Broken Pieces (Healing Heart Book 1)

by Maxene Novak

  “It’s nice to meet someone I’ll be seeing once I get to work. I don’t actually know anyone other than Jemma and Clay yet, and I’ve only met them once so far so I can’t really say I know them too well either.” Lorie was starting to babble so she shut her mouth before she kept going and embarrassed herself. For all she knew this guy was Clay’s brother. That would explain the two of them both being so incredibly hot.

  “Same here,” Spencer said, pulling Lorie out of her head. “I mean, I’ve met Clay a few times at events similar to this one held for police officers, but we never really spoke so it isn’t like I know him all that well. The longest conversations we’ve had have been this week, which lead to me getting this job.”

  “So, you were a police officer?” she asked. That made sense. There was something about him that commanded respect and it could definitely explain where the scar came from.

  “A detective.”

  He didn’t elaborate, and the tone of his voice told Lorie it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. She didn’t blame him. She was a stranger to him after all. She could understand him not wanting to go into what made him leave his job as a detective to run security for Hale Inc., and she definitely wasn’t about the make the same mistake with him as she had with Clay by delving into his private life and things that were not her business. She didn’t need to have two men she worked with upset with her, especially considering she hadn’t even had her real first day on the job yet.

  They both grew quiet, but Lorie couldn’t bring herself to walk away; she didn’t want to. Something about Spencer drew her to him, and she wanted to spend more time talking to him. After a minute he grabbed the pad in front of the painting she had bid on, scribbled something on one of the tickets, and dropped it in the box under the painting. Lorie smirked at him, wondering what prompted him to place a bid when he’d just pointed out that he wasn’t really into the artwork. “I thought you didn’t get all of this art stuff?” she asked Spencer with the smile still playing at her lips.

  He gave her a genuine smile, “True, but I did say I thought it was all for a good cause.”

  Lorie smiled back at him. Before either of them could say anything else, an announcement was made for everyone to take a seat at their assigned tables. “I probably should have found my seat before I started wondering around.” Spencer was glancing around the room like he was trying to read the small printed nameplates at the tables.

  “Oh, you’re at my table actually,” Lorie told him. He looked back at her with a questioning look. “I found my seat before I came over to look at the artwork and I looked to see who was all at my table. Yours was the only name I didn’t know at the time.”

  “Great,” Spencer said and he held out his arm for Lorie. She linked her arm through his. “Lead the way.”

  Lorie walked back to the front with Spencer at her side. “We’re the table directly in the front there,” she nodded her head towards the front table where Jemma was now taking her seat.

  “Really?” Spencer said. “I mean, given your role at the children’s home I can understand Clay putting you up front, but it doesn’t make sense for me to be up there.”

  “Maybe he likes to have security close by him.” Spencer looked down at her, clearly not sure what she meant again. “Clay is also sitting at our table. Considering how high profile he is I imagine he wanted his head of security close by him tonight.”

  “I guess that makes sense,” Spencer agreed. “I didn’t realize that Clay would be sitting with us. Kind of figured he would have himself sitting with some of the big time donors or something.”

  Lorie just shrugged as they approached their table and Spencer pulled her chair out for her. “Hey you two,” Jemma said. She was smiling and looking between Lorie and Spencer with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

  Jemma’s gaze flashed away from Lorie and Spencer to look over Lorie’s other shoulder. “Hello Lorie. Spencer.”

  Lorie looked back to see Clay approaching the table. She thought he sounded normal when he said her name, but when he said Spencer he almost seemed a little annoyed. She wondered what that might be about. If Clay was going to treat any of them with annoyance she would assume it would be her for prying into his personal life the other day. Instead it seemed like Spencer might be getting the cold shoulder too.

