Don't Break (The Reluctant Heart Book 1) Read online

  Don’t Break

  Jeannette Winters

  An original work of Jeannette Winters, 2020.

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Jeannette Winters

  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

  Also by Jeannette Winters

  By Jeannette Winters & Lena Lane

  Jeannette Winters

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  Dedication

  This book is dedication to all those acts of kindness. Remember to make someone smile every day!

  And also thank you to my editor Taryn Lawson, and to Jade Webb at https://meetcutecreative.com/ for another amazing cover!

  And to my readers. You continue to challenge me and I love it. Please keep those emails coming!

  DO YOU LIKE ROMANTIC COMEDY? THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS SERIES.

  Kenneth Heart has an eye for rare and valuable things. Especially one particular beauty that blows more than glass. She blows his mind. The only problem with that is he’s too smart to let emotions drive his business decisions. Her shop is in trouble and the numbers clearly show her only choice is to sell.

  Shanda Morris takes pride in her shop. Each of her blown-glass creations reminds her that life is fragile. Even though she isn’t driven by money or success, it was going to take a lot more than hopes and dreams to keep the shop afloat. No matter how many spreadsheets the man without a heart shows her.

  Against his better judgement Kenneth is willing to help, but Shanda challenges everything he suggests. She is infuriating and captivating at the same time and he can’t get her out of his mind.

  Now he finds himself torn between what is best for his bottom line, or don’t break her heart.

  GET READY TO LAUGH AND FALL IN LOVE.

  The Reluctant Heart Series

  Book 1: Don’t Break

  Book 2: Just Trust

  Book 3: Don’t Hesitate

  Book 4: Just Feel

  Book 5: Don’t Quit

  Book 6: Just Believe

  Chapter One

  Shanda Morris cursed under her breath as the sound of glass shattering echoed through her shop. She dreaded turning around. Please don’t be one of Granddad’s. It wasn’t as though they held any more monetary value, but since he retired a few years back, each piece was priceless to her.

  Holding her breath, she looked over her shoulder and slowly exhaled. Thank God. Brianna was wonderful in so many ways: cheerful, prompt, and polite. What she lacked was an attention span, at least for anything other than her cell phone. Brianna had more important things on her mind, like her senior prom. If the topic wasn’t style of dress, it was the color, or worse, her prom date. It figured someone like Brianna would be going with someone from the football team. But right now, all this excitement added up to one thing: loss of product.

  Forcing a smile Shanda said, “Brianna, you’re lucky I don’t start deducting those from your paycheck. I think that was two this week.”

  Brianna shrugged. “Three.”

  “Three?” Shanda wasn’t that distracted. She definitely would’ve heard the racket when it hit the floor.

  “Yes. I may have accidently bumped into the shelf in the corner and…well…”

  Shanda looked in that direction and couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed. The royal blue and white vase was no longer sitting on the top shelf. Damn. I loved that one. Actually, she loved them all. It was part of being an artist.

  Firing Brianna wasn’t the answer. Neither was garnishing her paycheck. If anything, Shanda was happy that Brianna had a life. She might be a bit envious of it. For last year, all Shanda had done was work or stress over how to keep the shop going. So, in a way, Shanda understood distraction all too well. Just hers didn’t bring the same smile to her face as Brianna’s.

  “I tell you what, you clean up this mess and then take the rest of the weekend off. Go finalize all those little details you’re working on, and we can get back to normal Tuesday. How does that sound?”

  “Well I like most of that idea,” she replied.

  She was afraid to hear what Brianna was going to suggest instead. “What part?”

  “Taking the weekend off,” she giggled. “But you really don’t think that I can get a dress, pick out how I want my hair done, and everything else in just a few days, do you? It takes planning. It’s probably easier to run this shop than it is picking out everything.”

  Shanda chuckled. “Really? And why is that?”

  “Simple. Your senior prom only happens once in a lifetime. You work every day,” she replied with her hands on her hips.

  Got to love her logic. “You’re right. I do. So, what you’re saying is, you need next week off too?”

  “Maybe two weeks and I come back after the prom. I mean, it’s bad enough that I’m only doing this now. All the good dresses are going to be gone. I don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing. I want this to be…”

  “Special,” Shanda said softly.

  Brianna sighed. “Yes. Something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

  Shanda remembered hers. She went to her prom with her older brother as a punishment. She had snuck out of the house to meet up with a guy she wasn’t supposed to date. He was what her parents called ‘a bad boy.’ Looking back, they were right. At the time, all she saw was his leather jacket, tattoos, and motorcycle. But was he worth getting grounded till she was eighteen? Maybe not.

