A Love Worth Waiting For

By Nikki Walker

Chris Howard moves back home with his baby daughter to heal after losing his young wife in a car accident. Months later, despite missing Gina, he has learned to appreciate life and how truly precious time is.

Sometimes Love grants a second chance. . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nikki Walker
• Release date: Aug 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301925933

Nikki Walker

Nikki Walker lives with her daughter and husband in Virginia.

Book preview

A Love Worth Waiting For

By Nikki Walker

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Published by Nikki Walker

On Smashwords, Inc.

ISBN-13: 978-1479190829

Copyright @ 2012 by Nikki Walker

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This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Nikki Walker.

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Acknowledgements

I thank my friends and family for their continued support. It’s always been you that made me believe I could do this. Thank you for your inspiration and love for me-and never giving up on me!

Most of all I thank my husband for our second chance at love and he and my daughter for their unconditional love.

I thank Courtney & Jahvon for use of their wedding picture for my cover.

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Synopsis

Chris Howard moves back home with his baby daughter to heal after losing his young wife in a car accident. Months later, despite missing Gina, he has learned to appreciate life and how truly precious time is.

Sometimes Love grants a second chance. . .

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Prologue- June 1997

Tina sat on the front steps of her school. She felt completely humiliated. Why of all days did she have to get her 1st women’s day today when she was dressed in all white? She’d looked and felt so cute in her new outfit until someone passed her a note in her study period that said ‘Blood Mary’.

She hadn’t gotten it at first until her classmate Elaine leaned over and whispered that she had stained her clothes. When the bell rang signaling the end of the period she’d immediately walked to the bathroom and after doing her best to clean up, she tried to reach her brother, then her father-all to no avail.

Taking a deep breath she dialed the other number that was as familiar as her own. When she heard his voice before she could even speak, she was sobbing in the phone. She wasn’t sure if he’d understood her dilemma. He calmly asked, Tina, where are you?

She managed to tell him and he simply told her he was on the way. No questions-it was as simple as that, but that was typical of her brother’s best friend Chris. Her mother had suffered with cancer for a while and Darcy rather than resent his younger sibling had always been protective of her; always patiently letting her tag along.

When other guys ragged him, Chris never did. In fact, that was how they became friends. They’d just moved down the road from Chris when he’d come down to invite Darcy to hang out. Darcy had boldly told him only if his little sister could come, explaining their mom had just died and that she had no one else but him. Chris had simply nodded in understanding, lifting her onto his shoulders in his gesture of acceptance. That had been nine years ago and now Chris felt mostly like family-that is when she wasn’t crushing on him.

Tina waited as long as she could for the hallways to clear before leaving out the front door. She sat down on the front steps folding into herself and waited. It wasn’t that she hadn’t anticipated she would get it one day. She just had never imagined that it would occur like this. It was supposed to happen in the privacy of her home with access to all the supplies that she needed. A Claire Huxtable-like mother was supposed to keep her home from school to celebrate her first woman’s day. But few things in her life was as it should be. There was no mother at home. Her mother was lost to cancer when she was five. Her father was kind but distant, and often worked double shifts to take care of her and her brother. He’d only been able to slow down a little this year due to her brother’s insistence on getting a job to help out.

So pulled into her thoughts was she that only after she felt Chris sit down next to her did she realize he’d arrived. Did someone hit you or hurt you? He asked quietly belying the anger he was feeling inside that anyone would dare hurt Tina.

She shook her head vigorously. No, I messed up my clothes, she whispered. The way her face turned beet red as she turned away from him, he figured out she must have gotten her period. Seeing that her pants were white, he could only imagine how embarrassed she must have been. He’d heard his sisters enough throughout the years to know this was one of the most humiliating things that could happen to a girl and his heart went out to her. He promptly stood and took his jacket off and told her to slide onto it before he tied the sleeves around her waist. Then he lifted her and carried her to his car. She was so grateful she simply ducked her face into his shoulder.

He drove in silence until he reached the nearest drugstore. He parked and told her he’d be right back. He ran inside. For some reason from the devastated look on her face he had a feeling it was her first period. He walked the aisle and tried to remember what he sisters bought. After four sisters he’d seen his share of sanitary products. Still, he decided to call his sister Patricia to ask her advice.

