Love and Protect
Page 20
Cade leaned in and kissed Laura’s lips, but the private moment didn’t last long. May and Josh knocked on the door and entered with an armful of balloons and stuffed dolls.
“Really, you two? Did you buy out the entire gift shop?” Laura chastised.
“You bet we did, Princess,” said Josh as he bent to kiss Laura’s head. Josh hadn’t gone back to his job in Connecticut. He had used up his vacation time and then officially retired. He and May seemed to be growing closer and closer, much to Laura’s delight.
Cade and Shane were a little uneasy about the change in the relationship between a man they’d always thought of as their uncle and their mother, but when pressed, they both admitted they liked the happiness Josh brought to May’s life.
May reached for the baby with a question in her eyes, but Laura didn’t hesitate. “Of course, you can hold her,” she said and passed over the swaddled bundle.
“Don’t get used to this,” May said with a smile as she looked down at the baby, who didn’t bat an eye when the transfer took place. “They sleep like mad for two days, but then the honeymoon’s over and you’re only in for short bursts of sleep in between feedings and diapers.”
May paused to look at the bundle in her arms. Cade and Laura hadn’t planned a honeymoon. They knew since they were getting married so close to Laura’s due date, there likely wouldn’t be time for a honeymoon. They planned to take a long vacation for their first anniversary instead.
“She’s beautiful, Laura. Just like her mother,” May said, and Laura felt her heart swell at the love in May’s voice. She would never have believed she would find the kind of love and family that now surrounded her.
A knock on the door announced new visitors. Shane poked his head in and Laura waved him in. He was followed by Justin Kensington, who had settled in Evers after checking out of the hospital himself a few months back. Laura had been hesitant when he’d come to see her after moving to town, but she valued his friendship now. He was nothing like Patrick. In fact, at times, it was hard to believe they were related. Justin had given up traveling, and was now using some of his wealth to start outreach programs for women and children in abusive homes.
Martha Kensington had been shunning the limelight recently and attempting to repair the damage done to her relationship with Justin. She had even been talking about moving to Evers to be closer to Laura and the baby. Justin was now at least speaking with her, although their relationship remained strained, but Laura wasn’t sure yet that she wanted to have Martha in their lives. It would be hard to let someone who had ignored the abuse Laura had endured for so long be around her and her child now. In some ways, though, Laura thought forgiving Martha would help her heal even more than she already had.
Although Martha hadn’t discussed it with either of them, Justin suspected she might have been the victim of abuse at the hands of his father. If she had, Laura hoped Martha would be strong enough one day to seek help with that and to heal.
A nurse came in and chased the visitors out and urged Laura to get a bit more rest before they checked out the following day. Cade took Jamie from his mother, letting his daughter rest in the crook of his arm as he and Laura said goodbye to everyone.
“I love you, Laura Bishop,” Cade said and kissed her lips when they were finally alone with their baby.
Laura closed her eyes briefly, feeling the light touch of his love. Hope. Laura watched Cade and Jamie and knew it had been worth it. The risk of hoping, of dreaming of a love and a life like this one she’d been given… It was all worth it in the end. To have the gift of love like this, the gift of family and friends who loved her…was a gift and a blessing for which she would always be grateful.
Order Now – Promise and Protect – book 2
in the Heroes of Evers, Texas Series
Releases January 26, 2016
It’s been years since Katelyn Bowden last set foot in Evers, Texas. Sent away at age four by her father, the town sheriff, after her mother was murdered, Katelyn thrived under the loving care of her aunt in Austin. Now that her father is dying, it’s time for her to finally come home and face the past. But that means having to deal with the new sheriff, the handsome ex-New York City detective, John Davies.
When John realizes his mentor’s daughter may be hiding the key to a decades-old mystery, he fears her repressed memories could make her the target of a killer who’s still at large. He also finds it more and more difficult to resist his powerful attraction to the beautiful, talented artist. And as shocking revelations about local murders, past and present, slowly come to light, the threats against Katelyn’s life become all-too real—and John knows only he can protect the woman he loves from the peril that surrounds them both.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for taking the time to read one of my books! You have no idea how much each of my readers mean to me. This is the first in the Heroes of Evers, Texas Series and I hope you loved it as much as I loved writing it. There will be two more books in the series coming out in early 2016. In the meantime, please check out my Sutton Capital Series available online and in print. Visit www.LoriRyanRomance.com to find retail links to all of my books. If you loved this book, please consider telling a friend or leaving it a review at the retailer of your choice. Reviews help new readers find me and help me remain visible on retailer sites. They also make me smile. A lot!
About the Author
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance with a twist of suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, three wonderful children, and two mostly-behaved dogs in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
Lori published her first novel in April of 2013 and hasn’t looked back since then. She loves to connect with her readers. Follow her at:
Website:
loriryanromance.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/loriryanromance
Twitter:
twitter.com/Loriryanauthor
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/loriryanauthor
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/loriryanauthor
If you enjoyed reading Love and Protect, I would appreciate it if you would help others enjoy this book, too.
Lend it. This e-book is lending-enabled, so please, share it with a friend.
Recommend it. Please help other readers find this book by recommending it to friends, readers’ groups and discussion boards.
Review it. Please tell other readers why you liked this book by reviewing it. Or visit my website.
Newsletter
Newsletter signup:
loriryanromance.com
Win a sterling silver book locket that you can personalize! As a bonus, purchase the titles of the other SilverHart authors listed below to be entered multiple times. Each locket is unique!
Enter Here
Prime Target – Marquita Valentine
Dead Eye – Alyssa Day
Dog Collar Crime – Adrienne Giordano
More Books From Lori Ryan
Heroes of Evers, Texas Series
Love and Protect
Promise and Protect
Serve and Protect
Triple Play Curse Series
Game Changer
Game Maker
Game Clincher
Box Set
Sutton Capital Series
Legal Ease
Penalty Clause
Baker’s Bodyguard
Negotiation Tactics
Billionaire’s Suite Dreams
Wedding Bell Blues
Her SEALed Fate
Box Set
Lori’s Adult Coloring Books
Serene Shapes: Coloring Your Way To Calm, vol 1
Serene Shapes: Coloring Your Way To Calm, vol 2
Serene Shapes: Coloring Your Way To Calm, vol 3
Serene Shapes: Coloring Your Way To Calm, vol 4: Children’s Companion Book
&nbs
p;