by Marie Force
“I have to go.”
“April…”
“My name is Natalie. April is long gone.”
“Natalie… I know it doesn’t matter now, but I have to say it anyway. I was wrong to let him convince me to abandon you. I have no explanation other than I was afraid of him for most of the time we were married. That’s not your problem, but it’s the only excuse I have. I was afraid of what he would do to me and the girls if I defied him. It broke my heart to leave you in that hospital, and I’ve regretted it every minute of every day since then. I just wanted you to know that.”
“If that’s the case, why haven’t you tried to get in touch with me before now?”
“I didn’t think I’d be welcome.”
She wouldn’t have been.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you aren’t able to forgive me,” she says as tears run down her face, “but I wanted you to know how truly sorry I am for letting you down when you needed me most. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
I have no idea how to respond to that. I never expected her to say these things to me.
“We need to get going, babe,” Flynn says, squeezing my shoulder.
“I won’t take any more of your time,” my mother says. “Thank you for listening.”
We start to walk away, heading for the door and our great escape. I want out of there so badly, I can taste it, but something stops me.
“Wait,” I say to him.
He releases his tight hold on me so I can turn back to my mother, who is still standing right where we left her.
“Give me a couple of weeks,” I tell her. “And then call me. Candace and Livvy have my number. I’ll tell them it’s okay to give it to you.”
Tears continue to stream down her face as she nods, and I realize right then and there that she’s as much a victim of my father and Oren as I am. “Thank you.”
I take hold of Flynn’s hand. “Let’s go.”
A crowd has gathered outside the courthouse, people wanting a glimpse of Flynn and maybe me, too. He tells me they’re much more interested in me than they’ve ever been in him, but I don’t buy that. He’s the star. I’m just along for the ride.
They call out to us, but we get into the backseat of the black SUV and the door closes behind us.
It’s over. I did it. And now I’m free.
He wraps his arms around me. “I’m so fucking proud of you right now, I can’t even find the words to tell you how much.”
I lean into him, absorbing his love and support the way I have from the day I met him.
“You were amazing in the courtroom and just now with your mother.”
“You probably don’t agree with me allowing her to call me.”
“Baby, that’s up to you. I want what you want.”
“I want it to be over.”
“It is. It’s over now.” He caresses my arm and kisses the top of my head. “How do you feel about what she said?”
“I believe her when she says she was afraid of him. That explains a lot. She was always a good mother to us before everything happened, so it never made sense to me that she let him drag her out of the ER that night.”
“Fear is a powerful weapon.”
“Yes, it is. I don’t expect I’ll ever be close to her again, but forgiving her frees me from having to carry that shit around with me. I’ve carried it long enough.”
“You certainly have.” He tips my chin up to receive his kiss. “I love you so much, my fierce, beautiful wife.”
“I love you, too. Thanks for being there with me. Being able to look at you rather than him made all the difference.”
“The only place I ever want to be is wherever you are.”
“Take me home. That’s where I want to be.”
“With pleasure, my love.”
Thank you for reading Outrageous! I hope you enjoyed Leah and Emmett’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I always knew the irreverent Leah’s story would be full of laughs, and she did not disappoint me! If you enjoy this book and the series, please make sure to leave a review at the retailer of your choice, at Goodreads and on BookBub. I appreciate every one of them! If you aren’t on my newsletter mailing list, please join at marieforce.com so we can keep in touch about new books, sales and other news.
Join the Outrageous Reader Group to talk about Emmett and Leah’s story and make sure you’re a member of the Quantum Series Reader Group to never miss news about the series. Have you read ALL my books? If so, you’re a Marie Force SUPER Fan! Join the SUPER Fan reader group.
I’m planning to write one more book in the Quantum Series, featuring Marlowe. The book will be called Famous and will be out in 2019.
As always, thank you to my husband, Dan Force, and the incredible team that supports me behind the scenes, including Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Holly Sullivan, Isabel Sullivan, Nikki Colquhoun, Jules Bernard, Jessica Estep, Kristina Brinton, Anne Woodall, Kara Conrad, Linda Ingmanson and Mila Grayson. I couldn’t do what I do without their help and support.
