“That bastard! Is she okay now?” Bella asked, worry written all over her face.
I nodded. “Yes, they’re all amazing women, from what I can gather. Strong women, just like you, Bella. The good thing is, none of them had to testify in court because he admitted to all the charges.”
She swallowed hard. “You didn’t mention me to the authorities, did you?”
I shook my head. “There wasn’t any reason to. Just the evidence they had from the attempted rape we witnessed was enough to send him to jail. There was video of him trying to rape that woman; plus, after they searched his house, they found a few other recordings he’d made. Some of it was consensual, some wasn’t.”
“How did you guys stop it?”
“We happened to hear her screaming, and I busted the door open. It was sheer luck that I saw him look behind him and up to a corner of his kitchen. He had a camera there and was filming the attack.”
“Oh my God. But you stopped it?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, we did. He hadn’t gotten too far.”
“And is she okay?”
“I think so. I’m not sure.”
Bella looked away for a moment, then back at me. “Do think she’d talk to me?”
I pulled my head back in surprise. “Why do you want to talk to her?”
“Because I know what she went through, Hunter. I know what it’s like to hold that all in, and I cannot begin to imagine what it was like for her to have all of you burst into that room and save her like you did.”
“It was all just lucky timing.”
“No, it was fate. You were meant to be there. To stop it. To stop that monster.”
I placed my hand on the side of Bella’s face. “Are you okay? I wasn’t sure how you’d react to the news.”
She nodded. “I’m okay. I really am. I’m so glad you stopped him. And I’m so glad he’s going to jail. Please tell me it’s not a slap on the wrist and that he’ll only be there for a few months. His father was some congressman or something like that, I remember.”
Smiling, I said, “He won’t breathe free air for a very long time.”
Bella closed her eyes and exhaled. “Thank God.”
When she opened them, something about Bella had changed. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but I could see it in her eyes.
“From this moment on, I don’t ever want to hear his name again. Ever.”
“Okay,” I said as I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Thank you for loving me the way you do, Hunter.”
“Arabella Turner, you should know by now that you’ll always own my heart.”
She giggled and cupped my face in her hands. “Will you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“If this baby is a girl, or if God ever blesses us with one, will you write her a note and put it in a honey bottle with a sprig of lavender like you did for me?”
My heart flipped in my chest. “Yes.”
“And will you do it every year on her birthday, so that someday she has bottles and bottles of love notes from her daddy?”
I blinked, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Yes.”
Leaning toward me, Bella kissed me softly on the lips. “One more thing.”
“Anything,” I whispered.
“How much time do you have for your lunch break?”
Grinning, I stood and reached down to lift her into my arms. “I have plenty of time to make love to my wife.”
As I carried Bella into the house, Jack barked and ran ahead of us to the bedroom, where he patiently laid by the door while Bella and I got lost in each other.
Author’s Note to Readers
This book was one I could not wait to write, and one I was afraid to write for personal reasons. I found writing Arabella’s story healed a part of me I had long ago buried and hadn’t fully realized was still a bit of an open wound.
If you have been a victim of rape, please reach out to someone for help, support, or simply to talk.
You can call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org
Look for Hearts in Motion, book five in the Boggy Creek Valley series. Coming March 22, 2022
Brighton Rogers thought her life was as normal as normal could be, even better than normal. She has a thriving career as a lawyer in Boston. Friends and family back in her hometown of Boggy Creek that love and adore her. And her boyfriend, Luke Morrison, showers her with love and attention, making her life finally feel complete.
But when Brighton discovers what life with a famous actor is all about—her normal life is turned upside down. All this time, Brighton felt that what they shared was genuine, that Luke was her forever; but now she can’t help but wonder if it was all an act. Was she playing a role she had no idea she’d been cast in? So, she does the one thing she can do…runs straight back to the safety of Boggy Creek.
Luke Morrison never imagined he would entertain the thought of leaving behind his successful career as an actor. Not just any actor, one of the top paid actors in Hollywood. But the moment he meets Brighton on a blind date, his life is changed forever. The only problem is balancing his career while attempting to keep his private life just that…private.
When one too many misunderstandings happen because of the press, Brighton breaks up with Luke, causing him to rethink what lies ahead in his future. A future he cannot imagine without Brighton Rogers in it. But Brighton is no ordinary woman, and winning her back will force Luke to make one of the biggest sacrifices he’s ever made; one he is positive he can make because a life without Bree in it is no life at all.
Now, to win back the love of his life and prove to her she is all that matters to him…
What’s next from Kelly?
Hearts in Motion (March 20, 2022 Boggy Creek Valley Series)
Stand Alones
The Journey Home
Who We Were*
The Playbook*
Made for You*
*Available on audiobook
Boggy Creek Valley Series
The Butterfly Effect*
Playing with Words*
She’s the One*
*Available on audiobook
Meet Me in Montana Series
Never Enough*
Always Enough*
Good Enough*
Strong Enough*
*Available on audiobook
Southern Bride Series
Love at First Sight*
Delicate Promises*
Divided Interests*
Lucky in Love*
Feels Like Home *
Take Me Away*
Fool for You*
The Right Moves*
Fated Hearts*
*Available on audiobook
Cowboys and Angels Series
Lost Love
Love Profound
Tempting Love
Love Again
Blind Love
This Love
Reckless Love
*Series available on audiobook
Boston Love Series
Searching for Harmony
Fighting for Love
*Series available on audiobook
Austin Singles Series
Seduce Me
Entice Me
Adore Me
*Series available on audiobook
Wanted Series
Wanted*
Saved*
Faithful*
Believe
Cherished*
A Forever Love*
The Wanted Short Stories
All They Wanted
*Available on audiobook
Love Wanted in Texas Series
Spin-off series to the WANTED Series
Without You
Saving You
Holding You
Finding You
Chasing You
Loving You
Entire series available on audiobook
*Please note Loving You combines the last book of the Broken and Love Wanted in Texas series.
/> Broken Series
Broken*
Broken Dreams*
Broken Promises*
Broken Love
*Available on audiobook
The Journey of Love Series
Unconditional Love
Undeniable Love
Unforgettable Love
*Entire series available on audiobook
With Me Series
Stay With Me
Only With Me
*Series available on audiobook
Speed Series
Ignite
Adrenaline
COLLABORATIONS
Predestined Hearts (co-written with Kristin Mayer)*
Play Me (co-written with Kristin Mayer)*
Dangerous Temptations (co-written with Kristin Mayer*
*Available on audiobook
Surrender to Me (Boggy Creek Valley Book 4) Page 25