Don't Be Afraid

by C. A. Harms

  “I’m the lucky one.” Gage took my face in his hands as he pressed his lips to mine. “A beautiful wife and daughter, a son on the way. What more could any man wish for?”

  “I love you, Gage Aaron Mitchell, so very much.”

  “And I love you too.”

  A year and half ago I said yes when Gage asked me to marry him. We’d spent the first four years of our relationship just living, just like Patrick wanted us to. We took Abby on trips to see the world, and we loved hard and unconditionally. We weren’t afraid. We let go of the guilt and instead welcomed the memories of Pat. We brought him into our love, and even if only in spirit, he was still there.

  I had a sweet little girl who reminded me every day of the love I shared with such a beautiful man. She was her daddy’s girl with his dark hair and those same gorgeous eyes. Oh, and that smile. God, her smile was Patrick through and through.

  I was lucky enough to have two great loves in my lifetime. One who gave me the most precious girl and taught me to love without hesitation; to go to bed each night without grudges and to live to the fullest and smile so much it made my cheeks ache.

  The other love held me safely and assured me I’d always be treasured.

  I’d spend the rest of life thanking my angel above for the love he shared and the life he gave me.

  I’ll always love you, Patrick. And now I love him too.

  THANK YOU

  I am still so very humbled that you, as a reader have read my story. Each day it baffles me, as I’m just a girl with a dream. I love to write, and share the worlds I’ve created in my mind with all that are willing to take that journey with me.

  Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart. Search for that epic kind of love, we all deserve to live it.

  Acknowledgments

  KRISTIN LAZARUS-WOOD, Travis Keen, Jean Maureen Woodfin and all of your team, thank you so very much for capturing that perfect image. It is absolutely perfect. So much emotion, that epic kind of depth I was hoping for when writing this story. I needed that, hold on tight and please don’t ever let go feel, and you gave it to me. I knew going in that this book needed a specific kind of cover, one that held every bit of the emotions I felt while writing it. One look at this image and I just knew. It gave me everything and more and I truly cannot thank you all enough. Perfection, and even that is not a strong enough of a word for the beauty it holds and for the talent you all have.

  MELISSA GILL, MGBOOK Covers and Designs, once again you’ve managed to take the perfect image and make it even better. Thank you for making this cover exactly what I had hoped for and more.

  THE CHARMED GIRLS, YOU ARE all amazing. The continued support you show me is something I will never be able to express just how much it means to me. Thank you all for sharing my work and for just being you. You are all the greatest bunch of ladies.

  THANK YOU, LYDIA, because you are a true friend and motivator, always making me laugh and smile. We are an amazing team, and your friendship means more than I could ever express. Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders and for all your hard work and dedication.

  MEGAN, MY PA, you rock. You make everything so much simpler and easy for me to focus on my words. You offer me a kick when I need it and an ear when I’m stumped. You are a godsend, and I truly appreciate all you do.

  BETA TEAM, YOU know who you are. Thank you all so very much for taking this journey with me. Your feedback and encouraging words along the way made this story mean so much more to me. I know this one was a hard read, and lots of tissues were involved, but you are troopers and stayed with me even though I know I’ll see therapy bills int he future ;) Without you all, it wouldn’t be what it is now.

  TO MY HUSBAND AND children, thank you for being the best part of my days. For tolerating me when I get lost in the world of fiction and understanding that sometimes dinner may be a little late. Jayden and Tayler, no matter how many books I write, you two will always be my best creations.

  MY READERS, I AM always so humbled by your support. Those random messages I received after you read my books, whether it be something big or small, I truly love them. Hearing what you think, in my eyes, is one of the greatest things about releasing a new book. I am never too busy for you.

  About the Author

  C.A. Harms is a lover of HEA stories, mixed with a little heat and drama make it perfect. She needs some excitement, some angst, and moments that make her fan her face are always good too. She's an Illinois girl, born and raised. Simple and true, it honestly doesn’t take much to make her happy. She loves the little things; they truly mean the most. She may have a slight addiction to her Keurig—oh my, that thing is a godsend. And so fast too. She is the mother of two children who truly are her very best friends, and their faces never fail to put a smile on her face. She has been married to her husband for eighteen years, and looks forward to many more. Even after all these years he is still able to make her heart skip a beat.

  She is one of those authors that adores her fans and loves to hear from them. After all, it is because of each one of you that she continues to write.

  Beside to follow her and stay up-to-date on all her upcoming release and news.

  Website - https://www.authorcaharms.com/

  Newsletter - http://bit.ly/1xsgHCS

  Also by C. A. Harms

  Healing Hope

  Ryan’s Love

  Whisper Forever