daddy Diaries) Read online

  Susan, of course, wanted to continue to fight. For once, Truman appeared willing to go against his mother’s wishes.

  Maybe there was hope for him after all, Caro thought. Just not as her husband.

  Through it all, Jake remained steadfast and as patient as a monk, even as the days passed, and their desire grew and frustration built.

  Leaves skittered across the drive now as Caro pulled up at the inn. Jake and Cabot were outside. Cabot was playing in a freshly raked pile of leaves while Jake grinned. It was hard to believe she’d ever thought him brooding and cold. He smiled so much these days.

  He sobered a bit when he spied her. He’d been waiting for her to return from the courthouse. She could have called with the news, but she’d decided to deliver it in person. It was too important.

  “Mommy!” Cabot hugged her legs once she got out. They played in the leaves for a moment before she sent him inside to ask the inn’s cook for some apple cider.

  “How’d it go?” Jake asked once they were alone.

  She blew out a breath, still reeling from the events of the day. “Divorce granted and I have full custody, although Truman will have visitation. Every other weekend and certain holidays.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “More than okay. I won’t deny Truman his right to see our son, and it would be wrong to deny Cabot a chance to spend time with his father.”

  “I love him, too, every bit as much as if he were my own. I always will.”

  “I know.” She tipped her head to one side. “I have a question for you, Jake McCabe.”

  “A question?”

  “How soon can we be married?”

  His face split into a grin as he reached for her. “Is that a proposal?”

  “If it is, you haven’t answered the question. How soon can I become Mrs. Jake McCabe?”

  “Not soon enough,” he told her, lowering his head. “Not soon enough.”

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  First published in Great Britain 2011

  by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited,

  Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  © Jackie Braun Fridline 2011

  ISBN: 978-1-408-90048-2

  Sadržaj

  Cover

  Praise for Jackie Braun

  About the Author

  Also by Jackie Braun

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Copyright