Open Your Heart

by Cheris Hodges

  “You’re a dangerous man, Chuck Morris,” she said after swallowing another bite of the scramble. “There is no way you should look this good and be able to cook.”

  “This is the by-product of growing up in a house full of women. Everyone pulls his or her weight. Since I woke up earlier than most, breakfast was my assignment.”

  “Wow,” she said. “That’s some childhood.”

  “I enjoyed it. Making my mother smile meant a lot to me.”

  “Were you close to your dad?”

  “He died before we had a chance to become best friends.”

  “I’m sorry,” Yolanda said. Charles could almost see her thoughts about her own father.

  “He was a hero, so it’s sad, but it framed my life. My father was in the marines and that’s why I joined the service. He fought in the first Gulf War and I continued his mission until I couldn’t.”

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “That’s a story for another day. Eat so we can go.”

  “All right,” she replied, then finished off her breakfast. “I’m ready when you are.”

  “Let’s go.”

  As they headed for the door, Charles asked, “What are you shooting, the revolver or the semi?”

  “Why not both?” she asked with a shrug. “That’s what you suggested, right?”

  “So, you do listen?”

  “Oh, whatever,” she snapped.

  Chapter 17

  After two hours at the gun range, Yolanda realized that she didn’t like guns. She wanted nothing to do with the loud things, though she also realized how much she needed one to keep the killer off her heels. But if she knew how to shoot, did that mean less time spent with Chuck around her? Those thoughts made her cringe as they walked to his car.

  “Somehow, I thought this was going to be a lot more fun,” Yolanda said as they got in the car and Chuck started for her house.

  “Guns aren’t toys, I don’t get why you thought it would be fun.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe because I watch too much TV.” Yolanda looked down at the scratch on the back of her hand from where the .380 had dug into her skin. Chuck had called it a Beretta burn. That’s when she’d decided that that revolver was going to be her weapon of choice.

  “Does it hurt?” he asked as he noticed her rubbing her hand.

  “It stings a bit.”

  “That’s because you have small, delicate hands. It’s my hope that you won’t have to ever use that gun.”

  She looked at the paper target at her side. Granted, she wasn’t a professional, but most of her shots had landed center mass, as Chuck called it. Yolanda chuckled inwardly when she thought about how she’d closed her eyes the first two times she’d fired the gun. Chuck had walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “You can’t shoot what you can’t see. The gun is only going to fire if you pull the trigger.” The heat from his breath against her ear had made her shiver. Then when he’d placed his hand on her midsection to help her with her form, Yolanda had wanted to press him against the wall and let him do everything she’d ever dreamed about. After all, they were alone in the gun range. But that hadn’t been why they were there.

  She was supposed to be learning to protect herself and possibly her family. Why was it that every time she was alone with that man she wanted to get in his pants?

  Glancing over at him and those damn gray sweatpants, she knew why. He was sexy. He was fierce like a jaguar and she had no doubt that he’d make her body tingle. He’d done it with his kisses and . . .

  “Yolanda?”

  “H-huh?” she stammered.

  “What’s going on over there?”

  “Nothing, I was just thinking about my sisters, wondering if they’d left yet.”

  “You think they would leave without locking up the house first?” Chuck furrowed his brows as if he was thinking that they’d leave the doors wide open or something.

  “Nina has keys to her old place,” she said.

  Chuck nodded. “That makes sense. You think they’d leave without saying good-bye? It’s still pretty early.”

  Yolanda looked at her watch. “Yeah, but this is when Alex would be organizing her meetings and whatnot. She is . . .”

  “Your sister doesn’t play,” Chuck said with a laugh. “You all are something else.”

  “What do you mean?” Yolanda had heard this all before. People marveled at the Richardson sisters’ relationship. While they fought internally, you didn’t want to mess with them—in most circumstances. There was no way her sisters could help her stop a killer, but there were quite a few people in Charleston County who knew better than to go up against a Richardson.

  “You’re very protective of each other. It’s refreshing to see sisters get along like that.”

