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

  “If you say so,” she said. In a very low voice, she muttered, “They so twinkle.”

  “Back to the manager’s position. If you don’t mind, I’d like to prepare the official documents you’ll need for both the interview process, and when you hire him.”

  “Or her,” she stated.

  Kenneth smiled. “I stand corrected. I’d also like to be here when you do interview them. There will be questions I have which might help eliminate people who are only good at selling themselves and not your product.”

  “Now you’re sounding like the ad I wrote,” she laughed.

  “Oh boy. Maybe tonight is not a good business night,” he said.

  “That’s fine with me. Why don’t you tell me what else you wanted to talk about?”

  He sighed. “Sure you don’t want to put that off too?” She shook her head and then took another bite of Lo Mein. “Us. I’d like to talk about us.”

  Shanda stopped chewing and looked at him as though she wasn’t sure she’d heard right. Covering her mouth with her hand, she asked, “Us?”

  “Yes. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about us lately. And before you panic, I don’t know where this, what you and I have, is going. All I know is I really like you. This might sound very odd, coming from me, but here it goes. I’ve been with a lot of women, but nothing serious.”

  “Are you sure this is what you want to tell me? Because I don’t want to hear about your other lovers,” she said firmly.

  “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. What I was trying to say is, I don’t normally date,” Kenneth explained.

  She crossed her arms. “Not sounding much better. I think we should go back to discussing Home Blown.”

  “Trust me, it gets better.”

  “I hope so, because if not, I’m going to have indigestion, and it won’t be from the food,” she warned.

  “Let me start over. Shanda, you’re like no other woman I’ve met. I’m thirty and have never wanted to be in a monogamous relationship before. That has changed,” he said.

  “Kenneth, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?” Her tone was playful and teasing.

  God that sounded so pathetic, but actually very accurate. Was ‘girlfriend’ the word he’d been looking for? They were more than just lovers. For now, until he was sure, that label would have to do. He reached over and took her hand in his. “What if I was?”

  Shanda smiled. “Then I guess I’d say yes.” She got up and walked around the table and sat on his lap. “You look like you have more to say.”

  He did. He wanted to apologize to her for not calling or showing up last night. He was also tempted to mention his dinner with her parents’. But Kenneth could see the need in her beautiful eyes, and her perky nipples through her T-shirt begging for his touch. His gut told him she’d be okay with finishing the conversation later. “Maybe I’ll quit while I’m ahead,” he grinned. “Besides, we have all night for me to tell you how I feel.”

  She ran her hand through his hair and said softly, “Feel free to show me as well.”

  Kenneth wrapped an arm around her and stood up, lifting her with him. “I think we should finish this conversation upstairs.”

  “Who is going to put the food away?” she asked.

  “Trust me, we’re about to work up an appetite.”

  Shanda nipped his earlobe and whispered, “I’m hungry already.”

  Oh fuck yeah!

  Chapter Thirteen

  Shanda couldn’t tell if Marcy and David liked the food or not. They actually said very little during dinner. She was beginning to think Kenneth may have something to do with that. The purpose of going out to eat instead of eating at home was so it wouldn’t be uncomfortable. Usually a neutral location worked. Obviously not with a Heart.

  If someone didn’t say something soon, Shanda might need to start talking about the weather. Before she could, she caught sight of DeeDee and Larry approaching their table. Oh God. You didn’t. That was two mistakes: picking this restaurant and telling DeeDee where they were going.

  “Hi Shanda, what a pleasant surprise seeing you here.” DeeDee turned and waved to the others. “I’m DeeDee, her sister, and this is my husband Larry.”

  She forced a smile, and said, “This is Mr. and Mrs. Heart and their son, Kenneth.”

  DeeDee gave a wide grin, as she extended her hand to Kenneth’s. “I’ve heard so much about you.” Giving Shanda a wink she added, “And you’re just as handsome as she said, too.”

