***
She opened her eyes as the morning sun streamed in through the open window. She felt as if she had finally realized what really mattered for her. Zac’s heavy arm was draped around her, spooning her into him. His legs were twined with hers, and he was breathing deep and even on the pillow beside her head. She’d never shared a bed with a man before, ever. She’d had sex a few times, but never in her house. Never had she stayed and shared a bed all night with a man. That was too intimate.
She rolled over, and Zac flinched. His eyes were closed, and he was still asleep. There was something about studying him while he slept that gave her a deeper look into who he was. She reached up to touch his scar on his cheek and over to his ear, but his hand was like a rocket, shooting up and grabbing her wrist, and his eyes flew open wide. He gripped her wrist so hard it hurt, and he was breathing fast and hard.
“Zac, it’s me, Diane.” She wondered at the wild look in his eyes.
“What happened?” He sat up and let go of her.
She rubbed her wrist where he’d grabbed it and realized she would probably have a bruise. “I’m sorry, I was just touching your face and…” She stopped because she realized there were some things you were never supposed to do with a soldier. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, stop. It’s fine, Diane. I’m sorry.” He slid his legs over the side of the bed, with his back to her. “I’d never hurt you, Diane. I hope you know that.”
She went up on her knees behind him and slid her arms around him. “I know you wouldn’t.” She rested her cheek against his. “Tell me what happened to you over there.”
He went to pull away, but she wouldn’t let go. He slid his hand over her arm. She thought he was going to pull her off, but instead he started rubbing her arm and seemed to settle into her. He faced her, touching her breast with his open hand, and laid her down with him. They were face to face on the pillow, and she looked into the gray-blue of his eyes. It was as if he was struggling with what to say.
“You know all about my dark, dirty past, and not once have you ever made me feel ashamed, or judged, or less of a person,” she began. “I want to know what happened. I want you to be comfortable with me and know that what you say wouldn’t be shared. We should be able to talk and share everything.”
He shut his eyes, and she didn’t know what else to say to convince him. “I was stationed at a field hospital in Iraq,” he said. “I was stabilizing a soldier to get him airlifted out, and we took fire. We lost half the unit. I survived.” He opened his eyes, and for a minute it was as if he was reliving a memory he didn’t want. Then he blinked and leaned in, kissing her deeply.
When he pulled away, he appeared far more relaxed, and she realized he wasn’t going to say any more about what happened. She understood, and instead of pushing him more to open up, she reached over and touched his face, and he turned his head into her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm.
A cell phone buzzed from the floor. Zac rolled over, and Diane scooted up. The floor was strewn with their clothes. It was Zac’s phone, which he pulled from his pocket. He flipped it open.
“Yeah?” He listened and then looked over at Diane before he frowned, shaking his head. “Well, that’s sure easy, isn’t it?” He hung up and set his phone on the bedside table.
“What is it?” Diane asked.
“That was Green. Apparently, the young man who confessed to killing Katie was found dead in his cell this morning. He hanged himself.”
Diane was pissed, and she wanted to hit something. Zac sat beside her on the bed and hung his head. She could feel his frustration. “Zac, that’s awfully convenient, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He didn’t look at her.
“We’re not going to find out the truth of what happened to Katie, are we?”
“No.” He sighed and angled his head toward her.
“My father is behind this, isn’t he?”
“Maybe.” He looked away. “But I don’t think you want to push this and have it all come out about Katie being related to you or where you’re from, do you? That your real name isn’t Diane Larsen? You wouldn’t be a cop anymore.”
“I know.” She fell back on the bed.
Zac touched her arm. “I need to go in and see Casey. Are you going in? Can I give you a lift?”
Diane glanced up at Zac and shook her head. “No, I’m going to stay home today. I think I’ll call Marcie, Sam, and I’m going to take a couple days off.”
“Are you going to call Green?” Zac asked as he pulled on his clothes, watching her with an expression that made her want to reach up and pull him back to bed.
“Since he can’t be bothered to call me and I’m the detective running this case, I think I’ll send him an email,” she replied.
***
Diane, for the first time in her life, relaxed and enjoyed the quietness of the house after Zac pulled away. That was after he had kissed her thoroughly and told her he would see her for dinner.
