Identity Withheld

by Sandra Orchard

She moistened her lips. “Today is the happiest. I love you with all of my heart.”

  He crushed her to his chest, capturing her lips in a possessive kiss that held nothing back. Sherri cleared her throat, reminding them of their audience, and he relaxed his embrace with an unapologetic grin. “How do you feel about a Christmas wedding?”

  EPILOGUE

  Jake turned his truck onto his street and glanced across the seat at his future in-laws. They looked as nervous as he felt, and this time the fluttery sensation in his stomach wasn’t the euphoria he hoped he never stopped feeling whenever he was about to see his bride-to-be.

  No, today the gymnastics in his stomach had nothing to do with anticipation.

  Flying in his bride-to-be’s estranged parents suddenly did not feel like the kind of surprise he should spring on Kara without warning.

  “It sounds as if you have a fine family, Jake. And I can tell by the way you talk about our daughter that you love her very much.” Mr. Redman reached for his wife’s hand and twined his fingers through hers, a testament to their enduring affection that he hoped could only bode well for their upcoming reunion with Kara.

  “Nicole always wanted lots of cousins and aunts and uncles and siblings,” Mrs. Redman added wistfully.

  Jake chuckled. “Yeah, she’s mentioned that a few times.” He still didn’t understand why Kara—the name she’d decided to keep since it was as Kara that she’d found her forever love—hadn’t jumped at the green light to call her parents the second the deputy marshal had officially released her from witness security. He’d worried that she was afraid they’d make a big stink about her staying in Washington State instead of returning to Boston, and that she didn’t want to spoil their first Christmas together, and possibly the wedding.

  But her parents didn’t act as if they’d make a fuss. And despite Kara’s dismissal of his offer to put off the wedding so that her friends and family might have more time to make plans to join them, or even to have the wedding in Boston, he’d sensed yearning rippling beneath her no.

  As they rounded the bend, Mrs. Redman gasped and pointed to the windshield. “There she is.”

  Kara and Tommy were hanging spruce garland and Christmas lights along the porch rails. Her eyes had gleamed when she’d asked him if he’d mind her decorating his house for the holidays. Growing up in an apartment, she’d always dreamed of having a real tree and decorating outdoors and having a big Christmas dinner, she’d said, and he was looking forward to taking her and Tommy on her first tree-hunting expedition tomorrow.

  Rusty pinched a velvet bow from the garland and a mad chase ensued, ending in a three-way tug-of-war with Kara’s hair tangling around her face, laughter filling the air.

  “I’ve never seen her happier,” Mr. Redman said, his voice cracking.

  His heart hammering, Jake prayed he could say the same a few minutes from now. He flicked on his signal for the driveway and Kara whirled toward the truck. Her arm froze midwave, her gaze connecting with her parents. Her jaw dropped open.

  Jake parked across from where she continued to stand like a gorgeous Greek statue, minus that gaping mouth. Tommy raced to the passenger side of the truck and yanked open the door, Rusty yipping at his heels. “Hi, I’m Tommy,” he said as Jake rounded the truck, needing to close the distance between Kara and him before she recovered from the shock.

  Mrs. Redman hopped from the truck and hunkered down in front of Tommy. “Well, hello, Tommy. I’m Mrs. Redman....”

  Jake clasped Kara’s hands and dipped his head to capture her gaze. It remained fixed on her mother, now caught in a neck hug with his son, who was enthusiastically telling the world he’d always wanted another grandmother. “Am I in the doghouse?”

  Kara blinked and looked at him. “You called my parents,” she whispered.

  He thumbed the diamond solitaire glittering on her finger and gave her a sheepish look. “I didn’t feel right marrying you among all my family and friends and not at least making the effort. You may be all grown-up, but you’re still their little girl. Trust me, no parent wants to miss such an important day in their child’s life. I feel terrible if I have to miss one of the events at Tommy’s kids’ club.”

  She snorted. “My parents didn’t share your sentiment.” Her gaze strayed to her father, who was edging his way across the truck seat toward the door, looking a lot older and warier than he had a few minutes ago. She turned her back to the truck. “At least not my dad. He never even made it to my high school graduation ceremony.”

  “I heard,” Jake said.

  “You did?”

  “I was telling him on the drive from the airport,” her dad said from behind her. “I felt terrible about missing it. I even rented a car to try to get home in time when my flight got diverted because of the storm.”

  Kate spun on her heel to face him. “The weather was perfect on my graduation day.”

  “Not the day before,” her father said softly.

  “You left a day early? Really?”

  Jake brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “He said he tried to explain, but you wouldn’t talk to him.”

  “I thought he was just making excuses.”

  Her dad shook his head. “Not that time. But I can’t blame you for thinking as much. I missed far too many important days in your life. And I’m sorry for that.” He reached for her hands. “But I was determined not to miss this one. The instant I got off the phone with Jake, I booked the first flight I could get.”

