Doriana Callahan's life is unraveling. Someone is stalking her and sabotaging her father's company; her teenage son is rebelling; and Logan Tanner is back in town. For sixteen years she's kept an explosive secret from Logan, a secret he soon discovers. Logan never belonged in Doriana's world, but a long time ago he allowed himself to dream of a future with her, until the awful night he was forced to run. Now he's back and he needs her forgiveness, but first he must forgive himself. Despite the fact that Doriana kept the existence of his son from him, Logan vows to protect her.
He races against time to stop the culprit threatening Doriana and works to forge a bond with his son. Can the love and passion that still burn between Doriana and Logan overcome old lies and new dangers? The clock is ticking on a second chance at love.
"Right away, author Cara Marsi sets the stage for an intriguing romantic suspense in Logan’s Redemption. With loveable characters, an engaging plot, and a few twists along the way, Marsi hit her mark with the first book in her Redemption series." ~ Romance Reviews by Authors
“Logan’s Redemption has all the elements that keep the pages turning: passion, romance, thrills and suspense…” ~ Fallen Angel Reviews.
“Logan’s Redemption by Cara Marsi is a great read, plain and simple ~ My Romance Story Reviews
Logan's Redemption
Cara Marsi
Excerpt
“You’ve never changed your opinion of me, have you?” he asked in a hard voice. “I’m still the boy from the bad neighborhood, not fit to be a father to your son.” With a contemptuous glance, he turned away and strode to the fireplace. He leaned on the mantel, his profile to her. His chest rose and fell with his shallow breathing.
Doriana studied him. His jaw set in a tight line. His entire body looked coiled and ready to fight. Or maybe flee. Tears sprang to her eyes. They’d come so far in the last weeks. How had it all gone so terribly wrong?
“What do you want, Logan?” She tangled her fingers through the long strand of pearls she wore, trying to rein in the anxiety that churned her stomach.
Logan’s hazel gaze impaled her. “I want to be in Josh’s life.”
“What?” She yanked on the pearl necklace. The strand came apart in her hands. She watched helplessly as beads rolled all over the floor. My life is coming apart the same way. She raised her gaze to find a stony-faced Logan staring at her with unyielding eyes.
“What’s your answer?” He spit the words out.
“How long will you be in his life, Logan? You’ll leave again and what will happen to Josh? I will not see him hurt.”
Loganwas at her side in an instant. He grasped her shoulders. She winced at the anger in his eyes. The twinkling lights of the tree reflected on the golden stubble of his beard, mocking the tension that arced between them like an electrical current.
“I’m Josh’s father,” he rasped. “I’m not some stranger, here one day and gone the next.”
“Aren’t you?” She bit down on her lip. Hurt shattered the chiseled planes of Logan’s face. She glimpsed the vulnerable young boy he’d once been, the boy she’d fallen in love with. He released her as if he couldn’t bear to touch her. Her throat thickened with tears.
“So that’s it.” The quiet calmness of his voice damned her more than shouts. “I’ve never been more than a temporary diversion to you.”
“That’s not true,” she whispered. “I loved you. I ....” She stopped herself before she blurted that she loved him now.
“Do you really know what love is?” His gaze raked her. “You have no problem giving your body to me, but I’m not worth bothering with on any other level.”
Fury and pain pierced her like a carpenter’s awl. “How dare you talk to me like that?”
He released a breath. “I’m sorry. I was out of line.” Sadness creased his features. “I just want to be in my son’s life.”
“How do I know you’ll be around for him?”
“Trust me. Damn it, just trust me.”
Could she trust him? Maybe she should ask him to stay. What if he said no? Could she take that chance? Her insides shook. “I can’t.”
“You can’t trust me?” Steel hardened his voice.
She shook her head. “No, that’s not it.”
“Then what is it, Dorie?”
Words dried in her throat. He had to want her enough to never leave again. She wouldn’t beg.
“Damn you,” he said in a thick whisper.
He pulled her to him and took her lips in a bruising kiss. She held herself tight, resisting his pull. His relentless lips demanded her surrender. She could no more fight him than she could stop breathing. And she loved him. She twisted her arms around his neck and urged his lips apart with her tongue.
He let out a low groan. His lips softened against hers and he opened his mouth for her. He tasted like cinnamon coffee and mint. She pressed closer. He might leave and break her heart. But he belonged to her now.
They slid to the floor together. He leaned over her, his eyes dark and mysterious in the soft Christmas lights. His unique scent of male and citrus mingled with the pine of the tree. Those scents would forever remind her of Logan.
She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down. Molding her body to his, she kissed him with all the love and hope she couldn’t voice. His taut frame covered her. The urgency of his mouth and tongue excited her to a new wildness. She would love him tonight with all she had to give.
His mouth plundered hers while his hands wandered down her body, massaging, stroking, driving her crazy with want. Her soft cries filled the quiet room.
He leaned on his elbows and looked down at her. Desire darkened his eyes, but something else stirred deep in the gold-flecked depths, something that reached out to the longings in her soul. “Love me tonight, Logan,” she whispered.
“God help me, but I need you.” He undressed her and flung her clothes aside. His own quickly followed.