  Her cheeks burned from embarrassment and anger. What the hell DeeDee? I told you I’m trying to impress them. There was going to be a lengthy call later about this.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you. And I hear congratulations are in order,” Kenneth said. He turned to his parents and added, “Recently married.”

  Marcy nodded. “Congratulations.”

  DeeDee linked her arm with Larry and said, “Thank you. Nothing is better than when you find the one. Hopefully Kenneth doesn’t drag his feet as long as Larry did before he put a ring on it.”

  Oh you fucking didn’t. I’m going to kill you DeeDee. You’re so dead. Shanda was so stunned she could barely breathe. She turned to his parents, who seemed to be equally blown away by DeeDee’s comment.

  “I…I…” she stammered.

  Kenneth said, “I’m not one who hesitates when I know what I want.”

  Did that mean he wanted her? It really wasn’t an answer, but damn, it was a good one. Who could argue with that? Oh, DeeDee could.

  “You’d be crazy not to want Shanda. She’s a-maz-ing!” DeeDee said.

  “DeeDee, the hostess is waiting to seat you,” Shanda said. Take the hint and go before Kenneth decides never to see me again.

  “I couldn’t agree with you more, DeeDee. Only a fool would let her go,” Kenneth said. Shanda looked at Kenneth and found him staring at her. He continued by adding, “I’m no fool.”

  Her heart was pounding and melting at the same time. He hadn’t said the words, but it was darn close to saying he loved her.

  “Kenneth, I do not believe this is the place for such a conversation,” Marcy said.

  DeeDee chuckled, “Beats the heck out of talking politics or business.”

  Shanda rolled her eyes. It wasn’t a good sign when you started to pray for the power to go out or something to put an end to this nightmare.

  Marcy said, “Both are important to being successful.”

  Kenneth nodded. “Yes they are, but neither has anything to do with being happy.” He reached over and covered her hand with his.

  DeeDee smile and said, “Well I guess our table is ready. It was nice meeting you all.” Then to Kenneth she said, “We should all go out together some time soon.” Without waiting for a reply, DeeDee dragged Larry off.

  Great. Now onto damage control. It sucked because there was so much she wanted to say to Kenneth too, but not out in public. When she turned and looked at Marcy, she didn’t seem as upset as Shanda would’ve thought.

  “I’m sorry about that. You know how newlyweds are. They want everyone to be as happy as they are,” Shanda stated the truth. DeeDee may have spoken out of line, but her intentions were good.

  Marcy looked at Kenneth, then back at her. Get ready. Here it comes. ‘You’re not good enough for my Kenneth.’

  Marcy said, “I have a sister as well. Carole has put me in an…uncomfortable situation many times.” Uncomfortable is one way to describe this. “I am sure Kenneth will attest that she brings a different feel to our parties.”

  “You mean she brought life to them,” David stated. “Carole insisted people have a good time.”

  Kenneth added, “She wanted us all to be happy like she was.”

  Marcy nodded. “That she did. There are times I am envious of her life. She lives in a small apartment with her husband and has never traveled. Yet she has something so many people don’t.”

  “What is that?” Shanda asked.

  “A smile on her face all the ti
me,” Marcy said. “I think you and Carole would get along wonderfully.”

  It sounded like it, but Kenneth’s aunt was one thing. She wanted to get along with Marcy as well. “Maybe the three of us could go to lunch one afternoon.”

  “Me?” Kenneth asked.

  She smiled. “No. Your mother and your aunt.” Shanda turned back to Marcy and said, “That is, if you’d like to.”

  Marcy hesitated, closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and smiled. “I’d like that. Maybe Carole and I can drive here and you pick the place.”

  Should I invite her to my house? She laughed internally. No. Don’t want to ruin a good thing. “Oh good. I know just the place.” It was someplace that both Marcy and Carole should enjoy.

  David said, “I do hate to cut our dinner short, but I have an international call I must be on tonight. I think we should return to Boston.”

