Just Trust (The Reluctant Heart Book 2) Read online

  “Been doing this since I was a teenager.”

  “You drove here when you were a kid? That doesn’t sound safe,” he stated.

  “I wasn’t driving. You know, I was a freshman and here with a senior.”

  Jerry looked down at her, but she was staring off at the lake down below. This woman, who looked fragile, seemed to be filled with surprises. “Guess that color fits you perfectly.”

  She turned to meet his gaze. “Color?”

  “Your dress,” he said. One of the thin straps had slipped off her shoulder. He reached out, and as his fingers brushed against her cool, silky skin, his body stiffened again. Fuck.

  He wanted her so much he ached. Jerry thought she’d pull away, but instead she raised her hands to wrap around his neck. “Are you going to let this moon go to waste or are you going to kiss me already?” she asked.

  Don’t fucking do it. Jerry’s hands slid down her back and pulled her hard against him. His lips weren’t much gentler. As his tongue teased her to open for him, his fingers inched and walked the fabric of her dress up higher. She moaned into his mouth and grinded against him. Fuck. He wanted to rip that dress right off her where they stood. But Jerry couldn’t forget where they were standing.

  Jerry slowed his kiss, let the dress drop back down, and finally broke the electrifying connection between them. As he looked down into her gorgeous green-brown eyes he said, “We can’t do this. Not here.”

  Reanna stepped back and said, “Not the outdoors type?”

  He pulled her back against him, holding her close. “It’s not the woods that has me worried.” Jerry pointed down to the lake. “I want to be concentrating strictly on you, and not that.”

  Reanna said, “Yes, I see your point. Falling to our death really would be anti-climatic.” There was a sound coming from her truck and she said, “Damn. That’s work. Sorry. I have to answer this.”

  “That’s okay. I have to get back to Boston anyway. If you recall, I have an appointment tomorrow at nine.”

  Whatever the call was, Reanna wasn’t her bubbly self after speaking to them. He’d wanted to reach out and ask her if she was okay, but as she dropped him off at his vehicle, he knew it was best to part quickly. The more time they spent sitting in her truck, the more likely he’d be kissing her again.

  Opening his door, he got out and said, “Be careful driving home.”

  “I will, and you too. Thanks again for dinner, and then again for the second dinner too,” she said.

  He nodded and shut the door. There were no promises of next time. But he knew that was all he was going to be thinking about for the rest of the night.

  Chapter Two

  Brenda exclaimed, “You kissed him!”

  Reanna rolled her eyes. “Brenda, I’m not a school girl. This wasn’t my first kiss.” But it sure was the best I’ve ever had. That man had her entire body tingling and wanting more. If it weren’t for her cell phone ringing, it was very possible they would’ve continued what they had started when they got back in her truck. But the moment had vanished as quickly as it had come.

  “But Jerry’s not just any man. He’s a Heart. They are all hot and sexy and…well, any woman who has a pulse can see all that.” Brenda reached out and touched Reanna’s wrist.

  Yanking it away she asked, “What the heck are you doing?”

  “Just making sure you’re alive.”

  “Of course I am,” she growled.

  “Then why the heck are you sitting down here with me instead of having Jerry upstairs in your bedroom making the entire house shake?” Brenda asked.

  Reanna crossed her arms and said, “If you have forgotten, you invited my ex to stay with us. Can you picture what it would’ve been like trying to explain that to Jerry?”

  Brenda chuckled. “With that dress on, Jerry might not have even noticed Bobby on the couch. And for the record, I didn’t invite him. He asked and you are always lecturing me to be more welcoming and kind to people.”

  “And you have to pick Bobby to finally put that to use?” she huffed.

  She shrugged. “Reanna, it wouldn’t have mattered if Bobby wasn’t here. You know damn well that you’d never have taken him home with you and rocked his world.”

  “What I do know is if I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here bragging about it. Brenda, you really need to grow up. Do you know how embarrassed I was when I found out you hadn’t notified Shanda and Kenneth that I was filling in for you? Even Jerry seemed shocked.”