Thank you to my faithful readers who make this the best job I could ever hope to have. You’re the best!
xoxo
Marie
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Other Books By Marie Force
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Love Always Boxed Set, First Books in Four of Marie’s Bestselling Series
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The Quantum Series
Book 1: Virtuous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 2: Valorous
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 3: Victorious
(Flynn & Natalie)
Book 4: Rapturous
(Addie & Hayden)
Book 5: Ravenous
(Jasper & Ellie)
Book 6: Delirious
(Kristian & Aileen)
Book 7: Outrageous
(Emmett and Leah)
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Tame Quantum Series
All the romance, none of the kink…
Box Set 1, Books 1-3
Box Set 2, Books 4-6
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Contemporary Romances Available from Marie Force
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The Gansett Island Series
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-3
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 4-6
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 7-9
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 10-12
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-10.5
Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16
Book 1: Maid for Love
(Maddie & Mac)
Book 2: Fool for Love
(Joe & Janey)
Book 3: Ready for Love
(Luke & Sydney)
Book 4: Falling for Love
(Grant & Stephanie)
Book 5: Hoping for Love
(Evan & Grace)
Book 6: Season for Love
(Owen & Laura)
Book 7: Longing for Love
(Blaine & Tiffany)
Book 8: Waiting for Love
(Adam & Abby)
Book 9: Time for Love
(David & Daisy)
Book 10: Meant for Love
(Jenny & Alex)
Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)
Book 11: Gansett After Dark
(Owen & Laura)
Book 12: Kisses After Dark
(Shane & Katie)
Book 13: Love After Dark
(Paul & Hope)
Book 14: Celebration After Dark
(Big Mac & Linda)
Book 15: Desire After
Dark
(Slim & Erin)
Book 16: Light After Dark
(Mallory & Quinn)
Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)
Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)
A Gansett Island Christmas Novella
Book 19: Mine After Dark
(Riley & Nikki)
Book 20: Yours After Dark
(Finn McCarthy)
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The Green Mountain Series
Book 1: All You Need Is Love
(Will & Cameron)
Book 2: I Want to Hold Your Hand
(Nolan & Hannah)
Book 3: I Saw Her Standing There
(Colton & Lucy)
Book 4: And I Love Her
(Hunter & Megan)
Novella: You'll Be Mine
(Will & Cam’s Wedding)
Book 5: It's Only Love
(Gavin & Ella)
Book 6: Ain’t She Sweet
(Tyler & Charlotte)
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The Butler, Vermont Series
(Continuation of Green Mountain)
Book 1: Every Little Thing
(Grayson & Emma)
Book 2: Can’t Buy Me Love
(Mary & Patrick)
Book 3: Here Comes the Sun
(Wade & Mia)
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The Treading Water Series
Book 1: Treading Water
(Jack & Andi)
Book 2: Marking Time
(Clare & Aidan)
Book 3: Starting Over
(Brandon & Daphne)
Book 4: Coming Home
(Reid & Kate)
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Single Titles
Five Years Gone
Sex Machine
Sex God
Georgia on My Mind
True North
The Fall
Love at First Flight
Everyone Loves a Hero
Line of Scrimmage
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Romantic Suspense Novels Available from Marie Force
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The Fatal Series
One Night With You, A Fatal Series Prequel Novella
Book 1: Fatal Affair
Book 2: Fatal Justice
Book 3: Fatal Consequences
Book 3.5: Fatal Destiny The Wedding Novella
Book 4: Fatal Flaw
Book 5: Fatal Deception
Book 6: Fatal Mistake
Book 7: Fatal Jeopardy
Book 8: Fatal Scandal
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Book 10: Fatal Identity
Book 11: Fatal Threat
Book 12: Fatal Chaos
Book 13: Fatal Invasion
Book 14: Fatal Reckoning
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Single Title
The Wreck
About the Author
Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 7 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie's many reader groups. Contact Marie at [email protected].
