by Amber Nation
Table of Contents
Copyrights
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Other Books by Amber Nation
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Playlist
About the Author
RUNAWAY LOVE
Copyright 2014 Amber Nation
All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the Author. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
To my mother-
Not a single day goes by where I don’t think of you and wish you were still with us.
I love and miss you so much!
R.I.P. Brenda Erwin
8/2/62-5/4/08
Acknowledgements
My husband, Jarrod and our two daughters, Alexis and Olivia- thank you for being so patient and understand during my quest to finish this book. It makes things that much better to know that I have your support and encouragement in following my dreams. I love you all so much!
My BETA’s! Tracy Brewer, Melanie Brock, Amanda Evenson, Delisa Lynn, Chrystal Nation, Keesha McCallum, and Ashley Volk- You are a fabulous group of amazing women and I greatly appreciate you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to read my book and give me your honest opinions. I love you guys!
My amazing author friends in which I’ve made during this journey- Andrea Smith (my mentor- I absolutely appreciate every conversation, piece of advice, and question you’ve answered), Delisa Lynn, Tara Paradise, and Annalisa Nicole- I am so very thankful for our daily conversations, brainstorming sessions, and just being able to call you a friend. I know several hundred miles separates us all, but I will always be here for each and every one of you! Much love to you all!!
My wonderful editor, Anna Coy with AGC Editing- I am SO glad that you were recommended to me, you are a kick ass editor and an amazing person! I look forward to working with you again in the future.
My cover designer and formatter, Rachel Mizer with Shoutlines Design- you are simply AMAZING and I am in total awe of your designing abilities. I appreciate the great lengths you went through designing the absolute PERFECT cover for Runaway Love!! I can’t wait to work with you again!
Ena Burnette with Enticing Journey Book Promotions- you are awesome and I appreciate all of the hard work you do to get people interested in my work from the cover reveal to the blog tour. You go above and beyond and for that, I am truly grateful!
My amazing readers and bloggers- I appreciate each and every one of YOU so much! I appreciate your continued support, the numerous messages, and encouragement you all give. Taking the time out to read my book, review it, and pass it along to a friend- I will forever be grateful! I love you all to pieces!
Leanne Mifsud- You flipping rock!! (haha)
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!!
The Brown County Series
Not Alone – Grady and Emmalynne’s Story (November 2013)
Runaway Love - Charlie and Maggie’s Story (February 2014)
Book #3 – Mike and Sheridan’s Story (Coming Soon)
Book #4- Toby and Gio’s Story (Coming Soon)
(Maggie)
Most children look to their parents for love, guidance and support. Most couldn’t wait for them to come in the front door after a long day of work to play with them or to tell them all about the latest happenings at school. Well I guess this goes to show that I was not most children.
There was only one thing that I wanted from my parents, and that was for them to leave me alone. For my mom, this wasn’t an issue, most days she had no idea where she was let alone had the ability to look after me. But my dad was an entirely different story. He never left my brother and me alone. He was constantly in our faces, drunk off of his ass. Apparently his way of showing love was using his fists, if you could call that love.
I recalled the last lashing he bestowed upon me, I was fifteen. It was more than a lashing though, it was a beating to end all beatings. It was then I vowed never to ever let another man lay his hands on me. He caused me to be terrified of the opposite sex. Except for my brother, all men were awful immoral beings. He had come home drunk - yet again- which was usually an everyday occurrence. Mason, my brother, wasn’t at home, it was one of the few times that he wasn’t there for me. But he was a teenager as well, he deserved to have a life instead of protecting his little sister from the big, bad dad all of the time.
Dad had lost another job and wasn’t ever sober long enough to know or care about his actions. So he came home drunk and pissed. Mom was passed out in the confines of her bedroom, so that left one person for him to take his anger and aggression out on, me. After the first few blows I didn’t recall much, I always tried my best to block out the world while the beatings were taking place, it was easier to deal that way.
I woke up in the hospital, my arm in a sling and my left eye swollen shut. Dad had gone too far. Normally I received bumps and bruises, a few bruised ribs, and broken fingers and toes from time to time. But he never ever hit my face, well until now that is. Apparently Mason came home to me passed out on the floor, took me to the hospital in the next town over, used a fake name, and then made me leave the hospital before I was discharged making no one the wiser.
During my two nights stay in the hospital I had the most amazing nurse. She actually seemed like she cared about my safety. She was sweet as could be and doted on me like a loving mother should, I had never felt that kind of love before, and here I got it from a stranger who didn’t know me from Adam. She made such an impact on me that I knew, I just knew that one day I was going to become a nurse so I could return the favor to people who needed it.
