Excerpt: Finding Peace by Melanie D. Snitker
“Look. I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”
Of all the things Tuck might have said, that was not what Laurie had expected. “That isn’t necessary.”
Tuck stopped walking and touched her elbow. “I think that it is. I know my comment about us being friends bothered you. Which was the last thing I wanted.”
“It was silly of me to take offense at what you said. There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“I don’t think anything about you is silly.”
Tuck’s expression was open, and she just wished she knew what he was thinking. She took in a deep breath to steady her nerves. “I had the impression… Or at least I thought…” Closing her eyes, she tried to form the right words and work up the courage to let them pass her lips. “I thought there might have been something there. Because of that, I took what you said way too personally. I was wrong and I’m sorry about that.”
Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, she started down the path again. After only a couple of steps, she felt his strong hand gently hold her arm and tug her to a stop. She pivoted around and sought his eyes for an explanation.
“You weren’t wrong.”
The intensity in his gaze warmed her from the inside out. “I wasn’t?” Her words were breathless as she spoke them.
Tuck collected the strands of her hair that were blowing freely in the breeze and deposited them behind her ear. “Look, I had a relationship in the past that fell apart because of my job. It really did a number on my confidence.”
“What happened?”
They walked side by side as he told her about Jana and how much she had come to resent the interruptions his job brought to their lives.
He shrugged. “What kind of guy doesn’t know his fiancée is unhappy enough to cancel their engagement?”
“A guy whose fiancée isn’t honest with him?”
“I wish it were as simple as that.” He kicked a dirt clod with the toe of his boot and it tumbled down the slight embankment and into the pond.
Laurie stopped their progress. Ducks swam by and she watched as the ripples from their movement traveled across the surface of the pond. “It never is. Look, even if it was all your fault, are you really supposed to torture yourself over it for the rest of your life?”
“I was actually okay with that. Until my issues started to affect someone else I’m beginning to care about.”
Her breath caught as his gaze slowly explored her face and settled on her lips.
by Melanie D. Snitker
-Mystery, Romance
Goodreads | Amazon -ebook free until April 13
Finding Peace is a clean, inspirational romance novel. This is the first story in the complete six-book Love's Compass series.
Police Officer Tuck Chandler is good at his job. He's also good at holding women at arm's length. Jilted by his fiancée for his dedication to his job, he's not about to open himself up to hurt like that again.
Laurie Blake is a struggling photographer. After growing up in a wealthy family, she's determined to make it on her own, even if it means doing it the hard way.
When Tuck is assigned to a puzzling burglary involving Laurie's fledgling photography business, he goes into it with his usual perseverance. He wants to help her - if she'll let him.
As the case unfolds and the mystery deepens, another question arises.
Will the past get in the way of their future?
About the author:
Melanie D. Snitker writes inspirational romance novels, including the Love’s Compass series. She has enjoyed writing for as long as she can remember. She started out writing episodes of cartoon shows that she wanted to see as a child and her love of writing grew from there. She and her husband live in Texas with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure, and two dogs who add a dash of mischief to the family dynamics. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, baking, computer games, and hanging out with family and friends.
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