Mirrored Hearts: Sealed by Fire (Encounters of the Heart Book 2) Read online

  MIRRORED HEARTS

  Sealed by Fire

  Encounters of the Heart Series

  Book 2

  BESTSELLING AUTHOR

  Ann Marie Bryan

  Copyright © 2016 by Ann Marie Bryan

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  To order copies of this book, please contact:

  Victorious By Design, LLC

  P.O. Box 6141

  Tallahassee, FL 32314

  Lighting the path to your next level

  Visit our website at: www.victoriousbydesign.com

  Email us at: [email protected]

  Cover photo courtesy of bigstockphoto.com

  Cover creation by Global Multi Media Enterprises (GMME)

  CONTENTS

  THE ENCOUNTERS OF THE HEART SERIES

  DEDICATION

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  ABOUT LOVE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR

  OTHER TITLES

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  VICTORIOUS BY DESIGN

  ENCOUNTERS OF THE HEART SERIES

  PRAISE FOR BOOK 1:

  Shades of the Heart

  #1 Amazon Best Seller (African American Christian Fiction)

  “This book in one word: POWERFUL! As a married woman, this book ministered to my soul. I loved how the author took us through every emotion of dealing with the extreme lows in crisis to the extreme highs. The personal battle to move towards forgiveness, restoring, rebuilding and ultimately the true meaning of love were all brought in full circle showcasing that love truly endures all things. This is an excellent display of how our faith and relationship with God can develop and the importance of having strong and true supporters in your corner. I loved Blake and Gabby together but what I loved most was their individual story of growth. Excellent job and excellent read!” Author Untamed

  “I loved this fabulously written Christian romance novel centered on a married couple dealing with infidelity by the wife. Although it contained prayers, Scriptures, and a few short sermons, it wasn't preachy but right on time for me. I loved reading about the trials and tribulations of Christian marriages and this one covered all of the emotional basis to draw me in and keep me turning the pages. I couldn't wait to read the beautiful ending. Just a fabulous story that pulled on all the heartstrings!” Barbara Joe Williams, Author of Love Never Felt So Good

  “This story was an absolute joy to read. The characters were honest and flawed, the way we are in real life. I truly enjoyed going through the process with the characters and experiencing every emotion they went through. Often times we focus on the end result, but never appreciate the journey for what it brings to our lives. This was my first novel by Ann Marie, but I would definitely recommend her work.” Melinda Michelle, Author of Color Me Blind: A Divine Love Story

  DEDICATION

  To all husbands and wives who are moving toward more perfect unions through Jesus Christ.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Many persons contributed to the completion of this book. Thank you so much. It was a blessing to work alongside each of you.

  My Heavenly Father, I cannot imagine my life without You. Lord, I love you. I stand in awe of your greatness.

  Extra special thanks to Orville, my husband, my beloved. Thanks for letting me into your heart. I love you always and forever.

  I am grateful for my mother, Mrs. Estrina Johnson and my ten siblings - six sisters and four brothers. Your support means everything to me. Thanks for your love, friendship, and encouragement. You are all wonderful, and I am grateful that God gave you to me. I love you.

  A big thank you to my sister and second mom, Mrs. Icylin Morgan, for listening to me talk about the characters in this book. You are the best.

  Thank you to my pastor, Bishop John E. Baker and his beautiful, anointed wife, First Lady, Elder Ann-Marie Baker, for continuing to impart God’s word in my life. Thanks also to my church family, New Hope International Outreach Ministries.

  Heartfelt thanks to my literary sisters, Authors J.L. Campbell and Barbara Joe Williams for their encouragement and invaluable help with completing this book.

  Thanking God for Mrs. Palmyra Williams and her son, Mr. True Holt. I am still marveling at the mighty hand of God. Thank you for walking in purpose.

  Members of Tallahassee Authors Network Christian Sub-Group, under the extraordinary leadership of Authors Angela Hodge and Melinda Michelle, you are all amazing. Thanking God for each of you.

  I love my sisters who make up my editorial team - Millicent Battick, Melissa Mallory, Yamecike McMillan, Paula Owen, and Julianne Veira. Thanks for your prayers, critiques, words of encouragement, wisdom, and your attention to detail. Thank you for helping me to get life-changing Christian Fiction out to readers. You are all awesome women of God and my life is so much better because of the friendships that we share. You are living examples that God is moving in the lives of believers. I am smiling at each of you - You rock!

