The Promise He Made Her
A man of his wordDr. Bloom Freelander thought it was safe to breathe again when Detective Sam Larson put her abusive ex away for good. She’s been moving on, running a private practice and providing psychiatry services to The Lemonade Stand women’s shelter. But now that her ex is a free man, she’s in danger once again.Forced into protective custody, Bloom can’t help but fall for her protector. But she has every reason to doubt the handsome detective's word. Sam broke his promise to her once. Who says he won’t break it again—along with her heart this time?
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A man of his word
Dr. Bloom Freelander thought it was safe to breathe again when Detective Sam Larson put her abusive ex away for good. Sheâs been moving on, running a private practice and providing psychiatry services to The Lemonade Stand womenâs shelter. But now that her ex is a free man, sheâs in danger once again.
Forced into protective custody, Bloom canât help but fall for her protector. But she has every reason to doubt the handsome detectiveâs word. Sam broke his promise to her once. Who says he wonât break it againâalong with her heart this time?
He was there for a reason...
âSamââ she used his first name, though heâd never told her to ââwhatâs going on? Can I help?â
When he shook his head, her heart sank. Please, God, donât let this man have done something bad enough to put him in jail. A world without him in it. Santa Raquel without him keeping it safe.
The idea left her bereft.
His expression cleared. âYes, you can help.â He seemed to have fought some internal battle and...won?
âOkay.â She smiled. Couldnât seem to stop smiling at him. Wanted to put her hand on his knee where it rested close to hers. Or on the hand he had resting on it. âWhat can I do?â
âI need you to do me a favor.â
âSure. Fine. What?â This was Sam Larson. Heâd saved her life. She owed him far more than sheâd ever be able to repay.
âI need you to pack up whatever keepsakes and possessions you most value, along with clothes and personal items, and be ready for me to pick you up late tomorrow afternoon.â
Iâm a bit envious of you. You have this story ahead of you. Iâve already finished it. For me itâs one of those books that leaves you feeling bereft at the end because itâs over. I canât really even tell you why. I love Sam. Heâs not perfect. Far from it. But heâs completely honest. With himself. And with others. He stands by what he says. Does what he says heâs going to do.
And then...he finds out that heâs not in control of the whole world...that sometimes he canât do as he says because itâs out of his control. He does not take this news well.
And Bloom, sheâs an incarnation of so many things. Sheâs a genius, like the one I raised. But beyond what I was personally bringing to the story, Bloom...bloomed...into so much more than these little details that I knew about her. She found an inner strength that I didnât know existed, but that Iâve taken upon myself. Mostly I love her because she found a way to walk through the fire with an open heart.
I hope you enjoy your time in Santa Raquel, and that you come back to visit often. Weâre giving you many âvacationâ opportunities. But rest assured, each âpackageâ takes you, in some way, through The Lemonade Stand, Where Secrets are Safe. Welcome!
I love to hear from readers! You can find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/tarataylorquinn and on Twitter, @tarataylorquinn. Or join my open Friendship board on Pinterest! Pinterest.com/tarataylorquinn/friendship.
All the best,
Tara
An author of more than seventy novels, TARA TAYLOR QUINN is a USA TODAY bestselling author with more than seven million copies sold. She is known for delivering emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is a past president of Romance Writers of America. She has won a Readersâ Choice Award and is a five-time finalist for an RWA RITA® Award, a finalist for a Reviewerâs Choice Award and a Booksellersâ Best Award. She has also appeared on TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning. She supports 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 Rachel: You chose a difficult path to help many and keep us safe. May you also always be able to walk through the fire with your heart open. All my love, forever. Ma
Contents
PHYSICAL BRUISES HEAL. Itâs the mental ones that can kill you. Bloom shook her head and hit the delete key. Looked for a more genteel way to get her point across. She didnât want to lose her audience during the first minute of the two-hour-long psychology symposium. Theyâd given her a room with seating for three hundred, which could feel cavernous if she failed to entertain.
Back in her old life, her teaching life, sheâd have filled the screen with visual aids, provided a handoutâand probably pens, too. Sheâd have sent around a bowl filled with individually wrapped peppermints. All actions designed to increase memory retention in lecture situations, and sheâd have been content to get 5 percent retention after seven days.
