Running Towards Love Read online

  “You know you’re not funny,” she replied, ignoring the mocking tone of his voice as she snuggled deeper into his embrace.

  “I’m hysterical.”

  “Hysterical to look at maybe.” She laughed at the running joke between them.

  “You’re the one who wants to keep me.”

  Nikki smiled against him, running her hands over the planes of his chest before threading her fingers through his hair. “Yes, I do,” she mumbled against his lips.

  “You know,” he tugged her towards the doors to the house. “I ran into Jason and Rebekah on the way into the house.”

  She followed closely behind him, standing on tiptoe to trace her tongue along the hard lines of his jaw, making her way to the soft lobe of his ear. “Mmm hmm?”

  “They mentioned they were going to be gone for hours.”

  “Hours, huh?” She breathed the words against his neck as he swung her into his arm. “Is that long enough to show you how much I missed you?”

  “No, Mrs. Camarelli. But, it’s a great place to start.”

  Chapter Five

  Hours later, Danny and Nikki were wrapped around each other as they lounged together on the couch. “There’s nothing on the television,” Danny practically whined.

  Nikki twisted in his arms, pressing herself as close to him as possible. “Who says we need to watch TV?”

  “Uh, I do,” a voice called from the kitchen. “Or you can turn the thing off for all I care,” Jason continued before walking into the living room. “But you cannot do whatever you just planned to do.”

  “Little ears getting ready to run through here?” Danny asked, running a hand through Nikki’s hair.

  “Yes, but I’m not worried about them. There are some things I do NOT want to see!” Jason teased the couple, relieved to see they both looked significantly better. “We good here?” He made a small motion, waving a finger towards both Danny and Nikki.

  Danny smiled and placed a soft kiss against Nikki’s forehead as she started to rise from their position on the sofa. “We’re good.”

  He arched an eyebrow towards Nikki. “Completely?”

  Knowing he was referring to their earlier conversation about her doctor’s appointment, she nodded her head. “I told him everything.”

  Danny joined her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer. “We have a lot to talk about, options to pursue, and decisions to make; but, we’re going to make them together.”

  She laced her fingers with his and leaned her weight against him, relishing in the feel of his strength supporting her.

  “And the overheard phone call?” Jason asked.

  “Don’t tell him anything!” Rebekah yelled from the kitchen. “I want details too!”

  Nikki chuckled at the exasperation in her friend’s voice. “Well come in here then!”

  Rounding the corner with Elizabeth in her arms and Emily by her side, Rebekah huffed and shot a glare at Jason. “I’m trying, but someone had to wrangle the monsters.”

  “I not a monster, Mama.” Elizabeth mumbled around the thumb in her mouth. “I a munchkin.”

  Laughter filled the room, from all sides as each of the adults soaked in the innocence of the two year old. “You’re not just any munchkin though,” Nikki said, reaching for her niece. “You’re my special Munchkin.” Elizabeth snuggled against Nikki as she dropped her head against her Aunt’s shoulder. “I’ll give you those details in a little while,” Nikki told Rebekah.

  “I think someone is almost ready for b-e-d.” Jason spelled the letters of the horrid word so Elizabeth would not start fussing and laughed when Emily attempted to roll her eyes. “Got something to say, Princess?” he scooped her into his arms.

  “I do know how to spell, Daddy.”

  “Me too,” Elizabeth called from Nikki’s arms.

  “Yes, yes,” Rebekah broke in, stopping the argument between her daughters before it even started. “You are both brilliant. Fortunately, Nana bathed both of you before we left her house, so we only have to take you to change into pajamas, and then you can rest your brilliant minds.

  “Sounds like someone else needs to go to b-e-d,” Danny mumbled from behind Nikki, a playful grin on his face as the words registered with Rebekah. As soon as she had Elizabeth back in her arms and Emily turned towards the hallway, she stuck her tongue out at him in rebuttal. Jason simply shook his head, his shoulders shaking in merriment as he followed his girls.

  “Come on husband of mine before you get us kicked out of the house.” Nikki untangled herself from his arms and headed towards the kitchen.

  Danny quickly followed, not wanting to be separated from Nikki for even a moment. As he turned the corner, he could see the pain lacing her form as she gripped the counter in front of her. “Hey,” he whispered. “No more tears.”

  “I want that.”

  “I know you do; I do too.” As he found himself doing often, he embraced her from behind, placing soft kisses against her neck. “I was serious in what I told Jason a few minutes ago. We have a lot of options.”

  She closed her eyes, losing herself in his hold. “Do we?”

  “You know we do, babe.” They swayed side to side for a moment, dancing to a tune only heard in their hearts. “I say we start by setting up an appointment again with your doctor, one we both go to this time.”

  “And when she confirms what she already told me?”

  “Then we decide what route to pursue. There are a lot of children to love in this world Nicole, and simply because that child is not genetically ours does not mean they will not be our children.”

