Love Me As I Am: Passion Down Under Sassy Short Stories, #4

By Mollie Mathews

The deepest hurts can herald the deepest love

Kiri Love had no need for friendships. She had no time for distraction. She was in her final year of medical studies by the grace of God to do a job—and she was determined to do a darned good one. There was no way she could fail.

 

Her mom had scrimped and saved every last dollar she earned and worked three jobs to pay for Kiri's education and Kiri was determined to make her proud. She would be the first person in her family to receive a degree and achieve her ambition of being a heart surgeon. 

 

But when her mother is murdered she sacrifices her ambitions and travels back to the tiny Far North town which had created so much pain.

With three sisters under nine to feed, she'll do whatever it takes to provide them with the security they need—even if it means grovelling to reclusive Benotti Zegna, billionaire jeweller-to-the-stars. 

 

Benotti Zegna has a heart of gold but a failed marriage has left him cold. His hands are full running his global empire,  plus being a millionaire-dad to his young and motherless daughter.

 

He can spot a diamond in the rough and while alarm-bells warn him to watch his heart, intuition tells him that Kiri Love will make the perfect nanny.

The role he offers is a far cry from the life she'd hoped to lead, but Kiri quickly discovers the power of family and sacrifice to heal the deepest of wounds.

 

What will a promising young medical student do when her hard-working mother suddenly dies and leaves her with young sisters to mother?  Your heart will go out to Kiri, a Maori from New Zealand who must earn a living but not let her dream of being a doctor die with her mother.  She has worked too hard for this.  But along comes a bitter billionaire in need of a nanny.  Can both their dreams and needs be fulfilled together?"

 

Love Me As I Am is a short story, clean romance, full of quirky humour and the promise of a happily ever after.

 

Set in The Bay of Islands, New Zealand—one of the most beautiful, unspoiled, sensuous places in the world.

 

Love Me As I Am is part of Mollie Mathew's bestselling series, Passion Down Under Sassy Short Stories. It can easily be read as a stand-alone story, but you'll love reading the other books, too.

 

BONUS EXCERPTS:

 

From Mollie's full-length books, Married by Christmas, Claimed by the Sheikh and Sex With Strangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Orchid
• Release date: Jul 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780994141187

Mollie Mathews

MOLLIE MATHEWS writes fun, sexy, passionate contemporary romance. She discovered her first love story on a trip to Paris when she was thirteen, and she’s continued to read them ever since. She was born a storyteller. As a child Mollie often had a pen in her hand and dreamed of being a writer. She wrote her first story at the age of six. It was published in the children’s section of the Sunday paper. Seeing her story in print became addictive and she continued writing short stories and poems while getting a ‘real’ job. After trying out a few fascinating careers she now lives her dream job as a writer, combining business with wild pleasure. Mollie passionately believes in the power of love to transform people’s lives. Her stories are unashamedly positive, optimistic, full of fun and sizzling passion. She has always believed authors are pens in the hand of writing goddesses sending love letters to the world, and loves it when readers write to her saying that her books gave them hope and courage during tough times. Mollie follows the sun, dividing her time between New Zealand and exotic locations—wherever she intends setting her next romance novel. She lives with her very own romantic hero, Lorenzo—tall, dark, terribly handsome and fluent in Spanish! Besides writing and reading, she enjoys anything creative. She’s an award-winning artist, and loves photography, sculpture and gardening. After living in Wellington, New Zealand for all her life, she now resides in the gorgeous Bay of Islands. Mollie loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through Facebook and Twitter. You may love to check out some of the things that inspired this book on the Italian Billionaire’s Christmas Bride Pinterest page: https://nz.pinterest.com/molliemathews/the-italian-billionaires-christmas-bride. Signup for Mollie’s new releases email to find out about her next book as soon as she releases it. Navigate to here http://eepurl.com/cigESH

Book preview

Love me as I am

Love me as I am

Mollie Mathews

Blue Orchid Publishing

Contents

About this book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Author’s Note

Thank You

Excerpt: Forever and Always

About This Book

Blessing in Disguise

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Excerpt: Married by Christmas

Married by Christmas

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Did You Enjoy Reading This Excerpt

Excerpt: Claimed by the Sheikh

Claimed By The Sheikh

Claimed By The Sheikh

Note from the author

Praise for Claimed By The Sheikh

Prologue

Prologue (cont.)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Excerpt: Sex With Strangers

Praise for Sex With Strangers

About this book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

About The Author

By Mollie Mathews

About this book

LOVE ME AS I AM

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The deepest hurts can herald the deepest love

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Kiri Love had no need for friendships. She had no time for distraction. She was in her final year of medical studies by the grace of God to do a job—and she was determined to do a darned good one. There was no way she could fail.

Her mom had scrimped and saved every last dollar she earned and worked three jobs to pay for Kiri’s education and Kiri was determined to make her proud. She would be the first person in her family to receive a degree and achieve her ambition of being a heart surgeon.

But when her mother is murdered she sacrifices her ambitions and travels back to the tiny Far North town which had created so much pain.

