Protected by Love

By Xan Tucker

After a whirlwind romance with her best friend's brother-in-law, Kristy Lauderdale went back to her new life in Paris with more than just memories to keep her company. Not only was Kristy keeping secrets from her loved ones, her involvement in a murder case was putting her life at risk. As if her career as a supermodel didn't add more to her plate, she couldn't help but constantly think about Ian and the time they shared together. Kristy knew that Ian could protect her, but she was too ashamed of the turn her life had taken to open up to him.

Ian Knight was a wreck the moment Kristy walked out of his life. Comparing every woman in his path to his runaway lover, Ian couldn't rid himself of thoughts of her. It didn't help that she was plastered all over magazines. Whenever Ian could catch Kristy on Skype with is sister-in-law, he could tell that the feelings were still there. However, his pride kept him from reaching out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xan Tucker
• Release date: Feb 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463191415

Xan Tucker

Xan Tucker is a poetry and romance writer. She is from Hughes, Arkansas and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and dual Masters in Public Administration and Business Administration. She is a Business Analyst and entrepreneur by day. As a lover of words, she is a writer by night. Xan's passion for writing began early in life and she accredits her mother's influence to her passion. Xan's creativity and ability to wordplay makes her a prolific writer. In addition to writing, she enjoys cooking, running, volunteering, and traveling abroad and stateside.

Book preview

Protected By Love

About the author

Xan Tucker is a poetry and romance writer. She’s from Hughes, Arkansas and currently resides in metro Atlanta, Georgia. Protected by Love is her fifith self-published work and is the fourth book in the Love Series. Her first published work: Writings from the Soul – A Love Story is a compilation of poems. Subsequently, she has self-published Conquering Love, Conquered by Love and Running from Love.

She is a lover of love but likes a little thrill as well. You will find that most, if not all, of her romance stories will have a crazy, wild twist. In addition to writing, she enjoys cooking, running, volunteering, and traveling abroad and stateside.

You may keep in contact with Xan via social media. Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorxantucker and Instagram: @authorxantucker. Also, check out her website: www.xantucker.com and stay abreast news, upcoming projects, and announcements.

Protected By Love

Copyright © 2018 by Xan Tucker

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written consent of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts embodied in journalistic reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the author or publisher.

Acknowledgements

THANK YOU to everyone who played a vital role in making this book possible. The support has been amazing and far beyond anything that I imagined. – Xan Tucker (Your other favorite author)

Dedication

This book is dedicated to anyone who has tried to run from love only to be caught in the end. Love is a natural emotion and we sometimes make it a lot more complicated than it has to be. Let’s just go with the flow. What’s natural won’t be forced. I also dedicate this book to all the hopeful romantics. Thank you for being optimistic in a world that is often the opposite.

Thank you to all my readers! Enjoy!

-Xan Tucker

Four months post Ian...

I never would have thought this would be my life in Paris. My fresh start had taken many unexpected turns. Life in Chicago doesn’t seem so bad right now. I feel like I’m years removed from my Chicago life and this Paris life's a BITCH! It’s so exhausting living two lives: The life my family and best friend think I’m living in Paris and the life I’m actually being forced to live. I don’t understand how folks live a life full of lies. It’s tiring and stressful. Only if I could just tell Tuesday or my parents about everything that’s going on. Actually, I can tell them. I’m just choosing not to. I just hate for them to worry about me. And I know for a fact they all will worry about me. More importantly, I wish I had the courage to tell Ian the truth. I’m sure he’ll hate me.

It’s hard to believe I left my life in Chicago for this. Definitely wasn’t an upgrade. I’ve never felt such a burden in my life. Dealing with Adam’s infidelity was hardly any stress compared to my current situation. Honestly, this pregnancy doesn’t have to be stressful. I know my parents and Tuesday will be one hundred percent supportive. I just hate I’m bringing a child into a very fucked up situation. I’m fine with Ian hating me...I think...but I can’t stand the thought that he may hate my child. That’s why this is my biggest kept secret. I know it can’t be a secret forever but right now it seems best to keep it that way.

I’m exhausted and I’m rambling so I’m going to end this journal entry.

It had been sixteen weeks since international supermodel, Kristy Lauderdale, was last in Chicago and her life had changed significantly. She had officially been living in Paris for eight months and so much had happened in her world. She started writing the day she left Chicago after a two-week visit four months ago. Writing has been her therapy and one of the reasons she still had her sanity.

It had been eight weeks since she was questioned by authorities on the murder that took place at the modeling agency that represented her in Paris. Kristy stopped by the office late one afternoon to pick up her wallet she had accidentally left. She was headed out when she saw two of her colleagues, Machai Belleaire and Edouard Blanc, carrying a body out the back door. Eight weeks after her questioning, they were finally arrested today. Kristy felt a sense of relief. She had been so tense the last eight weeks. She had felt like they were always watching her. With them finally being locked up, Kristy could focus on the single most important thing in her life right now. Her pregnancy.

Kristy was sixteen weeks pregnant with no family in Paris. Her life was stressful enough without the drama that came with being a witness to a murder. To make things even more stressful, she had opted out of telling her family and best friend about the pregnancy. Shit, she hadn’t told the father and had no plans to do so anytime soon. The situation was so complicated and she had yet to sort through those details. Staying in Paris was imperative and she was finally feeling some relief. So many things had happened since finding out she was pregnant. Kristy lost a few contracts when she announced her pregnancy to her clients which was expected. But she had picked up even more new contracts with local clients to model maternity clothes. Kristy’s schedule was busier now than before. Writing had become her therapist. She was dealing with so much emotionally and didn’t have anyone to vent to, so she wrote. Nightly.

She continued to jot down her thoughts in her journal entry. They all read the same most of the time. Kristy usually wrote whatever it was that she was thinking and feeling with no filter since she was the only reader. She was very honest with herself in her writing sessions. She missed Ian and he had sparked an emotion in her that she couldn’t explain openly. Kristy knew Ian would hate her and the dreams of him haunted her. She hated keeping secrets from her family and her best friend. Blah, blah, blah! Yet, she hadn’t made an effort to tell anyone outside of the folks in Paris about her pregnancy.

This journal entry was long. The day had been an interesting one. After finishing her entry, Kristy began packing. She would be moving into a flat with more space in two weeks. Goodness, packing was the worst part of moving. Well, so was unpacking. She had accumulated so much extra stuff in the last eight months, but she was excited about the move and forever thankful for Andre’ who was more than a big help. She would be lost without him.

After packing a few more boxes, Kristy showered and headed to bed. She had an early morning and never seemed to get enough rest nowadays.

Kristy woke up the next morning feeling a little off. It wasn’t her usual tired feeling, but it was a feeling that something was not right. Dressing and eating quickly, she headed to her first photo shoot. She was on the subway when her phone rang. The call was from an unknown number. Kristy answered and the voice on the other end gave her a chill.

Fix it bitch.

And then the line went dead. She hoped the caller had the wrong number. Ignoring her gut, Kristy tried to forget about the phone call as she headed to a meeting with a new client and was off to another photo shoot by lunch time. She grabbed a bite to eat which