“I won’t be long.” I kissed him again and headed out into a gentle snowfall with my trusty canine companion, knowing I had someone waiting for me who truly had my best interests at heart. And who would come and find me if I got lost.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda G. Hill is a stay-at-home mom of three sons.She concocts tales in her head 24/7 and sometimes writes them down.
Dubbed a writer of romance light and dark, she writes romantic comedy and paranormal romance. All of her books are available on Kindle, Kobo, Apple, Nook, and Smashwords.
Find her full catalogue here:https://books2read.com/ap/xrJBdx/Linda-G-Hill
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Linda lives in Southern Ontario, Canada.
RIDING OUT THE STORM
BY CYNTHIA TERELST
Dan has waited fifty years to get Lorraine alone…
After decades of missed chances, he finally has one weekend to see if something more could grow between them.
When Dan invites Lorraine on a winter weekend getaway to the Snowy Mountains, she hesitates. She doesn't know if three dates can translate into a whole weekend together, especially for someone as independent as her.
When a snowstorm traps them in a cosy cabin, old feelings resurface—along with fears that time, life, and responsibilities have kept buried.
Dan is steady, patient, and stubbornly in love. Lorraine is guarded, uncertain, and still healing from a marriage where she always came second. By the warmth of the fire, they find comfort in shared memories and discover passion doesn’t fade with age.
When echoes of the past threaten to unravel their bond, Lorraine must decide if she can trust Dan—and herself—with a chance at forever.
CHAPTER 1
Dan
I guidedthe work ute down the familiar road to the equine hospital, one hand on the wheel, while I drank my morning coffee. I’d driven this road so many times; I knew every bend and every property I passed. But this time it felt different. This time I knew the early mornings were numbered. In a few months, Curtis would own the equine hospital, and my days could start anytime I wanted them to.
Curtis is buying the hospital.I let out a long breath and smiled. I’d repeated the same sentence over and over to myself the past couple of days, and my heart did a happy dance each time. This result was better than I’d ever imagined. The hospital wouldn’t go to a stranger who had no respect for what I’d built over the past forty years. It was going to someone I trusted.
Curtis was a man of few words, especially when he’d arrived from America a few months ago. He listened more than he spoke, and I knew his brain was always turning things over. But living with him, I saw him open up more and more. I think whatI liked about him most, other than how genuine he was, was how he loved horses.
Only the night staff’s cars were in the carpark when I arrived at the hospital. It was too early for everyone else. I grabbed my coffee and walked through the side door, past the clinic rooms and down the hall toward the staff conference room. Only days ago, I’d announced to the senior vets that I was selling the business. Today, I’d tell them I had a buyer.
Curtis would be doubting himself. So, to prove to him that he could do it, I was also going to tell them all that I was taking a long weekend for myself…at the start of breeding season. Everyone would have to rely on him.
I laughed to myself as I entered the conference room. Taking time off during breeding season was unheard of. I could barely believe I was doing it. I didn’t even give my staff permission to have time off when we were all so under the pump, unless it was a family emergency.
Four days to myself. And if she said yes, I was going to spend every minute of those four days with Lorraine. Just her. I didn’t care if it was cliché to say it, but I’d been waiting for this moment for all my life. Until now, I’d let everything else get in the way.
Chairs scraped softly against the floor as the senior vets filed in a few minutes before seven. Lisa was first, as always, tablet in hand and already scrolling. Brad settled his long frame into the seat beside her. Sylvia, Matt, and Erin soon followed, chatting to each other as they sat down. Curtis was last, coffee in one hand, the other shoved in his pocket, his brow furrowed. I smiled, wondering what he could be thinking about so hard at this hour of the morning.
I glanced around the table. These vets were the best in the industry. Every single one of them had a hand in helping me build the equine hospital to what it was today—one of themost renowned in the country. I considered them more than colleagues; they were friends.
“I’ll keep it brief,” I said. “You all know I’ve been looking for the right person to take over the business.”
If I didn’t have their attention before, I certainly did now. They all watched me expectantly.
“Well, I’ve found him.”
I glanced towards Curtis, who was so still he may as well have been frozen. He’d hate all the attention on him, and it was going to be there any second.
