Got to Be Love
Page 13
As David said Michelle’s name, the video clip cut from him to a woman seated in a chair facing the camera. She looked defeated and afraid but determined to do what was right. “My name is Michelle Dayton...
As Michelle told the story of how Bill Hoffman beat her when he discovered she was pregnant because he didn’t want to pay child support to another woman, Bill squirmed and looked for the exit. However, there was a police officer stationed at each exit. When the show was over, and David was given the grinder trophy, the police headed toward Bill.
Bill jumped out of his seat and tried to run, but Jarrod tripped him. David made his way over to Bill just as the officers were handcuffing him.
“Just tell me why, Bill? We were supposed to be tight. How could you do something like that and then try to extort me for money?”
“You had it,” Bill snarled. “You knew that the NFL had revoked my signing bonus after I retired; you knew that I had more child support than I could afford, but you didn’t offer to help me with nothing.”
“I didn’t help you make them babies, why should I pay for them.” David shook his head. “Whatever, man.”
As the police carted Bill off, Katie walked over to David, holding out the cell phone to him. “It’s for you. I can’t believe it.”
“Who is it?” He asked her.
“It’s the CEO of the Foodie network. He says he wants to partner with you on your domestic violence campaign. His daughter was almost killed by her ex-husband and he’d been so thankful to God that she escaped that he has always wanted to do something to help others.” Katie put the phone in David’s hand and then hugged Gina with a look of astonishment on her face. “I just can’t believe this. When I watched that video clip, I thought for sure his deal was done.”
“With God, all things are possible, Katie. Even the redemption of a bad boy,” Gina told her.
“I guess you’re right.” She hugged Gina again.
David put the phone to his ear. “Sir, you’ve got a partner. Let’s do something to change this world!”
After everything quieted down, David took the time to admire his new trophy. “You think you’re pretty special, don’t you?” Gina said as she took the trophy from him.
He pulled Gina close to him. “I am special with you by my side. “I want you in my life, Gina. You and no one else. Once and for all, are you ready for that?”
At that moment, Gina realized that she had been hesitant to go all-in with David because of her experience with Marvel. Gina didn’t know if Marvel would ever atone for his sins, but she had just witnessed David lay his misdeeds open for the world to judge, and then he let it be known that it was not okay for any man to put his hands on a woman and make her feel less than what God created her to be. And that was so sexy to Gina. David was altogether different than what she had misjudged him to be. Yes, he had flaws just like everyone else, but he was a good man and she loved him for all that he was and would ever be.
Gina’s eyes widened as she realized she’d just admitted to loving David. How it had happened, she didn’t know, but it was too late to turn back now. He was her beloved, and she prayed that their love would last a lifetime. “I’m ready my beloved, I’m ready.”
The end.
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Books in the Loving You Series
Our Love
For Your Love
Got To Be Love
Other Books by Vanessa Miller
Family Business I
Family Business II
Family Business III
Family Business IV
Family Business V
Family Business VI
Our Love
For Your Love
Got To Be Love
Rain in the Promised Land
Heaven Sent
Sunshine And Rain
After the Rain
How Sweet The Sound
Heirs of Rebellion
Feels Like Heaven
Heaven on Earth
The Best of All
Better for Us
Her Good Thing
Long Time Coming
A Promise of Forever Love
A Love for Tomorrow
Yesterday’s Promise
Forgotten
Forgiven
Forsaken
Rain for Christmas (Novella)
Through the Storm
Rain Storm
Latter Rain
Abundant Rain
Former Rain
Anthologies (Editor)
Keeping the Faith
Have A Little Faith
This Far by Faith
Novella
Love Isn’t Enough
A Mighty Love
The Blessed One (Blessed and Highly Favored series)
The Wild One (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)
The Preacher’s Choice (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)
The Politician’s Wife (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)
The Playboy’s Redemption (Blessed and Highly Favored Series)
Tears Fall at Night (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Joy Comes in the Morning (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
A Forever Kind of Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Ramsey’s Praise (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Escape to Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Praise For Christmas (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
His Love Walk (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Could This Be Love (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Song of Praise (Praise Him Anyhow Series)
Sample Chapter
For Your Love
Book 2
Loving You Series
by
Vanessa Miller
Prologue
ON A COLD DAY IN DECEMBER, Toya Milner was at the hospital with her family. But this time, it was for a joyous occasion. Her younger sister, Tia, had just given birth to a baby girl, Jayden Trinity Carter. She was seven pounds and two ounces of pure beauty, even if she was still all wrinkly and reddish-brown.
Robbie sat on the edge of Tia’s bed and held his little girl as if she were some rare, irreplaceable jewel that could break if mishandled. “She’s so beautiful. I can’t believe this is really our daughter,” Robbie said with tears glistening in his eyes.