  Clay took his seat next to her and Spencer walked around him to sit in the chair across from Lorie. Clay stared at Spencer for a second without saying anything, then he turned his attention back to Lorie. He looked her over appreciatively and smiled, that bright beautiful smile that woke her body up and sent tingles all over. For lack of a better term, it was a panty-melting smile and up so close it was doing all kinds of things to Lorie in that moment.

  “Lorie, you look gorgeous,” Clay said, then he ran his hand down Lorie’s bare arm to her elbow and just let his hand linger there for a minute before turning to the rest of the table. If she hadn’t already been experiencing chills thanks to that drop dead sexy smile of his, she definitely was now after feeling his hand caress her skin. Clay turned to Spencer and smiled, although this smile seemed less genuine to Lorie. “I was going to make introductions, but since you escorted Lorie to her seat I’m going to guess the two of you already met.”

  “Yes. We met.” Spencer turned his attention to Lorie and let his eyes linger on her for a second, and she felt another wave of chills run through her body. Damn. Working with these two was going to keep her overheated if they didn’t stop looking at her like they wanted to rip the clothes from her body and have their way with her. How in the hell had she wound up working with the two hottest men she’d ever met in her life? Now she was stuck at a table with them for what was sure to turn into one of the longest nights of her life.

  “Great! Everybody knows everybody. Now we can have some wine.” Jemma held up her empty wine glass and Lorie chuckled. Looking at Clay and Spencer she could see that Jemma had effectively cut the tension; for now at least.

  Clay looked at his assistant and rolled his eyes, “Leave it to you, Jemma, to always be the first one to start looking for the wine.”

  Jemma held her free hand across her heart like she was feigning hurt. “Why, Clay, we both know you only employee the brightest people.”

  “Yes?” Clay responded with his left eyebrow crooked in question.

  “Well, how smart would I be to pass up such excellent wine? Especially when it is free.”

  Lorie, Clay, and Spencer all laughed at that. Lorie was beginning to see that Jemma’s personality was quirky just like her appearance. She liked Jemma. She found herself hoping that they could become friends. Other than Heather, Lorie didn’t have many real friends. She’d been so caught up in school and then work that she hadn’t put much focus on a social life. She didn’t regret it one bit, but all work and no play did make it hard to meet people and build relationships, even the kind that were only genuine friendships.

  Much to Jemma’s delight, the waiters and waitresses soon made their way around the room and filled the guests glasses with wine. Once they had made one trip to each table, someone Lorie didn’t know walked up to the podium just in front of their table and began welcoming everyone to the event before she invited Clay up to say something about the children’s home.

  “I’ll be right back,” Clay told them. He took a swallow of some water, then headed the few feet to the podium. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I want to thank you all for being here tonight to help us raise money for the children who will be staying at the new Hale’s Children’s Haven. These children have lost their families for one reason or another and they need people in their corner now more than ever. This is a cause near and dear to my heart and I am eternally grateful for your generosity this evening. For those of you who may not know, one hundred percent of the money raised tonight will go to help these children in their time of need. Again, thank you all, and God bless.”

  Lorie couldn’t take her eyes off of Clay when he spoke. He had said
that this cause was near and dear to him and that only made her want to know why that much more. It was none of her business, and she was extremely grateful to him for the things he was doing for the children, but she had this nagging feeling inside telling her that this was personal for him. Something had happened to make him care about these orphaned children the way he did. She found herself hoping that he might one day feel comfortable enough to share with her what that reason was.

  Clay took his seat and everyone’s dinner was served. “That was beautiful, Clay,” Lorie said. She watched him carefully, hoping he wouldn’t shut down like he had when she started prying the other day at the home. She wasn’t trying to pry, but she worried he would think that she was.

  Clay looked at her for a second before he offered her a small smile and a nod. “Thank you, Lorie. I meant every word. These kids we will be helping have been through more than anyone should have to endure in their short lives and I want us to help them in every way we can.”

  “I agree” Lorie replied. “Me too.”

