BREAK MY FALL by JESSICA SCOTT
For Josh Douglas, broken by the impotent
rage of combat and loss, pain is the only thing that feels real until he
meets Abby Hillard. In Josh, Abby sees a puzzle for someone else to
solve even though she deeply feels the pull to free the darkness that cloaks
him. BREAK MY FALL by USA
Today Bestselling author, Jessica Scott, is the second book in an
emotional new adult series about a group of young veterans adjusting to life
away from the military. They've got a lot to learn about life away from war -
and college may or may not be the place for them to learn it.
Title: Break My Fall
Author: Jessica Scott
Series: Falling #2
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: February 15, 2016
Synopsis
Violence.
I’m addicted to it. It’s how I feel alive. It’s the only thing that’s real
any more.
And
now I have to sit around and discuss it like it’s physics or calculus.
I
can’t do it. I can’t pretend that it’s some sterile academic topic.
Violence
isn’t sterile. It isn’t calm. It’s pulsing. It’s alive.
It’s
my drug.
Until
I met Abby, I never wanted anything beyond the next fight.
Never
considered that I might finally find a way back to the land of the living.
Now?
Now I find myself dreaming of a woman with golden eyes.
But I
can never be with her. Because I am not whole. And I never will be again.
But I
cannot stay away. And loving her might finally be what breaks me.
Excerpt
3
He's
watching me. I want to step closer to him but I can't. I won't.
Because
I'm not blind to the darkness in Mr. Douglas. It's there, just below the
surface. Like a pot of water just before it boils.
The
tension is back, now. A slow burning anger I should be getting as far away
from as I possibly can.
"What?"
I finally ask, needing something to break the spell between us.
"Why
do you care why I got angry in class? You don’t even know my name.”
I
narrow my eyes at him and open my mouth, then snap it closed, mirroring his
earlier action. I didn't expect the question and I have no idea how to
answer.
Because
in reality, I don’t have an answer for why I’m standing here at the moment.
Damn
it.
My
brain finally latches onto the first thing I come up with
"Wookie
life debt. Payback for you helping me the other night."
I
try to leave then. Hoping that he’ll let me go and put all my curiosity away.
For good.
"Hey."
His voice tugs at me to stop.
I
won't look at him now. Because I'm ashamed of what he'll see if he looks into
my eyes.
And
I can't stand the thought of him seeing the needful loneliness that has
become my constant companion since Robert ripped my heart out and left it
bleeding on the cobblestone sidewalk.
"What's
your name?" His voice is low and quiet. Steady now. Almost calm.
I
turn, unable to avoid looking at him now.
It
dawns on me that no, I don't know his name.
I
stand there for a moment, hesitant. The last time this happened, I fell too
far, too fast.
This
time will be different. Because I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.
It's
like standing too close to an electrical current.
The
simplicity of the question is deceptively benign.
I'm
drawn to him in a way that is unhealthy and dangerous. He's already consuming
my thoughts, drawing my attention away from the matter at hand and luring me
down a dark corridor where only dark thoughts and whispered need twist
together.
I
hold up one hand, needing to break the spell or whatever is going on between
us. My hand collides with his chest, and I am flush against the stark
reminder of this man's strength and power and capability to do violence.
There's
a small cut over his left eye, from the other night. Before the rational part
of my brain kicks in, I brush my fingertips gently over the bruised and
damaged skin.
He
goes still beneath my touch. That full bottom lip opens a little. A tiny
space, but I can feel the heat of his breath on my wrist.
His
eyes are locked on mine. I'm trapped, unable to move. I'm not sure I want to.
I'm furious for him but I'm frozen, burning where my fingers touch his skin.
I
cannot move. Cannot look away.
"I'm
Josh," he whispers. An answer to an unasked question.
Get More information at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes
 
Jessica Scott is an Iraq war veteran, an
active duty army officer and the USA
Today bestselling author of novels set in the heart of America’s
Army. She is the mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, and wife
to a retired NCO. She and her family are currently wherever the army has sent
her.
She's also written for the New York Times
At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq
in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/New Dawn and has had the
honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.
She's pursuing a graduate degree in
Sociology in her spare time and she's been featured as one of Esquire
Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.
Jessica is also an active member of
the Military Writers Guild.
Rafflecopter Giveaway
|
Showing posts with label Release Day Blitz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Release Day Blitz. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Release Week Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway! Break My Fall (Falling, #2) by Jessica Scott
Monday, February 15, 2016
February Brazen Release Day Blitz!
