Hope Echoes

by Shannon Curtis

  She leaned into Mac’s side, enjoying the moment of being held by him, if only for friendly support. They walked up the carpeted stairs to the first-floor hallway, and along until Mac stood in front of room twelve. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside to let her in first.

  She crossed to the queen-sized bed and turned to sit down on it. Mac closed the door behind him, and came to sit next to her.

  He clasped her hand. ‘How are you?’ he asked.

  ‘Okay,’ she told him.

  He arched an eyebrow, and she sighed. ‘Fine. I’m a little shaky.’ She brushed at the tear that trickled down her cheek. ‘Go ahead, call me a wuss. That’s what I feel like at the moment.’

  He chuckled as he drew her close. She let him, ducking her head so she could rest against his broad chest. His heart beat, strong and regular, beneath her ear, and the rhythmic thump relaxed her.

  ‘You just took out the head of a crime syndicate, Jac. Wuss is not a word I’d use to describe you.’

  ‘Yeah? What would you use?’ She lifted her head to peer at him. She needed to know exactly where she stood with this man.

  He gazed down at her, then slid his hands up to cup her cheeks. ‘Strong,’ he whispered. ‘Amazing. Smart. Beautiful—’

  ‘You think I’m beautiful?’ she asked, surprised.

  He smiled. ‘Sexy, too.’

  Her cheeks warmed as his hands slid into her hair, and he gently drew out the elastic that held her ponytail. ‘Go on,’ she said, trying to keep her tone casual.

  He chuckled, a low, husky sound that slid over her skin like a lover’s caress. ‘Frustrating, irritating, trouble, pain in the a—’

  She thumped him in the shoulder. ‘Mac.’

  He wheezed with laughter, then sobered as he gently threaded his fingers through her long hair. ‘I was so scared for you,’ he whispered, scanning her face as though ensuring she really was okay. ‘When I realised Nielsen was involved, and then when we were in the car and you called…’ He swallowed. ‘We could hear you struggling.’

  She bit her lip. ‘I didn’t realise. I thought he’d disconnected the call.’

  ‘I thought I was going to have a heart attack when we heard the shots,’ he told her, his expression grim, the emotion in his eyes raw and vulnerable.

  She reached out to pat his leg. ‘I’m okay,’ she said, trying to take away the residual panic she saw.

  His lips quirked. ‘Are you trying to comfort me?’

  She smiled. ‘That’s what friends are for, right?’ The words fell out naturally. This was what he wanted, after all.

  His smile fell, his face serious as he shook his head. ‘No. Not friends.’ He tipped his head forward until his forehead gently touched hers. ‘My heart stopped when I saw you with Nielsen. All I could think about was making sure you were safe.’ He swallowed, and his hands clenched a little in her hair. ‘I thought I was going to lose you, and I couldn’t bear it.’

  Her heart rate picked up a little, and her breath hitched. She was afraid to speak, afraid to interrupt the moment… afraid of what he would or wouldn’t say.

  ‘You’re not just a friend to me, Jac,’ he whispered, angling his head, bringing his lips close to hers. ‘I don’t want to have some sort of casual, easy-come, easy-go relationship with you.’ His green hot gaze kissed her skin, so full of resolve, so full of heat. ‘I’m all in.’

  Jacinta could feel her smile dawn within her, a happiness that spread outward, bursting to full-blown joy. She lifted her chin the fraction of a millimetre required to press her lips against his, and kissed him. He let her, drawing her close. She lifted her arms around his neck, the blanket drifting off her shoulders. He kissed her back, his head angling, deepening the kiss from tender to sultry. He drew back, but only enough to meet her gaze.

  ‘I love you, Jac Buchanan,’ he told her quietly, his sincerity adding a weight and warmth to his words that made her want to hold them to her heart forever.

  She smiled, her gaze drifting from his lips to his glittering gaze. ‘Thank you,’ she said simply.

  His eyes narrowed, and he chuckled as he took her lips again in a hot kiss. She laughed huskily, and felt the world tilt as he lowered her to the bed. ‘I always knew you were trouble.’ He kissed her gently. ‘Marry me.’

  Her heart skipped a beat. ‘You want to marry me?’ That was more than she’d dared hope for…

  He nuzzled her neck. ‘I want you. Today, tomorrow, and forever after that. Besides, how else am I going to keep you out of trouble?’

  She punched him lightly on the shoulder, and he laughed into the dip between her neck and shoulder, his warm breath setting off a ripple-effect of nerve-endings awakening throughout her body. He lifted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes serious.

  ‘I love you. Marry me.’