  “Okay. Two weeks. But I want pictures.” Brianna rushed over and wrapped her arms around Shanda squeezing her so hard she thought she was going to be lifted off the floor. “I know I’m not as fragile as glass, but I do break,” she laughed.

  Brianna loosened her hold. “You’re the best Shanda. And I promise to blow up your phone with more pictures than you want.”

  I don’t doubt that. “You better get cleaning before I change my mind,” she warned teasingly.

  Brianna dashed into the back and returned with a broom and dustpan. Shanda cringed at the sound of the glass being swept up, but she needed to let it go. It wasn’t realistic to think that every piece she created was going to be purchased and proudly displayed in someone’s home. It was a childish dream, one that she might need to give up. If things didn’t turn around, Brianna might end up ge
tting more than just two weeks off. Shanda might have to close the shop.

  A long sigh filled the room and she realized it was hers.

  “Are you worried you won’t be able to handle things while I’m gone?” Brianna asked in a concerned tone.

  It was nice to see Brianna noticed something other than herself. “I think I can manage.” It’s not like they are knocking down the door.

  “Maybe you can come up with a brilliant marketing idea while I’m gone.”

  Gee, why didn’t I think of that? She rolled her eyes. “I’ll add it to my list.”

  “You could give away some of your stuff. Like buy one and get one free. My mother is addicted to stuff like that. She says nothing is better than getting something for free.”

  “That’s a great idea, but I need them to be willing to buy one first. Don’t worry, I’ll think of something.”

  “Something brilliant,” Brianna reminded her.

  Shanda chuckled. “I have two weeks. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Who’s worried?” Brianna asked as she walked into the back. “Wish me luck. I’m going to need it.”

  “You and me both,” she muttered under her breath.

  With Brianna gone, the shop was way too quiet. What harm would it do to close early and spend the time brainstorming? She had liked Brianna’s suggestion about giving something for free, but that was so overdone. Shanda wanted her idea to be as unique as the blown-glass creations she made.

  “That’s it. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?”

  What made her shop special was that everything in it was crafted by her or her granddad. If she offered a free live demonstration it might just draw in spectators. With any luck, those spectators would become customers. Even if only half of them purchased something, at least it would get people talking about her shop.

  This was crazy. Although she found it interesting, that didn’t mean anyone else would. Maybe she was going to need to go with Brianna’s suggestion.

  Who was going to come here just to watch her blow glass?

  Shanda walked to the door and was just about to flip the sign over to ‘closed’ when she noticed a man at the door. Yes. A customer.

  She may have been overzealous when she ripped open the door. “Hi. Welcome.”

  The man looked a bit hesitant to enter. He peered in as though he was about to change his mind. There was no way she was about to let her only customer walk away without even looking around. Whether due to desperation or insanity, Shanda reached out and grabbed him by his hand and practically yanked him inside.

  He looked down at her with the darkest eyes she’d ever seen. She wasn’t sure if they were meant to scare her or turn her on. This wasn’t the time to question it.

  “Is this the way you get all your potential customers in?” he asked.

  If this works, then I might.

  “Not at all, but this is your lucky day,” she replied.

  The man cocked a brow. “And why is that?”

  Still holding his hand, she said, “Come with me in the back and you’ll find out.” He didn’t budge.

  “Excuse me?”

  God, that sounded like a proposition. Not the type of customers I’m looking for. She shook it off and tried again. “What I mean is, I’d like to show you my blowing technique. Trust me, it’s not like anything you’ve ever experienced before.”

  His eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of their sockets, which was a shame, because he really had attractive eyes. As quickly as it had come, what appeared to be an astonished look had vanished. Now, glaring at her and in a deep, serious way, he asked. “Is the owner here?”

  Oh God. Maybe he wasn’t a customer. Maybe he was a building inspector or tax collector from the town. Quickly, she ran through all the less-than-appealing scenarios possible and felt confident that she was up-to-date with everything. Which really was a miracle, based on her sales lately. “I’m the owner,” she said proudly. His demeanor didn’t relax, and it was clear as day that he wasn’t interested in learning about blowing glass. She released his hand and asked, “Was there something specific you were looking for? If you’re not interested in my blowing technique, I’m sure if you give me enough time, I can find something else that you’ll equally enjoy.”

  The man burst out laughing. “Do you know Billy Brown?”

