Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Laura Scott (speed reading book .txt) 📖

“I’ll quit.”

“No, you will not. You were born for this job. I’m proud of you.” Those words. They meant more than anything to him.

“I love you, Georgia.” He descended upon her lips, kissing her in a way that clearly identified how much he loved her, needed her and wanted to be with her. Whatever the cost.

FOURTEEN

Georgia sat in a lawn chair on her property while the dogs ran and played. Colt sat next to her with a glass of sweet tea as they looked on the house they were building. It had been six months since Gerald had been arrested for Jared’s murder and the attempted murder of her and Colt. He would be going to prison. As of yet, Karen hadn’t forgiven him—maybe never would. Amber had only seen him twice.

The town had been turned upside down with the news of illegal recruiting. Courage High lost their coach and their secretary, who had let the proof of residence slide as a favor to Terry—and a small loan she didn’t have the credit to receive. Coach would be going to prison. Terry lost his job and was going to have to face charges for fraud, but his wife had stuck by him. However, their house went on the market two weeks after everything went public.

Georgia offered to leave Magnolia and go with Colt to Atlanta, but he’d decided to move back here and keep his job with the cold case unit. He was only moving to prove his worth; he said his job didn’t prove anything about who he was as a person and finally knowing that made it easy to keep his position at the MBI, which he loved. The commute was only forty minutes.

Loving him was worth the risk. In two more months, they were having a June wedding right here on the property. Their house would be done. And they’d get their life together.

“What are you over there thinking about?” Colt asked and took her hands, hauling her to her feet. “Work?” Charlie had made good, and in January Georgia had taken over as editor in chief. Removed the horrible navy curtains and established an online paper and was in the works with a developer from Honeyhaven—a town not too far away—for a Magnolia Gazette app.

God hadn’t delivered her from her anxiety. She might always battle it. Might always take some meds to help. But she was okay with that. Her faith in God was strong, and He’d proven that while He may not remove her from the battle, He was walking her through it each and every moment—and some days carrying her. His grace was sufficient for her. Didn’t mean she stopped praying for complete healing, but she was confident that whatever happened, she could get through it if she leaned into Him.

“No, I’m not thinking about work. I’m thinking how glad I am we’re together.” She glanced at her carat solitaire in a thick gold band and grinned. She could have missed out on so many good things—like love and a life with Colt—if she’d been too afraid to even take a chance.

But she prayed daily, and she’d acquired some good coping skills and healthy replacement thoughts.

He brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “I am, too. We’ll get through the bouts of anxiety together. You and me, Georgia Jane—we’re a team. In this together.”

Her insides puddled. “You know it also helps when you kiss me. Chases away all my worrisome thoughts.”

She grinned teasingly as he met her lips, kissing her expertly, with finesse, and languidly, as if the world would wait on them, then softly pecked her brow, her nose, then met her lips, whispering against them, “Well, I guess we’ll have to never stop kissing. Can you live with that?”

What’s the worst that could happen? She could lose her breath and go out in total utter bliss? “Oh, yeah. I can live with that.”

* * * * *

Dear Reader

Maybe like Georgia, you too are riddled with anxiety, wondering if God is ever going to “fix” it. Like Georgia, it may be something you battle on a daily or hourly basis, but I hope you see how much God is for you, and how much grace He will give you to get through the tough moments. And if you don’t suffer from anxiety or panic disorder, I hope you’ve learned like Colt how to extend grace and be understanding of someone who does. My sister, Celeste, is a counselor, and she helped me by offering me the coping questions that she gives to her clients. I used them for Georgia in the story. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

I love to connect with readers. Please visit my website and sign up for my newsletter at www.jessicarpatch.com, and follow me on BookBub! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jessica-r-patch.

Jessica

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ISBN-13: 9781488072307

Cold Case Takedown

Copyright © 2021 by Jessica R. Patch

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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Love Inspired