Free His Perfect Bride? by Louisa Heaton

they were with him. That he wasn’t unpredictable.
    But hearing Lula’s story—hearing how her life had been, all the challenges she’d faced—had made him look twice at himself.
    What challenges had he had to face? Just two. The death of his mother and the loss of Rachel and the baby. The one she’d never told him about. And it hadn’t been an accidental loss, either…
    Even so, regarding his mum, he’d been too young to feel the grief of what the loss of her had actually meant. He’d never known her—not really. He only knew what his dad had told him about her. What a wonderful woman she’d been and how in love with her his dad had been.
    And Rachel…? He’d blundered wholeheartedly into a relationship with her, expecting it to be exactly like his father’s with his mother. He’d assumed Rachel would be the same type of woman as his mother. Someone perhaps looking for family the way he was? Dedicated to him.
    Only it hadn’t happened that way, had it?
    Rachel had been so many things, but none of those that he’d expected. She’d not been as dedicated to him as he’d hoped, and she’d hated village life. Too rural for her. She’d been a city girl,through and through, and he should have seen that from the start.
    And then I wrote that damned list! That stupid list!
    He’d thought the list would protect him from getting his heart broken again. That if he only went out with women whose life goals and attitudes matched those on his list, then he would be safe from heartbreak and pain and loss.
    And what was he doing now? Ignoring the list and falling for the most outrageous, multicoloured, tattooed zookeeper he’d ever met!
    Falling for her…
    Was he? It felt like it. He knew he couldn’t stop thinking about her. When he was with her he soaked up her vitality and presence like a sponge, and when she was absent his mind lingered on her, returning his thoughts to her every single time, like an obsessed teenager with a crush.
    That kiss tonight… Goose pimples shivered over his skin in torment. The touch of her lips had been magical. He’d wanted more. Had craved more. And yet…he’d been afraid to seek it out. What if he pursued her and got it all wrong? He’d done that before. If he got involved with her, feeling as he was now, and it didn’t work out… Well, he’d be devastated. Floored. And he didn’t need that. He’d had heartbreak and he didn’t want to experience it again.
    He sought happiness and love and respect—the type of relationship his father had had with his mother.
    Ideal.
    Could he have that with Lula? She couldn’t have children, but was that important?
    The uncertainty that filled him made his steps heavy as he went up to bed.

CHAPTER FOUR
    A FTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT , Lula woke feeling exhausted.
    She fed Anubis, dropping a couple of crickets into his tank, and then gave Nefertiti and Cleo fresh water. They were pleased to see her, holding onto her fingers with their little pink paws and licking her happily. She loved their ratty kisses and stroked them both before putting them back into their cage. She’d not had them out as often as she’d have liked since moving into the cottage. They were used to free ranging, and she knew she ought to organize some sort of safe play area for them so they could come out more.
    However, she’d have to pick her place carefully. This cottage was a rental and she didn’t expect to stay in Atlee Wold for long. She didn’t want them damaging any of the old furniture in Moonrose Cottage, especially as she knew how much the place meant to Olly.
    Olly…
    She really liked him. She knew it deep in her soul. They’d just connected so easily, the pair of them. It was easy to be in his company, and it was strange to think that they’d only really knowneach other for a couple of days. Lula felt as if she’d known him for ages.
    He was an old soul in the body of a young, fit, handsome man. But she liked that a lot.
    Today Lula was going to be