  She spun around in his arms, desperate to read the look in his eyes. “You’d be willing to explore adoption?”

  “Of course! Domestic, international, even fostering. Why shouldn’t we open our home to any child?”

  Nikki leaned forward to press her lips against his. “I love you; you know that, right?”

  “Not as much as I love you,” he replied, giving her a quick kiss on the nose. “Just know that I am serious about exploring every option with you. I believe God has just as strong a hand in building a family through adoption as He does through pregnancy.”

  “Just make sure you have your running shoes on if you adopt a girl,” Jason said as he walked into the kitchen. Blank stares met his eyes as he entered. “I’m serious; with the way the women run from you in this family, Danny, you’re going to need them!”

  Danny burst into laughter, completely unable to contain his amusement. “Very funny,” Nikki glared between both men. “Neither one of you has a shred of decency.”

  “Babe, come back,” Danny called but she simply waved him away.

  “I don’t think so. I’m headed to kiss my girls good night. At least they appreciate me.” She met Rebekah as she was leaving the bathroom carrying a mix of dirty clothes. After quick sets of kisses, prayers, and stories, both girls were quickly heading off to dreamland.

  “How are you doing, Nik?” Rebekah asked quietly as she pulled the door almost closed to Emily’s room.

  Nikki smiled serenely. “I’m doing alright.”

  “You sure?”

  “You know, I think I am.” Nikki grabbed half of the load of laundry and carried it towards the laundry room with Rebekah. “My head is spinning a little. I still can’t believe I didn’t take the time to talk with Danny when I overheard the conversation; I should have had faith in him, in us, instead of running off.”

  “Maybe,” Rebekah dropped the clothes into wash. “But, I know how hard things were for me when I found out I might not have children. When you have a dream like that potentially ripped from your heart and mind, it makes it hard to concentrate on anything else.”

  “Isn’t that the truth!” Nikki flipped off the lights as they made their way back into the kitchen.

  “So give yourself a break, my friend. You both made mistakes but you can easily move on. No matter what happens, things will be good.”

  “You know, Rebe
kah,” Danny broke in, offering a glass of wine to Nikki. “That is extremely profound for someone who needs to go to bed!”

  “Just you wait and see, Mr. Camarelli. Once your house is full, you will be run ragged too!”

  He scratched his chin thoughtfully, a playful gleam in his eye. “Hmm…there’s that word again. Running. Think there’s anything to it, my love?”

  She grinned and gave him a quick peck against his lips. “As long as I’m running towards you, husband of mine; I have no problem with it at all.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Marisa Adams is an avid reader with an immense passion for great love stories. She is an educator, wife, and mother but always finds the time to squeeze in a little time to get lost in the worlds of her characters. She has been writing for years and has published several short stories before branching into the world of novels.

  Marisa believes in love at first sight and happy endings. Each of her books will remind you that romance and true love still exist even in today's fast paced world.

  Connect with Marisa online

  Website: http://marisaadams.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarisaAdamsAuthor

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarisaAdamsauth

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  Thanks for reading Danny and Nikki’s story. Continue reading for an excerpt of Jason and Rebekah’s story, IS LOVE ENOUGH.

  IS LOVE ENOUGH

  Released October 2012

  Love is a powerful thing; but, sometimes, love isn't enough. At least, that's what Rebekah Thomas believes. In her younger, more naive days, Rebekah thought love could conquer all; that was before the death of her husband, and high school sweetheart. Now she believes life is easier without it.

  Ever the romantic at heart, a failed marriage and cinema glitter is not enough to stop famous actor Jason Taylor from believing the right woman for him is out there somewhere. Tired of his undeserved playboy reputation, he unexpectedly finds the forever kind of love miles away, with a small town teacher.

  Rebekah and Jason could bridge their different worlds together, but this sweet and compassionate teacher has trouble letting him in. Just as she is convinced they could have a chance, one moment threatens to destroy everything they have built. Can Rebekah finally see the truth - that sometimes, love is all you need?

  Read on for an excerpt from the Prologue and Chapter One of IS LOVE ENOUGH.

  Prologue

  Cold. Dark. Empty.

  For the first time in months, the weather actually complemented Rebekah’s mood. Usually, if she was sad, the sun was shining; if she was ecstatic, it rained. But, today was different. Today, it was as if God was empathizing with her, completing the atmosphere with rain drops that mimicked the tears rolling down her cheeks. Her life would never be the same, and deep inside, she knew that.

  “Bekah?” A soft, quiet voice called out from behind her. “Are you ready to go?”

  “No,” she whispered back, not even having the energy to turn and face her friend.

  “I know, honey, but the cars are here and everyone is waiting on us. We have to leave.”