  “Yeah, don’t tell Alex I said this, but last night, I really needed a hug from my sister and I was so glad she was there.”

  “Why wouldn’t you want her to know that?”

  “Because she’ll use it against me in the next argument,” Yolanda said with a laugh. “And with Alex there is always a next argument.”

  Once they arrived at the house, Yolanda wasn’t surprised to see Alex loading the car with her bags.

  “Leaving so soon?” Yolanda asked as she crossed over to her sister.

  Alex gave Yolanda a slow glance. “What in the hell do you have on?”

  “Training clothes,” she said, then struck a karate pose.

  “Oo-Kay Kung Fu Panda,” Alex quipped. “I’m glad y’all made it back before we left. I have three meetings I need to prepare for.”

  Yolanda shot Chuck a knowing look. “Did you guys eat something?”

  Alex nodded. “I actually put my life at risk and ate your sister’s grits.”

  Yolanda brought her hand to her mouth and gasped. “Are you all right?”

  “Let’s just say she has improved, but I’ll never do that again.” Alex laughed. “This time I was able to use a fork.”

  Chuck shook his head, then proceeded to check the perimeter around the town house. A few seconds later, Nina walked outside carrying her backpack and computer case. Yolanda could tell her sister would’ve enjoyed at least another hour of sleep.

  “Heard your grits have been upgraded,” Yolanda said.

  “Oh, hush. I can’t believe how early you people get moving around here.” Nina yawned. “At least I can spend some time with my fiancé.”

  “Your fiancé better be working,” Alex said.

  “Ugh, let’s go,” Nina said, then turned to Yolanda. “Where’s Charles? And do me a favor, sis, don’t make Chuck’s job harder. Or him, for that matter.”

  “You little . . .” Yolanda stopped speaking when she saw Chuck heading their way. Did he find something in the woods again? “Y’all should get going before traffic gets too bad.”

  “You do have a point,” Nina said. “Let’s hit the road. Chuck, please take care of my sister.”

  “Will do,” he said with a mock salute. Yolanda closed her eyes for a second and wondered what life would be like if he wasn’t her bodyguard but more. And if there wasn’t a crazy man trying to kill her.

  Stop daydreaming and get your life right. You spent the morning learning to shoot a gun and you think someone is hiding behind every shadow.

  “Are you going into your shop today?” Chuck asked as they watched Nina and Alex pull away.

  “Yes, around noon, I want to work on some sketches for a while. I’ve been up so early I feel like half the day is gone.”

  “That just means you have more time to get stuff done. I’m going to make some calls and we’ll be ready to go at twelve.”

  Yolanda nodded. “Thanks for this morning.”

  “No problem.”

  * * *

  Charles watched Yolanda as she walked into the house. Once she closed the door, he pulled out his phone and called Madison.

  “Hey, Chuck,” she said when she answered. “Hope your packag
e is still breathing.”

  “For now. Got a question about Danny. Since you say he has his reputation to uphold, how does he keep his hands clean? I know someone is watching Yolanda.”

  “That sounds like his MO. I know in Richmond he’s been known to use the gang connections from the kids he’s supposed to be helping. How he plans to reach your girl, I have no idea. He probably has a professional on her.”

  Charles frowned. “That’s what I’m afraid of. Do me a favor, find out if Danny has ties to the underworld in Charlotte and Charleston. I need to know exactly what we’re facing.”

  “All right, I’ll see what I can find out, but you be careful—in all ways.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “Nothing, just be safe. What else could I be saying? Charles, I know you’re trying to act like you don’t have emotions, but that can be just as dangerous as showing them. I’ll call you when I know something.”

  After hanging up the phone, he took another walk around the perimeter of the house and then headed inside to check on Yolanda. When she wasn’t downstairs, he headed up to her studio expecting to find her engrossed in her sketching, but she was stretched out on the futon napping. She looked like a little angel as she slept. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and make sure no harm ever came to her.

