by Suzanne Cass
‘What about the children’s clinic in LA? I thought you lived for that.’
His smile was warm and indulgent. ‘You’re not wrong, but it’s going great and my partner is taking over the reins now. I’m going to use the money I won in Sea-Quest to help start a new clinic over here. God knows, there’s just as big a need in Orlando for dispossessed kids.’
She digested his statement. It must’ve been a hard decision for him to make, but he’d done it anyway. Would she have been able to do the same thing? Taken a leap of faith. Moved interstate, not knowing what kind of reception he was going to receive.
‘That isn’t the only thing that brought me to Florida,’ he said.
‘Really?’ She gave him a sassy smile, but his face remained serious.
‘I came here to be with you. If you’ll have me.’ Her heart fluttered beneath her ribcage. He was here. He was going to stay. With her. For her. Now at last she realised not all men were the same. Some men were good. Dependable. His eyes remained on her face, waiting for her answer.
‘You could come down on the weekends and I could teach you to sail.’
A delighted smile split his lips. ‘I’d love that.’ He bent his head and kissed her, deep and sensuous. Pulling her in towards him, so that her breasts brushed against his chest, he nuzzled her hair. Then she heard his deep voice rumble, as he asked, ‘Are you truly okay with me being here?’
‘Yes, I believe I am.’
‘Well that’s saying something,’ he said with a laugh. He lowered his head so that his face hovered an inch away from her own, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘I love you, Cilla Parsons.’
Laying her hand on his chest, right above his heart, she felt his lips press into hers and her heart soared up into the heavens.
‘I love you too, Tam Connor.’
Turning her arm over, she studied the words inked into the soft skin beneath her elbow. FREEDOM.
And now at last she knew. This was what freedom truly meant.
Acknowledgements
This journey has been a long and winding one, and I’d never have completed it without the help and support of so many.
To Gary, for believing in me and encouraging me to follow my dreams. Without you beside me, I’d never have achieved this goal.
To my sensational family and friends, fans right from the start, who’ve read (and re-read, and re-read) my never-ending drafts. Thank you for embracing my characters, celebrating my Australian settings and helping put my feet on the path to becoming a true-blue Aussie author.
To Rachel, thank you for all your friendship and patience in helping me shape this grey lump of clay into a vibrant story full of romance and adventure.
And to the amazing organisation, Romance Writers of Australia, whose volunteers give up their time for the love of books and writing. I’ve learned so much through my association with them over the past three years.
About the Author
Suzanne Cass has always had a fascination with the tough resilience of people who live in our amazing red-dirt country of Australia. Much of her adolescence was spent working as a jillaroo in the Snowy Mountains, forming her love of enigmatic, outback heroes in wild, passionate, dangerous stories. When not writing about the characters inhabiting her head, Suzanne can be found roaming the Perth beaches with her border collie, or encouraging her two sons from the sidelines as they play their respective sports. Her debut novel, Island Redemption won the Romance Writers of Australia award for best unpublished romance novel of 2016.
www.suzannecass.com
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COMING SOON
Bronze the Sky
When Jenna Montrose is a witness to the cold-blooded slaying of her father, she becomes the killer’s next target. Desperate to stay one step ahead of the murderer, she runs to the tiny town of Smokey Creek, in the middle of outback Western Australia. Taking a job as a jillaroo, Jenna hopes the sheer isolation will keep her safe.
There’s one thing she hasn’t counted on, however. The irresistible attraction that ignites between her and gorgeous jackaroo, Dan Simmonds. But when the killer and his henchmen appear, Dan finds himself being drawn into Jenna’s world. They become trapped together in the desert, caught in deadly game of cat and mouse.
This is the first book in the Colours of the Earth trilogy.
www.suzannecass.com/books/bronze-the-sky