  ‘Yes,’ she breathed, then laughed between the triumphant kisses he planted over her face and neck, until he took her lips in a soul-searing kiss that touched her even more deeply than his beautiful words. She kissed him back, and their lips and tongues tangled. The kisses became longer, steamier, and she caressed his jaw as she pulled back to look up at him.

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered, surprised that joy could be borne from such a dark day. She’d been so devastated that morning, so heartbroken. She’d been frightened beyond belief, and now she was so happy she could burst. Happy, and hopeful for the future together.

  He gathered her close, his gaze lit with a love that mirrored hers. ‘I love you, too.’

  ‘Even if I’m a so-called troublemaker?’

  He grinned. ‘Oh, you’re definitely trouble. Nothing so-called about it. It’s okay, though. I’m a police officer. I can handle trouble.’ He kissed her in that sweet, sensitive spot on her collarbone, and she shuddered.

  ‘Show me.’

  And so he did.

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Hope Echoes. I hope you enjoyed it.

  If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage; follow me on Twitter; like my Facebook page.

  You can also follow me through my publisher’s page here www.escapepublishing.com.au

  Reviews can help readers find books, and I am grateful for all honest reviews. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you’ve read, and what you thought.

  You’ve just read a book in the Echo Springs series. The books in this series are:

  Dangerous Echoes — Leisl Leighton

  Embers and Echoes — Daniel de Lorne

  Echoes of the Past — TJ Hamilton

  Hope Echoes —Shannon Curtis

  If you liked Hope Echoes, here are my other books:

  Available from Escape Publishing

  Enamoured

  Enraptured

  Available from Mira

  Runaway Lies

  Heart Breaker

  This book was published by Escape Publishing. If you’d like to sample some more great books from my fellow Escape Artists, please turn the page.

  Bestselling Titles by Escape Publishing...

  Dangerous Echoes

  Leisl Leighton

  Blue lights in the red dust...

  Echo Springs on the edge of the outback – a town where everyone knows your name, and your business. But the wholesome country living and welcoming community aren’t what they used to be. Echo Springs has a dark underbelly, and it is seeping ever outward.

  Brilliant forensic pathologist, Erika Hanson, fled from Echo Springs as a teenager, leaving behind a past of tragedy and pain. But when local police announce they’ve found her beloved brother’s body in a meth lab explosion, she knows she must return to clear Peter’s name and find out what really happened. Because Peter would never get involved with the drug tag sweeping across the small town of Australia and destroying lives.

  Hartley Cooper has a past with Erika Hanson, but that’s not going to keep him from doing his job. He’s seen what grief can do, and denial is only th
e first step. But Erika is convinced that Peter can’t be involved, and her meticulous, professional skills start to convince Hartley as well. When Erika’s digging and questions get too personal, the town turns against them, Hartley knows Erika might run again. But this time he’s ready. And he’s not going to let her go.

  Echo Springs, book 1

  Embers and Echoes

  Daniel de Lorne

  Blue lights in the red dust...

  Echo Springs on the edge of the outback – a town where everyone knows your name, and your business. But the wholesome country living and welcoming community aren’t what they used to be. Echo Springs has a dark underbelly, and it is seeping ever outward.

  A suspicious fire on the edge of town sets Constable Ben Fields on a collision course with firefighter and one–time friend Toby Grimshaw. When the investigation takes a troubling turn that calls the two professionals’ integrity into question, the heat gets turned up on Ben and Toby’s unresolved history. Ben’s got something to prove, but his love for Toby could cost him – and Echo Springs – everything. Meanwhile, will Toby overcome the horrors of his past and find a new future with Ben – or will it all go up in flames?

  Echo Springs, book 2

  Echoes of the Past

  TJ Hamilton

  Blue lights in the red dust...

  Echo Springs on the edge of the outback – a town where everyone knows your name, and your business. But the wholesome country living and welcoming community aren’t what they used to be. Echo Springs has a dark underbelly, and it is seeping ever outward.

  Born on the wrong side of the tracks to a family well–known for all the wrong reasons, Leila Mayne’s childhood was marked with suspicion and derision from the people of Echo Springs. But her heart has always belonged to this town, so after graduating from the academy, she returns sporting a shiny new badge and the desire to be an agent of change. But change isn’t easy, and Echo Springs isn’t ready to accept a Mayne on the right side of the law. Everyone except her childhood sweetheart, the man she ran away from and has spent her time trying to forget.

