Predestined Hearts

by Kelly Elliott

  Before I could respond, my mother called out again. “Sophia Marie Montgomery! Where in heavens are you?”

  Danny quickly turned and disappeared behind some bushes. “Over here, Mother,” I called as I attempted to smooth my dress and calm my beating heart.

  My mother appeared, looking rather agitated. “Are you trying to embarrass me, Sophia? Why would you wander out here? Dinner is about to be served.”

  Smiling, I nodded to my mother. “Thank goodness you came along, Mother. I feared I would never find my way back. These gardens go on forever.”

  I looked over my mother’s shoulder to see Danny’s father, Mr. Stowe, standing there. “Tis easy to get lost out here. May I escort you both back?”

  My mother closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she put on a fake smile and turned on her heels. “Why, Mr. Stowe, always the gentleman.” Glancing back over her shoulder, my mother beckoned me. “Come along, Sophia.”

  I sat at the large, dark-pecan table and ate the last of my beef stew. Mr. and Mrs. Stowe’s dining room was very simple, yet elegant. I enjoyed seeing a family who did not display their wealth for the world to see. Mother commented to father when we had first walked in that the tapestries were outdated and should be replaced. I rather enjoyed them and could see why Mrs. Stowe had not replaced them.

  Looking over to Mrs. Stowe, I cleared my throat. Knowing I was about to speak, my mother turned and gave me a look. I gave my mother a knowing smile and turned to Danny’s mother and asked, “Mrs. Stowe, I beseech you to share this recipe. I do not think I have ever had such an amazing beef stew.”

  Mrs. Stowe chuckled. “A girl after my own heart. Sophia, this recipe contains a family secret; therefore, I am not entitled to share it.”

  Tittering, I replied, “I ask you to reconsider. I must learn to make this.” I could feel Danny’s eyes upon me and my desire was quickly building again.

  There was laughter at the table as I picked up my glass of wine and took a sip. I glanced over to find Danny smiling at me. Smiling back, I flushed when he winked at me. One quick look to my mother showed her dissatisfaction in my attention to Danny. Smiling weakly at my mother, I looked at the bread pudding that was placed in front of me. I sat quietly during the rest of dinner and listened to the conversations around the room. Mitchel attempted to make conversation twice with me, but Danny kept intercepting the conversation and turning Mitchel’s attention from me back to him.

  My father, Mr. Stowe, and his male guests all stood as Mrs. Stowe and the other women got up from the table and made their way to the drawing room. “Good evening, ladies,” Mr. Stowe said with a smile. It was not lost on me how my mother gazed upon Mr. Stowe a little longer than she ought to.

  Danny walked up to me and bowed slightly. “Miss Montgomery, would you do me the honor of allowing me to show you the gardens?” My face flushed at the mere mention of the gardens.

  Slowly smiling, I nodded my head. “I would be honored, Mr. Stowe.”

  Taking a look over my shoulder, my mother glared at me. “Sophia, do you not thin—”

  Smiling, I spoke over her. “I shall be back in no time, Mother.”

  Danny and I walked out to the garden and sat on a bench near the back entrance of the house. I wanted him to touch my body in more ways than I could understand, but being so close to the house, this was not going to happen. Mother had also sent a servant out to the garden with us. Danny had dismissed her and she reluctantly retreated back to the house.

  “Did you sit us here on purpose, Mr. Stowe?” I asked.

  Laughing, he replied, “Yes, Sophia, I did. If I could take your hand in mine, I would show you how your smile, your laugh, and your velvet voice makes me desire you.”

  My cheeks heated at his candid conversation. “My behavior earlier was scandalous, I fear you think less of me.” I looked down. Danny placed his finger on my chin and brought my brown eyes up to his blue.

  “I have such a fondness for you, Sophia. I do not know how to explain my feelings. I want to feel your lips on mine. I want to know what my lips will feel like on your skin. I shall fall asleep this evening dreaming of more than my fingers inside you.”

