Protecting her was his job
Failure wasn’t an option
After Natalie Harper was left at the altar, enjoying her honeymoon alone is the best way to cope—until she’s attacked on the beach. Luke Everett, the bodyguard secretly hired by her federal judge father, arrives just in time to rescue her. It’ll take all his professional skills to keep Natalie safe. One wrong move and they could fall prey to the enemy’s deadly scheme.
SARA K. PARKER has been a writer ever since she was gifted a 4x6 pin-striped journal for her tenth birthday. Her writing hobby has since grown into her dream career—writing for Love Inspired, freelancing for magazines and teaching English at a community college. She and her husband live in northwest Houston with their four children, two (soon to be three!) mischievous dogs and an extremely vocal senior cat.
Undercurrent
Dying to Remember
Shattered Trust
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Shattered Trust
Sara K. Parker
ISBN: 978-1-474-09498-6
SHATTERED TRUST
© 2019 Sara K. Parker
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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Version: 2020-03-02
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Natalie bit back a scream as the door pressed solidly, inch by inch, against the pile of furniture. A hand snaked into the room, connecting with the top of a chair and shoving it off the pile.
Then a loud shout came from down the hall and the gloved hand retreated.
She stood rooted to her spot, her imagination running wild. What if Luke needed help? What if an accomplice was heading toward the room right now?
She jumped back when a rap sounded at the door.
“It’s me.”
Luke!
He peered into the gap between the door and the wall, eyeing the furniture.
“I’ll come through my room,” he said, and disappeared from view. Mere seconds passed before he unlocked his side and rushed into her room.
“Are you okay?” He stepped close to her, his gaze assessing.
She nodded, because she couldn’t find her voice.
“I’m sorry. I thought it was a trap. I shouldn’t have left you here. We need to get moving.” Luke was already packing his belongings into his backpack. “We’ll find somewhere else to stay tonight. It’s not safe here.”
Trauma leaves an imprint on the soul. We are told in the Book of John that we’ll face trouble as we pass through this life, but that knowledge doesn’t protect us from the pain. Some days, it simply hurts to take each breath. Some weeks, we lose the ability to smile and truly laugh. Some painful seasons, it’s almost impossible to believe that God is near. Natalie and Luke both faced seasons of despair in their lives, but opened their hearts to the way God was working to make all things new. While the blessings that come in the wake of trauma will never erase the grief of a heart torn to shreds, each new sunrise is a reminder that we’re not alone—every blessing a promise that the Lord still has good in store.
Love,
Sara K. Parker
P.S. I love to hear from readers—find me at www.sarakparker.com.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
—Isaiah 43:2
To my siblings: Mary Ellen, Shirlee, Beth and Jonathan.
For showing up on my doorstep when I needed you most.
I love you.
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