  “I don’t think I can do it,” Rebekah broke down, silent tears streaming down her face. She felt, more than heard, her friend cross the room, and before she knew it, Kate was standing behind her, wrapping her arms around her, and offering Rebekah the support she needed at the moment. Silently, they stood there together for several minutes, watching the sky open up and cry with the both of them. “We need to go,” Rebekah murmured.

  “I’m ready when you are,” Kate replied, releasing her embrace and squeezing her friend’s hand. “And, I’ll be right there with you the whole time.”

  Rebekah turned to face her friend of so many years. The dark circles under her eyes were intensified by the dark hair that surrounded Kate’s face, and she knew that this had hit Kate as hard as it had hit her. “I don’t know what I would do without you,” she said, as Kate pulled her in for another hug. “Thank you for being here.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, and you know it.”

  Silently, the two young women left the room together and headed towards the living room where the rest of the family was waiting. The sea of black that greeted them was almost overwhelming to Rebekah, and she felt Kate’s grip on her tighten. It shouldn’t have amazed her that Kate could read her mind and would automatically empathize with her emotions; it had always been that way with the two of them. From the moment they first met in the seventh grade, they had a connection that blossomed into an immediate friendship. That friendship had grown over the years and it was that friendship, along with the love staring at her from almost every face in the room, that Rebekah was relying on to survive this day.

  “Are you ready to go?” She heard her father ask from his position at the fireplace. Rebekah glanced at him and couldn’t help but return to earlier days in her mind. She closed her eyes to banish the memories, but it was too late; images raced through her mind in no particular order. How many nights had they all spent together in this very room, she, Steve, Kate, John, and her parents? How many memories did these walls hold? How many secrets? In her recollections, she saw her father as a younger man: always smiling, always strong, always stoic. There was only one other time in her life when she had seen him almost crumble. As she forced her eyes open and looked through the tears brimming there, she saw him now, a graying version of his younger self. And now, it seemed like it would be the second time in her life he almost fell. She knew he was trying to keep it together for her, to be strong for her, but Steve was like a son to him, and he had already lost one child. Grabbing her coat from the closet, she slipped it on gently, and replied, “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Her father only nodded in reply. He reached his hand down to help her mother up from the ottoman that she was sitting on in front of him, and together, they crossed the room to join Rebekah and Kate. The man representing the funeral home entered the front door and addressed the family and friends gathered there. “We have three cars waiting and that should be enough room for everyone gathered here. Mrs. Thomas,” he continued, turning to speak directly to Rebekah, “you will be in the first car. That car will lead the procession to the church. Once the service is over, your car will follow immediately behind the one carrying your husband.”

  Numbly, Rebekah nodded. This was too real for her, and it shouldn’t be happening. Steve was too young; she was too young. They should be together right now, laughing, planning for their future, going through the steps to try and have a baby. She should not be planning and going through his funeral. But, there was no amount of wishing on Rebekah’s part that would change anything; Steve was gone and she was the one left behind.

  Rebekah felt her father’s hand touch the small of her back as he ushered her from the house and into the waiting car. Her mother stood on the other side of her father, and Rebekah could practically hear the tears falling from her mother’s eyes. There was nothing about this day that was easy for anyone. Steve may have been her husband, but he was the son that her parents never had. In some ways, Rebekah wondered if this was harder for them than it was for her.

  In silence, they drove to the church; the sound of an occasional sniffle or sigh was the only thing that broke the monotony. That silence was slowly killing Rebekah because it was in that she felt completely alone. Raindrops danced across the windows as she watched the outside world fly by. She and Steve had both been so adamant about settling down in their hometown; it was where both of their parents were, and it was where they knew they wanted to raise their kids. Now, it was so painful to see all of the places that once represented so many happy moments and cherished memories.

  In a daze, Rebekah felt the car stop and felt the strong hands of her father reach down to support her as she stepped out of the car. How many times had those hands supported her before? She gazed up at the man she had loved for so long and thought about the last time he helped her out of the car in
this exact same place in front of the church. At that moment, there was no way she could have felt more alive. On that day, the sun had shone, and her father had watched her with such love and awe as he prepared to offer her hand in marriage to a man he had had grown to love. Today, he just watched her with sadness.

  As he escorted her into the church and down the aisle, she could feel the congregations’ eyes on her and knew the polite thing to do was to make eye contact and acknowledge their presence; however, she just couldn’t seem to make her brain work. She could only focus on the coffin that was in front of her.

  Once seated, the family pressed together, and although they had an entire row to themselves, the four of them crowded so close it was almost impossible to tell where one started and the other one stopped. Rebekah closed her eyes when she heard the minister say, “We are here to celebrate the life of Steven Andrew Thomas, brother, son, and husband.” She knew she should be paying attention, but she was afraid that the longer she listened, the more she would lose it; so, she mentally forced herself to shut it all out. In her mind, she regressed to a happier time, a time she just wanted to get lost in.