You've been waiting for it. Aching for it. Nibbling your lip in anticipation of it. Begging for it. Your next deliciously naughty read... what did you think we meant? ;)
Then his family shows up.
Fate dealt a crippling blow to paramedic Beau Montgomery’s heart, and he isn’t about to put it at risk again. Except, with his mother crying tears of joy over his surprise engagement to the sexy little blonde next door, he can’t bring himself to ruin her “Christmas miracle.”
Somewhere between the paint can to the head and the chaotic family trip to the ER, Beau manages to talk Savannah into being his fake fiancée long enough to survive the holidays.
If, of course, they don’t fall in love first…
Find a copy of EMERGENCY ENGAGEMENT:
About Samanthe Beck
Samanthe Beck lives in Malibu, California with her husband, their young son, a furry ninja named Kitty, and Bebe the trash talkin’ Chihuahua. When not writing fun, contemporary, melt-your-Kindle sexy romances for Entangled Publishing’s Brazen imprint, she searches for the perfect cabernet to pair with Ambien.
Connect with Samanthe Beck
Taking the Score by Kate Meader
Texas property tycoon Brody Kane hired Emma for her spreadsheet skills, but her prim and proper demeanor sealed the deal. There’s no room in his life for a sexy distraction…and yet, he can’t stop lusting after the delicious Ms. Strickland.
But then he takes an important client to a Chicago strip club and gets the worst lap dance in adult entertainment history. From Emma.
Now that he knows his office good girl has a naughty streak, Brody makes it his mission to uncover her secrets, one illicit, over-the-desk encounter at a time. But Emma is hiding more than her side job, and her final secret could end up destroying them both.
Find a copy of TAKING THE SCORE:
About Kate Meader Originally from Ireland, Kate cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Mills & Boon thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron or a fire hose, and she is so there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with alpha heroes and strong heroines who can match their men quip for quip.
Connect with Kate Meader
Fade Into You by Tracy Wolff
Finally out of rehab and desperate for a fresh start, Wyatt rejoins his mega-platinum rock band Shaken Dirty as they prepare for their world tour. But Wyatt’s demons are never far behind, always nipping at his heels for one. More. Fix.
Enter Poppy Germaine, the band’s new social media consultant. A beautiful bombshell who somehow manages to get underneath Wyatt’s skin, Poppy’s an addiction Wyatt can get behind. And even though she’s with the label—and therefore off-limits—he craves her. Needs her.
Except Poppy isn’t actually a social media consultant. She’s the daughter of the label’s CEO, sent undercover to babysit Wyatt and keep him from falling off the wagon again. Proving herself to her father is Poppy’s only goal—until she finds herself in Wyatt’s bed. But if Wyatt discovers the truth, it could send him spiraling all over again…
About Tracy Wolff
Find a copy of FADE INTO YOU:
Tracy
Wolff collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to
forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six
she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at
seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy
Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics
sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on
romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d
found her life-long love. Now an English professor at her local community
college, she writes romances that run the gamut from contemporary to paranormal
to erotic suspense.
And for
all of those who want the unedited version:
Tracy
Wolff lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends
as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married
to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three
young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as
possible.
Connect with Tracy Wolff
|
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Release Day Blitz! Montana Hearts: Sweet Talkin' Cowboy by Darlene Panzera
MONTANA HEARTS:
SWEET TALKIN’ COWBOY
By Darlene
Panzera
Avon Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Fiction; Western Romance
December 15, 2015
E-book ISBN: 9780062394705; $.99
About the Book
Darlene Panzera continues her heartwarming
Western series with a roughed-up cowboy, the feisty girl next door, and the
deal that brings them together
If it wasn't for an injury to his leg, Luke
Collins would be riding rodeo broncos all day, every day. Until he heals, he's
determined to help his family's guest ranch bring in money any way he can.
But when a cranky neighbor gets in the way of his goal, Luke turns to the
only person he knows can help: the gorgeous, rodeo-barrel-racing spitfire
next door.
It's no secret: Sammy Jo's father is a pain
in the neck. But if anyone can persuade him, it's her. So when Luke asks for
help, Sammy Jo is more than willing to make a deal with the handsome cowboy.
The cost? He's gotta get back up on that horse—with Sammy Jo's help, of course.
As teamwork reveals a deeper connection,
Luke finds himself falling for the beautiful girl next door. But to win her
heart? He'll just have to do whatever it takes.