Nine Years Later
(Maggie)
Becoming a nurse was the only thing I had ever accomplished for myself. It wasn’t for the exact reasons you are thinking. Sure, I enjoyed helping people out, especially kids. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the kids who came in battered and bruised because their parents didn’t give a shit about them. But my main reason for becoming a nurse was simple… Survival.
I grew up in less than ideal circumstances, especially for a child. Shoot for anyone. My mother was and I’m assuming, still is a drunk and always strung out on drugs. I honestly didn’t think she knew where she was half the time and she definitely didn’t care whether or not my brother and I were fed. My dad, if anything, was worse. My brother, Mason, who was two years older than me, endured most of the brunt.
Mason said he would do anything to protect me. And for the most part, he did. Until he turned into the one person he said he despised the most, my dad.
My dad died whenever I was fifteen of alcohol poisoning. Mason being seventeen took various odd jobs
to keep us fed. He often had to leave me home with my mom who pretty much never showed her face outside of her room. I didn’t have many friends, as in none at all.
No one wanted to befriend the daughter of the town drunk and who wore her clothes two sizes too small. So I concentrated on my school work, if it was the last thing I ever did, I was going to get myself out of this hell hole and make something of myself. Which, was how I earned a full academic scholarship to Georgia State University and completed my Nursing Degree at the top of my class.
I got a one way ticket out of there and never looked back.
Ever since a young age, I could always see myself becoming a nurse, but my last hospital stay sealed the deal. I wanted to not only make a difference in someone’s life, but I also wanted to help the injured the way I couldn’t help myself whenever my dad took out his aggression on me.
I have now been living in Brown County, Georgia for going on two years, working as a trauma nurse at Brown County Mercy Hospital, since I’ve arrived. I lived in a rather expensive one bedroom apartment on the best side of town, and I’ve been furnishing it along the way as my pay allowed. Rent may cost a pretty penny, but I would never again live in filth and decrepit surroundings like I did growing up. And my most favorite thing about my apartment was that was all mine.
Well it was all mine until about six months ago when my brother came to crash with me for a week, and hasn’t left since.
At first he said that he was hiding out from someone and now it seemed he’s set up shop. I don’t know exactly what he was into and I preferred not knowing. It was just better to be kept in the dark…I think.
My brother was always kind and protective over me while growing up, like a big brother should be. But ever since he has made himself at home in my home I felt as if his temper was getting the better of him. I had to constantly walk on eggshells around him or else I found him crowding in my personal space a little more than necessary.
Then his true colors shone through last night. And what dark and dreary colors they were.
I had just come home off of a sixteen-hour shift and was completely and utterly exhausted. So tired that I forgot to run by the store and pick up milk since we were completely out. My mind was solely focused on a long hot, relaxing shower to wash away the days grime and to crawl underneath the covers in my California King sized bed. An outlandish splurge but I absolutely loved it. My comforter was navy and white chevron print and I adored it. My room was my domain, my sanctuary, my place to unwind after a hellish day at the hospital.
So coming home not realizing I forgot about the milk, my brother’s gaze instantly honed in on my empty hands just as soon as I stepped over the threshold to my apartment. He stalked towards me, where he stopped just mere inches away, grabbed my arm forcefully, and drug me towards the fridge. He opened the door and bit out between clenched teeth. “You said that you were bringing home milk and here you are without the goddamn milk!” His fingers were relentlessly digging into the flesh of my forearm.
“Mason, I’m sorry. I just worked sixteen hours, I’m tired, I just forgot. I promise I’ll get it tomorrow since I’m off.”
Tears were forming in the creases of my eyes, and I fought my hardest not to let them fall. He didn’t deserve my tears. There was no use crying over spilled milk, or in this case, forgetting the milk.
Yes it was my fault for forgetting to run by the store but did that warrant him to get in my face and grab my arm? I for one didn’t think so.
Mason then took his right hand, curled it into a fist and swung it around until the blow landed on my upper arm. I gasped while searing pain radiated through. Jerking myself out of his grasp, I cradled it to my chest.
“That’ll make you think twice about forgetting it again. You take the couch tonight, the bed is mine.” And with that he spun on his heel and disappeared into the bathroom, where he slammed the door.
All of this over me forgetting the flipping milk.
I drug my feet on the way to my room to grab my pajamas so I could continue on with my nights activities, which now included icing my shoulder, taking a long hot shower, and then going to sleep…on the couch.
I woke up entirely too early due to my curtains being left wide open, so the day’s sunlight was shining directly into my eyes.
I laid there for several moments on my normally comfortable couch, but being forced to sleep on it after being on my feet for over sixteen hours, was a different story. It was no wonder Mason took my bed last night, and why, thankfully, he was hardly ever here to sleep. Just to raid my food and be a pain in my ass. So anyways, I was still laying down making sure that Mason was gone.