  “Yeah, Clay, this is a really great thing you are doing. I’ve seen what can happen to these kids when they don’t have anywhere to go, or anybody to love and take care of them.” Spencer closed his eyes and shook his head like he was trying to remove images from his mind that he didn’t want to see. “Anyway, like I said, it’s a great thing.”

  “Thanks, Spencer.”

  Jemma didn’t say anything. She just smiled and sipped at her wine; her eyes darting between Lorie, Clay, and Spencer like she was waiting for something interesting to happen. Their food arrived and they all ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. “So, Lorie, did you see any artwork that you like up for auction?” Jemma asked after she’d finished most of her meal.

  “Yes, actually I put a bid in on a piece just over there.” Lorie pointed to the wall across from her where the bright, abstract piece hung. “I believe it said it was by a local artist named Rosalie.”

  “Oh, yes, I love that one!” Jemma exclaimed. “It’s so bright and vibrant. I think it would look great in your new office. It would brighten the place up.”

  “Well, I don’t know that that office needs anything to make it more beautiful.” Lorie said. “It is pretty amazing as is. I’m still in awe that I will be working there. The whole house is beautiful.”

  Jemma rolled her eyes at Lorie, but she was smiling. “Well, of course it’s beautiful. I’m just saying there aren’t any bright colors in there. I think a house for kids could use some bright colors.”

  “First of all,” Clay said turning his attention on Lorie, “it’s not that office, it is your office, Lorie. Secondly,” he faced Jemma, “I paid a very highly sought-after decorator to put the inside of that place together.” Jemma opened her mouth, clearly about to protest or say something smart, but Clay held up his hand and she shut her mouth and crossed her arms. “However, I think it could use some vibrant pieces of art throughout the house. I agree with Jemma; I think the kids would like it.”

  “Well, that settles it then,” Lorie said, “if I happen to win the bid then I will make sure that I hang the painting somewhere in the house. Maybe the living room or dining room so everyone can enjoy it equally.”

  Clay looked at her with genuine admiration and Lorie felt a blush heat up her cheeks. “Same goes for me,” Spencer added. “If I win it then it’s yours, Lorie. I can’t imagine a better place for it than somewhere so the kids can enjoy it.”

  “So you bid on the same painting as Lorie?” Jemma asked. She was looking at Spencer and occasionally glancing back to Lorie. Mischief was dancing in her eyes.

  “Yeah,” Spencer said with a shrug of his shoulders.

  “Really?” Clay looked at Spencer. “You don’t strike me as the type to be into florescent artwork.”

  “Lorie liked it,” Spencer said. His voice had dropped so low that if Lorie hadn’t been looking between him and Clay to see where the conversation was going she might have missed what he said. Instead she heard it and their eyes locked briefly before she caught a hint of a pink blush show up under all of that scruff covering Spencer’s jaw, and then he looked down and broke the contact. Clay stared at Spencer like he was having an internal battle over saying something else to the man. He didn’t get the chance, however, because the speaker from earlier approached the podium again to announce it was time for some dancing.

  Clay and Spencer stood and Lorie noticed that they both seemed to look her direction. “Lorie, would you like to dance?” Clay was the first one to speak after they stood, and he held his hand out to Lorie while waiting for her to answer, but clearly expecting her to say yes. She also didn’t miss the glare Spencer shot at Clay before he was able to get his facial expressions back under control and he turned to Jemma.

  “Jemma, how about you?” Spencer asked; his hand held out to Jemma in a similar fashion to the way Clay held his out to Lorie. “Would you do me the honor of this dance?”

  Jemma, ever enthusiastic, hopped to her feet and grabbed Spencer’s hand. “Hell yes!” she said as she turned in the direction of the dance floor, dragging a smiling Spencer behind her, shaking his head at her eagerness.

  “So?” Clay said it as a question and Lorie looked away from Jemma and Spencer and turned back to Clay who was still waiting with his hand held out to her. “You going to leave me hanging?” He smirked and Lorie chuckled.