  Marcy’s demeanor changed and back to the dutiful wife, she responded, “I guess the time slipped away from us this evening.” Marcy and David got up and she added, “Thank you for the invitation to dinner. I will be in touch soon regarding lunch.”

  Unlike with her parents, there were no hugs goodbye or I love you. But she was beginning to understand the Heart family wasn’t one without love, they just loved differently.

  “Well that was…different,” Kenneth said.

  “Definitely not what I had expected either. And I’m really sorry about my sister. I have no idea what got into her.” But I’m going to find out when I see her next.

  “I’m glad she stopped. The table needed a jump start,” he laughed. “And my mother’s reaction, well let’s just say, I’ve never seen her speechless before.”

  “You’re not making me feel any better,” she said.

  “It’s a good thing. Aunt Carole hasn’t been over in a few years. My mother kept saying there was no time.”

  “Do you think she’ll really come down here and have lunch with me?” Shanda asked.

  Kenneth nodded. “One thing we Hearts all have in common. When we say something, we do it.”

  “It’s a good character trait to have,” she replied. But I already knew I could trust you.

  “Since we’re talking about parents, I should tell you that I met yours,” Kenneth said.

  It was the first she’d heard of it. “Really? I’m surprised my mother didn’t call me. When did this happen?”

  “The night I didn’t call you?” he said. “I was actually having dinner with them.”

  “Why would you do that and not tell me?” Maybe her trust had been misplaced.

  “They called and invited me. And since you hadn’t spoken to me beforehand, I assumed that it was a little payback for Monday night with my parents. I realized I was wrong when you weren’t there.”

  Shanda shook her head. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why would they call you and not invite me? I haven’t told them anything about you,” she stated adamantly.

  “They didn’t want to talk about you. They wanted to know my plans for Home Blown. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that and may have informed them about our relationship. Actually, I know I did. Your father gave me the talk,” he said.

  “He didn’t threaten you or anything, did he? I mean, he can be overprotective,” she said. He really was more like a gentle giant.

  “Threaten might be too strong of a word, but he made sure I knew he wasn’t going to tolerate anyone hurting his little girl.”

  She laughed. “I can only imagine what you said.”

  “I told him the truth.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you’re happy.”

  You’re doing a pretty damn good job. “Then maybe we can pay the bill and you can take me home.”

  Kenneth raised a brow and said, “I thought you said they have the best dessert, hands down.”

  “That was until I had you,” she smiled and traced her top lip with her tongue.

  She heard a low growl, and then he raised his hand saying, “Check please.”

  Kenneth had spent most of the night before, but never the entire one. He had to admit, there was something nice about waking up with her in his arms.

  “Finally awake sleepyhead?” she asked.

  “Look who’s talking. You were out cold. I was going to go make coffee, but you were so tightly wrapped around me I thought you were a blanket,” he teased.

  Shanda ran a hand up his thigh and asked, “Can your blanket do that?”

  His body twitched and he said, “You’re playing with fire. If you start now, you’re not getting that breakfast I promised to cook.” She snapped her hand back and released her hold. “It doesn’t bite you know,” he teased.

  “I know, but I’m starving. I hardly ate at dinner last night because I was a wreck. And that workout afterwards? Well, I’m sure we burned off an entire banana split, never mind a little sausage.”

  “Hey, what do you mean little?” he asked.

  She giggled. “You know darn well I’m not talking about your sausage. Definitely more of the kielbasa size,” she teased.

  “I’m telling you, if you keep it up, I’ll—”

  “You’ll spank me?” she said playfully.

  Kenneth rolled her over and laid on top. “You are forgetting something,” he said.

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “It’s Saturday and we need to go to work.”

  He felt her slump into the mattress. “Can’t it be Sunday?”

