Kayla Perrin - Until Now

A kiss to warm her soul…

Never again, she vows. Now that her abusive ex-husband is in prison, Tamara Jackson has finally found some peace. Life can be sweet—as long as she remembers not to lose herself in another relationship. She pledges to remain strong, independent and single.

But now change is in the air in the form of a sexy, smoking-hot man. Police detective Marshall Jennings is hardly a stranger—Tamara has known him since college, and now his best friend is married to her best friend, Callie Hart. Marshall’s athletic build, flirty ways and persistent pursuit soon have Tamara second-guessing her strategy.

Just one little fling, she thinks. No strings, he thinks. But they both thought wrong. Passion quickly cascades into something more—a wave of emotions that may sweep them into everlasting love….

Her eyes roamed over his body from head to toe. His black suit looked like a million dollars on him. The white shirt that he wore unbuttoned at the collar was sexy. He truly was one incredibly fine specimen of a man. There was no doubt as to why women swooned over him.

“You want to get to know me better,” Tamara said without preamble as she walked toward him. “Really get to know me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then how’s this?” None too gracefully, she closed the distance between them. As she eased up on her toes, the thought that came into her mind was that she was definitely drunk with passion. She had no clue why she was doing what she was doing…nor could she stop herself.

Completely out of character, Tamara tipped up on her toes and planted her lips firmly on his. She gripped his shoulders for support. After about five seconds, she ended the kiss as quickly as she had initiated it.

Easing back, she looked up at Marshall and saw confusion on his face. She felt the same as her head swam.

Marshall’s expression said that he was stunned…but also delighted. He raised an eyebrow. “Wow.”

“That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” she asked, her tongue feeling heavy. “To score?”

KAYLA PERRIN

has been writing since the age of thirteen and once entertained the idea of becoming a teacher. Instead, she has become a USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author of dozens of mainstream and romance novels. She has been recognized for her talent, including twice winning Romance Writers of America’s Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year Award. She has also won the Career Achievement Award for multicultural romance from RT Book Reviews. Kayla lives with her daughter in Ontario, Canada.

Until Now

Kayla Perrin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

If you read my Harts in Love series, then you’ll recognize Tamara Jackson, who is the heroine of this novel. I’m happy to bring you back to Cleveland, Ohio, where you will see the Hart sisters again as you enjoy Tamara’s story. You may remember that in Always in My Heart, Tamara was Callie’s best friend who was trying to get out of an abusive marriage.

Sometimes, when love goes sour, it isn’t just because people grow apart or because someone cheats. Sometimes, there is a more sinister reason.

I wanted to be able to explore a more serious element in this novel—dealing with the aftermath of domestic abuse—and show that healing is possible. More important, I wanted to show no matter the pain you have suffered, there is always hope for love.

I hope you enjoy the ride as Tamara and Marshall, also from Always in My Heart, overcome the obstacles in their lives in order to find lasting love.

As always, thank you for your continuing support!

Happy reading,

Kayla

This book is dedicated to my readers who have endured the darker side of love. I hope you have come out on the other side stronger—knowing that you are worthy and beautiful and deserving of someone whose love lifts you up, not knocks you down.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 1

“You won’t get away with this, you hear me? You think this is the end of it, but it’s not over! I promise you that! It’s not over!”

Patrick yelled at the top of his lungs, causing Tamara Jackson to flinch. Michael, her son, who was sitting beside her in the courtroom, gripped her hand tighter. With a sense of dread filling her belly, Tamara watched as her ex-husband was pulled toward the courtroom’s exit. He was squirming, trying to free himself from the bailiffs’ grip, and she was sure that if he could, he would lunge at her and cause her bodily harm.

“I’m gonna appeal, and I’ll be out of here before you know it. And then you’d better be scared!”

The judge pounded her gavel. “Mr. Jackson, please calm down.”

“He’s not gonna get out, is he?” Michael asked.

Tamara looked down at her son’s eyes that were wide with terror. “No, honey,” she told him in a reassuring tone. “He’s just trying to scare us because he’s angry. He won’t get out of jail for a very long time.”

“I promise you—I’ll be back!”

Bravely, Tamara watched Patrick being led out the door that would take him out of her view—and her life—forever. He twisted his head to give her one last glimpse and then he was gone.

A long, shuddery breath escaped Tamara. It was over. Patrick was gone. She never had to see him again.

“You okay?”

Tamara turned to face her mother, who was to her right. She instinctively loosened the grip on her hand. But Michael, on her left, was still holding tight to her other hand as if his life depended on it.

“I’m fine,” Tamara said. She didn’t feel fine right now, but she knew that she would be. Patrick was going to prison for forty-two years. He wouldn’t be a problem again.

Though his promise still frightened her. She had spent years being afraid of him, and she couldn’t simply turn off those feelings.

Tamara turned to her son, whose eyes were locked on the door Patrick had just exited through.

“Sweetheart, he’s gone. He can’t hurt us now.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I can promise you that.” Tamara wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. The prosecutor had assured her that there was no legal loophole for Patrick to file an appeal. The case against him had been ironclad.

Not only had Patrick threatened her and her son’s lives, he had also tried to kill her best friend, Callie-Hart Williams—more than once. He’d been charged with kidnapping, two counts of attempted murder, assault causing bodily harm—a host of serious charges. Callie’s testimony, earlier in the trial, had been moving and effective, and Tamara had seen a couple of the female jurors wiping away tears. The guilty verdict had been a foregone conclusion from the start.

“I love you,” Tamara said, leaning over to rest her face atop Michael’s head. “We have each other. We’ll be all right.”