  “Not so upset that he didn’t kiss you. So maybe you should be thanking me instead of giving me grief. Besides, I had something very important to do and it couldn’t wait,” Brenda stated.

  “I would think so. I mean, a date with a billionaire sounds right up your alley,” Reanna said. There was a part of her that was glad Brenda hadn’t gone. She’d hate to think of Jerry kissing Brenda like he’d kissed her. Doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’m going to see him again. Who cares who he kisses? Since she was thinking about it, obviously she cared.

  “A few days ago, I’d have agreed with you. But I’m telling you, I have changed,” Brenda said sincerely.

  “Okay. You’ve changed. So tell me what was so important that you blew off a date.” Reanna assumed it could be only one thing: a date with someone else.

  “Good thing you’re sitting down, because you might pass out,” Brenda warned. Taking a deep breath she added, “I got a job.”

  Finally. “Good for you. I guess you did the right thing tonight. Jobs don’t come along every day.”

  “Not this one, that is for sure. I’ve been applying and calling and practically begging. But they called me earlier today and scheduled me for a phone interview at the same damn time I was supposed to have dinner with Shanda and Kenneth.”

  “But you got the job and that’s all that matters. I’m really happy for you. When do you start?” Reanna asked.

  “Monday.”

  “Well then I guess we should go out and celebrate tomorrow. What do you say dinner and a movie?” she asked.

  Brenda shook her head. “I can’t. My plane leaves in the morning at ten.”

  “Plane? What plane?” Reanna asked.

  “My job is at a theme park in California.” Reanna’s mouth dropped and Brenda continued, “I know. I can’t believe it either.”

  “You’re…you’re pulling my leg, right? I mean, this is payback for kissing Jerry. Or maybe it’s for yelling at you to get a job. Whatever it is, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not a joke. I’m leaving in the morning.” She pulled out her cell phone and showed Reanna her screen. “That’s my itinerary.”

  Reanna couldn’t believe it. Brenda was leaving. She should be happy for her, but deep down inside, she was going to miss her. Yes, Brenda got on her nerves, but she was used to sharing this place with her. With Brenda gone, there would be only her there. Shit. And Bobby. Damn it.

  “I guess it’s a little late tonight to be celebrating, but how about I make us some hot chocolate and we talk about this plan of yours?” Reanna suggested.

  “Reanna, I’d love that but I have so much packing to do. You’re welcome to come and sit on the bed while I sort through what I want to bring and what I’m leaving here. You know, for when I come back and visit,” she said.

  “You better.”

  “Let’s get inside before it gets any later. I really should’ve done this while waiting up for you. While I’m confessing things to you, I might as well add this.” As they walked into the house Brenda said, “It wasn’t a blind date. It was just dinner.”

  “What?”

  “It wasn’t a date. Shanda said she wanted to talk to me about something and that Jerry would be there too, because Kenneth wanted to speak to him as well. So see, it wasn’t a date,” she admitted.

  Reanna let out a heavy sigh. “If you weren’t leaving in the morning, I think I’d wring your neck. Why the hell did you tell me it was a date?” she asked.

  “Because I didn’t thi
nk you’d go if I didn’t. And I needed you out of the house while I was on the phone. I know you would mean well, but I didn’t want you asking questions during the interview. Believe it or not, this is the job I want to do.”

  “Am I really that tough?” Reanna asked.

  Bobby chimed in. “Yes.”

  She shot him a warning look as they passed by, then stopped and said, “It’s been a week. You must be getting ready to head back home now right?” Please say yes.

  “Actually, I need one more week,” he said.

  Damn it. This night sucks. She was too tired and too stressed over Brenda’s news to argue with Bobby. Instead she followed Brenda up the stairs and closed the door behind her when she entered Brenda’s room.

  “Reanna, I think you and Bobby should talk.”

