Catching her breath, she replied. “Through the great room, down the hall, second door on the right.”
Michael dashed off with Jake and she went back to retrieving the condiments. The doorbell rang again.
Who could that be? All of the guests were already there. She padded down the hallway and opened the door.
Logan stood before her, his hair aglow from the late afternoon sun behind him. “Hello, Jenessa.”
“I’m glad to see they let you out already.”
“I hear I have you to thank for that.”
“Well…not just me. How did you know I was here?”
“I was driving by and saw your car. It’s kind of hard to miss that little gem.” He smiled and his intensely blue eyes searched hers.
“Do you want to come in?” she asked.
“No.” He looked past her and into the house. “I can see your aunt is having a party, I don’t want to intrude. I just wanted to thank you for not giving up on me, for pushing the cops to keep working the case.”
“I only wanted to get to the truth, Logan.” It was the only reason she could give to him. She couldn’t tell him she had hoped with all her heart that the father of her child wasn’t a killer, or that every time she saw him her heart skipped a beat, or that she was forever inextricably connected to him because of their son, whether she liked it or not.
“You know, while Dad’s locked up, he left me in charge of his companies. Who would have thought?”
“I can see that.”
“I hope I can prove to him that I’m capable of taking over the reins of his empire one day.”
“Oh, I never doubted it, Logan.” In fact, she did have her doubts, but he seemed to need some encouragement and what would it hurt to give him a little?
“I meant what I said. I’ve never stopped loving you.” He took her hand. “I hope one day you can see I am worthy of you now.”
“Logan, please don’t say that.” She pulled her hand away.
“I’ve changed, Jenessa. I know now that I made a huge mistake letting you go.”
“Just me?”
“And our son.”
“I can’t do this, Logan.” She wanted to close the door, wanted him to leave. He must have seen it in her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I only wanted to thank you and to…well…ask for your forgiveness. Do you think you can ever forgive me for what I did to you?”
Forgive him? For all the years of pain and heartache he caused her? She wanted to—to be set free of it—but could it really be that easy? To simply decide to forgive and then say it?
A noise behind her drew her attention and she glanced over her shoulder. Michael was taking little Jake back out to the pool. Her gaze drifted beyond them, to the others who were laughing and chatting and splashing about in the water.
She was part of a family again, a good family. It was like she had been given a second chance. That realization brought a sudden rush of warmth to her heart and it caused something hard inside of her to melt.
“Jenessa?” Logan was waiting for her answer.
She turned back to her old boyfriend and gave him a winsome smile. “Yes, Logan, I forgive you.”
The End
Afterword
I hope you were as excited and entertained reading The Lake House Secret as I was when writing it. If you did enjoy the romance and suspense of The Lake House Secret, I would like to ask you a favor to go back to Amazon and leave a review. We indie authors live and die by our reviews.
Want more romance/suspense? Just check out the next section!
~*~
Other Works by Debra Burroughs
The Scent of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book One
An engaging, fast-paced murder mystery with a sensual, but sweet romance. Think “Sex and the City” meets “Nancy Drew.”
Praise for The Scent of Lies…
“The Scent of Lies caught my attention on the first page and kept me engaged until the last. Main character, Emily Parker, is a likable, vulnerable, sassy, hotheaded, smart woman surrounded by loving friends. This cleverly crafted story takes the reader on an engaging romp through hidden clues, romance, crime and murder.”
~ Janis McNutt
Amazon Reviewer
“Debra Burroughs has once again had me addicted to my kindle. I love the characters in this book. They are so real and so likable you want them for your own. Each time I thought I knew who the killer was, there would be some kind of twist to make me question myself. I was rooting for Emily from the beginning. Can she solve this murder and really become the private investigator that she truly wants to be? She proves herself to all of those who doubt her.”
~ Yvonne Havens
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample The Scent of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Heart of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book Two
Online dating can be murder. The Heart of Lies is a captivating and suspenseful mystery with a healthy dose of real romance.
What people are saying about The Heart of Lies…
“I enjoyed every page of this book, The mystery draws you in but the relationship between Emily and Colin keeps you wanting more… I can’t wait to continue reading about these characters, and digging deeper into the mystery in Paradise Valley!!”
