Raspberry Kisses: Pleasant Hearts & Elliot-Kings Christian Suspense, #10

By Joy Ohagwu

A Christian Suspense Series

 

Enmity between the Gonzalez family and the Striker's family ran deep even after the notorious Striker's death. Grateful to God to be alive and eager to move on, Roberto Gonzalez settled into his art management career, but the person he loved walked away without giving a reason. Years later, landing a rare opportunity to restore an old mansion in Paris offers the ideal getaway, except the perfect person to work with him—the woman he fell in love with—drags her feet, the same way she did before she dumped him. Will his heart be broken again, or will love win this time?

 

Art Restorer Catherine Hall knew Roberto trusted her when, during their brief relationship, he confided that he'd been the target whose failure to kill had led to the Striker's demise. He didn't know she was the Striker's cousin—the secret reason she walked away from a relationship with him then.

 

Even though Roberto was everything she wanted, he was also her family's target for his role in her cousin, the Striker's death—a crime they vowed to avenge. Little did she know he was supposed to be an enemy before she fell in love with him. Now, it was too late.

 

After promising herself she could live without Roberto, all these years later, when he offers her a dream job to work with him and restore an old lovers' escape mansion in Paris, will she follow her heart's yes—or her family's no? Can she risk falling in love with an enemy, or can love win over war?

 

Raspberry Kisses is book 10 of the Pleasant Hearts & Elliot-Kings Christian Suspense series. Get your copy now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Divine Breakthrough Infinity
• Release date: Sep 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393970873

Joy Ohagwu

By God's grace, USA Today Bestselling Author Joy Ohagwu is an award-winning author of Christian Suspense and Romance & Christian Inspirational Fiction. Named by Book Riot in August 2019 as one of the 17 best Christian Fiction authors, she writes heartwarming stories with a healthy dose of suspense, divine inspiration, and happy endings. She credits Jesus with having turned her life around, averted multiple life derailments for her, and she's grateful to be writing stories that embody grace, hope, love, and second (and multiple) chances. She earned a Masters' degree in International Affairs, a Bachelors' degree in Political Science and has been honored with fourteen individual academic awards for excellence by her alma mater and her peers. She lives in the Washington DC capital region.

Book preview

1

Preorder the coming book: A RIGHTEOUS CALLING.

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"R umor has it that they escaped through here the year conflict engulfed Paris and miscreants came for him. A rich monarch and poor neighbors rarely mix well in good times, let alone hard times. Of course, being wealthy, he sent his wife to a safe and undisclosed location. No one knows to this day where that place was. And they never returned." The realtor-cum-groundskeeper-cum-appraiser Fred Victor jerked Art & Museums Managing Director Roberto Gonzalez back to the present with those words. He blinked hard to clear his clouded mind.

Maybe the flight had scrambled his attention.

Or his eagerness to land this opportunity since they’d emailed for weeks and he’d seen only photos.

Or maybe standing here and realizing he needed help to complete this project muddled his mind. He couldn’t tell.

But somehow, he fought the distraction and focused on the conversation, leaning toward his host as the man waved a broad hand toward the arched entryway beautified with twined flowers dropping down its sides—an elegant display of an aged masterpiece.

This mansion is at least one hundred and fifty years old, and my grandfather was the first to be hired as its caretaker, then my father, and now me—sort of a family tradition or profession. And I love it. Next year, it will be available for public viewing. We have a grand opening celebration scheduled in about seven months’ time, and we would like to have it get a fresh outside look before then, while restoring and preserving the art pieces to be displayed inside.

Roberto stroked his beard. I see. How many art pieces are there? I didn’t see many during the tour. He bent toward the spiral staircase they’d descended.

Oh no. Fred’s dark shoulder-length curls bounced as he shook his head. We moved them to the Historical Art museum for safekeeping so they’re not here. But they will be returned to the mansion. We only have to provide them with the credentials of the team who will work on the restoration project so the art pieces can be committed into their hands directly for accountability. That’s why we reached out to you. By the way, you came highly recommended to preserve this old but prestigious secret lovers’ mansion, Roberto, and from everything I’ve read and seen of your experiences, I’m sure you can do it.

I’ve only worked with actual artwork, not buildings. I’m not saying I can’t do it, I’m just saying there could be a learning curve to some of the work involved.

No one knows it all. It was more important to us to find someone who valued protecting art. We heard how you saved an art dealer, a former employer, from getting robbed on the street—even though you were strangers at the time. It convinced us about your character. We knew we could trust this into your hands and sleep peacefully at night.

Roberto must’ve been slow in responding as he pondered the words, grateful for the compliment. But he was sure his delayed response wasn’t lost on his guide who now took his arm and guided him aside. Are you all right? You seem…distracted.

He might as well own up. Sorry, my attention slipped. Yes, I was listening to you. I was thinking about what might be involved. He managed to scramble his thoughts to utter the words.

The man didn’t appear convinced as a frown creased his forehead. That was what you said when we started the tour. And I can count how many times you have really paid attention.

Roberto leaned against the wall. You’re right. I apologize…

Is it too much work? I know you said renovations are not your thing. As the man’s forehead furrowed, doubt crept into Fred’s voice for the first time.

He wouldn’t let that happen, so Roberto cut in. No, it’s not that. I still want the job. I’m confident it will get done.

Fred’s brows creased. What is it then?

Letting a deep breath fill him, then emptied his lungs, Roberto closed his eyes. No reason not to be honest. Reopening them, he faced Fred directly. I need help. His problem—and the latest reason for his distraction—was about to be revealed. He’d have to speak up if he planned to convince the man of his confidence. And I know the right person to work with.

Fred curled his arms and widened his stance. It had to be a French thing as he’d done so a couple of times. Roberto wasn’t sure. So, what’s the problem?

Roberto met his gaze, but beyond Fred, he could see her face in his mind’s eye. She’s the best in her field, and…she’s my ex.

His keys clanged to the floor, and his eyes glittered as he grinned and whistled low. Then we’ve got a problem.

2

Experienced Art Restorer Elizabeth Catherine Hall gingerly shifted the ancient Korean tea mug she had completed work on. It glinted against the sunlight streaming in through the window. As she turned it to catch the light better, indulging for a rare moment in letting the item endure under unfiltered light, a smile tugged at her lips. It’s said to be hundreds of years old, and it still looks new. Wonderful, don’t you think? she said without looking. The movement behind her and the persistent shuffling told her who it was. None but her assistant, Helen, a college student, returning from her early lunch break. It was rumored to have been given to a princess by her father. And it’s said her name is engraved on a bracelet inside the walls of this mug.

How did you know it was me? Helen asked, stopping behind her.

I have my ways. Catherine smiled and eased the lidded mug onto the table, admiring it and knowing she’d soon part ways with the precious piece. Her heart twisted in her chest, and she pressed a hand against it. Ah, I could imagine how happy the princess must’ve been to have preserved it well.

Helen drew closer. How do we find the bracelet? Her fingers grazed the long golden line of a crack snaking to the top which had been repaired.

Jostling the soft brush aside, Catherine also pushed away the repair instruments on the worktable left over from their work on the tea mug a week before. She’d intentionally waited for a week before packaging it up for shipping.

You can’t. After closing the drapes again to protect the items in her care from UV light, she turned to Helen, and her gaze met her assistant’s confused frown. "You have to break the mug