Marie Ferrarella - A Forever Christmas

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Her Gift Is Her Present

When Gabe Rodriguez took the job of deputy sheriff in the small town of Forever, Texas, he thought he’d be bored. So he’s shocked the morning he discovers a car teetering on the edge of a deep ravine with an unconscious woman at the wheel. Gabe makes a daring rescue, but when the woman awakes, her memory is wiped clean.

Gabe may call her his Christmas “Angel,” but in her eyes, he’s the one who is truly heaven-sent. Gabe’s given her a whole new life, and she is haunted by the feeling that this is the happiest she’s ever been. Though Gabe is trying to help Angel recover her memory, she’s willing to leave it all behind her and start fresh with him at her side. But when her past finally catches up to her, Angel could lose everything, including Gabe.

As she spoke, Angel drew nearer to Gabe.

She was so close that he could feel each breath she took as her chest rose, brushing against his. When she exhaled, he felt her breath along his skin.

His gut tightened in response as he struggled to hold himself in check.

Gabe wanted to believe her. Wanted so badly just to take her into his arms and not fear the ramifications and consequences that were waiting for them just beyond the night.

But there would be ramifications and there would be consequences.

Gabe gave it one more try. “I need to find the light, Angel.”

“It’s right here,” she whispered to him, rising on her toes, leaving her soft lips mere inches from his mouth.

Gabe could feel himself weakening. “Oh, damn, Angel, you could break a saint.”

“I don’t want a saint,” Angel told him, her eyes never leaving his. “I want you.”

Dear Reader,

Here we are, back in Forever, Texas. This time we’re visiting Alma’s brother, Gabe. Gabe is trying to deal with the sting of being dumped by a woman who felt she could do “better,” and by “better” she meant finding someone wealthier. Alma, in an effort to get Gabe to come around, gets the sheriff to offer him a temporary position as a fill-in deputy. Gabe accepts, but there’s not much to do in a small town like Forever—that is, if you don’t count saving a beautiful woman’s life by pulling her out of a car tottering on the brink of a ledge before it goes over—or bursts into flame (which it does, seconds after he rescues her). There’s a slight hitch with the rescue. The woman doesn’t know how she got there—or who she is. Impulsively, Gabe names her “Angel” because she looks like one to him (and because it’s nearly Christmas).

With nothing but time on his hands, Gabe takes Angel on as his private project, trying to help her remember who she is. But as the days go by, both Gabe and Angel grow more and more reluctant to unearth her past, especially since they are growing so close to one another in the present. Still, nothing goes smoothly, and someone from Angel’s past is looking for her—and he’s not looking for a happy reunion.

As always, I thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this latest stroll through Forever. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you someone to love who loves you back.

Happy holidays!

Love,

Marie

About the Author

MARIE FERRARELLA, a USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award-winning author, has written more than two hundred books for Silhouette and Harlequin Books, some under the name of Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website at www.marieferrarella.com.

A Forever Christmas

Marie Ferrarella

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Contents

Prologue

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

Teaser Chapter

Prologue

It was the rain that was ultimately responsible.

The rain and fear.

In their own unique way, they were both blinding. The rain came down in sheets, demanding that she pull over, or at the very least drive more slowly.

The sky was close to being as dark as midnight, despite the fact that it was in the middle of the day. But there was nowhere for her to pull over, no town, no gas station. Nothing.

Nothing but exposed space.

And she couldn’t risk being exposed. Even in this storm.

She didn’t know if she was still even in Texas anymore.

All she knew was that she had to keep going, had to put as many miles between her and Jake as she could. There had been murder in his eyes the very last time she’d seen him.

Her murder.

He was coming for her. She could feel it.

She’d raced to her car, soaked before she’d ever reached it. Once inside, her hand shaking so badly it was hard to put the key into the ignition, it took her three tries to get it to turn over. Tearing away from the house, she put her foot all the way down on the gas pedal and drove as fast as she could.

Just drove. The destination didn’t matter. She had to save herself.

It was her own fault.

She shouldn’t have come back. She should have known he’d be watching the house, waiting for her to show up.

Jake.

The man who was the reason why she’d taken off to begin with. Why she’d changed her name, changed her appearance, changed her life. Changed everything just to get away from him.

And she had.

But when she’d learned, by accident, of her mother’s death, she couldn’t stay away from the funeral. Her heart ached too much not to say goodbye one last time.

She should have realized that his obsession would have had him watching the cemetery, watching the house. She’d thought she was careful, waiting for everyone to leave before she’d paused at the cemetery. Before she’d slipped into the house. She wanted to get the album of pictures her mother had kept. Pictures from a happier time. That, and her mother’s locket, those were the only two things she’d wanted—almost needed—to see her through this awful period.

Securing them would have only taken a few minutes. In and out. But even just a few minutes were too many.

He’d been watching for her.

Waiting.

And the moment she was in the house, he’d closed in. If that floorboard hadn’t squeaked when it had…

But it had and she’d bolted after throwing the jewelry box at him, hitting him squarely in the face. Bolted even as he heaped a barrage of curses at her through his bloodied lips. Curses that were drowned out by the whine of the bullet that tore by her head.

Missing her by inches.