A Man On A Mission
Heâs defended his country and upheld the code of the navy SEALs, but Garrett Solomon has never faced a mission quite like this. As teenagers, he and Eve Barnesworth were passionately in love. Eveâs unplanned pregnancy only deepened his commitment to her. But Eveâs powerful father, fearing a scandal, whisked her away. As far as Garrett and Eve knew, their baby had diedâand with it, their love. Years later, the loss and betrayal still pain Garrett deeply.
Then comes shocking news: the child is still alive. Determined to find their stolen son, Garrett and Eve join forces. Working together is strictly businessâ¦until it isnât. Because it seems their powerful attractionâlike the child they once thought was gone foreverâis still very much alive.
âWant to dance?â
A slow song played and the floor filled with couples. The lighting was low and thousands of white Christmas lights twinkled on the wood-beamed ceiling.
âAh, sure.â Garrett set his beer on the bar, then held out his hand to help her down. Eveâs heels set her indecipherable stare at nearly his eye level, and wondering what was running through that pretty head of hers was making him nuts.
With his hands low on her hips and her cheek pressed to his chest, Garrett couldnât remember a time heâd been more confused. Holding her felt right. As if all that time between them had been erased and they were back in their high-school gym.
Could she feel the chaotic beat of his heart?
Eve looked up. Her eyes were shiny, but the hard set to her jaw said she wasnât about to let anything ruin their night.
He wanted to kiss her. Damn, he wanted to kiss her....
Dear Reader,
As Iâm putting the final touches on Eve and Garrettâs story, itâs Motherâs Day here in my ârealâ world. If youâve read any of my previous books, you may have noticed I have an affection for children of all ages and when it comes to my own, Iâm the worldâs biggest softy!
Because of my Mama Bear love for my brood, I struggled with the resolution to this story. While I wonât give it away, it produced a surprising debate and made me really think about the way I might have handled the situation had it happened to me.
Especially on Motherâs Day, Iâve always been happiest with my babies on my lap, but alas, they kind of grew up on me! My twins are twenty and my Russell will soon be twenty-one! When they were all little, I used to think those were the tough days, but now I know better. Diapers and late-night feedings have nothing on soothing broken hearts or proofing college papers.
My wish for all of you moms out thereâand dadsâis for you to always have your kids close, no matter their ages, if not physically, then at least in spirit. When it comes to love, as Eve and Garrett discover, no problem is insurmountable...just more of a challenge than theyâd ever expected!
Happy reading!
Laura Marie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After college (Go, Hogs!), bestselling, award-winning author Laura Marie Altom did a brief stint as an interior designer before becoming a stay-at-home mom to boy-girl twins and a bonus son. Always an avid romance reader, she knew it was time to try her hand at writing when she found herself replotting the afternoon soaps.
When not immersed in her next story, Laura teaches art at a local middle school. In her free time, she beats her kids at video games, tackles Mount Laundry and of course reads romance!
Laura loves hearing from readers at either P.O. Box 2074, Tulsa, OK 74101, or by email, [email protected].
Love winning fun stuff? Check out www.lauramariealtom.com.
Competition for book dedications in this house is fierce, and this time, my not-so-little Terry won. Heâs had a rough year, but just finished a great semester at school and his father and I couldnât be more proud.
Love you, sweetie. Iâm so excited to see what wonderful surprises your future holds.
Chapter One
âGarrett, thank you for coming.â November rain fell in wind-driven sheets just beyond Barnesworth Mansionâs two-story colonnade. Eve Barnesworth leaned against the imposing mahogany door, fingering her triple strand of pearls. âCalling this moment merely awkward would be the worldâs biggest understatement.â
He cleared his throat, brushing past her with a nod. âThat about sums it up.â
âCan I take your coat?â Ever the perfect hostess, Eve held out her arms, glad to replace the inevitable hell to come with routine.
He shrugged off his rain-splattered pea jacket, handing it to her with a half smile. In the eight years since circumstance ripped them apart and sheâd left their small Florida town, Garrett had changed from boy to man. He seemed taller. Heâd become a navy SEAL, and the breadth of his chest and shoulders told the story of how physically powerful heâd become. His hair used to be on the long side when she couldâve spent hours fingering his curls. Now he wore it in a painfully neat regulation crew cut that struck her as distant and cold as his impenetrable gray eyes. In high school, sheâd known every nuance and expression of his dear face. With time and tragedy between themâand more anger than sheâd sometimes thought her heart could bearâshe doubted sheâd have even recognized him as her first love had they met in a crowd.