She lay down again and held her arms out to him. He lowered himself on top of her. His flesh burned her heated skin. The wool of the Oriental rug pressed into her bare back. The slight pain intensified her passion for him.
“Now,” she whispered. She wrapped her hand around his hard penis and guided him to her. He entered her, taking her with a possessiveness that inflamed her. Arching her hips against his, she molded her body to his. She belonged to Logan. Only this moment mattered. She met his every hard thrust, urging him with her body to make her his forever. She barely recognized the sound of her voice crying out his name.
He cupped her bottom, lifting her to meet him, driving deeper and deeper into her.
Her climax erupted, fast and furious, like a shower of dazzling stars, shooting her into the sky. The lights from the tree overhead blurred and danced before her eyes.
Loganshuddered with his own climax. She clung to him, running her hands over his muscled back, reveling in his heat and masculinity.
He collapsed on top of her. The fragrance of pine joined with the musk of their lovemaking.
She wound her arms around Logan’s neck and closed her eyes. She would sear this moment onto her brain.
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Excerpt #2
Doriana turned off the TV and dropped the remote on the bed. Thinking about Logan teased her with questions. Why was he at the fire site with her dad? That story about his having fire experience didn’t ring true. Logan and her father were hiding something.
Thankfully the workweek had been short with the two-day holiday. She needed time away from Logan and all the longings, confusion and guilt he stirred in her.
She trusted Anita to keep her secret. But she feared her own guilt would force the truth. Logan hadn’t cared enough to stay around the first time. Would knowing about Josh keep him here now? Doriana got up from the bed and ran impatient fingers through her hair. She was obsessing way too much about Logan.
She walked toward the bathroom, pulling her sweater over her head. Too bad she couldn’t peel away her problems as smoothly. The ring of the phone stopped her. Slipping her sweater back on, she hurried to answer it. Josh calling to say goodnight? She doubted it.
“Hello,” she said into the receiver.
“Hello, sexy.” At the crude, unfamiliar voice, she tightened her grip on the phone. Chills chased up her spine.
“Who is this?” Her voice shook.
“Oh, you don’t know me. Not yet. But I sure know you. You’re sexy as hell, especially in those tight black pants.”
Doriana slammed down the phone. Her insides shook and she ran trembling hands along the sides of her black pants. Had her caller guessed at what she wore, or was he watching? She gulped air.
The phone rang again and she let out a small cry. Balling her hands, she dug her nails into her palms. She would not pick up the phone. The answering machine clicked on.
“You can’t get away from me that easy.” The harsh voice, laced with menace, froze her. “I know you’re alone.” Almost seeing his leer, she shoved a shaking fist to her mouth.
“Let me in, bitch. I’ll show a hot number like you what a real man is. Not like that pretty boy you’ve been hanging around with.”
His loud cackle shot knife points of fear through her and she stifled a scream. The phone clicked off. The silence of the empty house closed around her. She glanced toward the windows. Could he see her through the sheer curtains?
Trembling, she sank onto the bed and clutched the chenille spread as if she could hide herself in its folds. She couldn’t stay here, but she dared not leave. He could be waiting outside. She hadn’t set the security alarm.
She reached for the phone. Her dad would know what to do.
With her hand on the receiver, she froze. Her dad had looked tired all day. He’d been under a lot of stress. Remembering his doctor’s advice to take it easy, she knew she couldn’t put more strain on him.
The cops? Would the police even get involved? And if they did, they’d come eventually and look around, then leave. And she’d still be alone.
Logan. He would help. She had his cell phone number somewhere. She ran to her purse where it lay on the floor and rummaged through it with nervous fingers until she found the slip of paper with Logan’s number.
Taking calming breaths she punched in the number. Please answer, Logan, please.
Her spirits sank with each unanswered ring. Was he with Candi? Or another woman? Hurt mingled with her fear.
“Tanner here.”
Relief spiked through her at the sound of his voice.
“Logan?” A sob escaped her.
“Doriana? What’s wrong?”
The concern in his voice made tears spill out. Despite the tension between them, Logan would protect her.
“Someone called,” she said, swiping at tears. “Outside. He knows where I live. He could hurt my son.” Anger, swift and hard, tightened her stomach. “The bastard will not touch my son.”
“No one will hurt you or your son, Doriana. Did you recognize his voice?”
“No, but he’s watching me. The son-of-a bitch. He said awful things. How dare he do this to me?”
“I’m coming right over. Give me your address.”
About the Author
Cara Marsi, an award-winning author and self-proclaimed TV junkie, is a former corporate drone and cubicle dweller. Freed of her fabric-covered cage, she can now indulge her love of all things romance. She craves books with happy endings and loves to write about independent heroines and the strong heroes who love them. And she loves to put her characters in dangerous situations or situations merely dangerous to their hearts and watch them fight for the happy endings they deserve.
An eclectic author, Cara is published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. She's also published numerous short romance stories in national women's magazines and online. When not traveling or dreaming of traveling, Cara and her husband live on the East Coast in a house ruled by their fat black diva of a cat named Killer.
Contact Cara
Cara is also a member author of the Romance Books 4 Us group blog
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