She was enjoying this new part of being a woman, and she wanted this, she deserved this, whatever this was, with Zac. Even worrying about Joseph knowing where she was, and the fact that he’d always known, just didn’t seem to matter as much this morning.
The phone rang in the kitchen. Diane hopped off the sofa in the living room and snatched up the phone before the third ring. “Hello?”
“I just got your message,” Marcie said. From the other end of the line, she sounded down.
“I called you hours ago, Marcie. Where were you?”
There was a pause in the background.
“I was out?” She sounded defensive, which was so unlike her.
“Marcie, what’s going on? This is me. Do you want me to come over?”
“No, don’t come over. It’s…Sam moved out.”
“Oh, Marcie, no. Didn’t Sam apologize? He loves you, Marcie, and I know he was being an ass, but can’t you forgive him?” She stared out the back window, wondering why everyone couldn’t be happy at the same time.
“Diane, don’t. It’s not that easy, and it’s not about me forgiving Sam. I have some things to figure out, and I need some space. Sam and I, well, we can’t talk right now without him losing it on me and yelling. He doesn’t understand me, and I don’t know how to fix it between us. I’m so tired. We need a break, some time apart to give me time to get some answers for myself. When he gets back, we’ll sit down and see where we go.”
“Are you telling me you’re still meeting with Lance Silver?” Diane snapped, because she couldn’t believe Marcie would do that.
“Don’t be mad, but I have to find out who my father is. He knew my mother, and he’s different with me. He’s so familiar with me.”
“Marcie, I swear that man is up to something. Stay away from him. Where did Sam go?” She wanted to reach through the phone and shake her friend.
“New Orleans, to visit Jesse.”
Diane pulled the phone from her ear and stared at it. “Well, running away from each other is no way to solve your problems.”
“Diane, don’t push.” Marcie paused. “There’s someone at my door. Give me a second.”
Diane listened to footsteps and the sound of Marcie’s door opening. She could hear a man’s deep voice, and then Marcie said, “What do you want?”
“Marcie, what’s going on?” Diane shouted.
There was a rustling when Marcie came back on the line.
“Who’s there?” Diane asked, and she waited until her friend let out a heavy sigh.
“It’s Dan,” Marcie said. “He’s back.”
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading BOUNTY. This is Diane’s book where she continues to struggle with the scars of her upbringing, and finding a way to come to terms with her past. Meeting Zac and having a chance at love is the bright spot for her out of all that darkness. The final book of the series will be available December 2013 and will reunite all the characters, Zac and Diane, Sam and Marcie, Richard and Maggie, and o
f course Dan and why he’s back. And let’s not forget Lance Silver that powerful man.
If you enjoyed BOUNTY, I would love to ask you a favor and have you go back to Amazon and leave a review.
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
Finding Love ~ THE OUTSIDER SERIES
SECRETS, Book 4
“Jed always told me he’d take care of everything. And I believed him, I trusted him, I loved him.”
This is an emotionally charged, well-written portrayal of a couple faced with a tragedy and the secrets that could destroy them.
Rita Herron
To download a sample or purchase Secrets, simply click here.
Runaway, Book 5
Andy sets out to bring his runaway bride home, and when he finds her, he’s in for a big surprise.
I was blown away by this book. Loved it. Was not a huge Andy fan in the beginning, but I really do like him now.
Amazon Reviewer Locabear
To download a sample or purchase Runaway, simply click here.
Did you miss the first book in this bestselling series?
The Forgotten Child
Finding Love ~ THE OUTSIDER SERIES, Book 1
#1 Bestseller in Romance Series and Westerns
How do you tell a man there is something wrong with his child?
Praise for The Forgotten Child…
From Romance Junkies
Lorhainne Eckhart proved herself yet again by pulling you in with a heartfelt story and keeping your attention with the passion that fills the pages. This is by far one of the best books I have read.
To download a sample or purchase The Forgotten Child, simply click here.
Box Sets:
Walk the Right Road Series
*Warning: This collection is filled with sexual tension, rough language and steamy romantic suspense!
“Genius at weaving a story of love and redemption”
Amazon Reviewer Kyblondern
Two full-length books plus three bonus prequels ~ Over 100,000 words of suspense and romance.
