Out of the Shadows

Loree Lough

SCIENCE VERSUS…FAITH?Dr. Wade Cameron was a man of science– it came with the territory. He knew there was nothing between him and Patrice McKenzie short of chemistry. Never mind that the petite auburn-haired beauty had a smile that would put the sun's glow to shame, and a heart big enough to match.But as a man of science he also knew that family history counted…and his clan's sordid past left too much to chance. The twice-voted "Bachelor of the Year" was determined to continue his no-commitment policy…until Patrice began making this nonbeliever think that maybe he'd taken a wrong turn. Maybe there was something permanent in God's plan for him?

Without warning, Wade gathered her up in his warm, protective embrace.

“What am I gonna do with you?” he sighed into her hair. “You’re as bighearted and pigheaded as they come. And while that’s a tempting combination, I can’t be—”

“So who asked you to be my protector? I told you, I can take—”

“—care of yourself,” he finished for her. “I never meant to insult you. It’s just that, for some reason, you worry me.”

Patrice couldn’t help admitting that she was touched by his concern. “There’s no need for that. I’m fine.”

“Something is happening here,” he whispered, lifting her chin. “And I don’t know whether to run from it or straight at it.”

Patrice trembled in his arms. If he isn’t the guy for me, Lord, she prayed, speak now or forever hold Your peace….

LOREE LOUGH

A full-time writer for nearly fifteen years, Loree Lough has produced more than two thousand articles, dozens of short stories and novels for the young (and young at heart), and all have been published here and abroad. Author of thirty-seven award-winning romances, Loree also writes as Cara McCormack and Aleesha Carter.

A comedic teacher and conference speaker, Loree loves sharing in classrooms what she’s learned the hard way. The mother of two grown daughters, she lives in Maryland with her husband and a fourteen-year-old cat named Mouser (who, until this year—when she caught and killed her first mouse—had no idea what a rodent was).

Out of the Shadows

Loree Lough

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

…yea, in the shadow of Thy wings

will I make my refuge….

—Psalms 57:1

Out of the Shadows is dedicated to all the “real”

Patrices out there who dedicatedly devote

themselves to children in hospitals

all over the globe; my hat’s off to you all!

Dear Reader,

Tragedy…

Sooner or later, each of us has a head-on collision with it. If we’re strong when it hits, we pick up the pieces and move on. If not, we throw up our hands and demand “Why, Lord?”

But Christians are taught “Don’t ask why. Just have faith.” Easier said than done! Because suffering tests more than our mettle, it burrows into the foundation of our faith, making us question God’s promise: “Let all those who put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them.” (Psalms 5:11)

There’s a line in an old song that goes something like “into each life a little rain must fall.” As Wade and Patrice discovered, the Creator defended them from the rain when He said, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant between Me and thee.” (Genesis 9:13) Alone, each was blinded by life’s briny storms, but when He brought them together, their eyes were opened to the rainbow that led them out of the shadows…to the soft, warm light of enduring love.

May you bask in that same tender radiance, all the rest of your life!

All my best,

P.S. If you enjoyed Out of the Shadows, please drop me a note c/o Steeple Hill Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10017. I love hearing from my readers and try to answer every letter personally!

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Prologue

Fifteen years ago, Halloween Night

If not for that lousy D on his last report card, he’d have a car to protect him