  It wasn’t about losing Hillary anymore. Yolanda Richardson was carving a place in his heart and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He was about to walk out of the studio when he heard her whisper his name. Not Chuck, but “Charles.” Low and breathy. Was she dreaming about him? That was becoming a nightly routine for him. Even though he knew she was safe, Charles crossed over to her and stroked her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open.

  “What? What time is it?”

  “It’s a few minutes before ten. I thought you were working,” he said.

  Yolanda placed her hand on his cheek. “Chuck.”

  “I like the way you sound when you say Charles.”

  She sat up. “We’d better stop playing with fire.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. We need to get some things in motion. Your sister’s wedding is Christmas, right?”

  She nodded.

  “I think it’s a good idea for you to go to Charleston for a while.”

  “Absolutely not!” Yolanda exclaimed. “I can have a target on my back but I will not put my family at risk.”

  “That’s why we wouldn’t stay at the bed-and-breakfast. You can stay with me until the wedding; then we’re going to go to Richmond and put an end to all of this. Whoever is after you, the person Danny clearly hired, doesn’t know who I am, and trust me, no one is getting near my place without me knowing about it.”

  Yolanda nibbled on her bottom lip. “What about my business?”

  “Launch it in the new year.”

  “Ch-Charles, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. That’s more than a month of me living in your house. What am I going to tell my family?”

  “Your father hired me to protect you and this is the best way until you report the murder. And I hate to say it, but this isn’t a suggestion. You’re going home with me.”

  “Well damn,” she muttered. “When are we leaving?”

  “Let me make a few calls. I’ll let you know.” Charles walked out of the studio wondering if he had put his heart in danger to save Yolanda’s life.

  * * *

  Yolanda sat in her studio dumbfounded. Flabbergasted even. She had agreed to move in with Charles Morris for a month. Actually more than a month. Thanksgiving was still a week away.

  Living with him would be different from their current situation. She was on her own turf. She could close her bedroom door, she could lock herself away in the comfort of her studio, and she could dream about him without . . . wait. What did he mean when he said he liked the way she sounded when she called him Charles?

  “Damn it. This man is driving me crazy,” she said as she rose to her feet and paced back and forth. She couldn’t live in his house, but there was no way she’d take her drama to the Richardson Bed and Breakfast. Her father was there. Alex. Nina. Clinton. Guests. Anything could happen and cause a tragedy of epic proportions. She wished she had a time machine. She’d go back to that summer night and leave early, as she had planned. The shooting of Bobby G. would just be another news story she knew nothing about. She’d be sleeping through the night and she wouldn’t have Beretta burns on the back of her hand.

  Her shop would still be thriving and she’d be marking down dresses for a Black Friday sale. She stopped mid-stride and looked out of the window. Was he out there watching her, waiting for her to be alone so he could strike? Maybe Chuck was right; she needed to get away from Charlotte and the dangers that lurked in the shadows. But wasn’t being too close to him another danger?

  Yolanda walked downstairs, her thoughts pounding in her brain like drumbeats. Safety, desire, and fear collided at the same time as she walked. She entered the kitchen, where Chuck was having a whispered conversation on the phone. Though she wanted to grab a bottle of wine and gulp down a glass or two, she opted for a bottle of water.

  “Sounds good. I’ll call you back when we’re ready,” he said into the phone as he and Yolanda locked eyes.

  “What was that all about?”

  “Our trip,” Chuck said. “We’re going to leave a little after midnight.”

  “This is insane.” She closed her eyes before taking a big sip of her water. “I’m tired of running.”

  “It’s going to be over soon,” he said. “But keep in mind, it was your idea to wait until after your sister’s wedding to go to the police. We don’t have a choice right now.”

  When Yolanda opened her eyes, Chuck was standing in front of her. She inhaled and his woodsy scent filled her nostrils. Did his entire home smell like this? Would she be able to move without gushing like a river if she had to smell him everywhere?

  Chuck lifted her chin, forcing her to look into those emerald eyes. “You’re going to be fine. I’ve got you.”

