Book excerpt: When Myles Riker learns he has a five-year-old son, his world shifts. Driven by an overwhelming need to ensure Zack is safe and loved, he uses his stateside leave to track down the boy he never knew he had. But when he finally finds Zack, it’s not just the boy who captures his heart—it’s Anna Tucker, Zack’s fiercely devoted, recently widowed adoptive mother. As Myles becomes entwined in their lives, he’s drawn to Anna’s strength and warmth, while falling head over heels for the son he never had a chance to know. Zack is thriving under Anna’s care, and Myles knows his mission is complete. But walking away from the family he’s begun to love is harder than he ever imagined. Yet, his secret shadows every moment he spends with them—a truth that could unravel the fragile bond they've built. Will Myles risk losing everything by revealing his past, or will he protect the love he’s found, even if it means keeping the truth buried?