The Good Father
Starting over…again It seems a lifetime ago that Brett Ackerman wanted to share his life with Ella Wales. He really believed he could put his abusive family history behind him…until he realized it would always be part of him. Then he pushed her away. Hard.Now Ella's back as part of the High Risk Team at The Lemonade Stand, the unique women's shelter Brett founded. And she needs his help with a family crisis. But even now, Brett can't admit he still loves her. Until one night of passion with Ella turns Brett into the one thing he fears the most–a father.
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Starting over...again
It seems a lifetime ago that Brett Ackerman wanted to share his life with Ella Wales. He really believed he could put his abusive family history behind him...until he realized it would always be part of him. Then he pushed her away. Hard.
Now Ellaâs back as part of the High Risk Team at The Lemonade Stand, the unique womenâs shelter Brett founded. And she needs his help with a family crisis. But even now, Brett canât admit he still loves her. Until one night of passion with Ella turns Brett into the one thing he fears the mostâa father.
âI thought you were asleep...â
Ella stood there, hands raised as though she didnât know what to do with them.
Touch him?
God help him, Brett had been reliving the touch of her fingers on his skin since theyâd arrived at the cabin last night.
Who was he kidding? Heâd never stopped having fantasies about the woman.
Heâd known he couldnât be married to her. Had no doubts about that one. Even now his resolve didnât waver.
But making love had never even come close to bringing out violence in him.
âIâll just get us going again and head to shore,â she said. She turned and the light of the moon gave him a bounteous gift. A clear view of two things. Ellaâs lips. And her nipples where her sweater had dropped open.
She was chewing on her lower lip. All the sign he really needed. But the hard points of her nipples were added fuel for his raging fire.
Both were indications that Ella was as hungry for him as he was for her...
Welcome back to The Lemonade Stand. The Good Father is a very special book in the Where Secrets are Safe series. Itâs the story of a man who created his own safety net without knowing it.
If youâve read any of the other books, youâve heard about the mysterious founder of The Lemonade Stand, a unique womenâs shelter set on the coast of California. We hear of him, of his generosity and his decisions. We just never meet him. We have no idea who he is. Nor do any of the people who work at or are associated with the stand.
Brett Ackerman is a man with secrets. A man with an atrocious past who limits his future rather than risk any more atrocities in his life. He is also that founder. He created something heâd wished had existed when he was growing up a victim of domestic violence. Stepping outside the story, I created The Lemonade Stand because I wished something like it had existed when I was a young newlywed unable to tell anyone what was going on behind closed doors.
Iâm not Brett. But he and I have something in common. We both hid from our pasts, tucking things away, thinking weâd dealt with them, only to find that theyâd been there all along. I hope youâll give Brett a chance. Follow on his journey as he struggles to help a friend and finds himself in the process. I promise you warmth and happiness at the end.
All the best,
Tara
PS As always, I love to hear from my readers! You can reach me at [email protected].
The author of more than seventy novels, TARA TAYLOR QUINN is a USA TODAY bestselling author with over seven million copies sold. She is known for delivering emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is the past president of Romance Writers of America and served eight years on that board of directors. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning, and is a frequent guest speaker. In her spare time Tara likes to travel and enjoys crafting and in-line skating. She is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.
For all those who have been hurt and want to believe in love and happiness anyway. Itâs out there!
Contents
HE STOOD NAKED and felt the water splash over him. Eyes closed, arms raised with his hands splayed above him on the porcelain tile, Brett Ackerman dropped his chin to his chest. Water pressure that was fine for cleansing wasnât strong enough to wash away the tension knotting the muscles along the back of his neck.
He stood there, anyway. Planned to let the hot water run out and then to remain in the cold for as long as he could take it. His pain was his own fault. Heâd been out too late after several grueling days of work, flying back and forth across the country twice.