  “Ha. I think he should find another place to stay. Maybe you can talk him into going to California with you,” she chuckled.

  “Sorry. Ticket is for one. Now, let’s go through my closet. I have a few dresses that you might be interested in,” Brenda said.

  “I have clothes, thank you.”

  Brenda ran her eyes over Reanna and asked, “But how many dresses that look like that one?”

  “None, but I only need one smoking-hot dress.”

  “Only when you aren’t going to see him again. And trust me, you will. He’ll call you Reanna, and you better not turn him down.”

  “What are you talking about? He’s not going to call. It was just dinner and—”

  “A kiss. But that’s not what Shanda said. She said he couldn’t take his eyes off you all through dinner. That man is calling you. And if he doesn’t, I’ll quit my job and come back to live with you until I’m one hundred.”

  “Now I’m not sure if I want him to call me or not?”

  “You really want me here that bad?”

  Reanna laughed. “Not till you’re one hundred.”

  “I know. You’d like to think one of us will get married and have children someday. But you’re older, so I’m putting my money on you. Besides, you’re more the mommy type than me.”

  “If you don’t like children, maybe you’re not taking the right job,” Reanna warned.

  “It’s not that I don’t like them. Actually, I love them. But I also like my night life. Something you don’t have.” She tossed Reanna a little black dress and said, “But wear this next time with Jerry and that might change.

  Reanna held it up and said, “This looks more like a tank top than a dress.”

  “Live a bit, will you? Show off that body of yours and who knows? You might not come home alone.”

  “There is more to life than sex Brenda,” she stated firmly.

  “Yes there is. But unless you have taken out stock in batteries, you might want to put yourself out there and try it.”

  “I’ve been with men. Heck, if you don’t remember, my ex-husband is on my couch downstairs.”

  “I’m talking since Bobby.”

  She hadn’t, and that realization only bothered her more. It didn’t have anything to do with Bobby. The timing had just never been right. She worked with mostly men at the station, but those were co-workers. And a lot of the men she met had been because she was pulling them over for traffic violations. She definitely wasn’t going to date any of them.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to be an old maid.”

  “I’m not worried about it. Jerry is going to call and you two are going to hook up.”

  “I’m not the ‘hook up’ type,” she explained.

  “Kenneth had said his brothers aren’t husband material, but then again, I hear Kenneth wasn’t either. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to change Jerry’s mind,” Brenda teased.

  “And maybe I’ll drop you off at the airport early so I don’t have to hear about Jerry any longer,” she warned.

  Brenda tossed a few more dresses in Reanna’s direction but dropped the topic. Reanna was glad, because she didn’t want to spend their last night together talking about Jerry. Thankfully, Brenda eventually got the hint and spent what was left of the night updating Reanna on what she’d actually be doing for work. It wasn’t the big dreams she had for her sister, but Brenda actually looked happy. That was enough for Reanna for now. But she was going to make it a point to keep in close contact with her. Brenda might not be a kid anymore, but she’d always be her baby sister.

  Jerry didn’t head home like he said. There was no one and nothing waiting for him there. Usually that was the way he liked it. But tonight, he was wired and still pumped up with all the damn sexual frustration from earlier.

  Reanna was stunning, but when he had her in his arms, she got his blood boiling. There was no denying the physical attraction between them. But that was the problem. Jerry had to deny what his fucking body was demanding. He wasn’t a ‘have sex in the back of a pick-up truck’ type of guy. But he’d been close to scooping her up into his arms and doing just that.

  Reanna wasn’t some random woman who he wasn’t going to see again. She was friendly, if not actual friends, with his sister-in-law. Jerry had always kept his personal affairs separate from his business and family life. That would’ve been impossible with Reanna.

  Why couldn’t you have been a perfect stranger? We could’ve had a fucking amazing time tonight if you were.

  Thankfully there had been interruptions and what little had transpired between them was all there ever would be.