~ J Douglas
Amazon Reviewer
“This book has proven to be a five-star sequel to The Scent of Lies. Don’t let the author’s clean writing fool you, the passion and sexual tension between Private Investigator Emily and Detective Colin is delicious.”
~ jne2003
Amazon Reviewer
“I loved the characters and the intense story line. I am currently reading book 3. So far I love this author and will be reading more of her books. I can’t wait to find out the outcome of the mystery of Evan.”
~ Natalie Hardie
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample The Heart of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Chain of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book Three
A sensual and gripping story with murder, romance, mystery, and intrigue—think “Sex and the City” meets “Women’s Murder Club”.
Praise for The Chain of Lies…
“The book was great! I loved this book the best out of all three!! I sure hope you write another one so we can find out what happens to Collin and Emily and the others. You can’t leave us hanging. I love the characters in this book. You did such a wonderful job when you wrote these books, I felt like I was in the books. Thanks for being such a great writer. I couldn’t put the books down - some of them I read in one day!!”
~ Melinda Becker
Amazon Reviewer
“Psychological, mysterious, suspenseful and above all provocative and intriguing your mind. The mastery of the author is undeniable, style is enviable, narrative – awesome…”
~ Boyko Ovcharov
Amazon Reader
To purchase or sample The Chain of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Pursuit of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book Four
A sassy, sexy small town private eye, Emily Parker’s world is flipped upside down when the man she loves is accused of murdering a female Assistant District Attorney, with whom the police believe he was having an affair. Emily must fight to prove him innocent, with the help of her friends, as she struggles against her own doubts.
Praise for The Pursuit of Lies…
“Wow, a real page turner! I had no idea in what direction it was going to go. The gang of Paradise Valley did it again. You will not be disappointed with yet again a thrilling book!
~ Jen Douglas
Amazon Reviewer
“Well written. Just the right amount of suspense and romance. Liked the characters, they each have unique personalities that combine to make a very unusual group of friends. Never a dull moment!”
~ Ali3698
> Amazon Reviewer
“Each time Ms. Burroughs puts out a new book I can’t wait to download it. And once again the folks of Paradise Valley don’t disappoint. Since this is the fourth book, it’s almost like reading about people you know and can’t wait to catch up with. From the first page I was intrigued and caught up in the plot. I really enjoyed the entire book and was kept guessing till the end.”
~ Janet
Amazon Reader
To purchase or sample The Pursuit of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Betrayal of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book Five
Feisty private eye, Emily Parker, is finally moving forward in her relationship with the hunky police detective—that is, until a new friend suddenly goes missing. Suspicions are flying that one of Emily’s closest girlfriends may be involved. Emily and Detective Andrews find themselves locked in a desperate race to solve the mystery of who abducted the woman and rescue her before someone winds up dead.
Praise for The Betrayal of Lies…
“Debra does it again with another great read. Love her!! Thank you for writing books that are enjoyable to read and keep you wanting to know ‘who done it’.”
~ Natalie Hardy
Amazon Reviewer
“I wish I could have given it more than 5 stars… I had a hard time putting the book down. Debra never fails to deliver a captivating story line. I loved the mystery all the way to the end!”
~ J. Douglas
Amazon Reviewer
“Fabulous book! Waiting anxiously for the next in the series. This set is one that stays on my Kindle for rereading! Characters are well-developed, locations are believable and the story has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.”
~ Copperlisa
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample The Betrayal of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Edge of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Short Story Prequel
As the Prequel to the Paradise Valley Mystery series, The Edge of Lies is a short story that reveals the captivating love story of Emily and Evan, the secrets he kept from her, and how they ended up in Paradise Valley. When love is blind, maybe she needs her eyes opened.
Praise for The Edge of Lies…
“Debra Burroughs has done it again!! She makes her characters real people that I have come to know and love. I feel the emotions that each character is going through. This was the beginning foundation that was needed for the following Paradise Valley series. I have read all of the series and now I understand the main character and some of the questions I had are answered. I love a good romantic mystery and this one fits.