Buy SWEET TALKIN’
COWBOY by Darlene Panzera
About the Author
DARLENE PANZERA writes sweet, fun-loving
romance and is a member of the Romance Writers of America’s Greater Seattle
chapter. Her career launched when her novella “The Bet” was picked by Avon
Books and New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber to be published
within Debbie’s own novel, Family Affair. Darlene says, “I love writing
stories that help inspire people to laugh, value relationships, and pursue
their dreams.”
Born and raised in New Jersey, Darlene is
now a resident of the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and
three children. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her family and
her two horses, and loves camping, hiking, photography, and lazy days at the
lake.
Connect with Darlene
Panzera
|
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Release Day Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: Taking Heart by T.J. Kline
ABOUT THE BOOK
---------------------------------
T.
J. Kline's Healing Harts series continues as a soldier suffering from PTSD
and a therapy dog trainer find that some scars can only be healed by love
---------------------------------
Julia
Hart knows how much good she does training therapy dogs—it's what helped her
overcome her own trials after a relationship turned unexpectedly violent. But
moving beyond her mistakes meant trusting only her family with her heart.
Dylan,
a former soldier, has run out of hope for recovery. Plagued by nightmares and
flashbacks, he doubts anything will help him overcome his PTSD. When his brother
convinces him to try one last time, he agrees to get a therapy dog.
He
didn't expect to find Julia or a chance for a "normal" future
again. But when Julia's attacker is released from prison, Dylan and Julia
will have to face the past together.
BUY LINKS
EXCLUSIVE DELETED SCENES FROM TAKING HEART BY T. J. KLINE
“What are we doing at a hospital?”
Dylan gave the electric doors in front
of him a wary glance as Julia slipped a vest over Roscoe and another over
Tango. His stomach clenched at the thought of going inside. He’d spent more
than enough time in a cold, sterile hospital bed than he cared to ever
remember. Months receiving treatments for his burns and recuperating from his
head wound had left him with a new appreciation for medical professionals and
a newfound aversion to hospitals.
“We’re taking the dogs to the
children’s ward.” She looked up at him as she connected the clasp and pushed
her bangs back. “Remember you asked me once how I got started doing this?
This is one of the reasons why I
continue doing it.”
He took a deep breath and looked back
at the doors. “You realize this is one of the last places I want to be,
right?”
Julia cocked her head to one side.
“Sometimes the last place we want to be is exactly where we need to be. You didn’t want to come to
my place either,” she pointed out. “And you didn’t want Roscoe.”
Dylan snuck his arm out and wound it
around her waist, pulling her toward him. Julia’s hand still held the dogs’
leashes but her fingers clenched against the hard wall of his chest. He felt
the uncontrollable longing to be near this woman replace the dread that was trying
to wind around his heart at the thought of entering a facility that he knew
housed pain and fear.
“And see how well that has turned out?”
She slid one hand to his neck, cupping his jaw and meeting his gaze with
tenderness. “I promise we will leave if it’s too much for you but it’s good
for the dogs and these guys work miracles for the kids. Please, trust me?”
Dylan bent forward, letting his mouth
find hers, losing himself in the sweetness of her kiss. He didn’t want to go
inside, didn’t want to face the icy fear trying to steal the breath from his
lungs, but he wanted to prove himself to Julia and that was enough of a
reason for him to agree. He wanted to be the man she believed he could be,
the man he used to be. Sheer self-control would have to keep the anxiety at
bay. It wouldn’t make it disappear, so far only the medication had been able
to make him forget it completely, but his determination to earn Julia’s
respect gave him a reason to focus his willpower to get through the visit.
She melted against him, her breasts
crushed against his chest. The unyielding wall of his chest cradled her soft
curves as his hand slid up her waist to the middle of her back and held her
close. His tongue met hers, sweeping against it in an erotic caress and she
moaned slightly into his mouth. Dylan felt his body harden in response and
withdrew slightly.
“We better head inside before Tango
realizes I’m kissing you and wants to slobber on me again.”
She pressed her lips against his in one
last, quick kiss, smiling against his mouth. “He only does that because he
likes you.”
Julia handed him Roscoe’s leash as Dylan
rolled his eyes. “Great. I’d hate to see what he’d do if he didn’t like me so much.”
Following behind Julia, the electric
doors opened with a soft woosh and
fans hit them from overhead. Frigid air swept around him and he wondered why
every hospital seemed to think they needed to run air conditioners year-round.
An elderly woman was seated behind the information desk and smiled broadly
when she saw Julia approach, her face beaming with pleasure.
“It’s about time you get back in here.
