Return to Me - Part 3: Return to Me, #3

By AM Church

Return to Me Part 3

When someone from Kyle's past returns to threaten her present life, a series of events unfold. 

• Secrets
• Threats
• Extortion

Kyle

Holding the photos in my hand, my world begins to unravel.

I know perfection doesn't exist, but I thought I was finally living my happily ever after.

It was unfathomable to think he'd ever betray me.
Until that night.

 

Jared

 

I'm extremely successful in business and have all the money I'll ever need. It may sound arrogant, it's not meant to be, it's just the truth.

Having said all of that, none of that matters. My family is everything.

Sometimes my stubbornness, pride and yes even my ego get in my own way and this time it threatens to destroy everything that's ever mattered to me.

Keeping secrets are never good, even with the best of intentions.

 

Important: Return to Me Part 3 is a novella and is the conclusion of Kyle's love story. This novella is told from the perspective of Kyle and Jared. It should only be read after Return to Me Part 1 and Part 2.

 

Characters from The Consequences of London appear in the story; however, it isn't necessary to read their story first.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AM Church
• Release date: Feb 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781777582722

AM Church

A.M. Church started writing her first book series Return to Me - Part 1 and 2 in August 2013 after the explosion of erotic fiction in mainstream literature. She fell in love with creating flawed characters in provocative page-turning stories. Her favorite stories to share are ones of forbidden love and sexual exploration. She hopes her stories will take her readers on an erotic journey that push them beyond their limits. Each of her characters holds a special place in her heart, especially the stubborn sexy alpha males she loves to create. Since 2016, she has published three novels Return to Me – Part 1 & 2 and The Consequences of London and is currently working on her 4th and 5th novels. A.M. Church lives near Vancouver, B.C. Canada with her husband and her spicy imagination. : If you’d like to connect with A.M. Church, please follow her on: https://www.instagram.com/amchurch_author https://www.facebook.com/AM-Church

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Dedicated to my mom, Dodie.

Book Title Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Church. All Rights Reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. 

Cover designed by Villa Designs 

Cover Image by coka/Shutterstock.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. 

A.M. Church

Follow me on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/amchurch_author/

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ISBN-978-1-7775827-2-2

Sweetness, I’ll never leave you.

—JARED

PROLOGUE | Kyle

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FOUR MONTHS EARLIER

THE ANGLE OF the camera lights shine brightly on our faces. I lift my hand to shield my eyes from the intensity of the glare. I feel the heat radiating from above. I can only assume it’s coming from the studio lights.

Looking at the local tv celebrity across from us, I wonder how her makeup doesn’t melt off her face.

We’ve just been coached on how to relax. For instance, ignore the camera, act natural and so on. And above all else, don’t stare directly into the camera. We’re not experts at this.

At all.

The producer counts down on one hand and points to our interviewer, who begins. Tell me how you met? The polished reporter shoves the microphone in our direction. Her whiter-than-white teeth glisten under these lights. She leans in closer.

Closer to Jared, that is.

Her gaze stays on my stunningly sexy husband.

I can’t necessarily blame her for that.

Jared, oblivious to her stare, digs his fingers into the side of my thigh. He’s punishing me for coercing him or was it more like convincing him to do this. The station originally reached out to him about the interview and of course, he flatly refused and then he told me about it.

Big mistake.

I set out to change his mind, working my magic until he relented.

Well, magic mixed with insistence, and a little sex. Okay, a lot of sex.

He’s so easy.

I’ve gotten very skilled in getting what I want from my husband and the thought of free publicity for Smithson Industries was my main motivation. The local TV station wants to highlight successful couples in and around the San Diego area.

Besides, I thought it would be fun, so here we are.

My eyes dart back and forth between Jared and the attractive reporter. She’s pretty, well beautiful actually. Just his type if he were younger and single. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about him.

I’ve never doubted his love or his devotion.

I begin to describe our first encounter. Well, it’s a funny story, I start. His hand relaxes against me as we’re both transported back to the first night we met.