  She expelled a breath and wished he would take her, have her any and every way he wanted. Stop it. Was she tripping or was he bringing his lips to hers? Yep. He sure was. The kiss started soft and tender. A type of comforting kiss. But Yolanda’s hunger made her deepen the kiss, her tongue parting his lips and coaxing his into her mouth. Chuck pulled her closer and her body vibrated with desire. There would be no stopping this time. No thinking of consequences. Chuck’s hands roamed her body and she wanted to explode.

  Breaking the kiss, she looked up at him and saw the flicker of need and passion in his eyes. Nodding, she gave him the silent permission to take her. Chuck lifted her up on the marble counter and peeled her catsuit off. His fingers set her aflame as he explored her body. When he slipped his hand between her thighs, Yolanda moaned. Then when he brushed his thumb against her throbbing clitoris, she threw her head back and moaned again. More like a guttural cry that shook her soul.

  Yolanda couldn’t remember the last time she craved a man like this. Needed him more than she needed air in her lungs. His tongue replaced the touch of his finger, lapping her sweet juices as she thrust herself into his mouth—wanting him to swallow her whole. He sucked her like an oyster, slowly slurping, and she exploded, showering his face with her sticky sweetness. Chuck pulled back from her and licked his lips.

  “You’re delicious.”

  She opened her mouth as if she could form words. He lifted her from the counter and carried her into her bedroom. Her body hummed and she brought her lips to his and kissed him slow. She must have been doing something right because he stumbled, damn near dropped her before making it to the bed.

  “You know that would’ve killed the mood,” she quipped.

  “I’m not going to let you fall,” he said. “But you can’t kiss me like that and expect me not to be affected.” He laid her on the bed then stripped off his sweatpants and T-shirt.

  Good God, his body was amazing. From his toned abs to those thick thighs and th
at dick. If there was a prototype for a sex toy, Chuck had to be the mold. Long and mouthwatering. “Damn,” she muttered as she eased to the edge of the bed. Yolanda reached for him, giving his cock a long stroke. Then she brought her lips down on his erection. Giving him the same kind of tongue lashing she’d received in the kitchen. Deep in her mouth, she sucked slow. Then she danced her tongue across the tip of his dick. Chuck moaned as he buried his hands in her hair. Every time he tried to pull back, she sucked him in deeper, nearly bringing him to climax when she cupped his balls and licked them while stroking him up and down.

  “Stop, stop,” he breathed. “You’re killing me.”

  “Don’t say that.”

  “I mean it.” Chuck climbed in the bed and pulled Yolanda on top of him. “I get the feeling that this is your favorite position.”

  “We can start here,” she said as she straddled him. “But this is one of my favorite positions.”

  He leaned against the headboard and she raised her eyebrow at him. “Do you have protection?”

  Chuck groaned. Yolanda laughed. “It’s a good thing I do, because you weren’t thinking about it.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I was,” he replied as she reached into her nightstand drawer and handed him a condom. If she’d expected him to ask her questions or pretend that he was shocked that she had her own protection, she was wrong, because he didn’t. That made her wetter. Could it be that he was a man who understood a woman had needs and desires that went beyond vibrators and boyfriends?

  What are you doing? Yolanda thought as she watched him roll the condom in place. It’s just a one time thing.

  He pulled her against his erection, but didn’t fully dive into her wetness. With the head of his penis, he sought out her clit and rubbed against her wet bud until she screamed. And she thought she was going to be the one in control. Twice, she’d come. And she hadn’t even had all of him inside her yet.

  “Ride me,” he commanded as he plunged inside. Yolanda followed his edict, riding him slow, then fast. Chuck gripped her hips as if he was trying to catch her rhythm. And the moment they found the same beat, it was like a concert—both of them swaying to the beat of the same drum, grinding to the same notes from a saxophone. Yolanda matched his thrusts, took him deeper inside her valley until she came again. Seconds later, he groaned and squeezed her ass as he reached his own climax. Sweat covered their bodies as they snuggled up together. Yolanda placed her hand on his chest. “Whoa,” she said breathlessly. “That was . . . Charles, thanks.”