RUNNING LATE—A prequel to THE CHOICE. Read how Dan and Marcie met.
DREAM MAN—A Prequel to THE CHOICE.
THE CHOICE—One Woman. Two Men. And a choice that could kill her.
I MATTER TO HIM—A prequel to LOST AND FOUND.
LOST AND FOUND—A Hit and run. A Deserted country road. A parent’s worst nightmare.
To purchase Walk the Right Road – A Box Set, simply click here.
The Gift, A Short Story
A Young Adult Mystery
A devastating plane crash and a father’s only hope are the dreams connecting him with his son.
To download a sample or purchase The Gift, simply click here.
About the Author
2012 was an amazing year in the publishing world for me, and it started with The Forgotten Child, which landed on the Amazon bestseller list for western romance and romance series. 2013 has seen me posted in the top 100 authors on Amazon for romantic suspense, mystery/thrillers, and police procedural.
Where did it all begin? In 2008, I published my first novel, The Captain’s Lady, a contemporary military romance, through The Wild Rose Press. I've since received the rights back from my publisher and I rewrote the book and republished it with a branc new title, SAVED.
I write edgy romantic suspense (Walk the Right Road Series), western romance (Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series), and young adult mystery, and I warn my readers to expect the unexpected. I’m the mother of three children, one is a special needs child and we live on a small Island in the Pacific Northwest. I encourage you to contact me by email; I do answer every email I receive.
Stay tuned. There is more to come from the Walk the Right Road Series and Finding Love ~ The Outsider Series, as well as a brand new western romance series coming this later this fall, THE ONE.
And to my readers and all of you who have shared my stories with your family and friends, a big heartfelt thank you.
Contact InformationLorhainne Eckhart loves to hear from readers!
Contact at
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @LEckhart
Facebook: LorhainneEckhart
Blog: The Choice of Giving
Blog: Illusions
Lorhainne Eckhart Author Website
Copyright Information
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Bounty, Book IV
Walk the Right Road Series
COPYRIGHT © Lorhainne Ekelund, 2012, All Rights Reserved
Cover Design: Steven Novak
Contact Information: [email protected]
Editor: Talia Leduc
Table of Contents
Book Cover
Main Menu
About the Author
Other Works by Lorhainne Eckhart
Booklist
Finding Love ~ THE OUTSIDER SERIES
The Forgotten Child #1 Amazon Bestseller in Westerns – How do you tell a man there is something wrong with his child?
A Baby and a Wedding – Getting married and having a baby…for Emily and Brad, everything is perfect, or so they think until an unexpected surprise threatens to derail their happy day.
Fallen Hero – A young lawyer returns for justice but finds love instead.
The Search (Short Story) – When her husband goes missing, she’s forced to call the one man she shouldn’t.
The Awakening – Can a sexy rancher give a young woman hope?
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.
The Unexpected Storm – He can have any woman except the one he wants
*Coming Soon – The Wedding
Walk the Right Road Series
The Choice – …One woman. Two men. And a choice that could kill her.
Lost and Found – From Romance Junkies, “Lost and Found is one of the best romantic suspense books I’ve read this year!”
Merkaba – Uncovering the truth can be deadly. If you love intrigue and supernatural suspense, then curl up for the afternoon with MERKABA, the third book in the Walk the Right Road Series.
Bounty
Young Adult Mystery
A Father’s Love – A young adult illustrated historical. If you love Little House on the Prairie, you’ll love A Father’s Love.
The Gift – A devastating plane crash and a father’s only h
ope are the dreams connecting him with his son.
Military Romantic Suspense
Saved – 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.
Box Sets:
Walk the Right Road Series ~ Danger ~ Deception ~ Devotion
From the Heart – Includes three of Lorhainne’s bestsellers, The Forgotten Child, The Gift, and Lost and Found.
Finding Love ~ THE OUTSIDE SERIES – A box set collection of the Friessen men and the women they love, includes A Baby and a Wedding, Fallen Hero, The Search, The Awakening.
Contact Information
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
To return to the Main Menu, click here.
Bounty (Walk the Right Road) Page 17