  Shanda was better at faces than with names and usually she remembered people by what they had purchased. “I don’t believe so. Is he one of my customers?”

  “I sure in hell hope not. He’s married.”

  “The topic of marriage doesn’t normally come up in conversation. I guess I do most of the talking until they know what they want.” Which is usually nothing. Shanda loved the creation part of the business, yet sales weren’t her forte.

  He never took his eyes off her as he responded, “I don’t want to know what…techniques you use. I don’t pay for services.”

  Shanda placed her hands on her hips and said, “Sorry, no free samples. But if you pay for the first one, I’ll give you another for free.” She couldn’t believe she was resorting to this. She was being pushy. The man was about to turn away and she had to give it one last try. “What did you say your friend’s name was?”

  “Billy.”

  “And he sent you here?” That was at least a good sign. It was nice knowing Billy liked her shop enough to give a recommendation, even it if was to someone like this guy. Giving up on making a sale, she finally took a good look at him. Damn, he was gorgeous. He looked like he could be on the cover of a magazine.

  “He did. But it just proves he doesn’t know me like he thinks he does.”

  She shrugged. “I know this type of décor isn’t for everyone, but if you took a moment and looked around, maybe you’ll see something that suits your taste. How about we start with your favorite color?”

  “This isn’t a date. I was here because Billy said I’d find something…rare here,” he said, his tone filled with sarcasm.

  “Rare? I’m not sure about that, but my work is all original. Take a look at that bowl. Have you seen anything like this before?” she asked. Shanda picked it up off the table and held it out to him. “To you it might look like just a bowl. But if you don’t heat it to the right temperature, keep it turning and in constant motion, or blow just right, you can crack or warp it.”

  “Blow it?” he asked.

  Finally he was looking around. “Yes. If you want, my offer still stands.”

  The man burst out laughing. “You were asking me if I wanted to learn how to blow glass,” he said.

  “Yes. What did you think?”

  The man just laughed harder and asked, “I think I have found what he sent me here for.”

  She still had no idea what he found so humorous. “And what is that?”

  “You,” he replied.

  Now she was lost. “I’m not for sale,” she stated firmly.

  He nodded. “So I understand. Why don’t you show me around your shop?”

  For the first time, Shanda felt uneasy with him. “Why?”

  “Because you sell things and you never know, I might be a potential customer,” he stated.

  Something deep inside her said he wasn’t any more interested in her glassware now than he had been a moment ago. She took the bowl from his hand and did the only thing she could: try to sell him something. “Are you looking for anything in particular? Maybe a gift for your wife?” She threw that one in just for his comment about marriage.

  “Not married. And no. It’s not a gift.”

  “Ah, then something for yourself,” she replied. Once again, he shook his head. “Then how do you know what it is you’re looking for?”

  “It’s my job to know,” he said.

  She placed the bowl back on the table and said, “Then I guess I have to show you everything.”

  Shanda spent an hour showing him everything, from the most elaborate pieces, to tiny hummingbirds she’d made to accent a pot of flowers. He didn
’t ask any questions at all, but she could feel him watching her intensely. It had been unnerving, and a few times she was tempted to ask him to quit wasting her time. This was the part of owning your own business that she disliked. If she had her way, she would spend all her time in the back working on her craft. No matter what her granddad said, it didn’t become any easier. If anything, it became more awkward and obviously her customers noticed.

  When she finished her spiel, Shanda thought for sure he’d purchase something. Instead, all he did was thank her for her time, and leave.

  Alone once again, the smell of his expensive cologne lingered in the air and the memory of his haunting, sexy eyes sent a chill through her. “I didn’t even get his name,” she sighed.

  I guess I’ll just have to make one up when I dream about him later.

  As Kenneth Heart drove back to Boston, he still was confused as to why Billy had sent him there. He and Billy had been friends for more than twenty years. When they were in high school, they were known for pulling pranks like this shit on each other. But that had ceased long ago. There was no time for such things if you wanted to be on the top in your field. Billy seemed to have lost his drive for success since getting married a few years ago. Instead of a vacation mixing with business, Billy came back with stories that sounded like they could be in some chick flick: romance this, and love that. Damn, Krissy was making Billy soft.

  It wasn’t something that Kenneth was ever going to allow to happen to him. When it came to business, money was everything. Every decision the Heart family made, including marriage, had some financial reasoning behind it. Was it cold? Many people would think so. But Kenneth and his brothers weren’t breaking family tradition.