These Ties That Bind

These Ties That Bind
Mary Sullivan

Rem Caldwell has made mistakes–there's no denying that. But he knows he can be the father his son deserves. If only Sara Franck would agree. She keeps bringing up their shared past, no matter how many times Rem tells her he's changed.Telling her isn't enough. Rem has to show Sara that he's a different man. And he has to do it soon–he needs his mother to know her grandson before it's too late. Because the one thing Rem wants more than anything is a permanent family reunion with Sara, the woman he adores.

“I can’t do this.”

Sara was strong enough to control her body and its desires. She’d had a lot of practice. She didn’t need to understand the darkness lurking inside—whatever it was—to know that she didn’t want to have anything to do with it.

“Damn it, Sara.” A thread of desperation rang in Rem’s voice. “Let go for once in your life.”

“No. I did that once. With you. Remember? And I ended up pregnant. You walked out on us. I’ve raised a great kid. All by myself. I don’t need you.”

“I’m not talking about need. I’m talking about love. We belong together. We always have. We’re connected.”

Sara shook her head sadly. “We might have been at one time. But everything has changed.”

Dear Reader,

Remington Caldwell begged for his own story. He first appeared in Beyond Ordinary, as the hero, Timm Franck’s, best friend. The idea of writing about the gorgeous bad boy who had worked hard to reform appealed to me. Where would his life go after redemption? And why couldn’t he forget Timm’s sister, Sara, a gray wren who was hard to ignore?

They’d traveled a rocky road because of one incident that changed their lives forever, that wreaked havoc with their best intentions and with their futures. Sara started as Rem’s little buddy, though. So the only way this story could go, despite having difficulties to resolve, was for them to end as friends.

I wanted to explore the idea that, although every friend we make in life counts, sometimes it’s those old friends who call to us and make us feel like we’re coming home. Throughout our lives, those friends act as landmarks that ground us, that remind us about the best parts of ourselves. When Sara finally comes home, she steps straight into Rem’s arms.

Happy reading!

Mary Sullivan

These Ties That Bind

Mary Sullivan

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary Sullivan recently moved back into her old neighborhood and is getting in touch with old friends. The joy of renewing these friendships enriches her life these days. Funny how easy it is to slip into those relationships as though time never passed, as though we are still those young children with our lives ahead of us. As much as she loves her old friends, Mary also enjoys making new ones and hearing from readers. You can reach her at www.marysullivanbooks.com.

Thank you, Megan,

for making this a better book.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER ONE

SARA FRANCK HAD NEVER considered herself a coward, but walking into Chester’s Bar and Grill this evening was about to be the hardest thing she’d ever done. She hesitated on the doorstep.

Earlier today, Remington Caldwell had sent her a note.

Tonight. Seven o’clock. Chester’s. Far corner, back booth. Just you and me, babe. Time for a reckoning.

Rem

To a woman who prided herself on her common sense, the butterflies in her stomach were disconcerting, but she’d been off balance since June—the last time she’d seen Rem.

He’d asked her to marry him…

“Sara?” Her brother, Timm, held the front door open for her. “You coming?”

The scents of beer and grilled meats, and the welcoming warmth of the place enveloped her.