Is this for one of those heffa’s you dealing with Chris?

No. He smiled and then explained it was for Tina. Out of all his sisters he knew Patricia would understand as well as keep it confidential. He started loading up the cart with everything she suggested and then when she finished he thanked her.

No prob bro. You’re a good guy. Poor little girl, I can’t imagine how she felt. It should never happen that way. She murmured.

Alright, I gotta go, she’s sitting in my car. As he headed toward the register he passed the candy aisle and decided to grab a small box of chocolates and impulsively picked up a small card. As the cashier was ringing everything up he scribbled, ‘To a beautiful young woman! Congrats on your first woman’s day-Your adopted brother Chris.’

He slid the bag over to her after he got back into the car. He didn’t think a woman could turn redder than she had. She mumbled, Thanks, before turning to look out the window.

After he parked in her drive he turned to her. "Tina I know you think you can’t face those kids again. But what happened today is natural. You’re a woman now and a beautiful one. Don’t let anyone make you feel less than that okay? Don’t let them know they hurt your feelings-just shrug it off and remember you are loved. Do you hear me sweetie?

She managed to nod and smile.

Okay, now I’m going to carry you to your front porch. I’ll get my jacket another time, don’t sweat it.

In Tina’s eyes Richard Gere had nothing on Christopher Howard forever remained her hero. From that day forward she was convinced her heart would forever belong to him.

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Chapter One-Ten Years Later

Chris glowered at Regina even as she appeared to ignore his earlier remarks. Gina, I’m not trying to treat you like a child. I’m well aware that my or our child sits behind us in her car seat. But if we don’t reign in our spending we won’t’ be able to save anything. All I’m asking is that you please consider that before you buy yet another pair of shoes! He had been trying to keep his tone even so as not to awaken their daughter Mikaela. As he stared at the stubborn fix of her jaw, he knew this conversation may as well be banked for all the effect it seemed to be having.

He sighed and looked out the window. Each day it seemed traffic got more and more congested. It didn’t help having to endure this after a day’s work. It only made him wish all the more for his home in Virginia. He had moved twelve years ago and was hoping 2012 was going to present a pivotal moment when he’d made his move to go back for good. But that was a conversation he had yet to have with her.

More than ever he wanted to see her expression relax into the beautiful features that had attracted him to her to begin with. She was simply breathtaking then and now. Even angry she was beautiful. She had the complexion of milk chocolate. It was flawless and soft to the touch. Radiant honey brown eyes shimmered beneath lashes that women sought to imitate with over the counter lashes. She wore her hair in spiraled shoulder length curls, highlighted in subtle shades of honey that mimicked the wink in her eyes. And her daintily bowed lips always reminded him of glazed cherries. Her’s was a face he wanted to wake up beside and hold in his hands before he made love to it with his kisses every night.

For all her stubbornness, he never doubted her love for him. When they’d found out she was pregnant just months into their marriage it only deepened his love for her. They met riding down in the elevator of the building in which they worked. She worked for one of the law firms located on the floor beneath his. He was a manager for a marketing

Reviews for A Love Worth Waiting For

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

By: Nikki WalkerPublished By N. W.Age Recommended: New Adult- AdultReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 5Review:"A Love Worth Waiting For" by Nikki Walker was a wonderful love story. How this author was able to put these two childhood friends who had gone their separate ways but are able to come back to their hometown and find each other with each one needing help.... finally coming together was pure magic.Tina had left her hometown seeking a new job but when it came to her personal life, it wasn't good...she had suffered greatly by the one she had loved...only to be left 'broken, hurt, mistreated, abused and scarred'..... she returns home. Chris... had lost his wife in a horrible car accident and now he has a daughter to care for....he returns to his hometown. Now, the magic comes...getting these two who had been childhood friends earlier in their life now, back together as friends that slowly turns into a relationship. This is where I say you must pick up the good read to see how it all will works out.This author is able not only to work her beautiful magic but give the reader a real 'sweet, clean romantic' story that once you start reading finding it hard to put down until the end...and oh what a ending! Very well done... to the author: Nikki Walker!