Come give me a hug,” she ordered as she hurried from behind her desk. Her
eyes slid to Dylan, sweeping from the top of his shaved head to the worn
boots on his feet. “And who is this tall drink of water?”
Dylan instantly felt the heat rise to
his cheeks. The woman laughed heartily and wound a thin arm around his hips in
an awkward hug since the top of her permed grey head barely hit his ribcage.
“And he’s shy to boot. This one’s a keeper, Jules,” she said, jerking a thumb
his direction.
“Dylan, meet Betty. She knows
everything that goes on in this place so if you need to know anything, she’s
the one to talk to.”
Dylan didn’t even get the chance to
introduce himself before Betty jumped in again. “That’s right. And that man
over there is Jerome.” She pointed at a middle-aged security guard who nodded
their direction with a smile. It was obvious Betty’s display didn’t faze him
in the slightest. “How is Mr. Tango doing? And who is this big guy?”
“This is Roscoe. He’s going to be
Dylan’s dog but we thought we’d bring him in with Tango to see the kids
today.”
Betty moved back to her seat behind
the information desk and scribbled on a sheet of paper before producing two
badges for Julia from under the desktop. “Here you go. Just bring ‘em back
when you finish up. It was nice to meet you,” she shouted to Dylan as he
walked with Julia to the elevators.
“Is she always like that?” he
whispered as the doors opened and they stepped inside.
Julia laughed and his chest swelled
with joy at the sound. He loved that he had the power to make her laugh and
that joy seemed to always be waiting just below the surface of her smile. It
was a heady feeling and it made him want to do it even more.
“She’s been volunteering here as long
as I can remember and she knows everyone.” Julia gave the woman a final wave
as the elevator doors closed. “She was the first person to send flowers when
I was in here.”
Dylan frowned as his chest constricted
and realization struck him like lightning. This was the hospital where Julia
had stayed after her attack. This was where she’d spent so many weeks
reliving the nightmare, trying to recover from the trauma that had almost
killed her. Why in the world would she want to come back? Why would she want
to face that nightmare again and again when she could simply avoid it
altogether?
“Julia?” He turned to ask her the
questions running through his mind when the doors opened. He realized it
would have to wait until later.
Dylan felt the difference in the air
the moment they stepped out of the elevator. Artwork and murals might decorate
the walls, but the bright colors couldn’t cover the stale antiseptic stench
that permeated the air in the corridor leading to the nurse’s station. Roscoe
seemed to notice it as well and lifted his nose toward the ceiling but
continue to walk beside Dylan as if nothing was amiss. A sense of melancholy desperation
seemed to hang over floor, like a dark cloud, in spite of the cheerfully
painted walls.
“Jules!” A nurse beamed from behind
the desk and jumped up, waving several others closer. “Jules is here.”
Dylan saw several orderlies poke their
heads from inside doorways to wave to Julia. She was well-loved but he understood
the attraction. She had a smile that could light up a dark room and an energy
that was infectious. She was captivating. As nurses surrounded the two of
them, several bending to greet the dogs, he began to feel like a third wheel.
Or, in this case, a fourth wheel, since the dogs garnered more attention than
he did. It was an odd feeling since most people were prone to stare at his
scars, or pretend not to. He self-consciously ran a hand over the marred
flesh.
Then again, his scars wouldn’t be the
worst this staff had seen.
“Are the kids in the common room?”
Julia looked his way and gave him a
reassuring smile, nodding as if reminding him that she believed he could get
through this. At least one of them had some confidence in his abilities.
A woman who appeared to be one of the
head nurses chuckled. “They’ve been gathering in there ever since they found
out you planned on coming today.”
Julia’s brows dropped forward in a
slight frown as she brushed her bangs back, looking around at a few doors
still closed. “Who is still in their room?”
“Destiny and Mikayla are too sick
today to go.” The nurse took a deep breath and Dylan could see she was
fighting to control her emotions. “Jordan isn’t able to go either.”
He saw the flicker of despair in
Julia’s eyes before she took a deep breath. Dylan was confused by the sudden
change in her but knew she’d explain soon enough. “Tell all three of them
we’ll come see them before we leave, okay?” She gave him a sad smile. “Come
on, it’s this way.”
He followed her down another short
corridor. The sounds of laughter and what sounded like off-key singing came
from behind the double doors ahead. “Ready?”
Dylan inhaled deeply and nodded. “As
I’ll ever be.”
