Second Chance Dad

Second Chance Dad
Roxanne Rustand

The minute she steps foot in his dark, miserable house, Sophie Alexander knows Josh McClaren is not her usual patient. But the single mom and physical therapist is desperate to make a life for her and her young son.And she's definitely no quitter! It's obvious to Sophie that handsome, cantankerous Josh hides his pain behind a wall of grief. Little by little, Sophie and her son, Eli, do more than help Josh find his faith again. They make Josh wonder if there's a family in his future after all….

“We’ve got a deadline,

Dr. McLaren.”

“I don’t honestly care.”

Sophie leaned forward, her delicate brows drawing together. “Let’s give this a good shot anyway. I know I can help you. Let me prove it.”

“I don’t want this. Understand?” The others had given up and she would, too. He’d make sure of it.

She blasted him with another one of her dazzling smiles. “I think we’ll get along just great. I’ll be back Friday.”

Josh stared after her as she let herself out the door.

She was coming back?

He’d have to make himself perfectly clear—he didn’t want her intruding in his life. He didn’t want anyone promising the moon and stars, and the prospect of a full and rewarding future.

Because after what he’d done, he knew that was the stuff of fairy tales, not reality. And he only wanted to be left alone.

ROXANNE RUSTAND

lives in the country with her husband and a menagerie of pets, many of whom find their way into her books. She works part-time as a registered dietitian at a psychiatric facility, but otherwise you’ll find her writing at home in her jammies, surrounded by three dogs begging for treats, or out in the barn with the horses. Her favorite time of all is when her kids are home—though all three are now busy with college and jobs.

This is her twenty-fifth novel. RT Book Reviews nominated her for a Career Achievement Award in 2005, and she won the magazine’s award for Best Superromance of 2006.

She loves to hear from readers! Her snail-mail address is P.O. Box 2550, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52406-2550. You can also contact her at: www.roxannerustand.com, www.shoutlife.com/roxannerustand or at her blog, where readers and writers talk about their pets: www.roxannerustand.blogspot.com.

Second Chance Dad

Roxanne Rustand

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

What does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

—Micah 6:8

DEDICATION

In memory of my mom, Arline. Without her,

I would not have believed in this dream, and

her endless love, support, encouragement and

enthusiasm always meant the world to me. Mom,

this one—as always—is for you.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With many thanks to Licensed Physical Therapists

Nancy Reilly and Erin Nicholas

for answering my many questions about

physical therapy. Any errors are mine alone.

Contents

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

Epilogue