~ Judy 4 Eyes
Amazon Reviewer
“This is a terrific short story prequel to a full length mystery series. It does everything a prequel should. It entices AND satisfies. Evan and Emily are interesting, engaging characters. On the surface they are loving newlyweds starting their life together in Paradise Valley, Idaho. But clearly danger lurks beneath. Taut writing and a gift for mystery has sent me scampering to buy the next book in the series. Highly recommended!
~ Windigo
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample The Edge of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
The Color of Lies, A Paradise Valley Mystery: Short Story, Bridge between Books 4 and 5
This short story is a bridge between The Pursuit of Lies, Book 4, and The Betrayal of Lies, Book 5, in the Paradise Valley Mystery series. If you have been following along in the series, you have watched Emily and Colin fall in love and their relationship blossom. You will have also seen them fight crime together and on opposite sides of a case, him as the police detective and her as the private investigator. The Color of Lies is Colin’s story before he arrived in Paradise Valley.
Praise for The Color of Lies…
“This is a great short story! I loved it! It was finally nice to find out what really happened to Miranda. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait for the next one!
~ Melinda Becker
Amazon Reviewer
“I couldn’t put the book down…I’ve grown attached to Emily and Colin and Paradise Valley. I really liked getting the background story on Colin, as he’s been a little bit of a mystery in the series, never really knowing the real him at all. You finally see the real him and learn more about his past. I can’t wait to see what the final chapter has in store for the gang.
~ JenDoug
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample The Color of Lies, simply click here.
~*~
Three Days in Seattle
Kate’s sister is missing and her captor is a psychopath. Is the handsome stranger Kate met at the airport going to help her, or is he somehow involved? The desperate race is on to find the sister before both women wind up dead.
What people are saying about Three Days in Seattle…
“I was sucked in from the first page, compelled to read on. The author gives you just enough information to make you want more. It keeps you reading until the very end, trying to put all of the pieces together. The romance is sweet and balances out the suspense just right. The couple ends up fitting a lot of relationship into three days…all while trying to find out what happened to Kate’s sister and protect Kate from the madman out for revenge. This is a great read if you are a fan of suspense and romance.”
~ Wilovebooks
Amazon Reviewer
“All right, I gotta admit, I’m not much of a mystery/suspense fan, but Debra Burroughs is one darn good author! The story sucked me in from the beginning, and I was on pins and needles waiting for the climax. Keep up the great work!”
~ Mimi Russ
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample Three Days in Seattle, simply click here.
About The Author
Debra Burroughs grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Most days she can be found sitting in front of her computer, dreaming up interesting and exciting characters and story lines.
If you’ve ever read any of her books, you’ll agree that Debra writes with intensity and power. Her characters are rich and the stories are full of compelling suspense and real romance. If you’re looking for graphic violence and explicit sex scenes, hers are not the books for you. But if you’re looking for stories with heart-fluttering real romance and “I can’t put this book down” suspense that will entertain you, grab your attention, touch your heart, and leave you wanting more, then dive into one of her captivating books.
Contact Information
Debra Burroughs would love to hear from you!
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.DebraBurroughsBooks.com
Or connect with her on Social Media:
Twitter: @DebraBurroughs
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debraburroughsbooks
This book is dedicated to my amazing husband, Tim, who has loved me and encouraged me every day of our livestogether to do what I love – writing.
I also dedicate this book to my awesome Beta Readers, also known as The Beta Babes, Buffy Drewett, Cathy Tomlinson, and Janet Lewis, who inspire me and help me with their words of encouragement and critique.
Finally, this short story would not be what it is today without my incredibly picky and awesome editor, Lisa Dawn Martínez, The Finicky Editor.
THE LAKE HOUSE SECRET
Copyright © 2013 by Debra Burroughs. All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of Debra Burroughs.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. And any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead (or in any ot
her form), business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First eBook Edition: 2013
First Paperback Edition: 2014
By Lake House Books, Boise, Idaho
Table of Contents
Main Menu
Start Reading
Afterword
About the Author
Copyright
Other Works by Debra Burroughs
The Scent of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book 1
The Heart of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book 2
The Chain of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book 3
The Pursuit of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: Book 4
The Edge of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: A short story prequel
The Color of Lies – A Paradise Valley Mystery: A Short Story Bridge Between Books 4 and 5
Three Days in Seattle
Chapters:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | Afterword
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The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery) Page 26
