In A Heartbeat (The Shameful Regret Series)

by King, Liz

  “We’ll see. Is her dad coming by later?” Dr Greene asks as he pulls Lynae’s gown up and her sheet down, exposing her abdomen.

  I nod my head. “Uh huh.” I grasp Lynae’s hand in mine a little tighter. I don’t know if what Dr Greene is doing to her will hurt her or not, or if she even knows that he’s doing something to her, but I want to be her to know that I’m right here. I watch as the technician that came in with Dr Greene squirts some clear gel on her belly, then starts moving some wand looking thing over it. A black and white grainy image appears on the screen of the machine. Dr Greene and the technician press a few buttons, and adjust the angle and position of the wand thing.

  Swoosh. Swoosh. Swoosh.

  I can’t take my eyes off of the screen. “What’s that?” I ask as the rapid noise fills the room. I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. It can’t be what I think it is.

  “It’s your baby’s heartbeat.” Dr Greene responds with a knowing grin. “So far it looks like the baby is unharmed. Everything looks normal.”

  My emotions surge as the hand that I’m holding tightens around my fingers. My heart stops beating when I hear the most beautiful sound ever.

  “Connor?”

  The End

  Connor and Lynae’s story continues in

  Make My Heart Beat, Book Two of The Shameful Regret Series

  Coming Spring 2014

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my husband for putting up with me while I sat for endless hours arguing with the characters inside my head. Sean, you are the love of my life, and you give me strength to do whatever I set my mind to. I thank you for sitting there and letting me ramble on about In A Heartbeat and all of my other “book” talk over the months. I love you!

  Sofie Hartley, I can’t even begin to tell you how much your friendship means to me. You have been my sounding board, my support system, and my awesome sauce! I don’t think I would have had the courage to let In A Heartbeat out of my head if it weren’t for you telling me to just believe in myself and follow my heart. We have laughed, cried, and yelled over these past months, and I wouldn’t trade a singe second of it. Sofie, I mcchicken you! (And so does Wade!)

  Glenna Maynard, my TBIC, you are a fantastic friend. You have been with me from the very beginning, when In A Heartbeat was just a fleeting thought in my mind. From our aimless chatting about book boyfriends to life in general. What started out just as only a common interest in books has turned into an amazing friendship. We too have laughed until we cried, and were there for each other when we needed a shoulder to lean on. I loves my TBIC!

  Rachel Brookes, you and I have “researched” a lot together. I can’t thank you enough for all of your support and insights while writing In A Heartbeat. Connor Reeves would not be who he is without our little “research” sessions dreaming up the perfect book boyfriend. I am so grateful for our friendship, and everything you have done for me while I was taking this amazing journey into letting my story out. I may have to let you have more than one weekend with our favorite tattooed hunk of man candy (even if it is only in our heads)!

  There are so many others who have been a tremendous support to me as I took this leap into writing. Justine Elvira, M.S. Willis, Morgan Jane, Carrie Stadtler, Saoching Moose, Carolina Anderson, and so many others. Thank you for listening to me, encouraging me and just for being there for me as In A Heartbeat came to life!

  About The Author

  Liz King is a wife, nurse and romance book blogger. In A Heartbeat is her debut novel. She lives in South Carolina with her family. Reading is a passion of hers, and writing is always something she wanted to do. Liz is addicted to gummy bears and coffee, even though her family and friends don’t think she needs caffeine to add to her already energetic personality. She’s obsessed with the 1980’s and loves to sing even though she can’t carry a tune. Liz loves college football and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains with her husband.

  http://www.facebook.com/authorlizking