With three sisters under nine to feed, she’ll do whatever it takes to provide them with the security they need—even if it means grovelling to reclusive Benotti Zegna, billionaire jeweller-to-the-stars.

Benotti has a heart of gold but a failed marriage has left him cold. His hands are full running his global empire, plus being a billionaire-dad to his young and motherless daughter.

He can spot a diamond in the rough and while alarm-bells warn him to watch his heart, intuition tells him that Kiri Love will make the perfect nanny.

The role he offers is a far cry from the life she’d hoped to lead, but Kiri quickly discovers the power of family and sacrifice to heal the deepest of wounds.

---

What will a promising young medical student do when her hard-working mother suddenly dies and leaves her with young sisters to mother?  Your heart will go out to Kiri, a Maori from New Zealand who must earn a living but not let her dream of being a doctor die with her mother.  She has worked too hard for this.  But along comes a bitter billionaire in need of a nanny.  Can both their dreams and needs be fulfilled together?

Praise For Love Me As I Am

A heartbreaking story of loss when Kiri’s mother is murdered and she gives up her dream in order to take care of her younger sisters. She accepts a job with Benotti, who has trust issues, and has her work cut out for her. A short story which leads you with hope for a happy ending and accomplished dreams for Kiri, Benotti, her sisters, and his daughter.

~ Mary T.

This is a well written, heartbreaking story about Kiri. A story about loss, a drama about a dreamer that wants to be a doctor. But can’t be because her mother is killed and she must take a job.

~ Pat

Kiri had a difficult life with an abusive father and a mother struggling to provide for her family. She finally gets to fulfill her dream of going to medical school. But the dream must be put on hold when her mother is suddenly killed and Kiri must provide for her young sisters. Suddenly she is a mom herself and she applies for a job as a nanny to a cold, dispassionate billionaire. Does she have any special qualities that will impress him? This is a short story that has lots of promise to expand into a full-length novel. It is full of heart and possibilities.

~ Cathy C.

1

heart

What if I fail? Kiri Love felt the familiar swirl of anxiety churn through her gut as she entered the examination hall. She headed for a table at the far corner of the room so she wouldn’t be disturbed by the other medical students.

Kiri had no need for friendships. She had no time for distraction. She was here by the grace of God to do a job—and a darned good one.

She wound her fingers under her shirt and traced the embossed surface of the gold locket she wore around her neck.

I won’t let you and the girls down, Mom, she silently promised as she lifted the locket and opened it. I love you to the moon and back. She kissed the photo of her mother and three younger sisters. ‘I miss you guys.’

As soon as her exam was over she was looking forward to spending the summer with them. It had been three years since they’d last seen each other, but they talked every day.

Kiri thought it was strange that her mother hadn’t called to wish her good luck, but she pushed it to one side. Instead, she spent a few moments before her exam started in gratitude for all her mother had done.

She had scrimped and saved every last dollar she earned and worked three jobs to pay for Kiri’s education and Kiri was determined to make her proud. She would be the first person in her family to receive a degree and achieve her ambition of being a heart surgeon.

Her mom and Kiri had both agreed that it wouldn’t just be hearts she was mending but the lives of people who lived in towns and cities and communities like the one she grew up in—poor people who couldn’t afford access to quality health care.

All she had to do was nail this exam.

The steady hum of students began to settle as the clock motioned toward 9am. Kiri put a hand over her heart as she felt it race. She really shouldn’t have had that double-shot espresso but she was fatigued after staying up all night to cram. Breathe, she reminded herself as she felt her panic rise.

Breathe.

Suddenly the doors to the exam hall opened and two police officers accompanied by the Dean stepped inside. Kiri’s hair bristled on her arms. Her pulse accelerated, and beads of sweat formed on her brows.

Are you okay? a young woman seated at the desk next to her asked. You look like you’ve seen a dead person walk in the door.

Kiri forced a laugh. Cops in uniforms, I don’t why, but they always make me feel nervous.

Me too, said the girl. Like you’ve done something wrong—only you haven’t.

Kiri bit her lip and nodded.

She didn’t tell the woman that the arrival of the police triggered memories of her childhood trauma. She didn’t share that growing up in the Far North the only time the police arrived was when her violent father, in a drunken rage, had assaulted her mother. Again. And again. And again.

She didn’t mention that his alcoholic rage and fury had been terrorising her mum and her siblings for more years than she cared to remember. Nor, did she mention that Kiri, even as young as four, had always been the one to call for help. She shared none of that with her because all her life Kiri had learned to hide her pain.

Sharing made you vulnerable.

Sharing meant you could be taken from your mother.

Sharing put you at risk.

What are they doing here? the student next to her asked.

Kiri coiled a clump of glossy black hair around her finger and shrugged. Dunno, I’m just glad they’re not looking for me, she said.

She stared down at her upturned exam paper and willed the police to go away. Her father had been incarcerated for three years, but still, dread filled her mind. What if he’d escaped from prison?

She looked up and glanced toward the door, catching the Dean’s eye as she scanned the room. Kiri’s gaze locked with hers in one anxious moment. All