I pause, forgetting about the cameras. Just like they coached us.

That night changed my life.

My entire soul remembers when I first laid eyes on him. He nudges me knowing the cameras are rolling while the reporter is hanging off my every word.

Embarrassed that I temporarily zoned out I continue. So, I was waitressing back in college and on this particular night, the bar was a madhouse with rowdy football fans. I was carrying large trays of beer all night long. All of a sudden, although I was unaware of it, I was about to crash into a fan as he was stepping backwards into my path. We were on a collision course, until he rescued me. I motion towards Jared.

His fingers knead my thigh. This handsome stranger reached out blocking the fan from hitting me and my tray of beer mugs. If he hadn’t shielded me, the glasses would have gone everywhere.

With my heart racing, I pause to catch my breath. I don’t dare look at him.

Our story always gets me.

Jared’s fingers dig a little deeper into my flesh and then he surprises me by interjecting. To watch the masterful Jared Smithson take charge is mesmerizing. I’ve seen this side of him in both personal and business settings. It wasn’t a big deal; I stopped the collision. I couldn’t dare let anything happen to my future wife.

A blush washes over me.

Well, our love story wasn’t as simple as that. The rest of San Diego doesn’t need to know that he left me, then returned years later.

The reporter shifts in her seat. Her dark hair cascades down her back. I notice the caramel highlights shimmering under the intense studio lights.

And then my husband blows me away.

He lifts my hand and kisses it on live TV. Not one for public displays of affection, he never fails to surprise me. Her beauty knows no bounds. She is the best person I’ve ever met.

His response is sweet, even charming and he’s left the reporter wanting more. I’m about to comment when he closes with this. To be honest, she wanted nothing to do with me. His deep laugh sends a shiver down my spine.

I shake my head and laugh. That’s not true. Although, it’s partly true, but that’s not something I’m willing to share with the world.

He shakes his head in disagreement. It is. He turns away from me and continues, I saved her. She thanked me and then walked away.

The reporter laughs, although I’m sure she’s shocked that any woman could walk away him. I’m sure you’re not used to rejection. She inches closer so that we can both see the color of her bra peeking out from the deep neckline of her blouse.

Lilac.

I think she’s flirting with my husband on television.

I jump in. It wasn’t like that. I couldn’t breathe when I first saw him.

The reporter nods as if she has first-hand knowledge of his charisma. She doesn’t, but it’s easy to understand.

He smirks before adding, and yet you walked away. He follows up by giving me a pinch.

I think my thigh is going to be bruised.

I was a busy college student. I didn’t have time for romance, and besides, he overwhelmed me. To this day, this man can still overwhelm me. I catch my breath.

This time Jared blushes.

Well, that’s a great beginning. How did your story become the fairy tale all of San Diego knows it to be? Jared crosses his leg and places my hand on his thigh. I watch the reporter’s eyes follow my hand as it comes to rest on his upper thigh.

She finally agreed to a date with me, even though she found me pushy, arrogant. He squeezes my hand.

I correct him. No, not arrogant, overwhelming.

He winks. Plus, she was also dating another guy. A guy I knew actually. His smile disappears when he realizes what he’s done.

My breathing hitches as a lump forms in my throat.

I will never forget my life with Craig or the love we shared together. It was another lifetime ago, in between Jared.

I’ve vowed to myself that I will always cherish my love for Craig.

However, I didn’t expect Jared would share this part of the story, nor did he, by the look on his face. Our story is ours, not perfect, nor a fairytale, but real and raw. He gives me a subtle smile and I know he’s got my back.

Kyle married the other guy. A great guy actually, but he passed away tragically from cancer. I came back into her life as a friend to support her, nothing else.

I see the reporter’s smile disappear. She wasn’t expecting to hear that. Now that she’s invested in our story, she can’t help herself but jump in to finish it off...Her voice is barely above a whisper. And then she fell back in love with you, didn’t she?

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