Love Through Time ~ Revised Edition

by Nana Prah

  Defending her family--no problem. Recalling past lives--maybe just a small problem. Taking a chance on love again--well...

  Jasmine Gibson has her world turned upside down when she meets the gorgeous Sean Taylor. He’s the first man she’s been attracted to since her fiancé dumped her two years ago. But when the disturbing daydreams start, Jasmine begins to fear that her actions in a past life may have finally caught up with her.

  Sean finds it impossible to stay away from Jasmine even though he can’t shake the inexplicable feeling of betrayal, simmering deep inside him every time he sees her.

  To complicate things, someone is out to hurt Jasmine and every time she and Sean are together, the police have to be called. Even if Jasmine can make Sean trust her, the two of them may not stay alive long enough to enjoy their love this time around.

  KUDOS FOR LOVE THROUGH TIME

  In Love through Time by Nana Prah, Jasmine Gibson has a problem. Every time she sees the gorgeous Sean Taylor, she gets dizzy. Physically. To make it worse, he gets stomach aches. And these two are supposed to be soul mates? While Jasmine and Sean gradually become accustomed to each and their physical symptoms subside, the couple has much bigger problems. Sean is intimidated by Jasmine’s skill in martial arts, and he also has a difficult time trusting her though he doesn’t know why. By the time Sean and Jasmine figure out that she betrayed him in a past life and that is why he can’t seem to trust her in this one, they discover that someone is trying to hurt her, if not kill her. Not only must they overcome the bad karma from their past loves together, they must figure out who has it in for Jasmine and stop him or her before someone really gets hurt. I thought the book was well written, clever, and intriguing. ~ Taylor Jones, reviewer

  Love through Time by Nana Prah has an interesting premise. Although I am not really sure that I believe in reincarnation, let alone bad deeds from a past life coming back to haunt you, Prah’s plot is solid and she makes it believable...For a first time author, Prah does a good job of characterization. I was especially impressed that the heroine’s martial arts skill put a damper on her relationship with the hero, who didn’t like the fact that she was better at defending herself than he was at protecting her. Isn’t that just like a man, after all? I have never understood why a man should feel threatened by a woman who can take care of herself. You would think that they would tire of simpering, helpless females. But I guess that is just the nature of the beat. And Prah nails it perfectly. Love through Time is a fun, interesting read. ~ Regan Murphy, reviewer

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  A super huge thank you to Black Opal Books and their fantastic team of editors, Lauri, Faith, and Karen.

  This book would not have happened if not for the pushing, prodding and nagging of my oldest and closest friend in the world, Ortanyi Arrington.

  To Loyce Thomas who inspired the very first romance I ever wrote (but never published). To Sherry King who is always there to help me when I need it. Debbie Christiana rocks the world! To writer extraordinaire, Empi Baryeh, my mentor and role model. Alba Sumprim -- thanks for your honest opinion, gentle suggestions, and enthusiastic support.

  To Chris Bawa and Edward Wiafe for reading a genre you never read, just because I asked you to. To my sister, Matilda Asante -- nothing to say, I’m just smiling.

  To my father Dr. J.H. Prah for helping to foster my love of reading. My uncle Joseph Pokoo-Aikins, you are no longer the only published writer in the family -- thanks for encouraging me to create.

  To my friends and family who have supported me in any and all ways, my gratitude is overflowing

  My biggest thanks goes to God for...everything.

  Love THROUGH Time

  Revised Edition

  NANA PRAH

  A Black Opal Books Publication

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2013 by Nana Prah

  Cover Design by Taria Reed Digital Artist (www.TariaReed.net)

  All cover art copyright © 2016

  All Rights Reserved

  EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-626944-35-0

  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 Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  EXCERPT

  She was coming to terms about their past lives, but he was having trouble just dealing with her in this one...

  “I must’ve been a great man in a previous life,” Sean joked, but Jasmine’s eyes widened as she held onto the doorpost. “Are you all right? Are you getting lightheaded?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Now you’re holding something back from me.”

  “Do you believe in past lives?”

  “I haven’t thought about it. I’ve experienced so much in my travels around the world that I wouldn’t be surprised if it existed. Do you?”

  “The thought about coming back and making your soul better is appealing. At the same time it could be painful, especially if you hurt someone else in a past life and met them again in another.”

  A chill clambered down Sean’s spine. There was something more to this conversation, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He wanted to stay and talk with her about it, but he had to get back to studying.

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. It was nothing but a friendly kiss, but he felt the shock of it straight down to the soles of his feet. Jasmine looked just as affected.

  DEDICATION

  To the memory of my beautiful mother, Theresa Prah and my creative brother, Nanabanyin Kobina Prah.

  Chapter 1

  “Hey, foxy mama!”

  Jasmine Gibson’s normally quiet voice boomed at her maternal grandmother, who was raking the leaves in her front yard.

  “Hi, babies! I haven’t been called foxy in years. It’s a pity it isn’t a man saying it.” Grandma wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Grandma!” Carly screeched.

