Farrah Rochon - Forever's Promise

It all begins with a kiss…

After tragedy brings her home to Louisiana, all Shayla Kirkland wants is to reconnect with her family. Between helping care for her nieces and running her recently opened coffee shop, there’s no time for romance. Until the workaholic entrepreneur meets Xavier Wright, the hunky E.R. doctor who has the local females waiting in line.

The sleepy town is the perfect transition place for Xavier to heal others while trying to mend his own heart. Falling for the owner of Gauthier’s hottest new hangout isn’t part of his short-term goals—even if the passion Shayla’s arousing in him is impossible to resist. But how will Xavier offer her forever, if he plans to leave as soon as his work is done?

For a moment, Shayla was struck speechless, entranced by the depth of his gaze and the enticing cadence of his rich voice

“I…I understand.” She slowly slid her fingers out of his hold. She couldn’t concentrate with him touching her. She took a couple of steps back and rubbed her hands up and down her arms, which were suddenly covered with goose bumps.

“Do you really, Shayla?”

“I do,” she said. “My coffeehouse happens to be one of the places where women plot to get into your E.R.” His brows rose again, and Shayla nodded. “I personally overheard the scheming, so I can understand why you’re suspicious. And I really do accept your apology.”

“Thank you.” His shoulders sank with genuine relief. “Now, will you go out to dinner with me or what?”

Shayla laughed. “You don’t give up, do you?”

“Would you believe that Xavier Persistence Wright is the name on my birth certificate?”

“No.”

“You’re right. It’s Alexander. But it should be Persistence. Keep that in mind, because I’m not giving up on that date.”

“Can we get back to the reason I am here?” Shayla asked.

He put his hand to his chest. “Forgive me. I forgot you didn’t come here simply because you couldn’t go another moment without seeing me. I need to rein in this wishful thinking.”

Shayla laughed. “You are impossible.”

“But handsome and charming, right?”

FARRAH ROCHON

had dreams of becoming a fashion designer as a teenager, until she discovered she would be expected to wear something other than jeans to work every day. Thankfully, the coffee shop where she writes does not have a dress code.

When Farrah is not penning stories, the avid sports fan feeds her addiction to football by attending New Orleans Saints games.

Forever’s Promise

Farrah Rochon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

I know many of you adore books in series as much as I do, and you’ve probably learned to recognize when a secondary character in one story will eventually become the hero or heroine of his or her own story. While writing Yours Forever, the third book in the Bayou Dreams series, Shayla Kirkland stepped onto the scene as what I like to call a “filler” character. She was there for only a moment as the owner of Gauthier’s new coffee shop, and originally, that was supposed to be the extent of her role. Yet, in that one moment, I knew there was much more to Shayla. Even though she had only a brief cameo in Yours Forever, I learned that she had two adorable nieces and a recently deceased brother, who had been a member of the military. There was so much lurking there; I just had to explore this character.

Yes, Shayla Kirkland had a story to tell. I just didn’t realize how rich and intriguing her story was until I started writing it. I hope Shayla’s story of love, redemption and forgiveness touches you as much as it touched me. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to read the three previous stories in the Bayou Dreams series: A Forever Kind of Love, Always and Forever and Yours Forever.

As always, thank you so much for reading. Please let me know what you think about Forever’s Promise. Contact me on Facebook, Twitter or at Farrah@farrahrochon.com.

Happy reading,

Farrah Rochon

This one is for my fans! My heartfelt thanks to all of you

for the years of support.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will

for you in Christ Jesus.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:18

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Shayla Kirkland swirled the cappuccino’s foamy topping into the shape of an apple before handing the mug to her former tenth-grade Free Enterprise teacher.

“Here you go, Mr. Peterson. One nonfat cappuccino with extra foam.”

“Well, look at that. Quite a fancy trick you’ve got there, Shayla,” he said, taking a sip as he cast an appraising glance around the spacious coffeehouse. “It’s nice to see that someone paid attention in class. We could use more homegrown businesses here in Gauthier.”

“Of course I paid attention. Your class was one of my favorites.”

“I’ll bet you tell that to all your old teachers.” He winked as he handed her a five-dollar bill.

Shayla dropped the change he waved off into the tip jar before wiping down the counter, then turned to the service window that led to the kitchen of The Jazzy Bean.

“Hey, Lucinda, are those salads ready?”

Lucinda Sullivan, who had been Shayla’s late mother’s best friend and had given Shayla her first sip of beer when she was twelve years old, placed two square salad bowls on the ledge of the little cutaway window.

When she’d made the spur-of-the-moment decision to open a coffeehouse in her hometown of Gauthier, Louisiana, Shayla hadn’t given much thought to her plan—wholly uncharacteristic for her usually methodical self. The one thing she did know was that she wanted to include a café. After much begging and shameless pleading, Lucinda had mercifully accepted the job as cook. Shayla knew coffee. Her other culinary skills left much to be desired.

“I changed Harold’s order to a grilled chicken salad instead of fried,” Lucinda told her.

“Good woman,” Shayla said.

She loaded the salads onto a tray, along with two glasses of sweet tea and mismatched cutlery she’d salvaged from the remnants of Armant’s Antique Shop, which had occupied this building on downtown Gauthier’s Main Street for decades before Shayla bought it.

As owner, her day was usually spent making sure the coffee shop was running smoothly, and maybe delivering the occasional order when things got busy during the lunch rush. But with two of her employees out sick today, Shayla found herself utilizing those skills she’d learned as a barista while putting herself through college.

She took the salads to the table where two of her regulars, Harold Porter and Nathan Robottom, sat engaged in a serious game of cards.

She placed their salads in front of them. “You gentlemen mind taking a short intermission?”

“Hey, what’s this?” Harold asked. “I ordered a fried chicken salad.”

Shayla crossed her arms and challenged him with her stare. She worked hard to keep a grin from emerging.

“Aw, c’mon,” Harold groused. “It’s bad enough you got me eating salads. Now I can’t even get it with the chicken cooked the way I like?”

“The grilled tastes even better than the fried,” Shayla said. “Trust me. If you don’t think so, your salad is on the house.”

Harold’s lips pinched in a frown and he muttered something unintelligible, but Shayla caught the telling crinkle at the corners of his eyes.

“You’d better be happy you’re pretty,” he said. “I wouldn’t give up fried chicken for no ugly woman.”