  ABOUT LOVE

  “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;”(1 Corinthians 13:4-6)

  CHAPTER 1

  A vision of loveliness! Larry stood at the side of the bed, carelessly looping his tie around his neck as he gazed at her, nestled by myriads of soft, white, fluffy cushions. His eyes traced every curve of her body and he drew in a deep, shuddering breath as she purred, stretching her arms above her head and smiling. Whatever she was dreaming about clearly stirred her because the smile remained on her lips.

  He couldn’t help but smile too. His heart beat blissfully only for Rozene. Delighting in the way his body responded to her, he bent to kiss her then drew back as her fevered eyes met his, then frosted over before she rolled away from him.

  “Good morning, honey. Did you need something?” she asked, with extra warmth in her voice.

 
“Doing your wifely duties would be a start,” he growled, irritated by her pretentious behavior.

  She sat up, ready for battle, then decided to change tactics. She’d always received a more positive response when she added ‘sugar’ rather than ‘lemons.’ “Honey, my fast will be over soon.”

  “Great. Fast all you want, but did you have to include fasting from sex?” His bow-shaped lips tightened with displeasure.

  “You only have to wait two more days,” she pleaded softly, tossing her curly, light-brown hair over her shoulders.

  “Two more days! I have been waiting for over a month,” he hissed, glaring at her. “Plus, this is the third time in five months you’re doing this kind of fast.”

  “But, honey, I satisfied you -”

  “You call that lovemaking, two weeks ago when you pitied me? On my birthday, of all days?” Shaking his head, he walked to the dressing table and adjusted his tie in the mirror.

  Rozene swung her legs over the edge of the bed, grabbed her robe from where it hung off the bedpost, and followed him. “I thought we had fun,” she encouraged, slipping on her robe.

  His nostrils flared. “Fun. You accommodated me.” His blood boiled when he recalled that up to fall last year, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Back then, he didn’t have to beg his own wife to make love with him.

  “How can you say that?” Rozene asked, knitting her brows.

  “You did.” His dark brown eyes pinned her in place before he turned away to pick up his watch from the dressing table. His eyes narrowed when he looked at her again. “Why are you wearing new lingerie when we’re …?”

  “I’m preparing for you,” she said cheerfully. He watched as she modeled flirtatiously. “Saturday is game on.” She smiled lovingly at him, a smile that always made his heart pitter-patter.

  He gazed at her full lips and straight nose, perfectly placed on her oval shaped face, but it was her vivid hazel-colored eyes that usually held him captive, many times stealing words from his lips. But not this morning. He turned away and clasped his watch on his wrist.

  Rozene came up behind him and lovingly caressed his back before brushing imaginary lint from his navy jacket. “I’ll try to be a better wife. I just wanted to seek the Lord while I write.” Her gaze slid down his long muscular, slightly bowed legs, before she gently rubbed his back.

  He closed his eyes momentarily, enjoying the warmth of her touch, then opened them and faced her. “I told you, you can slow down with writing your books. You should do one a year.” He knitted his brows. “Plus, with doing writers’ conferences, book tours, and TV programs,” he sighed, “you’re always tired.”

  She pursed her lips, taking in his handsome face and confident eyes. He was self-assured but not cocky, certain of his God-given ability and authority, and the correctness of his path. “Just two more days, please,” she urged.

  Larry felt like a child screaming for attention. He turned abruptly from her and walked to the nightstand to retrieve his laptop. His legs felt heavy and he was getting more and more ‘ticked off’ by the second. He leveled her with a stern glare. “What am I to do in the meantime?”

  “We can do other things or you can play golf with your friends.”

  His mouth dropped open, and he quickly snapped it shut. “Are you serious? What happened to you, Roz?”

  Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed his car keys from the nightstand and marched out of their bedroom.

  She ran after him. “Aren’t we going to pray before you leave?”

  “Will pray by myself,” he roared, without a backward glance. “And don’t forget to add my appointment to sleep with you, to your calendar.”

  He heard her gasp but continued walking.

  A few minutes later, he glanced at their fleet of cars, and wondered which one to drive. Need something to cheer me up. He slid behind the steering wheel of the red Audi S5 coupe, then dropped his laptop on the back seat and closed the door. A deep sigh he didn’t know he was holding left his body, and he leaned forward to rest his head on the steering wheel. Where did my ever loving wife go? How can a woman who is so spiritually sensitive, be so insensitive to my needs?

  He was not as fervent a Christian as she was, but he knew the Bible encouraged husbands and wives to “…not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time…” He and Rozene had fasted together a few times but never from sex. Still, he didn’t know if he could, even if she’d asked him.

  “Help me, Lord,” was all the prayer he could offer up before pulling out of the garage.