She pushed open the doors and Dylan
saw her face light up as she looked around the room. As soon as she walked
inside, kids ranging from toddlers to teens rushed them both, most in an
attempt to get to the dogs. He was surprised to see Tango sit at Julia’s
feet, letting his mouth drop open and his tongue loll out happily, appearing
to be smiling as several of the younger kids hugged his legs and neck. Dylan
looked at down at Roscoe and gave him the cue to sit. He followed the command
flawlessly, allowing the kids to surround him as well, not even flinching
when a young boy tripped and stepped on his tail.
Dylan watched as the more hesitant
kids made their way closer, some with parents but all with some sort of
debilitation. More than a few pushed wheeled I.V. poles as they moved closer.
“Can I pet your dog?”
Dylan turned as a little girl
approached. She was short for her age but he wasn’t sure if he was just bad
at guessing kids’ ages or if the task was difficult because of the burn scars
that covered her from the middle of her scalp down one side of her face and
neck before disappearing into the neckline of the hospital gown she wore. He
could tell from the puckered skin that she had already had several skin
grafts and he remembered the pain of the procedure clearly. He knew
first-hand how much it would hurt to move with the burns and scars she had
and fought back the tears that stung his eyes and squatted down to her level.
In that moment, as she looked up at him with her pretty green eyes shimmering
with delight, Dylan thought she was the bravest person he’d ever met.
“Of course you can. This is Roscoe.”
“Roscoe,” she tested the name on her
misshapen lips. “He’s pretty.”
“He’s smart too.” Dylan ran a hand
over the dogs head.
“Mom said that after my next surgery,
Julia can help me find a dog so I can take it school with me. Did she find
Roscoe for you?”
Dylan nodded and looked up at the
girl’s mother, standing just behind her daughter. “I think that would be a
great idea. I’m Dylan.” He held out a hand to the girl, feeling strange to
introduce himself to her the way he would an adult but unsure of a better way.
Dealing with kids might take more than one visit to master.
“I’m Lisa.” She grasped his hand with
her much smaller one. “Did you get him because of your burns?” She pointed at
the scars on his neck that stretched behind his ear.
“Lisa,” her mother scolded from behind
her. Leave it to a kid to point them out.
Dylan met the woman’s gaze and could
see her embarrassment. He shook his head letting her know he didn’t take
offense. The wounded look on Lisa’s face made it clear she hadn’t meant any
disrespect. It was more likely that she was excited to find someone who understood
what she was going through, even if her burns were far more extensive than
Dylan’s were.
“It’s okay.” He looked back at Lisa. “No,
I was in the military and saw a lot of things that I don’t like to remember.
Sometimes they give me nightmares, even while I’m awake.”
“Oh.” The child nodded
sympathetically. “Sometimes I have bad dreams about the fire and it’s hard to
tell if I’m awake or asleep. It hurts again,” she said, touching her cheek.
“Even though the doctors say there’s no feeling left there.”
“It’s sort of like that. Roscoe helps
me to remember where I am.”
He laid his hand on Roscoe’s smooth
back, realizing that was exactly what the dog had been doing for him. He was
keeping Dylan focused on his present reality, living in his now instead of the pain in his past.
He turned and saw Julia watching him,
a gentle smile on her lips. She’d been right to bring him here. As difficult
as it was, as much as he was fighting to stay present and focused when there
were so many triggers vying to drag him into his memories and the pain he’d suffered,
she and Roscoe were tethering him to a reality he longed to live in. His fingers
tightened around Roscoe’s leash. Maybe this time, if he held on tight enough,
he could have a future worth living in spite of his past.
*****
Julia wanted to talk to Dylan about
their time at the hospital, wanted to know how he was doing or if it had
triggered any memories but was having a difficult time holding her sorrow at
bay. Her chest ached from the pressure of holding her tears in and she bit
her lower lip to keep from allowing the pain to escape.
Usually when she left the hospital,
she took Roscoe into the woods and they walked, letting the miles soothe the
emotions the kids stirred in her. It wrenched her heart to see them, most
with terrible and debilitating illness and disabilities, but when she spent
time with kids like Jordan, suffering from a terminal illness, it broke her.
She’d become close to the boy after visiting him over the past four years,
watching the leukemia stealing first his childhood, and now his last days.
His days were no longer marked by good moments but aching breaths that
brought more pain.
Julia had fought back the sobs as
Tango gently climbed onto the edge of the bed and laid his head over the boy’s
stomach. Even when Jordan’s mother gave in to her own tears, Julia held back,
comforting the woman she’d grown to admire as a smile spread over Jordan’s
lips and he mumbled a greeting to Tango, trying to raise a weak arm to pet
the dog. She had never been more pleased with her dog than when he slid his
head under Jordan’s hand, gently, to allow the boy one final moment with him.