  “Sorry. As your business coach, I’m telling you it’s time to get that sweet, beautiful ass of yours up and in the shower. And before you try to get me to join you, the answer is no. Breakfast will be ready when you come downstairs.” He claimed her lips briefly, then leaped off her. He only slipped on his boxer shorts before going down. He’d shower after her or they’d never get out of the house.

  He knew she would be a while, so he started with the coffee, poured himself a cup, and went out onto the back porch. It was nice not having any neighbors close by. Still didn’t make him a country boy though.

  Kenneth stood quietly and watched a few deer eating far off in the field. Shanda had told him she fed them. It would be considered illegal if there was any hunting allowed nearby. She was definitely unique and she brought out a side of him he hadn’t seen before. Quiet? To him that used to be a missed opportunity, a big deal that got pulled out from under him. But he hadn’t thought about business all night. Actually, he hadn’t even checked his cell phone. It was…nice.

  But he couldn’t stay off the grid for long. Like Shanda, he had a business to run. The sharks must already be having a feast scraping up what he’d missed. At some point today, he had to put a stop to it.

  Every time he and Shanda were together, work had called him away. Kenneth didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he needed to find a way to have both lives, his old one and a new one that included Shanda.

  Most people would go to their parents for such advice, but Kenneth was still in shock over how smoothly things went last night. He thought for sure his mother was going to explode when DeeDee was there. But she didn’t. In fact, he still hadn’t heard from her or his brothers. Very odd, since his mother was the first to spread the latest gossip to the family. Maybe she wasn’t as happy as I thought she was. It didn’t matter. Kenneth meant what he had said. With or without his family’s approval, he wasn’t letting Shanda go. Was he ready to put a ring on that finger? No. But there wasn’t a reason to rush that. Besides, what they had right now was damn good. Better than anything I ever imagined.

  He was still standing outside when he heard the screen door open behind him. “There must be something wrong with my sense of smell, because the only aroma in the house is coffee,” she teased.

  Kenneth turned around, raised a finger to his lips and whispered, “I’m watching the deer.” She walked over with her mug in hand and leaned her head on his shoulder. They stayed out there for almost twenty minutes before he eventua
lly said, “Okay, that was my stomach scaring them off. I better go cook.”

  “No. You better go shower. And if you think that means you’re getting breakfast cooked for you, you’re mistaken. It’s Corn Flakes for us. Unless you changed your mind about us working today?”

  He leaned over and said, “No such luck baby. We have a business to save.” Kenneth was going to do everything he could to make her dream come true. Right now loving her seemed easier than making Home Blown successful.

  “I was doing some thinking last night about Home Blown,” she said.

  “I must’ve been doing something wrong if you could still think about work,” he joked. She gave him a gentle slap on the arm and he said, “Sorry. What were you thinking?” Between the moans and cries of pleasure?

  “We might need to change the name.”

  He’d thought of that already. “I thought it was special to you because your granddad named it.”

  “It was, but you said it would be hard to market. I wasn’t sure if you had any suggestions for an alternative?” she asked.

  “I’d prefer it if you picked something. Close your eyes and tell me the first thing that comes to your mind,” he said, then took another sip of his cold coffee.

  “Just Blown,” she said.

  Kenneth coughed several times, the coffee catching in his windpipe. “You…got…to be…kidding,” he choked out.

  Shanda rubbed his back and said, “Of course I am. Sorry, I didn’t mean to kill you.”

  He turned to her and said, “Kill, no. But I wasn’t expecting that.”

  “I know. It was a ridiculous name, but you asked,” she said. “I still think you’d do much better than me.”

  The wheels of his mind were spinning and he couldn’t stop thinking of Just Blown. “I like it.”

  “Oh Kenneth, I already know you like it. But you’re supposed to be thinking about work right now. I can’t believe I’m the one nagging you,” she chuckled. “Your mother would be impressed.”

  “For the record, I am thinking about work,” Kenneth said. “And I like the name.”

  “Just Blown? You don’t think that is worse than Home Blown?” she asked, her arms crossed, glaring up at him.