A Home for Her Heart

Love on Assignment

Magazine writer Elizabeth Anderson has sparred with newspaper reporter John Talbot for years. Though they cover similar stories, John thinks Elizabeth’s writing is trivial, and she finds him too boastful. So when they must work together to investigate New York City’s worst tenement houses, they’re surprised by the great team they make.

Boardinghouse Betrothals: Hearts taking shelter—and forging new beginnings

“I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone about how lonely I was.”

John reached out and gently touched Elizabeth’s cheek. Their eyes met, and the realization of how much she liked him scared Elizabeth into jumping up from the park bench.

“Elizabeth. I didn’t mean to upset you. I—”

“You didn’t. But—” She couldn’t let him say he was sorry for the tender moment. She didn’t want to hear that. “It’s just getting late, and we should get back.”

He stood from the bench, and she slipped her hand through his arm before they began their walk back.

“Thank you for listening, John.”

“Anytime. I mean that, Elizabeth. I’ve opened up to you in ways I never have with anyone else.”

His words warmed Elizabeth’s heart. This man whom she’d sparred with for over a year had suddenly become the person she shared all her deepest hurts and fears with. He was truly her best friend. But now she wanted for more.

JANET LEE BARTON

was born in New Mexico and has lived all over the South, in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. She loves researching and writing heartwarming stories about faith, family, friends and love. Janet loves being able to share her faith and love of the Lord through her writing. She’s very happy that the kind of romances the Lord has called her to write can be read and shared with women of all ages.

Janet and her husband now live in Oklahoma and are part of what they laughingly call their “Generational Living Experiment” with their daughter and her husband, two wonderful granddaughters and a shih tzu called Bella. The experiment has turned into quite an adventure, and so far, they think it’s working out just fine. When Janet isn’t writing or reading, she loves to travel, cook, work in the garden and sew.

You can visit Janet at www.janetleebarton.com.

A Home for Her Heart

Janet Lee Barton

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and discover not a secret to another.

— Proverbs 25:9

To Dan for encouraging me every step of the way,

To Tina James for seeing the possibilities for this series, To Giselle Regus for helping to make this story better, To Tamela Hancock Murray for being such a great agent, & always to my Lord and Savior for showing me the way.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

New York City

June 1896

John Talbot had barely reached the top step leading to Heaton House before Elizabeth Anderson rushed out the door and slammed into his chest. He reached out to steady her.

“Whoa there! Are you all right, Elizabeth?”

Her hazel eyes appeared a little dazed as she looked up at him and she seemed to be trying to catch the breath he was certain had been knocked out of her. He was nearly a foot taller than her and she was a trim woman. She had to be shaken by the collision. He felt a little breathless himself, looking down at her.

“Elizabeth, are you all right?” he repeated, keeping a firm grip on her slender arms.

She gave a short nod and took several deep breaths before finally finding her voice. “I’m fine. I think.”

She looked fine—better than fine actually. He’d never been quite this close to her, near enough to notice how thick and long her eyelashes were or how much green shot through her hazel eyes. “Are you sure?”

She gave a little nod.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to come flying out the door that way.”

“I know. It’s not your fault.”

“Where are you off to in such a rush?”

“I just received a call from my aunt letting me know my father is in town and insisting I come to dinner. I’m in a hurry.”

“Would you like me to accompany you?” Mrs. Heaton had a hard-and-fast rule that none of the women boarders were to be out alone after dark and that if necessary, one of the male boarders would accompany them.

She shook her head. “No, thank you. It’s still light out and I’ll be fine.”

She still looked a little bemused and he felt responsible. “Do you need me to come get you later?”