Almost A Bride. Rula Sinara

      

      Can he love her...

      And keep her safe?

      No one in Turtleback Beach knows that veterinarian Grayson Zale is in the witness protection program—not even the woman who left him at the altar. When a joint inheritance brings Mandi Rivers back to their small seaside town, Gray can’t deny that their connection is as strong as ever. But his mysterious past remains between them; can he reveal the truth without endangering Mandi—and their future?

      Award-winning and USA TODAY bestselling author RULA SINARA lives in rural Virginia with her family and wild but endearing pets. She loves organic gardening, attracting wildlife to her yard, planting trees, raising backyard chickens and drinking more coffee than she’ll ever admit to. Rula’s writing has earned her a National Readers’ Choice Award and a HOLT Medallion of Merit, among other honors. Her door is always open at rulasinara.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, learn about her latest books and find links to her social media hangouts.

       Also by Rula Sinara

      From Kenya, with Love

      The Promise of Rain

      After the Silence

       Through the Storm

      Every Serengeti Sunrise

      The Twin Test

      The Marine’s Return

      A Heartwarming Thanksgiving

      “The Sweetheart Tree”

      Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

      Almost a Bride

      Rula Sinara

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ISBN: 978-1-474-09644-7

      ALMOST A BRIDE

      © 2019 Rula Sinara

      Published in Great Britain 2019

       by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

      All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Version: 2020-03-02

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      “You’re the one who’s in a rush to sell your grandmother’s house.”

      Mandi picked up a paint scraper from the bucket and slapped it gently against her palm.

      “Gray, all I ever wanted was for you to be honest and open with me. If you can promise me that, then we’ll survive working together on this place.”

      Something shifted in Gray’s face. He took the scraper from her and began clearing the cracked paint off the back railing.

      “I’m an honest man, doing an honest day’s work. Trust me, Mandi. Nobody knows me better than you do. And nobody ever will.”

      Was that an answer or a promise? A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed hard against it. Her heartstrings had tangled like wild, windblown hair the first day she’d met him, and it had taken her the past three years to loosen the knots. Grayson Zale was dangerous to her peace of mind. She wanted to believe him...but did she dare?

       Acknowledgments

      Many thanks to my eldest son for answering my questions (any errors are my own). Your passion for motorcycles inspired me, and the hero in this book loves them as much as you do.

      And to my other kids for providing encouragement, support and inspiration. You never know what will make its way into my books!

      And, as always, heartfelt gratitude to my editor, Adrienne Macintosh. I’m looking forward to working on this new and exciting series with you!

       Dedication

      To those who devote their time to rescuing animals, whether wildlife or pets. And to pets for rescuing us.

      Dear Reader,

      Welcome to Turtleback Beach! I hope you enjoy my new series set in a small, fictional beach town on the real Outer Banks of North Carolina’s Hatteras Island. This series is filled with heartwarming animals, lots and lots of romance and a little mystery. I hope you join me for the ride!

      The towns of Hatteras Island, including the famous Rodanthe, are small and quaint (no big hotels or crowds). This breathtaking island boasts quiet beaches and natural surroundings. The Outer Banks is also famous for sea turtle nesting grounds, wild horses, picturesque lighthouses and so much more. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.

      This first book of the series includes many themes, but one of the most significant is secrets—the life-changing kind. Often, what we’re hiding is so serious or personal it keeps us from being able to embrace life, live freely, own our truth...or love