  After nineteen years of marriage, he and Rozene were well adapted to each other. The twins, Mason and Madison, came along during the second year of their marriage, right after they had both completed their Master of Business Administration degrees. It was a tearful experience when the twins left for MIT last fall, but after he and Rozene got over the initial shock of a soundless home, they began making plans to enjoy the ‘empty nest.’ That was before Rozene started to behave differently towards him. He wondered if she was going through hormonal changes. She’d become emotionally unavailable. Is she no longer attracted to me? He chided himself each time the thought came. She had been wearing new lingerie, and that gave him hope.

  Pulling into his parking space at Pallecia Worldwide All Suite Hotel, he switched off the ignition then exhaled loudly before saying a prayer.

  “Lord, please help me. I need your peace and patience to deal with Rozene. I don’t know how to fix whatever is happening in our marriage. On the surface, we are okay but in my heart, I know something is wrong. I need your guidance and direction, Father. Amen.”

  After centering himself with prayer, Larry stepped out of his car. It was a slightly chilly January morning, and the cold air seeped right through his tailored suit. Just what I need to cool me down. Grabbing his laptop from the back seat, he closed the car door and put on his “professional face.” He was not in the mood for work but these days going to work was a better option than staying at home. His eyes brightened. Gabrielle would help to jump start his day.

  Seven years her senior, he and Gabrielle had hit it off from the day she started working at Pallecia Hotel, a luxurious golf and spa resort, with the head office located on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. He was Vice President of Human Resources for the past eight years and she came in as a Human Resources Manager just over a year ago. She was brilliant at her job so when the Human Resources Director resigned five months ago, he immediately promoted her to that position.

  Entering the foyer, Larry greeted his co-workers before taking the elevator up to the fourteenth floor. He decided to pop into Gabrielle’s office before heading to his office, four doors down. Her door was slightly open and he pushed it in, only to be greeted by her smooth derriere covered in a navy pencil skirt. She was retrieving something from a bag on the ground.

  Not quite the jump start I was expecting. Warmth spread through his body as he watched her. Sensing a dangerous shift in his mood, he pulled himself together. No self-respecting, God-fearing man should look at a woman that way. Still, he liked looking at Gabrielle Montgomery, her smooth, honey-brown complexion and slender yet curvy frame. He hastily reminded himself that she was a woman of God who always treated him professionally, so the last thing he wanted was to get caught gawking at her derriere. “Good morning,” he announced loudly as he moved towards her desk.

  She spun to face him. “Larry, how’s it going?” A gentle smile lit her face.

  Just the smile he needed. He felt like lying on the small red plush sofa near her desk and telling her all his troubles. “Good. How are you doing?”

  “Good.” Then she looked sheepishly at him as she arranged herself behind the large cherry wood desk. “We can’t do the mock presentation today. I’m behind with my part of the presentation, but asking God for extra strength to finish by tomorrow.”

  He smiled encouragingly at her. “Don’t worry. We have another day before the board meeting. We ca
n wrap it up today, even if we have to work late. We’ll do the mock presentation tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” She flashed him a grateful smile while adjusting strands of her dark brown hair behind her ears. “Nice tie. Bet Rozene selected it for you.”

  Strangely, Gabrielle found herself wondering what he was like at home. She stared at Larry, and perhaps, for the first time, noticed he was a fine looking forty-two-year-old man. His naturally sun-kissed complexion glowed with vitality. He was all male - physically appealing, tall, and lean with toned legs. His clean shaven face, highlighted by miniature dimples from a drop dead gorgeous smile, reflected his bold personality and freedom of spirit. He always seemed indomitable and comfortable in any environment. It was fascinating to watch him navigate the political arena at work.

  “You’re welcome. Yep. Birthday present,” Larry responded, his heart fluttering under her scrutiny. He was no Mr. Universe, but he thought she’d looked a little longer than she should have. These days, he seemed to have the ability to reach every woman on the planet except his wife. “Any questions for me?” He had often provided answers to her work related questions.

  “Nope. Focusing on the presentation.”

  He wished she had several questions as he didn’t feel like being alone. He racked his brain wondering what else he could ask her, then he remembered her husband was going out of town. “Did Blake leave?”

  “Yes.”

  Gabrielle smiled, but Larry saw that the smile didn’t reach her eyes. He hoped all was well between her and Blake. He’d noticed how her eyes would twinkle whenever she called his name.

  “Great,” he responded, watching her keenly. He had been so busy, thinking about his own troubles that he didn’t realize she was submerged in a cloak of sadness. He did not know her well enough to ask questions but he wished he did. Then, maybe, they could share their marital woes. Lord knows, he needed to talk with someone. “Okay. I’ll be in my office,” he told her.