Even Riggers' threats couldn't stop her happiness.
Seven months. Long enough for her to really establish herself in her new niche of entertainment writing. But not too long to lose her sense of him. Not too long for Kyle and Liam to forget him. He'd miss Christmas and New Year, she realised with despair.
Still too long to be away from his sick mother, too. She glanced at Mrs Black who was gathering up her things with a resolute expression. She packed away the half-finished bag of sweets, her reading glasses, her magazine, her tissues and the dozen assorted knick knacks that had been produced from her cavernous handbag. Emily was half-convinced she'd deliberately over filled it to frustrate the security guys who had to search them before entry to the court.
They all got their feet, slowly and painfully, and inched outside to the gathering dusk, Emily wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve. Elaine ordered a taxi and they waited in the cool air, a heavy silence around them.
Suddenly Mrs Black dropped her bag and flung her arms around Emily, shocking her rigid. Then she extended an arm and gathered Elaine into the hug, too, and for a while they stood together as one unit. Emily thought she heard Elaine sniff but when they broke apart, her cheeks were dry.
"Please," Mrs Black said again. "You must come around, and be part of our family." She looked to Elaine.
Finally, Elaine agreed. "Yeah, whatever." It was as much of an agreement as Emily was going to get, and she couldn't ask for more.
The taxi pulled up and they all bundled in, giving Emily's address first and then the Blacks'. Emily felt as if they were driving through a cloud of thick black smoke which obscured everything, and she moved in a daze. Partly that was down to tiredness and lack of food, but she also recognised the signs of stress playing out in her body.
She dragged herself up the endless concrete stairs to her flat, and flopped onto the sofa. It was strange how quiet and empty the place was now, even though she'd never lived with Turner. Yet his absence was palpable.
It was time to open the letter.
She picked up the envelope from where it had lain on the coffee table ever since the morning after his arrest and bail. She'd promised not to open it until this time, and she had surprised herself with her own will power.
Now she found she could hardly bring herself to tear it open and read it. Eventually, in the dim light of the room, she ripped across the top of the envelope and eased out the single sheet of paper.
Three words were written in a careful, neat hand, in large letters across the centre of the paper.
Exactly what Turner had mouthed to her as he stood in the dock and heard his sentence. Her eyes had been fixed on his lips as he slowly and deliberately formed the words.
I love you.
And when she turned the paper over, three more words.
Wait for me.
The End
Love Is The Law 2: Hidden Kiss
Coming in October 2013!
Follow Turner on his release from prison as he attempts to go straight. Ghosts from Emily's past collide with the enemies of the present, putting not only their relationship - but their lives - in danger.
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About The Author
Isabella Brooke lives in London, England. Her romances explore the emotional complexities of lust and love. These novels might be escapism but they're always rooted in the feelings we've all experienced.
She unwinds by walking in the local parks with her husband and her dogs, and making the most of London's museums and galleries.
She loves to connect with readers and writers - so find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/isabella.brooke.author. She also wonders why these author bio things have to be written in the third person. She's not Yoda.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Hidden Heart (Love Is The Law 1) Page 14