Barbara Wallace - The Courage To Say Yes

Can she find the courage to love all over again?

Hunter Smith likes to keep out of messy situations; life is just easier if you don’t get emotionally involved. He’s never been a knight in shining armor before—but when he sees Abby Gray in trouble, he can’t stop himself from stepping in...

Trying to put the scars of the past behind her, Abby has decided to make a fresh start. Hunter’s offer of making her his new assistant could be a step in just the right direction. But is she ready to believe that happy-ever-afters can happen in real life—not just in fairy tales?

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?” He was distracted by the hand warming his skin.

“For trusting me. For not assuming I’ll mess it up.”

Never had someone’s words hit him so hard. Her words gave birth to a sensation like nothing Hunter had ever felt before. A primal sensation that rose from somewhere deep inside him, filling his chest and fueling his protectiveness.

Just like on that afternoon at the castle, everything disappeared from view but Abby’s face. He felt as if he was falling, and grabbed the edge of the counter to stay balanced. His eyes dropped to her mouth. He wanted to kiss her again.

Dear Reader,

I love all my characters. Every once in a while, however, a character pops into my head whom I feel very protective of. Abby Gray is one of those characters. It was very important to me that she get not just a happy ending but the right happy ending—with the right man. Believe it or not, several auditioned for the role before Hunter Smith came along.

When Abby first sprang to life, I found myself with a spunky but downtrodden young woman just out of a horrendous relationship. I wanted to show how even smart women can get sucked into a spiral of insecurity and abuse. Getting out of that spiral isn’t easy.

Fortunately Abby has Hunter to help her. Unfortunately Hunter has a few issues of his own when it comes to connecting with people. He’d much rather keep them at a distance to prevent himself from getting hurt. But, as happens with true heroes, Abby forces him to embrace his inner white knight. Before he knows what’s happening, this sideline guy is involved in Abby’s world and losing his heart!

Underneath all the romance there is an important lesson. That it’s not enough simply to find a man who treats you right, but you must find yourself, as well. It’s the lesson Abby needs to learn to get her happy ending. I hope as you’re reading about Abby and Hunter’s journey the lesson resonates with you, as well.

Thanks, as always, for reading my stories. I love writing them, and hope to entertain you for many more stories to come.

Best,

Barbara

The Courage To Say Yes

Barbara Wallace

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning author BARBARA WALLACEfirst sold to Mills & Boon in 2009. Since then her books have appeared throughout the world. She’s the winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award, a two-time RT Book Reviews finalist for Best Harlequin Romance, and winner of the New England Beanpot Award.

She currently lives in Massachusetts with her family. Readers can visit her at www.barbarawallace.com and find her on Facebook. She’d love to hear from you.

To my boys Peter and Andrew—you are the best. Thank you for your patience, your support, and your sacrifice.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

“HEY, WHERE DO you think you’re going?”

Pudgy fingers gripped Abby’s wrist. She froze, hating herself for her reaction. “Let go of me, Warren,” she said.

Her ex-boyfriend shook his head. “I’m not done talking to you.”

Maybe not, but Abby was done listening. “There’s nothing more to talk about.” At least nothing she hadn’t heard a dozen or three times before.

She tried to yank her arm free, but Warren held fast. “Since when do you tell me what to do?”

His fingers dug into the top of her wrist. He was going to leave a mark, dammit. “Warren, please.” The plea slipped out from habit. “The customers...”

“Screw the customers.” A couple heads turned in their direction. Abby didn’t dare look to see if Guy, her boss, had heard, too.

“This is your fault, you know?” Warren told her. “I wouldn’t have to come down to this—” he curled his upper lip “—this diner if you weren’t being so childish.”

As if his pouting and tantrums were the height of maturity. Abby knew better than to say anything. Hard to believe she’d once considered this man the answer to life’s problems. Now he was the problem. One hundred ninety-five pounds of unshakable anger. Why couldn’t he let her go? It’d been six weeks.

When it comes to us, I make the decisions, babe. Not you. That’s what he always said.

How on earth was she going to get loose this time?

“Hey, Abby.”

The sound of her name cut through the breakfast din, and made her pulse kick up yet another notch. Abby knew the speaker immediately. The photographer. She’d been waiting on him for the past dozen days. Always sat at the back corner table and read the paper, his expensive camera resting on the chair next to him. Quiet, hassle-free. Good tipper. Hunter something or other. Abby hadn’t paid close attention. Whatever his last name, he was heading toward them, weaving his way through the tables with a graceful precision. Warren was not going to like the interruption.

“You want something?” he asked, before she could.

“I could use some more coffee.” Hunter directed his answer to her as though her ex had never spoken. “That is, if you can pull yourself away from your conversation.”

“Um...” She looked to Warren, gauging his reaction. After six years, she’d become an expert on reading his facial expressions. The telltale darkening of his eyes wasn’t good. On the other hand, she knew he preferred discretion, choosing to do his bullying in private.

“You heard the man. He needs fresh coffee,” Warren replied. “You don’t want to keep your customers waiting.”

Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on her cheek, a marking of territory, as much for her benefit as Hunter’s. Abby had to fight the urge to wipe the feel of his mouth from her skin. “I’ll see you later, babe.”

His promise made her stomach churn.

“Nice guy,” Hunter drawled from behind her shoulder.

“Yeah, he’s a real peach.”

She rubbed her aching wrist. What made her think she could walk away, and Warren wouldn’t try to track her down? Just because he told her repeatedly that she was a worthless piece of trash didn’t mean he was ready to give her up. As far as he was concerned, she was his property.

Warren’s car pulled away from the curb. He was gone, but not for good. He’d be back. Later today. Tomorrow. A week from tomorrow. Ready to beg, scream, and try to drag her back home.

Oh, God, what if she wasn’t in a public place when he returned? Or if he decided to do more than beg and scream? There were all sorts of stories in the news....

Her breakfast started to rise in her throat. She grabbed the chair in front of her.

“You okay?” she heard Hunter ask.

“F-fine.” For the millionth time in six weeks, she pushed her nerves aside. Worrying would only mean Warren still had control. “I’m fine,” she repeated. “I’ll go get your coffee.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied. “I’m good.”