  Jasmine would’ve thought her sister could no longer be scandalized by their sassy grandmother. “I’ve missed you, Grandma.” She laughed as she hugged the thin, but strong older woman.

  “I’ve missed you, too. A month is much too long to stay away. Step back and let me get a good look at you two.”

  They did as she instructed.

  Grandma patted Jasmine’s hair. “Your Afro gets bigger every time I see you.”

  “I wish I could wear it out like this all the time and shirk the conservative look I have to wear at work with pressing it straight.”

  “The natural style suits you. At least you don’t have to relax it to get it straight.” Grandma looked toward the car. “Where’s Edward?”

  “You tell her,” Jasmine ordered Carly.

  “No, you. You’re the oldest,” Carly retorted with a shove to Jasmine’s shoulder.

  Their grandmother planted a fist on her slim hip. “Somebody had better tell me before I get a switch going to both of your behinds.”

  “He couldn’t drive up with us. He has exams scheduled for today so he’ll be arriving early tomorrow morning. He was supposed to call you.” Jasmine shrugged. “But you know Ed.”

  Grandma nodded. “I know my grandbaby. He doesn’t like to disappoint me so he plays the avoidance game. But he couldn’t help it. School comes first. I’m so proud of him. He’ll be the first lawyer in our family.”

  She turned and pinched Jasmine’s cheeks. “Just as you were the first to get your Ph.D. and you, missy, were the first engineer.”<
br />
  Jasmine laughed at Carly’s inability to escape the cheek torture.

  “I’m proud of all of you,” Grandma continued. “Let’s get inside and have something to eat. I prepared your favorites. Collard greens, cornbread, baked ham, macaroni and cheese, and for dessert, pecan pie.”

  Carly patted her ample behind. “I can feel my hips expanding.”

  “I’m pretty sure my blood vessels will constrict from all the cholesterol.” Jasmine grimaced as she led the way into the old Victorian house in anticipation of Grandma’s home cooking.

  “Don’t forget I’m a hip woman, current and trending with the times. I know all about heart disease and cholesterol so I cooked with low fat and sodium.” Grandmother waggled a finger. “Nothing I could do about the pecan pie, though. It just has to be rich and sweet, otherwise it’s not worth eating. Kind of like good sex.”

  Jasmine’s head whirled around to catch the smirk on the old woman’s face. “Grandma!” Just when she thought she’d acquired immunity to her grandmother’s comments, the woman would say something outrageous.

  When they sat to eat, the food was beyond delicious. Carly shoveled it in, barely stopping to chew.

  Jasmine stared with disgust. “Slow down before you choke, Carly. You’re acting as if you haven’t eaten in days.”

  “I haven’t,” Carly said around a mouthful of food.

  “I know your mother taught you better than to talk with your mouth full,” Grandma chastised.

  Carly quickly chewed, and swallowed, before saying, “I’m sorry, Grandma. I’ve been on a diet for the past two weeks in anticipation of your cooking. And it was worth every hungry moment.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart, but I don’t see why you feel the need to keep going on these diets. You have a beautiful body.”

  “Tell her again. Mom and I aren’t getting through to her.”

  “That’s because I’m all chunky and round while you’re tall and slim. You never worry about gaining weight because you can’t. It’s physically impossible for you to weigh anything other than 120 pounds. You and your skinny behind,” Carly mumbled.

  Jasmine pointed a warning finger. “Hey, little sister, you’d better watch it. Don’t forget I exercise at least five times a week. I’d give almost anything to have your curves. I’m almost as straight as a stick. There’s nothing wrong with your body. It’s gorgeous.” Jasmine once again thanked God for the slight flair of her hips and the modest sized bumps on her chest, which kept her from looking like a boy.

  Grandma tisked. “Now, girls, don’t bicker. You both have beautiful bodies, but the one thing you must remember is that you also have gorgeous personalities.” She nodded with finality and then added, “Now catch me up on the gossip.”

  Carly and Jasmine giggled. “You probably have more to share than us, seeing as how you’re in constant communication with everyone,” Jasmine said.

  Grandma’s eyes gleamed with mirth. “I’ll dish mine if you share yours.”

  “Just remember that we don’t gossip, we discuss,” Carly explained in a mock serious tone.

  “It’s all semantics. Now let’s get down to it. Are you dating yet, Jasmine?”

  Carly jumped in with the answer. “Nope. Not unless you count the creepy guy who keeps calling with an unlisted number and then hanging up.”

  “We don’t know if it’s a guy.” Jasmine pushed the rest of her food around on her plate. For the past week she’d received numerous calls with ragged breathing on the other end. One time, she thought she’d heard the person whisper the word “suffer.”

  “Have you reported it?” Grandma asked.

  Jasmine scoffed. “To who? The police would laugh me out of their precinct, and what can the phone company do? I don’t pick up unidentified calls anymore.” No need to alarm them with the fact that her stomach clenched anytime her home phone rang.