  Hayden is as big and beautiful and supportive as ever. But he has secrets, dark secrets. Secrets that could destroy the integrity and fresh start Leila has worked so hard for. When it comes to a battle between her heart and her badge, Leila knows that there can be no winners, and she will lose everything.

  Echo Springs, book 3

  The Echo Springs anthology is available in print September 2019.

  Echo Springs

  Leisl Leighton, Daniel DeLorne,

  TJ Hamilton and Shannon Curtis

  Wholesome country living isn’t what it used to be… This town has a dark side, but what will these cops sacrifice to save it? A compelling suspense, set in the outback.

  Blue lights in the red dust...

  Echo Springs on the edge of the outback – a town where everyone knows your name, and your business. But the wholesome country living and welcoming community aren’t what they used to be. Echo Springs has a dark underbelly, and it is seeping ever outward.

  Four cops...

  The small police station is overrun, and officers are working overtime to stem the tide of illegal activity from graffiti through to murder. From prickly Leila to heartsore Ben, Cooper with something to prove to Mac who’s driven to succeed, the Echo Springs force is determined to keep the town safe.

  Putting everything at risk...

  But the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been, and it’s not just the town these officers have to keep safe. It’s their hearts as well. With bullets flying and bodies piling up, they will have to decide how much they’re willing to risk and what they’re willing to lose.

  Look out for the Mindalby Outback Romance series, available now from Escape Publishing!

  Cotton Field Dreams

  SE Gilchrist

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  Sasha comes to Mindalby to recover from a traumatic event, plan her next move, and seek out information to avenge her beloved uncle — the last thing she wants is a relationship. But when she meets local single dad, Cole, she can’t help but be drawn to his warmth and his humour, and his two engaging children. Cole says and does all the right things, and Sasha finds herself falling, but will all of her secrets destroy the relationship before it has a chance to begin?

  Starting Over

  Susanne Bellamy

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  When fashion designer Serena Quinlan arrives in Mindalby for the annual cotton festival, she is hoping to do two things: meet local leather worker Paul Carey and check out all the 50-year-old men to see if they might be her father. She doesn’t expect the explosive attraction she feels towards Paul, nor the untimely and unwanted arrival of her ex-fiance. When her search for her father leads to unexpected results, Serena will be torn between the past she came searching for and the possibility of a future she never expected.

  More Than A Promise

  Lauren K McKellar

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  Asher is barely keeping her head above water, which is impressive given the drought-stricken land around her. Between her job at the real estate agent, her father’s reliance on the bottle, her estranged mother’s pushy texts, and her gorgeous daughter, Dakota, she has no time for relationships…even if Flynn Carmichael is the most beautiful man she’s ever seen. But Flynn is only in Mindalby for a short time, and Asher and Dakota have no space in their lives for a man not willing to put down roots.

  A Daughter’s Choice

  Lee Christine

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  Lynsey Carter’s relationship with her father is fraught, so when she hears that the cotton mill that is her birthright has closed down (and her father is lying low), she returns to Mindalby to support her mother and seek out answers. She hasn’t been back since high school, since she left her heart behind with Julian Stone.

  But Julian didn’t want it, or her; he wanted a life in Mindalby. Torn between family loyalty and duty to the community, between the life she’s built for herself and the passion for Julian she just can’t seem to shake, Lynsey needs to decide if her home-coming is for a visit – or for real.

  The Start of Something New

  Stacey Nash

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  When crisis counsellor Morgan Harris returns to his home town of Mindalby aft
er the town’s cotton mill closes, he has a hard time breaking through the townsfolk’s tough exterior and getting them to accept the help that he is offering. Mental health services are few and far between out in the bush, and Morgan has to fight ingrained prejudices before he will really be able to engage with the people who need him the most.

  However, he has no problems engaging with Hannah Burton, the younger sister of his high school best friend. Their attraction is instant and insistent, and very inconvenient. Morgan is here to work, and Hannah is fighting battles of her own – trying to save the family farm from going under in the face of the mill’s closure.

  Making Memories

  Kerrie Paterson

  Mindalby, a small town, a community, a home. But when the mill that supports the local cotton farmers and employs many of the town’s residents closes unexpectedly, old tensions are exposed and new rifts develop. Everyone is affected and some react better than others, but one thing is certain: living on the edge of the outback means they have to survive together, or let their town die.

  Callie has been the IT manager at the Mindalby cotton mill for all of her adult working life, and when it closes down, she realises that she has let everything else slide – including her own dreams. Seizing on the closure as a sign, she decides to open up a craft and quilting shop in town, pursuing her own interests and hobbies and taking a risk for the first time since her husband ran off with her best friend.