  I gasped and quickly turned my head. My heart rate had increased as the image of Danny making love to me filled my mind. “I … this feeling … I—”

  “Daniel, Sophia?” Snapping my head up, I saw Mrs. Stowe standing at the back door. Danny stood and I slowly followed. My mind was a whirlwind. Images of Danny doing things to me had me weak in the knees. “Sophia? Darling, are you okay?”

  Placing my hands on the sides of my face, I slowly nodded. “I am. Thank you. I must have risen too fast.”

  Mrs. Stowe looked at me, then to Danny. She attempted a smile, but it did not touch her eyes. “Mrs. Montgomery is ill. She needs to leave, immediately.”

  I could feel the anger building inside of me. Damn you, Mother. You did this on purpose. Inhaling a deep breath, I put on a fake smile. “Very well, I shall go to her at once.”

  Walking back into the house, I could feel the heat from his stare on my back. Closing my eyes, I counted to ten in an attempt at calming down my betraying body.

  Mother and father had made their way outside and were stepping up into our carriage. Danny walked me to the carriage, positioning himself in such a way as to block everyone’s view of me. Before helping me up, he placed his hand on my lower back and leaned in closer to me.

  “I shall make you mine, Sophia. Soon.”

  Stepping into the carriage, I turned to look back at him. His smile made my stomach drop and my heart beat rapidly in my chest.

  Smiling, I replied, “Soon, Mr. Stowe. Very soon, indeed.”

  I SAT BACK in the desk chair as it made a creaking nose. My breathing was erratic as I read the thoughts of my great-great-great grandmother. She had felt that desire I longed for. The feelings she had described were what I envisioned I would feel about the man that I was meant to be with.

  Have I ever felt that way about Harris?

  No, I hadn’t. Not the same way Sophia had. My heart rate slowed as I got my wits about me. Grabbing a metal bookmark, I put it where I’d finished reading prior to shutting the journal.

  My thoughts were all over the place. The amount of society-set rules Sophia had broken on that first day alone would have been alarming to anyone who would have seen. Especially if they had been caught in the garden.

  My heart had hammered at the mere naughtiness, but passion and need had overtaken Daniel and Sophia. Nothing could get in the way of that raw feeling. Those feelings took away a person’s reasoning, obliterating any coherent thought.

  I felt a kindred spirit to Sophia with her being controlled. Harris had tried to control me like her mother obviously tried to control her. Feeling trapped all too often, I wanted to scream and cry for help. I was still waiting for my knight in shining armor—my Daniel Stowe.

  Daniel Stowe.

  My mind raced through all that I knew about my ancestors. I didn’t remember a Daniel Stowe. I booted up Aunt Leelyn’s computer as I mentally listed the names of my grandfathers. There was a Michael, Beau, David, and a Devlin.

  There wasn’t a Daniel.

  My veins raced cold. I was certain that the name paired with Sophia’s had been Devlin Covington in our genealogy program. The same name Sophia’s mother had mentioned. My fingers nervously tapped the desk as the Windows logo booted up across the computer. Quickly, I typed in the password, then clicked on the program that held the answers.

  “Shit,” I murmured to myself.

  I took a staggering breath. Sophia Marie Montgomery had married Devlin Edward Covington. My heart physically ached at seeing a name other than Daniel’s on the screen. They had to end up together. I could feel the connection in the words written over one hundred years ago.

  A small red cross indicating that there was an additional note under Sophia’s name caught my eye. I hovered over the note to see a small box pop up on the screen
.

  Daniel Stowe and Sophia Montgomery

  There was hope. I let out a breath I wasn’t aware I was holding. If Daniel made the genealogy, he and Sophia must have ended up together somehow. My heart felt lighter knowing that this type of love existed.

  My hand ached to reopen the journal again, but my inner soul told me I needed to wait and take this journey a day at a time. It was the last thing my Aunt Leelyn had discovered about our family history that I knew about, and I wanted to savor it.

  I needed some air.

  My emotions were all over the place. Grabbing my jacket, purse, and keys, I headed out the front door and walked down to the river walk in front of Bay Street, trying to work off some of the nervous energy. The crisp autumn air felt good against my face. I pleasantly greeted everyone I met on the street while I worked on calming my thoughts.