  Carly shook her head as she continued with her initial train of thought. “She turns down all the guys who ask her out. She still hasn’t dated anyone since David.”

  “Grrrr.”

  Jasmine blinked. “Grandma did you just growl?”

  “It burns my butt to think about that man and what he did to you.”

  Jasmine kept her gaze trained on the table. “I try not to think about it too often. I don’t want to talk about him,” she grumbled.

  “At least you aren’t calling him ‘that asshole backstabbing bastard who should be shot by a firing brigade’ anymore like when he left you,” Carly said before finishing off the last bit of food on her plate.

  “Yeah, I’ve made quite a bit of progress,” Jasmine said, ensuring neither of them would miss the sarcasm before allowing her anger to drive her into a tirade. “I didn’t pressure him for marriage when we were together. It was he who asked me, out of the blue, after being in a relationship for four years. I thought he was the one.”

  She took a deep breath to calm herself and realized she’d balled her hands into tight fists. “I still can’t believe he stood me up at the altar.”

  Carly laid a reassuring hand on her arm. “It’s okay. He’s gone now, never to be seen from by this family again, unless he wants to die a slow, torture-filled death.”

  “Thanks, Carly. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he’d just left me. The kicker to the balls was when he came to the apartment to pick up a few of his things and he brought his pregnant girlfriend with him.”

  Red flashed before Jasmine’s eyes as she recalled David informing her that he was marrying the mother of his unborn baby. He’d given no excuses or apologies. Through her haze of disbelief, she had barely heard him order--not even ask--her to box up his things and have them sent to the address written on the piece of paper he left on the table.

  The only thing that had stopped her from pulling out his trachea was the overwhelming shock and hurt which rendered her motionless until the door closed.

  When she looked around, she’d found the apartment just as empty as her heart.

  Jasmine punched the palm of her hand. “I spent years with that life-sucking son of a bitch.”

  “He had some audacity,” Carly hissed. “If he knew what you were capable of, he wouldn’t have paraded that bitch in front of you. You handled the whole thing much better than I would have. If it had been me, I’d have hunted his ass down to do some permanent damage. The kid he had in that chick’s oven would’ve been his very last.”

  Jasmine smiled at her sister. “It’s all a haze of memories, but if I remember correctly, you and Ed put out an unofficial contract on him. You went on a search and destroy mission and almost caught him, but the bastard was running for his life.” Jasmine placed her index finger and thumb close together. “He was just a little bit faster. If the same thing had happened to you, I’d be visiting you in jail.”

  Carly ran her finger across her plate and licked it. “He was a slippery bastard. Ed and I were so close.”

  Grandma tapped her fork on the table. “If you and your brother had waited for me, we would’ve wrangled him.”

  Jasmine understood the truth of those words. No wrongdoer ever escaped Grandma without being punished.

  “Next time, Grandma,” Carly promised with a twinkle of laughter in her eyes before turning to Jasmine. “You were so calm during the whole thing. The worst you did was go Waiting to Exhale on his ass and had all his things sold, at way more than just a dollar. How much did you get?”

  Jasmine smirked. “A little over twenty-two thousand dollars, which included the sale of his second car. I donated every penny to the American Heart Association. Since he’d broken my heart, I thought it was apropos that his money go to revive someone else’s.”

  Carly gave her a high five. “Genius, Jas.”

  “Haven’t you met any nice men at work?” Grandma persisted.

  “I’m not ready to date.”

  “It’s been almost two years. You have to get back in the game sometime, sweetheart.”

  Jasmine shrugged in response. She di
dn’t think she’d ever be ready for another relationship. Men were the enemy and not to be trusted.

  She was more than satisfied without a man in her life and that’s the way it would stay.

  ***

  Jasmine’s feet fell rhythmically on the forest path during her run the next morning. The chilled autumn air cleared out the Boston smog from her system.

  She glanced around at her surroundings in continuous amazement as the vividness of the colors encapsulated her. Each year, autumn enthralled her with its staid browns, contrasted by the bright reds, oranges, and yellows of the surrounding foliage. Vermont in the fall was a sight to behold.

  As tradition demanded, they’d come together for the annual Triple G--grandma and grandchildren gathering. Every year, without fail, they spent one weekend at their grandmother’s house in Stowe, Vermont. She spoiled her three grandchildren rotten, and they got to be around her to their heart’s content. Breaking into a sprint when the house came into view, Jasmine noticed another car in the driveway. Her baby brother had arrived. Bursting through the door, Jasmine ran through the living room shouting, “SB, where are you? You little brat!”

  She met him in the kitchen. Overlooking her sweat-soaked clothes, he swung her off the ground in a huge hug. Jasmine giggled as she held him tight.

  “Put me down.” Settled on her feet, she assessed her baby brother. He could do with a haircut and a shave, but other than that he looked good. “I haven’t seen you in forever. Law school is keeping you way too busy.”