This time, he laughed, not loudly, but it was a soft chuckle that took some of the edge off. “Yes, you will. You’ll question me, you’ll argue with me, and you’ll be a pain in the ass. You’ll probably never do as you’re told.”
She couldn’t believe he’d said that! He reached for her and pulled her into his arms.
“Does this mean…?” She couldn’t finish her question.
“Well, if you want an unemployed ex-oilman with no prospects on the horizon, you’ve got him.”
She slid her arms up over his shoulder and stood on her tiptoes just as Ben slid his hands over her hips and her butt and lifted her. Lowering his head, he kissed her.
“I’ll take you any way I can get you,” she said, and she touched her lips to his and kissed him.
Epilogue
Ben looked over at Carrie, sound asleep in her small double bed. Her apartment was a dump, but he had plans to rectify that. In the morning, they were moving to Boise, into his condo, until he could figure out his next steps and what the future held for him. Ben Wilde wasn’t broke, not by a long shot, so he could provide for them both for a while, and having some funds left him with options on where to go and what he could do.
He pulled the bedroom door closed so he wouldn’t disturb her, listening to the dial tone of his cell phone.
“Ben, it’s kind of late to be calling,” Verna said, sounding as if he’d woken her.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I meant to call you before now.”
She sounded so sad when she sighed. “I’m okay. I’m just…”
He waited, wondering what this woman, who had worked for him, been loyal to him, and was like family to him, was going to say.
“You didn’t have to send me money,” she said. “Thirty thousand dollars, Ben, is a lot of money.”
“I did it, Verna, because you got caught in the middle of something you never should have been dragged into.”
“Well, thank you. I got a call from a friend of yours—David Brooks, your competitor—and he offered me a job. Did you have something to do with that?”
Of course he had. He’d called in every favor he could to make sure that Verna came out of this mess with at least something equivalent to what she’d had. “You’re a good woman, Verna. David will be lucky to have you working with him. You’ll like him. He’s decent.”
“And what about you, Ben? What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet, Verna. Whatever it is, it’ll be something that makes me happy.”
She actually laughed on the other end. “Goodbye, Ben. Keep in touch.” And she hung up.
As Ben set his cell phone down on Carrie’s small kitchen table, he knew he wouldn’t call, he wouldn’t intrude. Even though he cared for Verna, she was in his past, and there were times, when things like this happened, that it was best to close the door so another one could open.
His exit strategy, which he was thankful he would never have to use, was still tucked away in a safety deposit box at his bank: the photos and evidence he’d come across three years earlier, showing the truth of the accidental oil spill in Wisconsin. Peter had been responsible, having given the order to proceed before all safety protocols were in place. The evidence was damning and had been buried. Peter had paid off politicians, and the environmental investigator hired had also been bought, but Ben had stumbled onto the truth and held on to it, because even though he swore while he was president of this company that it would never happen again, he was also smart enough to realize that he needed to protect himself.
Tomorrow, with Carrie, would be the start of a brand new day.
THE END
Next in the Wilde brothers stories is The Reckoning, A Wilde Brothers, available December 2014.
And for news on upcoming books and special promotions, click here to sign up for my newsletter.
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading A Matter of Trust, about Ben and Carrie. There will be more to come from this family, with Samuel and Jakes story to follow in the spring. But next will be a very special Christmas that will bring together all the Wilde’s, in The Reckoning.
If you enjoyed A Matter of Trust, please do me a favor and leave a review. All authors depend on reviews and it takes only a couple minutes to leave one, but it would really mean a lot to me. Thank you so much.
Now, although this book and all my books have been edited and proofed, editors, proofreaders, and I are all human. If you spot a typo, please email me at [email protected] and let me know. Also, I would like to thank everyone who has emailed and told all their family and friends about my books. If you’d like to know more about my other books please scroll to the next section or visit my website at www.LorhainneEckhart.com.
If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, I promise not to flood you with emails, but I will notify you of all new releases and special promotions.
All the best,
Lorhainne Eckhart
Other Works by Lorhainne Eckhart
The Saved Series
--“I'm an advocate for women in sexual assault, abuse and domestic violence, and I have to give this author two thumbs up for how she writes her stories”.- Amazon Reviewer- Jamie
--The Saved Series is awesome. The focus on a woman taken was a very classic ideal because it was set in a military arena. YOU have to read these books, but make sure that you have e box of tissues because you will need them.- Amazon Reviewer – Kivey
Growing up I had dreams that one day I'd fall in love, get married and start a family. Then one night I was taken. But I survived, I escaped and I was saved. Eric didn't see me as damaged. He didn't see my baby as a monster. He protected me, he kept me safe ... he saved me.
To download a sample or purchase Saved simply click here.
Vanished ~ She thought her nightmare was over…
To download a sample or purchase Vanished simply click here.
The Outsider Series
The Outsider Series The Complete Omnibus Collection is the ultimate sexy and emotionally charged western romance series. Over 350,000 words of love, passion, and deep family ties. Get it for yourself or for the western romance lover in your life.
“Loved this book series! I just couldn't get enough of the characters, and ended up reading the whole set in a day.” Amazon Reviewer – Jen
“I loved all these books. All about the cowboys and their lives. Love at first sight and the things they will do for love. I couldn't put them down.” Amazon Reviewer – Suzanne
“Wish there were truly men in the world like the Friessen Men” ~ Amazon Reviewer ~ Sara
Overview:
This collection includes all the books and short stories of the hot and sexy Friessen men and the strong and vulnerable women they love.
