by Laina Turner
“Will you come sit with me?” Zach asked, and she could read the fear in his eyes that she might reject him. It made her resolve to be angry melt a bit further, but she needed to find out why.
She hesitated, knowing that if she took this step and sat with him, it would mean that she was starting to forgive him, and that felt scary. But then she realized that life was scary, and if there was one thing that she’d learned in her fifty years on this planet, it was that no matter how much control you thought you had over your own life, there were still going to be times where you got hurt.
Trying to insulate yourself from being hurt meant not really living at all.
She wanted to give him a chance and took another step toward Zach. He reached out his hand and she slowly put hers in his. The minute his fingers closed around hers, his grip soft but firm, the rest of her fear washed away.
He pulled her a little closer until they were just inches apart. “Kate, I am so sorry. I will spend the rest of my life, if that’s what it takes, proving to you that I can be trusted, and that I will never hurt you again, if you’ll only give me the chance.”
Kate wanted to hug him tightly and never let go, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she had an explanation.
“Why? Why go to those lengths of manipulation? Is it because of Sharon?”
His eyes widened in surprise. “How did you hear about Sharon?”
Kate smiled wryly. “As you’ve said before, this is a small town.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Sharon,” he said a little too quickly, and Kate gave him a look.
“Okay, maybe that’s not true. I’d like to say I’m not affected by a hurt from over two decades ago, but if I sat down and really thought about it, that’s probably part of it. I know this is a lame excuse, but ever since our eventful meeting, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. I wanted to get to know you and I wanted you to get to know me. I assumed after what you’ve been through…”
Now it was Kate’s turn to look surprised. “You know who I am? Rather, who my soon-to-be ex-husband is?”
Zach nodded.
“But you never said anything. Why?
Zach shrugged. “Who your ex-husband is or what he did has nothing to do with who you are. I wanted to get to know you for you, and if we’re really being honest, I also assumed you might need money and justified my behavior by telling myself I was helping you out when I was really helping myself out.”
Kate sat in silence for a moment, and Zach kept looking at her like he was afraid she was going to bolt.
“Kate, I’m truly sorry,” he started, and she put a finger to his lips to shush him.
“Promise me that you will never try and manipulate me again. I can’t doubt you, doubt myself for believing in you. I just can’t live like that again.”
Zach looked earnestly into her eyes. “Kate, I promise. I will never do anything to hurt you again.”
As she saw the truth and emotion in his eyes, Kate didn’t have to think twice. For once, operating on emotion instead of intellect, she looked up at Zach’s eyes and could see nothing there but love. She nodded, then reached up with her free hand and touched his face, and the tenderness in his eyes almost brought tears to hers.
Zach bent down and pressed his lips on hers, and as she kissed him back, she realized just how wonderful her life was turning out after all.
Thanks For Reading
If you loved this book, I know you’ll enjoy the rest of the Moonshire Bay Small Town Romance series. You can find them on my website.
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About the Author
Disclaimer: My real name is Laina Turner, and I initially wrote romance under a pen name, Elle Sweet, and my cozy mysteries under Laina Turner. However, things change, and I now write romance under my real name and cozy mysteries under L.C. Turner - C stands for Carole, my middle name, so it’s still my real name.A little about me…
As a child, I thought I would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (my favorite restaurant as a child). Though I ended up going to college for business. Probably a better choice. The last place I need to work is somewhere I can get a discount on tacos.
I live by the motto, “don’t be a one-trick pony” and am proud of my vast experiences in life from barrel racing to being on the dance team for a semi-pro basketball team to being a mom of 2 amazing kids,
Taking the plunge to write books (cozy mysteries and chick lit) that I actually let people read in 2010, I have worked my way up to being a real author, having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). And I tell my family and friends that no one is safe from their escapades slipping into my books.
You can also find me at www.lainaturner.com or on social media.
Also By Laina Turner (and L.C. Turner)
The Moonshire Bay Small Town Romance Series
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Finding Rachel Book 1
Ari’s Adventure Book 2
Photographing Kate Book 3
Lucy’s Last Chance Book 4
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Cozy Mysteries by L.C. Turner
The Presley Thurman Mysteries
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Promotions & Poisons A PREQUEL
Stilettos & Scoundrels
Necklaces & Nooses
Handbags & Hooligans
Mistletoe & Murder
Gems & Gunshots
Tiaras & Texans
Cupids & Crooks
Vows & Victims
Romance & Revenge
Accessories & Alibis
Bats & Bling
Weddings & Weapons
Diamonds & Disguises
Keys & Kidnappers
Icicles & Icepicks
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Presley Thurman Box Set 1 (Books 1-5)
Presley Thurman Box Set 2 (Books 6-10)
Presley Thurman Box Set 3 (Books 11-15)
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The Read Wine Bookstore Cozy Mysteries
Friends and Foes A PREQUEL
Snowglobes and Secrets
Cupcakes and Killers
Wine and Revenge
Lawyers and Liars
The Read Wine Bookstore Cozy Mystery Box Set (Books 1-4)
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The Spencer University Cozy Mysteries
Death by Suspenders
Textbook Murder
Killer Classes
Christmas Caper
The Spencer University Box Set (Books 1-3)
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Sterling Towne Cozy Mystery
Switched Up