  She stared at him, looking dumbfounded. “But you didn’t seem to care when I told you that I needed to be out of contact for a while.”

  “Didn’t care?” Disbelief pitched his voice higher. “I’ve been on the phone with the police every day for the past three months, getting assurances you were still alive. Don’t you know how much I love you?”

  Kara threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Her father pulled back, his hands still on her shoulders, and looked at her with tears in his eyes. “Me, too, sweetie. Me, too.”

  Jake sidled closer and gave her a sideways hug. “So you like your surprise?”

  Giving him a wink, her father stepped back. “Excuse me. I need to meet my grandson.”

  Kara soared into Jake’s arms. “Thank you!” She tipped her head back and gave him a teasingly scolding look. “Not that I want you to make a habit of not listening to me, you understand, but—” she pressed a palm to her mouth “—I was afraid they wouldn’t want to come. I figured it would hurt less not to ask than to have them not show up.”

  “Oh, babe...” He pulled her close and kissed her sweet lips. “There’s no place they’d rather be.” He traced her moistened lips with the pad of his thumb, his heart beating wildly. “But I should warn you to enjoy their visit now—” he kissed the tip of her nose and quirked his lips mischievously “—because after our wedding, I’m not sharing you with anyone for at least a week.” He tugged her closer. She smelled like Christmas trees and fresh air and...cinnamon. “Mmm. Maybe two weeks. I like to take my time unwrapping my Christmas presents.”

  A becoming blush rosied her cheeks. “I don’t know.... Tommy might not be so easily won over to the idea of a two-week honeymoon. You’ve already agreed to let him keep the dog at our house. What will be next? A cat?”

  “Hmm.” He nibbled her bottom lip. “How about a baby brother or sister?”

  Her joyous laughter filled the recesses of his soul.

  Hugging her close, he twirled her in a circle. “You are the best Christmas gift I could ever have hoped for.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from PERILOUS REFUGE by Kathleen Tailer.

  Dear Reader,

  We daily face moral choices in the little things we choose to do or say,
or not do or say, and probably spend little time contemplating the consequences beforehand. Although when we do, we tend to make choices that limit our own discomfort, don’t we?

  Despite her boyfriend’s warning, Kara couldn’t have imagined the dire situation she’d face by reporting what she saw in the park. Yet even in the midst of her troubles, Kara knows she couldn’t have lived with herself if she’d made a different choice. Jake faces similar crossroads throughout the story—times when he could choose to back away from helping Kara for his family’s safety, a noble reason. Yet, he doesn’t.

  How about you? Has Kara and Jake’s story inspired you to make a hard decision in your own life and trust God for the outcome? I’d love to hear about it and pray for you. You can reach me via email at sandraorchard@ymail.com, or at www.facebook.com/SandraOrchard.

  I’m superexcited to share paramedic Sherri Steele’s story in the new year. To learn more about that and explore fun bonus features for all of my novels, please visit me online at www.sandraorchard.com and sign up for my newsletter for exclusive subscriber giveaways—including more Christmas stories!

  Sincerely,

  Sandra Orchard

  Questions for Discussion

  In Kara’s experience, beginning with her father, men can’t be counted on to be there when needed. How a person relates to his or her father can have a huge impact on how he or she sees God. How have your childhood experiences affected your perception of God?

  Jake felt as if he let his wife down in failing to prevent her death. Have you (or someone you cared about) ever lost a spouse, or suffered under such grief that you mistakenly blamed yourself as Jake did in regards to his wife’s death?

  Have you ever felt a strong moral responsibility similar to Kara’s over reporting what she witnessed in the park? Have you ever had a well-meaning friend try to talk you out of it? What did you do?

  Where or to whom do you turn to find the courage to do what is right?

  Kara always yearned to share with her parents more of the traditions that accompany holiday celebrations, such as decorating and sharing meals with extended family or friends. What does a perfect holiday celebration look like for you?

  The deputy marshal handling Kara’s witness protection warned her to never tell anyone who she really is and to not trust anyone, because the person could be luring her into a false sense of security. Have you ever trusted someone you shouldn’t have? What happened?

  How do you decide if someone can be trusted? What precautions do you take to guard against your trust being used against you?

  At the outset of the story, Jake has a low opinion of the dog his parents adopted for his son. Have you ever had a pet or known a pet that turned out to give back so much more than you had imagined?

  Jake’s parents took Kara into their home without hesitation and offered her a room to stay as long as she needed it. Does that kind of hospitality come naturally to you, or do you find it difficult to open your home to outsiders? Why do you think that is?

  Since losing his wife, his son was Jake’s world. Yet experts warn married couples against putting their children (aside from basic needs) ahead of their spouse. What do you think?