The silence in the room, broken only by the quiet beep or whoosh from the
medical equipment, was deafening. It revealed a truth no one wanted to
verbally acknowledge. This would be the last time she would see Jordan alive.
A single tear escaped the corner of
her eye as she tried to blink it back and she wiped it away with her finger,
hoping Dylan didn’t see. She should have known better. It didn’t surprise her
when he reached over Roscoe on the seat between them and laid his hand on her
thigh.
“Are you okay?” His voice was quiet,
somber, as if he knew Jordan was on her mind.
Julia knew she shouldn’t stop the car,
shouldn’t talk about this with him now. She needed to decompress, to get away
from everyone, to hide somewhere so she could release the pent up fury at the
injustice. But Dylan’s voice was a key that unlocked the vault where she kept
her heart hidden. His one question released the flood of emotions she’d been
trying to hold back and the dam on her tears fractured into a million painful
shards.
Her breath rushed from her lungs and
the choking sobs threatened to blind her as she pulled to the shoulder of the
road. The cab of the truck was suffocating and she couldn’t draw in a breath
as her chest burned from trying to control the sorrow ripping through her.
She dropped the truck into Park and climbed out as quickly as she could,
running toward the tailgate but having no idea where to go, where she could
hide from this agony. Julia doubled over at the back of the truck as a car
flew past. She covered her head with her arms, squatting low, unable to move
and feeling the grief tearing at her soul. Tango’s sharp bark from his crate
in the bed of the truck broke through the keening wail she hadn’t realized
was coming from her lips but it was Dylan’s arms around her, lifting her,
cradling her against his broad chest that coaxed her back to the reality of
the moment.
She felt herself moving as he took her
back to the passenger side of the truck and settled her into the seat but she
wrapped her arms around his waist, unwilling to release him or the security
she felt in his arms.
“Julia, shh, it’s okay. Let go.” His
voice quietly reassured her, allowing her to release the pain pulsating
throughout her body making her tremble against him. Her tears soaked through
his shirt as she pressed her face against the heated wall of his chest,
letting Dylan’s strength surround her. His fingers trailed over her spine,
soothing her as her sobs slowed making her breath hitch.
When he took a step back, his hand
slid to cup her jaw and look down into her face. Julia lifted her eyes to see
his brimming with tears. Just knowing that he understood the pain she felt
made her heart swell with love for this man. They didn’t simply share a past
trauma, even their present emotions were connected, intertwined in a complexly
beautiful tapestry, woven together in ways she couldn’t begin to explain. He
filled a void in her that no one else had ever come close to even knowing
existed. As much as her family loved and supported her, they couldn’t
understand the brokenness inside. But Dylan did.
Apart, they were two beaten and broken
people, but together, they pieced together the fragments into a priceless
mosaic. Julia reached her hand toward his face and he turned, pressing a kiss
against her palm, the rasp of his jaw rough but it felt good to feel
something, even pain.
“Why do you go?” he whispered against
her hand. “If this is what it does to you, why do you put yourself through
this?”
“Because they need the dogs, the same
way you and I do. They need something to make them remember that there is
still something good in spite of the pain they face every day.” She gave him
a sad smile as she thought about him talking to Lisa. “I hate seeing what
those poor kids go through, the pain and sickness they face every day. But I
imaging them facing that without the dogs and that seems even more unfair.”
“I’ve never met anyone like you,
Julia. Never known anyone with a heart like yours.”
He didn’t let her say any more, didn’t
let her explain how she’d seen doctors stumped by how much the time with the
dogs helped kids heal, or how focusing on helping them had given her a purpose
when she’d wanted to sink into the dark pit of guilt and doubt after Evan’s
attack. His lips found hers in a tender kiss. She could taste the salty
wetness on their lips but she wasn’t sure which of them the tears belonged
to, nor did it matter. They had become one and, for the only time since
Evan’s attack, she felt whole. And, in spite of each imperfection and flaw
they each possessed, it felt like perfection.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
T.
J. KLINE was bitten by the horse bug early and began training horses at
fourteen as well as competing in rodeos and winning several rodeo queen
competitions but has always known writing was her first love. She also writes
under the name Tina Klinesmith. In her spare time, she can be found spending as
much time as possible, laughing hysterically, with her husband, teens and their
menagerie of pets in Northern California.
GIVEAWAY
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