The Forgotten Child: - The Amazon Kindle Bestseller in Western and Romance Series. How do you tell a man there is something wrong with his child?
A Baby and a Wedding: (The Forgotten Child to Fallen Hero bridge short story of Brad & Emily)
Fallen Her including bonus short story, The Search: A cowboy who walked away from his family’s fortune. A woman who returned for justice. What they didn't expect was to find love.
The Search: (Fallen Hero to The Awakening bridge short story of Andy, Jed and Diana)- When her husband goes missing she’s forced to call the one man she shouldn’t.
The Awakening: A young woman who's lost everything, and the wealthy rancher who saves her.
Secrets:“Jed always told me he’d take care of everything. And I believed him, I trusted him, I loved him.”
Runaway: Andy sets out to bring his runaway bride home. But when he finds her, he’s in for a big surprise.
Overdue: (Runaway to The Unexpected Storm bridge short story of Jed and Diana)
The Unexpected Storm: He can have any woman, except the one he wants.
The Wedding: A man who’s always planned everything, and a woman who’s struggled alone—The Wedding will chan
ge their lives forever.
Or click here to purchase all the books and short stories in one collection. The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection
The Friessens: A New Beginning
Yes, upon fan request The Friessens are back in a brand new series!
The Deadline ( Andy & Laura) To purchase click here.
--"I loved this book! Thank You Lorhainne Eckhart for bringing the Friessens back. You make the Friessen men so alive and the kind of men us women wish we could meet. The Deadline is a touching story of unconditional love and strength." - Amazon Customer, Reviewer
The Price to Love (Neil & Candy). To purchase click here.
--“I love this series but absolutely despise what Neil is doing to Candy! If it was me I would be out the door until he shapes up! Now I have to wait on pins and needles for what happens next! I love this author and will read every book she writes!” – Amazon Reviewer
A Different Kind of Love (Brad & Emily). To purchase click here.
--“In this book you feel the emotion and love that a mother has for a child she has raised as her own for years who has autism and then on his 13 birthday his birth mother comes back into their lives. It is an exceptional book. I highly recommend any book by Lorhainne Eckhart.”—Reviewer, Regina
A Vow of Love, A Friessen Family Christmas. To purchase click here.
Sometimes families need a helping hand…Holidays are about family, love and giving, but this Christmas The Friessens are in for a rough holiday season.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Lorhainne Eckhart’s books have been described as Longmire meets old-school Dallas, and she recently received the 2013 Readers’ Favorite Award for Romantic Suspense for her title Lost and Found. With over thirty titles under her belt, she is frequently a Top 100 bestselling author in multiple genres, such as romance, western, and mystery/suspense. She has written multiple series, including The Outsider, Walk the Right Road, The Wilde Brothers, Saved, and her most recent addition, The Friessens: A New Beginning.
Since her bestseller The Forgotten Child landed on the Amazon #1 Bestseller list for westerns and western romance, Lorhainne has sold more than 300,000 eBooks worldwide.
Lorhainne lives on sunny Salt Spring Island with her family, where she is working on her next novel.
Lorhainne Eckhart loves to hear from readers!
Contact at
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @LEckhart
Facebook: LorhainneEckhart
Goodreads
Sign up for Lorhainne’s newsletter
Links to Lorhainne Eckhart’s Booklist
The following Lorhainne Eckhart titles are available in electronic format. Please scroll down for the links or visit her website at www.LorhainneEckhart.com for available retailers.
The Outsider Series
The Forgotten Child (Brad & Emily)
A Baby And A Wedding, An Outsider Series Short
Fallen Hero (Andy, Jed & Diana)
The Search, An Outsider Series Short
The Awakening (Andy & Laura)
Secrets (Jed & Diana)
Runaway (Andy & Laura)
The Unexpected Storm (Neil & Candy)
Overdue, An Outsider Series Short
The Wedding (Neil & Candy)
Or Grab all the books in The Outsider Series in One Boxed Set Collection:
The Outsider Series – The Complete Omnibus Collection
The Friessens: A New Beginning
The Deadline (Andy & Laura)
The Price to Love (Neil & Candy)
A Different Kind of Love (Brad & Emily)
A Vow of Love, A Friessen Christmas *Available December 2014
The Wilde Brothers
The One (Joe & Margaret)
The Honeymoon, A Wilde Brothers Short
Friendly Fire (Logan & Julia)
Not Quite Married, A Wilde Brothers Short
A Matter of Trust (Ben & Carrie)
The Reckoning, A Wilde Brothers Christmas *Available December 2014
Walk the Right Road Series
The Choice
Lost And Found
Merkaba
Bounty
Blown Away: The Final Chapter
Or Grab all the books in Walk the Right Road Series in One Boxed Set Collection:
Walk the Right Road: The Complete Collection
The Saved Series
Saved
Vanished
Captured *Available November 2014
Boxed Sets & Collections
Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series Volume 1
Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series Volume 2
The Outsider Series – The Complete Omnibus Collection
Walk the Right Road: The Complete Collection
Young Adult Christmas
The Gift
A Fathers Love, Illustrated
Available on Audiobook
The Deadline
Saved
The Forgotten Child
The One
Lost And Found
Table of Contents
Main Menu
About the Author
Afterword
Other Works
Links to Lorhainne Eckhart’s Booklist
Copyright Information
Chapters:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Epilogue
To return to the main menu, click here.
Table of Contents
About the Author
Copyright Information
Table of Contents
Main Menu
Afterword
Other Works
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Epilogue
A Matter of Trust Page 13