No One But You

the night long ago when Jasper had tossed her out of the house, leaving her in the snow, freezing and bleeding. Baby Jake’s cries of misery had permeated the walls. Never had she been so grateful that she’d made that difficult choice to get help. Nellie’s had helped her find this life—this beautiful life—and Mariah would be forever grateful.
    “Hey, you’re crying.” Wyatt caught her single tear with the pad of his thumb. “Are you okay?”
    “Better than okay.” Love for him crashed through her like a warm ocean wave carrying her to shore. “I’m thinking about what a lucky woman I am.”
    “No, I’m the lucky one. I’ve got the best job in the world, being your husband. I get to make you happy for the rest of my life.” He brushed a kiss on her cheek. “I love you, Mariah.”
    “I love you.” Her entire soul ached with bliss. Their happily-ever-after was written in the stars, she had no doubt. His love was a sheltering place for her heart…and would always be.

Dear Reader,
    I am deeply grateful to Harlequin for inviting me to contribute a story for their More Than Words program. It’s wonderful to work for a publisher that puts its money where its heart is and strives to make a difference for women everywhere. So it was my pleasure to be a part of this collection and honor volunteer Mary Byberg and Nellie’s women’s shelter in Toronto, Canada.
    Mary Byberg has been a longtime volunteer for Nellie’s. She was a board member. She gives unselfishly of her time and experience. She has raised two daughters, worked her way through school and earned her law degree. Impressive enough, right? But Mary also spends a large part of her life helping people, both in her capacity as a lawyer and in her work at Nellie’s. She is an impressive and kind lady, the sort of person you meet and are friends with for life. Mary is also a survivor of domestic violence.
    Here are a few facts about domestic violence. One in three women in America has been physically or sexually abused by a boyfriend or husband in their lifetimes. Every nine seconds, a woman is beaten. Domestic violence affects one to three million women a year in the United States. More than three women a day are murdered by boyfriends or husbands. Sobering statistics, right? Behind each of one of these numbers is the face of a woman, hurting and alienated. The future must look bleak for this woman, who could be your neighbor or the lady you stood in line behind at the grocery store. It could even be you.
    That’s where Nellie’s comes in. The shelter is an amazing organization of caring and talented people whose compassion extends to women and children from all walks of life. They provide emergency shelter and protection, they offer education and support from a woman’s first contact with the shelter to her long-term aftercare in the community. They are committed advocates dedicated to changing policies and being a voice for women and children who believe they do not have one.
    Everyone deserves to be safe in a relationship. Every woman should be safe in her own home. For more information, see www.nellies.org. If you recognize yourself in the pages of Mariah’s story, I ask you to contact your local domestic violence shelter. Please be your own best friend.
    I want to thank Mary for the chance to get to know her and hear her remarkable story. She is an example of the strength in all women to rise above the painful circumstances in their lives and find hope and joy again.
    All my best,
    Jillian Hart

Two more FREE ebooks await!
    In Hooked , bestselling author Betina Krahn honors the work of Donna Fischer, the Arizona program coordinator for Casting for Recovery, a national non-profit organization that runs fly-fishing retreats for women who have or have had breast cancer.
    And in Maxwell’s Smile , Michele Hauf honors the work of the Barta sisters—Berni, Romi, Lexi and Marni Barta—and the not-for-profit organization that they founded, Kid Flicks.
    TO ACCESS YOUR FREE EBOOKS VISIT
www.HarlequinMoreThanWords.com

ISBN: 978-1-4592-2690-6
    More Than Words
    Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Books S.A.
    Jillian Hart is acknowledged as the author of No One But You
    All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information