  Jerry pulled into the parking lot, and scanned for any familiar vehicles. He wasn’t in the mood for socializing tonight, but not surprising, his brother Clark was there. He was always at the gym, if not at work. But one thing about Clark, he wasn’t one for small talk when working out.

  He opened the trunk, grabbed his gym bag, and headed to the door. Fortunately, Clark was on his way out. With any luck, Clark would be in a rush and not have any time to chat.

  “What the hell are you doing here on a Friday night?” Clark asked.

  In a flat tone Jerry replied, “Same as you.”

  Clark chuckled. “I doubt that. You only come when you’re frustrated with something. Got a deal that’s not going your way?”

  “They always go my way.” Eventually.

  “That’s only because you haven’t gone up against me,” Clark stated seriously. “So if it is not work related, then what’s troubling you?”

  “Do I look troubled?” he asked. Clark nodded. Damn. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”

  “I was thinking about grabbing a bite to eat. Want to join me?”

  Jerry already ate twice tonight. He wasn’t about to go for a third. “Not unless dinner is a beer.”

  “That works too. Meet me at the pub on the corner and if you tell me what’s really bugging you, I’ll even buy,” Clark joked.

  “Don’t make me regret accepting your offer,” Jerry warned.

  “Fine. We can talk about Kenneth. You’ll never believe what he’s doing now.”

  “I’m sure I would. And by the way, if I wanted to hear about my brothers’ lives, I could just call Mother.”

  Clark nodded. “That reminds me, Mother said you have been MIA lately.”

  “No more than usual,” he replied.

  “I know that, but she’s changed ever since Shanda and Kenneth got engaged. If we’re not careful, she’ll be hounding for us to follow his lead. There is no way in hell I am doing that,” Clark stated. “Hell, I can’t even remember the last time he spent the entire week in Boston. He might as well sell his penthouse at this rate.”

  “Don’t give him any ideas, because he might just do that.”

  Clark arched his brows. “You know something I don’t?”

  “Usually do. But not in regard to Kenneth’s residence. All I know is he seems…content living in Hope Valley right now. Will he always? I don’t know. It’s just so…”

  “Different from what he always said he wanted?” Clark asked.

  “Yes. Did he really change, or is he just blinded right now by his
feelings for Shanda?” Jerry hadn’t meant to voice that question out loud, but it was too late.

  “This doesn’t sound like something a best man should be thinking,” Clark stated.

  “I didn’t know you knew about that,” Jerry responded.

  “If it concerns a Heart, somehow the information always gets out. In this case, Mother already called everyone telling them Kenneth moved up his wedding and you’re the best man. I’m sure there was more to it, but I stopped listening as she went on about flowers and dresses. Damn, I never thought I’d say this, but I wish we had a sister. Maybe then Mother wouldn’t bother us with details we don’t give a shit about.”

  Jerry laughed. “I guess I should consider myself lucky then. She didn’t call me tonight.”

  “That’s because you were one of the topics. You know she never calls who she is talking about,” Clark said. “Maybe I should give her something to say about me, and I can get on the do-not-call list too.”

  “Sure. Why don’t you go out and get married?” Jerry suggested.

  Clark said, “Right after you.”

  “Then I guess we’ll just have to suffer through the calls, because that shit ain’t ever happening.”

  “I don’t know. I can see you married, with a bunch of kids running all around,” Clark teased.

  “And I can see you with a black eye if you start that rumor,” Jerry warned.

  “Let’s discuss it over pizza and beer,” Clark suggested.

  “I thought I said I wasn’t hungry.”

  “More for me. Meet you there in a few minutes. I have a call to make first.” Clark headed to his car leaving Jerry standing there holding his bag.

  He really didn’t feel like working out tonight, at least not at the gym. It was the company of a woman that he yearned for. His phone was filled with numbers he could call, even at this late hour, and they’d be more than happy to spend a few hours with him. But they weren’t who he wanted, and it wouldn’t be fair to bed one woman, while thinking of another.