  I couldn’t believe I had gotten that worked up about the journal. Honestly, though, I was more emotional than normal. It made sense why Aunt Leelyn would want to see my reaction when I read the journal the first time, especially, with how I felt about love conquering all.

  Harris.

  Love was supposed to conquer all with Harris and me, but I had been wrong. As I walked, I brought my phone out of my purse and powered it back on. Amelia would be arriving home later on this evening. I wasn’t sure if she’d call me today or tomorrow to see what was going on.

  All of Harris’ text messages had been prior to my bags being delivered, except for one. The last was a simple demand.

  Harris: Call me, Ashlin.

  I rolled my eyes and put my phone back in my purse. Harris knew deep down that I wasn’t going to cause him any public relations problems. At some point, I’d have to contact him to get my stuff, or rather the stuff I had brought into the relationship. I refused to take any of the jewelry or clothes he’d bought.

  As I made my way down the riverfront, I felt my stomach rumble at the savory smells. The streets down there were still cobblestone that ran along the river. Restaurants and bars lined the lower level. I scanned the street and a sign that said Gael’s Place looked interesting. It was a little past lunchtime.

  The hostess greeted me with her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. “There’s room in either the dining or the bar areas.”

  Looking in the dining area, there were several couples cozied up to each other sharing a late afternoon lunch. The bar was fairly vacated, giving me space for my thoughts. “I’ll sit at the bar. Thank you.”

  She gave me a polite smile that reached her green eyes. “Have a seat and the bartender will take your order.”

  Nodding, I walked over and sat on one of the high barstools and rested my feet on the piece of metal that connected the legs.

  The inside of the restaurant was done in a worn brick. I loved the old feel it gave with the wrought-iron fixtures. There was a chalkboard to the right that had the daily specials on it. I read through them quickly and the beef stew caught my attention.

  Is it weird I wanted to experience a piece of what Sophia had?

  I felt neurotic. Normally, I didn’t have this intense need to connect with something and was content with myself, but reading that journal had caused emotions to emerge I hadn’t been expecting.

  I shook my head and decided to go with my impulses for the time being. Obviously, over the last year, thinking with my head had not been the answer. Part of me had become a robot. Every action I made publicly had to be thought through with how it would affect Harris if I ended up on Page Six of the New York Post.

  No one knew I was down here and I think the paparazzi found me boring since I never did, or reacted to, anything. I felt free for the first time in a while and took a deep breath to emphasize the feeling.

  A light rap on the counter brought my attention to the man in front of me. He had dark-brown hair that was tousled about in disarray. His warm brown eyes melted through me. The five o’clock shadow from the stubble on his face showcased his strong jaw line. He was sinfully gorgeous and I could feel my insides turn all gooey from the sight of him in front of me.

  My mouth was dry as he looked at me expectantly. In that moment, it was as if something within me altered and changed. I couldn’t explain it.

  Get it together, Ashlin.

  “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. Can you repeat what you said?” My voice came out fairly normal, which I was proud of, versus the crazy energy I felt pulsating within me.

  He gave a gentle look; it wasn’t cocky or knowing, but only sweet. “Is there anything I can get you?”

  Smiling back, I responded, “I’ll have the beef stew and a water.”

  “Good choice. Coming right up.” He rapped his knuckles on the counter as he walked off to the left.

  I wasn’t paying attention to how his white shirt was rolled up to his elbows. Nope. And I wasn’t paying attention to how his khaki pants hugged him in all the right places. Nope. And I for sure wasn’t staring at him as if he would be sex on a stick. Nope.

  Seriously get it together, Ashlin. My life has turned inside out and the last thing I need to be thinking about is sex.

  The man turned back toward me and I looked up at the television screen that was above, hoping I wasn’t caught ogling the bartender. I need a life, seriously. Time passed and before I knew it, a steaming bowl of beef stew with a little plate of bread was set in front of me.

  It smelled delicious. “Thank you.”

  The bartender smiled. I glanced back to my stew as I ate.

  He responded, “You’re welcome.”