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

  You enjoy a dash of danger. Love Inspired Suspense stories feature strong heroes and heroines whose faith is central in solving mysteries and saving lives.

  Enjoy four new stories from Love Inspired Suspense every month!

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  PROLOGUE

  Cecilia Rigo rubbed her forehead, but the ache simply wouldn’t go away. It was past two in the morning, but Mr. Roderick Carver, CEO of Carver Enterprises, wanted to go over the books one more time, and she would do as her employer asked. They could go over them fifty more times, but the numbers wouldn’t change and neither would the fact that someone had been skimming large sums of money from the real-estate company. Cecilia closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. Everything pointed toward Justin Carver, her boss’s only child, as the guilty party, but Mr. Carver was desperately searching for any other answer.

  Cecilia looked over at Mr. Carver and noticed the grayness of his skin and the heavy lines around his eyes. He seemed to have aged thirty years as the knowledge of his son’s treachery seeped within him.

  “I think I’ll go get us some coffee,” she said softly. She met his eyes and gave him a tired smile, then patted his hand and left for the kitchen. She had worked so long and closely with him that he had become a father figure to her, and she wanted to do whatever she could to ease the pain he was undoubtedly feeling.

  “Thank you, Cecilia. I don’t know what I would do without you.” His voice was rough, and she knew he was holding back the tears.

  She went to the kitchen and prepared the coffee, then pulled two cups from the cabinet. The gunshot shocked her so much that she dropped one of the mugs and it shattered against the tiled floor. She rushed back to the room to see Justin standing over his father’s inert body, the blood from the older man’s head wound already seeping silently across the desk.

  Justin smiled at her, but it was a sinister smile and fear swept down her spine. “Just in time, my dear. I’m afraid my father shot you and then killed himself when he found out how you had been stealing from him.” He pointed the gun at her chest. “Not even those pretty brown eyes of yours could convince him to spare your life. It’s sad, really. What a waste.” He narrowed his eyes. “Now move slowly into the room.”

  Despite the fear that was coursing through her body, she somehow managed to form a vehement reply. “I never stole from him. You’re the one that has been embezzling money and padding your own personal accounts.”

  Justin shrugged. “That may well be true, but I can always forge some documents to shift the blame to you if necessary. It’s a pity that you won’t be here to defend yourself.”

  Cecilia didn’t think. She threw the remaining mug at Justin’s head and hit the ground, just as another gunshot rang out and the bullet hit the chair cushion beside her. A puff of feathers flew into the air as she quickly crawled on her hands and knees back toward the kitchen, her heart banging against her chest. Another bullet hit the drywall just above her head as she reached the kitchen, got to her feet and started running down the hallway. The next bullet grazed her cheek and she could feel the blood, wet and sticky, dripping down her neck. She barely noticed the pain as she darted into the library.

  “There’s no place for you to go,” Justin called out loudly, his voice matter-of-fact. “My people are all over this building and the grounds, as well.” His footsteps echoed off of the tiled floor as he followed her down the hall, and with each step Cecilia shook even more. He was so confident in his words that he walked in an even gait with no hurry whatsoever. She tried to slow her breathing so the sound wouldn’t give her location away, but she was so scared she could barely control her gasps for air.

  She looked desperately around the room but didn’t see any place to hide from her pursuer. Her adrenaline surged as she heard the footsteps coming closer and closer. To the left she caught sight of the exit to the balcony and she flung herself through the double doors and looked urgently around the gardens below. They were on the third story of the building and she had never been good with heights. A wave of vertigo swept over her, but she had no other options.

  With a quick prayer, she quickly closed the doors behind her, then put her leg across the railing and hoisted herself over, searching for toeholds in the redbrick that would keep
her from tumbling to the ground. Slowly she maneuvered her body onto a small ledge underneath the balcony and into the shadows. Her right foot slipped and she let out a soft cry, but the sound was masked by Justin throwing open the door and stepping out onto the balcony himself. Thankfully, she was able to wedge herself against the ornate marble window dressing and hold herself immobile.

  She could hear Justin saunter confidently to the railing, and she tried to hold her breath as his shoes clicked on the balcony tile. With each step, she grew more certain that he would discover her hiding place and her life would be over. Her heart was beating so frantically that it was ringing in her ears and a wave of nausea caught in her throat.

  Suddenly, Justin’s cell phone buzzed and broke the silence. Her body jolted with surprise and she nearly lost her hold.

  “No, she’s not here,” Justin said loudly, his voice tinged with frustration. “Looks like she jumped, but I don’t see her anywhere below, so she must have made it.” He hit his hand against the railing. “I can’t believe this! You had better find her! She can’t be allowed off the property. Do you hear me? I want her dead!”

  Copyright © 2014 by Kathleen Tailer

  ISBN-13: 9781460342435

  Identify Withheld

  Copyright © 2014 by Sandra van den Bogerd

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