Not hearing any of his usual sounds, I knew it was safe.
Normally my coffee maker would be my first stop but today, the pavement was calling my name, I needed to get a run in.
Running cleared my head which currently was hoarding an overabundance of thoughts.
I donned my winter running gear, grabbed my trusty iPod, and set forth out into the frigid February Georgia air.
Music played a major role in my life. I considered myself to be a bit of a loner because I didn’t really have any friends. Let me rephrase that, I didn’t have any friends other than Gio, and he lived two hours away. I had work acquaintances, but I didn’t socialize with them outside of the hospital walls. I was extremely shy and I normally didn’t initiate conversation. Some people assumed that I was stuck up, but they couldn’t be farther from the truth. So yeah, I loved music, all different kinds. Music was the soundtrack to your soul.
Today’s playlist included the mastermind that was Bon Jovi. Just listening to his deep, sexy voice was bound to put me in a better mood.
Placing my ear buds in my ears underneath my gray knit headband, which was amazing at keeping my ears warm, I was ready to pound out a couple of miles on the pavement while listening to “Livin’ On A Prayer.”
I created a mental checklist of everything that I had to do today, during my run. My list included first of all, going to the store and buying three gallons of flipping milk, so we wouldn’t run out anytime soon. Then I was going to branch out and check out the little bookstore in town. I’d only ever been there a few times and each time a lovely older lady had been working. I didn’t talk to people enough outside of work to know who owned it, but a new book sounded wonderful at the moment. Putting myself into a fantasy world, just to get out of mine for a bit was just the thing I needed.
During my normal route, the one I took every time I ran, I felt as if someone was watching me, but didn’t think anything of it.
(Charlie)
There she is, I thought to myself. I normally only caught her out running once a week if I was lucky, but when I did, it was a fucking sight to behold. I didn’t know who she was, but I felt like I’ve seen her somewhere before. She had a runner’s body, a toned, lithe frame. Her legs were long and amazing. Images of her wrapping those legs around my waist always came to the forefront of my mind. And don’t even get me started on her tits, holy fuck they were luscious. Yes, I could be a perv, but it had been way too long since I’d been laid. So I enjoyed watching the beautiful brunette because it gave me plenty images to keep in mind for my spank bank.
But perviness aside, I always took in the features of her face. That gorgeous face, almond shaped eyes, a small pert nose, and full, pouty, pink lips. How I longed to kiss those lips. But the one thing that I noticed above all else was how she wore her emotions on the surface, didn’t even try to hide them. I could tell that she was shy and sensitive. I’d only ever seen her frown, while running, almost as if she wasn’t happy in life. Her sadness ran deep and I’d wager that it ran almost as deep as mine, if not more. I needed to shake all thoughts of that beautiful woman out of my head.
I was here to do a job.
The last time a woman clouded my judgment, I almost got her killed.
Just thinking about Emmalynne, caused the corners of my mouth to turn up in a smile. Not many things could
make me smile these days, but Emmalynne Morgan would always be one of them.
I met Emmy a little over a year ago when I was sent here on assignment to keep an eye out for Corbin Montgomery, whose real name was Norman Black.
See, I’m an undercover FBI Agent. I had always had partners while working undercover but Corbin/Norman was my very first solo assignment.
I wasn’t exactly thrilled to learn that I would be relocating to BFE, Georgia, but it was part of the job and you just didn’t turn down your first solo investigation. It was basically an unwritten rule, you just didn’t do it.
Corbin Montgomery ended up being a drug mule and dealer for Declan Smith, one of the biggest human and drug traffickers in the country.
Before Corbin began working for Declan, he was involved in a money laundering scandal in Vegas. He took off once all of the other accomplices were taken down. He thought he was being smart, and laying low down in Brown County by becoming a drug dealer. But one thing he wasn’t though, was wise. Being drawn to crime like a magnet, he wasn’t able to stay away, and was under Police radar yet again.
Which was where I came in, after coming up on radar, the Sheriff’s Department contacted the FBI, stating that they had more drugs on the streets of their small town than what was considered normal, and all signs were pointing to Montgomery. They knew he wasn’t the supplier, so I was sent in to infiltrate Brown County and investigate.
His choice of women was the only smart thing about him, he ended up falling for the small town bookstore owner, Emmalynne Morgan. Emmy wasn’t necessarily my type, but her personality made her hard to resist. Think down home southern belle. She would do absolutely anything for you, and was one hell of a baker. Her friendliness was what caught the eye of not only me but Corbin as well, and he began his relentless pursuit in stalking and ultimately kidnapping her.
Grady Finnegan, Emmalynne’s then ex-boyfriend but now fiancé, and I rescued her from a decrepit shack just outside of town and he, unfortunately for him, met his demise.