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Tia said. “I am more than capable of making a beautiful child.”
The room erupted in laughter. Toya’s mother, Pastor Yvonne Milner, was standing next to her co-pastor and Toya’s godfather, Thomas Reed. He put his hand on Yvonne’s shoulder, and Toya smiled at the sight of them openly displaying affection for each other. They had weathered many storms in the past year, but with the help of the Lord, they had come through it all. Thomas had been patient with her as she’d grown more comfortable with accepting her love for him.
Toya sat in the rocking chair next to the window, waiting for a chance to hold her niece. She smiled at her family, but in truth, Toya wondered when she would have what her mom and Thomas have, or even what Tia and Robbie have. She had been abused by love and wasn’t trying to rush back out there, but still, there was something deep inside her that was longing for a love that was true.
Jarrod, Thomas’ son, stood behind her. He had been the first man to break her heart, it was only a testament to the God she served that she was able to be friends with him again.
Jarrod poked her arm as he asked, “So if Auntie Yvonne is my godmother, does that make Jayden my god-niece, or what?”
“She could be just your niece if you’d pick up the speed and ask Toya out already,” Tia chided him.
Seeing the embarrassed look on Jarrod’s face, Yvonne retorted, “Hey, you leave Jarrod alone.”
Yeah, leave Jarrod alone, To
ya wanted to yell at her sister. The last thing she needed would be for Jarrod to ask her out and not show up again. No, thank you.
Robbie stood up and handed the baby to Toya, then turned back to Tia and cleared his throat. “Tia? I...uh, I’d like to be more to you than just your baby’s daddy. I understand why you didn’t marry me before, but I have changed. I’ve been on my job now for over three months and haven’t missed a day or gotten written up or anything. I want to be a family. So, what I’m asking is, will you please marry me?”
Tia smiled but then hesitated. “That depends. Will you come to the wedding drunk again?”
“You know I haven’t had a thing to drink in months. I’m a Christian now, Tia, and that means something to me. The Lord is helping me to stay sober.”
“Well, all right then, Robbie Carter. I guess I’ll marry you,” Tia said.
The room erupted in cheers. Toya had secretly been rooting for Robbie ever since that night at the hospital when Robbie had refused to leave Tia’s side. She’d seen then that the boy had grown into a man—a man well able to take care of his family.
“Okay, why don’t we give them some privacy?” Thomas suggested.
After they’d said good-bye to the new parents and baby Jayden, Thomas, Yvonne, Jarrod, and Toya were all about to go to dinner, but Thomas stunned them all when he took hold of Yvonne’s hand and slyly grinned. “Well, what about you, Yvonne? Do you think you’ll ever marry me?”
“That depends,” she said with a hint of mischief in her voice. “Are you going to come to the wedding drunk?”
“Drunk in the spirit and drunk in love? You bet,” Thomas answered, then wrapped his arms around her and kissed her tenderly.
When he released her, Yvonne smiled. “Well, in that case, I guess I have no choice but to marry you.”
“You always have a choice.”
Yvonne shook her head. “I never had a choice, Thomas. You stole my heart, and I don’t ever want it back.”
“So, it’s mine forever?”
“How about... as long as we both shall live?”
Toya glanced over at Jarrod while all this was going on. Her mom and her sister were getting married, but she couldn’t seem to find a man... well, there were plenty of men around, but what she needed was a good man.
Jarrod nudged her. “You’re next.”
Why did he have to say that? She didn’t want to hear that from anyone, and especially not the man who provided her with her first broken heart. And she really didn’t want to talk about finding love when she was still getting over what happened with Marvel Williams. The man who tricked her into believing he was in love with her, then tried to kill her.
“WHERE IS THE MONEY you promised me?” Clarence Brown asked his partner in crime.
“I don’t pay for failed jobs.”
“Speak for yourself, Marvel. Because I didn’t fail at anything. I practically bankrupted my own church, all you had to do was convince the city to sell you the church. But you were the one who was more interested in destroying Pastor Yvonne and her daughter than making the deal you told me you wanted.”
“That’s neither here nor there, Brown. I still didn’t get what I wanted. And unless you can find out where Toya is, I’m not giving you my money.”
“But my wife needs that money. The only reason I got involved with you in the first place was to get her the heart operation she desperately needs.”
“Then I suggest you get the information that I desperately need.” Marvel hung up and then kicked the trash can next to his desk. Toya and her mother had ruined everything for him. There were warrants out for his arrest, he couldn’t run his businesses, and he was stuck in Mexico. But his suffering was nothing compared to what Pastor Yvonne and Toya would soon feel. Revenge was always sweet.
For Your Love
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