Kayla Perrin - Surrender My Heart

Natalie Hart has sworn off love and basketball.

All sports, for that matter. Her pro-athlete husband cheated on her—and she’s not sure she’ll ever be ready to give her heart again. Now she’s single and working at a children’s charity, and it’s not just event planning that has her putting in overtime. Local football celebrity Michael Jones is organizing a gala affair with Natalie. And the sexy jock has made it crystal clear he’d like to kick off with seduction. But can Natalie let down her guard and fall for another professional athlete?

Michael Jones is used to women falling at his multimillion-dollar, cleat-covered feet. But Natalie is giving him a run for his money. With the vulnerable beauty arousing his fierce protective instincts—and a desire neither has the power to resist—Michael is ready to let his playboy past go. If Natalie’s willing, together they can surrender to their future. Body, heart and soul.

“Or are you really afraid that if I kiss you, you’ll no longer be able to deny what you feel?”

Natalie guffawed. But she didn’t look at him again. She couldn’t. She knew that he would see into her soul and know exactly what she was feeling.

He relaxed one of his arms and placed his finger beneath her chin, forcing her face upward. “Hmm?”

“That is the most ridiculous—”

“Is it?”

He held her gaze for several beats, the look a challenge in itself. One that said, Bet you can’t look away.

And darn it, she couldn’t.

His finger delicately moved from her chin along the base of her jaw, causing Natalie to suck in a sharp breath. And then, before she knew what was happening, Michael lowered his mouth onto hers.

It wasn’t yet the Fourth of July, but Natalie was undeniably feeling sparks. Seeing them explode behind her closed eyelids. The touch of his mouth against hers…had anything ever felt this good?

Why did she feel such a rush of undeniable, insane attraction for this man?

Michael’s mouth parted against hers. His sexy full lips felt incredible. And then he suckled her bottom lip, and she felt dizzy from the desire his kiss was awakening in her.

Natalie actually moaned in disappointment when he pulled back, leaving her stunned and speechless. Like someone who had been unexpectedly struck by a flying piece of debris, Natalie stared at him in awe, almost unable to comprehend what had just happened.

His lips curling in the slightest of smiles, he said, “Well?”

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 and 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 a Career Achievement Award for multicultural romance from RT Book Reviews. Kayla lives with her daughter in Ontario, Canada. Visit her at www.KaylaPerrin.com.

Surrender My Heart

Kayla Perrin

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Dear Reader,

Welcome to book two of the Harts in Love series!

If you’ve been in love, chances are you’ve had your heart broken. Sometimes, we choose someone for superficial reasons, which of course will lead to heartbreak. Other times, we follow our heart and still get hurt. And sometimes, we choose a partner as a way to escape a situation in our lives.

That’s what Natalie, the youngest Hart sister, does. Wanting an escape from her past, she hopes that marriage to a man who seems to have it all together will provide her with the happiness and security she craves. But it’s only a recipe for disaster.

But even heartbreak gives you a chance to grow and learn. Once you realize that you shouldn’t close your heart off to love, that’s when you open yourself up to the possibility of real happiness.

Will Natalie take that chance? I’m excited to present her story to you, and I hope you enjoy it!

Happy reading!

Kayla

For all those who have suffered heartbreak

but haven’t given up on love.

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

Natalie Hart snatched the phone from the wall mount in the kitchen the moment she saw Nigel Williams’s name displayed on the caller ID.

“Nigel, thank God,” she said without preamble, gripping the phone tightly, desperate for word about her sister’s condition. “How is she? How’s Callie?”

Nigel sighed wearily before speaking. “She’s okay.” His voice sounded strained, as if he was trying to be brave. “Patrick Jackson did a number on her—he is lucky I didn’t get to him before the Tallahassee police did—but Callie is strong. The doctors say her injuries are mostly superficial and she’ll be fine.”

“You’re sure?” Natalie asked. Yesterday, she had heard the words beaten and concussion and been terrified. “Because if we need to head down there, Deanna and I will be on the next pl—”

“No, that’s not necessary. We won’t be here more than another day. By the time you’d get here, you’d have to turn right back around. So it makes more sense for you to wait until we get back to Cleveland.”

Deanna, who waited in the kitchen with Natalie, was biting down on her bottom lip and watching her sister closely. “What’s he saying?”

“He’s says that Callie is going to be okay,” Natalie explained. “That we don’t have to head to Tallahassee.” She paused. “Nigel, are you sure? Because I know Callie might not want us to go out of our way, but we—we’re family.” Her voice cracked around the word family, which suddenly meant so much more now that she and her sisters had reunited. “We need to be there for her.”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Nigel told her. “I know you’re worried, but I wouldn’t lie to you about this. If you needed to be here, I’d tell you.”

Natalie’s shoulders sagged with relief. She believed Nigel, knowing he wouldn’t sugarcoat the severity of their sister’s injuries.

“What exactly happened?” Deanna asked. She began to pace the small kitchen at Uncle Dave’s house, where she and Natalie had been staying since the death of their auntie Jean. “How did this Patrick guy get to Callie in the first place? My God, she could have been killed!”

Nigel, who had clearly heard Deanna’s question, said, “That’s a story Callie will have to tell. I’m not sure of all the details. But tell Deanna not to worry. I’ve got it under control. Callie is in good hands. I’m taking her home as soon as I can.”

Taking her home… The words caused a small smile to form on Natalie’s lips. Just over a month ago, she, Callie and Deanna had returned to Cleveland for their aunt’s funeral after being away for several years. The three of them had been estranged for far too long, and sadly it took their aunt’s passing to bring them together again.