Anna
West watched her father abuse her mother in the name of love. She isn't going
to fall into the same trap, but she has never met a man she could love. And
then, she meets Steven.
Steven
Carson watched his father shower his mother with love. He wants the same kind
of relationship, but no woman has made him feel that way. And then, he meets
Anna West.
Excerpt:
Driving cautiously, she slowed the
car and rounded the curve moving the car closer to the center stripe as she
couldn’t see the right hand edge. The car coming from the opposite direction
had done the same, and suddenly, Anna was faced with two bright headlights
bearing down on her.
For a moment, she did not know what
to do, then reacting instinctively, she jerked the car to the right and her
bumper narrowly missed hitting the other vehicle. The slick road made it
difficult to control the car, but she had been driving slowly enough that she
managed to slide into the side ditch unharmed.
Anna sat in her car stunned and
unbelieving. She had never been in a car accident before and wasn’t sure what
to do which was an unusual situation. Anna had learned at an early age to be
calm and efficient. It was the only way to survive. Her abusive father had
hated inefficiency and commotion so she had learned to be controlled and
competent. Anna hated not being in control.
For this reason, she loved
accounting. Numbers could be controlled. It may take her a little time, but she
could always find an answer which was more than she could do with people.
Anna shook her head and then leaned
forward to check on Sophie. The cat appeared unharmed but began protesting the
rough treatment. Anna tried to reassure her and soon the cat settled. Anna took
a deep breath then reached for the insurance manual in her glove compartment.
The manual would tell her what she needed to do. She felt better already. She
had a plan.
All thoughts of a plan immediately
flew out of her head when the door of her car swung open and a deep, soft voice
asked, “Are you all right?”
Anna turned and looked up into the
most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that were the color of a
cloudless sky on an early spring day. They were framed with dark thick lashes
that lightened on the tips. The lean, clean face went well with the eyes. It
was a pleasant face, not too hard or too soft, but a man’s face nonetheless. It
was lean and powerful. He had strong cheekbones and a straight nose. Light
blond hair fell across his forehead. She stared at him unable to move. Her
heart began to pound, and her body reacted to his nearness. She had never
responded so strongly to any man before, and she forced herself to take a deep
breath.
He leaned into the car and asked
again, “Miss, are you all right?”
This time his voice propelled her
into action. She shook off the fog that had come over her and nodded once
before saying, “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little shaken. Was anyone hurt?”
She glanced again at the man
staring at her with a concerned look on his face. Their gazes locked, and he
watched her silently with his calm blue eyes. He seemed very close, and Anna
leaned back against the seat to get farther away. His broad shoulders filled
the doorway, and she felt a small jolt of fear. She hated feeling physically
intimidated. But the fear quickly faded as he looked at her a moment longer
then a slow, gentle smile crossed his face. Anna felt her heart stop. She
willed it to begin beating again.
“There is only you and me,” he said
softly.
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