  Taking a bite, it was one of the most delicious stews I had ever tasted. I moaned in appreciation.

  “It’s that good, eh?”

  I licked my lips and felt heat creep up on my face. Not realizing I had closed my eyes, I tentatively opened them and glanced at the bartender, who was looking at me more intensely than before. “Oh, I didn’t mean to do that aloud.” Picking up my napkin, I dabbed the corner of my mouth. “Give my complements to the chef. It’s incredible. I’d love to get the recipe.”

  He leaned on the counter. “I’ll let the chef know. I know him pretty well, and I’d say if he could get that type of reaction out of every beautiful woman who ate the stew, he’d serve it all the time versus only on special occasions.”

  The bartender moved a little closer to me and I smiled at his playful face while wanting to reach out and trace that devastatingly handsome jaw line. Conspiringly, he whispered, “I’ve heard that the recipe is a family secret. You’d have to marry the chef in order to get it.”

  I giggled as he winked at me. “Okay, if I get that desperate to have it, I’ll know to bring a ring and my bended knee.”

  He chuckled and stood. “So, what brings you to Savannah?”

  “Is this where I lay all my troubles on the line for the bartender to listen and give advice?” I teased with him as I cocked my head.

  He shrugged as he mixed a drink. The bar was otherwise vacated except one person at the end who nursed a beer. “I happen to listen and give advice free on Wednesday’s.”

  My smile was wide. There was something magnetic about this man and I didn’t want our conversation to end. “Well, it’s a good thing it’s Wednesday.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  A waitress got his attention at the other end of the bar. I finished my stew as he walked over and handed the woman three beers. When he returned, a margarita was set in front of me. “Drink up while you tell me what brought you here.”

  Taking a sip, allowing the sweet to mix with the salt, I thought about what to say. This felt like the typical cliché I saw in movies where you spill your guts to a guy you didn’t even know. “Well, my life has turned upside down in the last week. My Aunt Leelyn died of a heart attack and I broke up with my boyfriend the day of the funeral. It’s been an adjustment, but I think I’m now headed in the right direction. For almost the last year, my life hasn’t felt like my own.”

  His hand reached out and touched the top of m
ine. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know how difficult it can be. I lost my grandfather last year.” The bartender’s voice was sincere.

  The contact of his hand caused tingles and warmth to spread through my veins. I swallowed hard and looked up, wanting to keep the touch, but not wanting to seem overly anxious, and let’s face it … crazy.

  After a few seconds, I responded, “Thank you. We were close. She was a historian and loved family history. I’m living in her place on Oglethorpe until I decide what to do, since breaking up with my boyfriend essentially left me homeless. But, the breakup was a long time coming. We had different ambitions. He wanted success, I wanted love.” I shrugged.

  “Well, I’d say he was a fool to not realize having love wasn’t the greatest success of all.”

  He removed his hand and I wished he would put it back. Instead, I took my fingers and tucked my escaped golden-blonde hair behind my ears. “What’s your name? If I’m pouring my heart out, I should at least know your name. I’m Ashlin.”

  He extended his hand. “Hey, Ashlin. I’m Gael.”

  I looked down and tried to calm the butterflies in my stomach. “Are you the same Gael that this fine establishment is named after?”

  “I am. I’m also the chef. We were shorthanded today, so once I got things rolling in the kitchen, I became the bartender.” Gael’s handshake elicited those warm tingles again. I loved how strong he felt.

  Shaking my head in amusement and smiling, I responded, “So, if I want that recipe for the stew, I need to come to you with a ring?”

  “And a bended knee. Don’t forget the bended knee. That recipe has been in my family for generations and my mother would kill me if I didn’t keep it a secret. I thought I was going to have to pledge my firstborn to get permission to serve it here at the restaurant.” The man at the end of the bar signaled Gael. “I’ll be right back.”

  I watched how he moved with an easy confidence. My heart had never felt this jittery before. He’s only giving you advice. I just broke up with Harris. My aunt just died. This was too soon to be checking out a guy. My subconscious felt guilty and I tamped it down at the thought of how crazy I was acting. Gael returned.