  “No. I mean, yes. Of course, I’d love to dance,” Lorie finally answered Clay and put her hand in his while standing from her chair. “Jemma just distracted me for a second. She’s always this enthusiastic, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah,” Clay chuckled quietly, “pretty much. She knows when to reel it in at work and when she can let her enthusiasm fly. For the most part, she doesn’t have to put it away all that often. I think her positive outlook on things is good for morale around the office.”

  “I would agree,” Lorie nodded as they made it to the dance floor and she turned to face Clay.

  The song playing when they walked out onto the dance floor was upbeat and Clay took both of Lorie’s hands in his own and they danced with each other, moving effortlessly to the beat. They were both smiling ear to ear and laughing, especially whenever they caught glimpses of Jemma and Spencer. Jemma was full of energy, no surprise there, and shaking her groove thing all around Spencer. Spencer on the other hand was wide eyed and looked like a lost boy as he pretty much two-stepped near Jemma while she stole the show. It was the funniest thing Lorie had seen in a long time. As the song ended it faded into a slow song as “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith began playing through the speakers. Lorie fumbled a moment and let go of Clay’s hands. She looked side to side waiting for him to say or do something, expecting they would be sitting back down. When Clay took one of hers in his own and pulled it up to his chest she jerked her head back so she was staring into his eyes. He placed her hand, palm down, against his chest and cupped his hand over it. Then, since Lorie seemed to be frozen and unable to move on her own, Clay took her other hand and placed it on top of his shoulder. Finally, he wrapped his free arm around her waist and pulled her body in against his own.

  Heat shot throughout Lorie’s whole body and she was pretty sure she had inadvertently shivered when their bodies first made contact. She briefly closed her eyes and prayed that Clay hadn’t felt her body’s reaction, but when she opened her eyes again and looked up at Clay the look on his face told her he knew exactly what having his body pressed against hers was doing to her. Lorie could see the same heat reflected back at her in his eyes. She was pretty sure her body was going to get her in trouble when it came to this man. Shit.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Clay

  Clay knew that it was a bad idea, but when he heard the music slow down he couldn’t resist the urge to pull Lorie in close. He had planned to be completely professional with her tonight. Somehow he had let his guard down the last time they were together and when she picked up on how invested he was in helping orphaned children she�
�d started asking questions that Clay planned to never talk about with anyone. He had decided to keep their future interactions one hundred percent professional. Sure he was attracted to her, but there were a lot of beautiful women who would love to be with him so he could find someone else to ease the ache he’d had for her since their first meeting. That was before he had walked into the area where the ball was being held and saw her smiling at Spencer. She had looked at Spencer the same way Clay had caught her looking at him from time to time. That didn’t even begin to cover her and Spencer’s body language. Even from across the room he knew that they were attracted to one another. When he saw Spencer lead her over to their table with their arms linked he felt an emotion he had previously thought himself incapable of having: jealousy. What was worse was that he couldn’t figure out who he was more jealous of; Lorie or Spencer. There was no doubt in Clay’s mind that he was attracted to both of them in a way he hadn’t experienced before. Seeing the two people he wanted flirting with each other was incredibly frustrating and confusing.

  When he pulled Lorie’s body against his own and felt that little shiver run through her he nearly slammed his mouth down over hers right there on the dance floor in front of everyone at the ball. If she hadn’t looked away for a moment he would have, but the second she took to avoid looking at him helped him gather a sliver of control over himself. He knew he wasn’t hiding his desire for her, however. That feeling was far too strong as it coursed through his body. When Lorie’s eyes met his own and he saw the desire he felt looking right back at him he was sure that he groaned out loud. He could feel his dick beginning to stir in his pants. Clay was fighting with whether or not he should release Lorie so she wouldn’t feel him growing stiff against her, or if he should pull her in closer and hope she didn’t push him away. The decision was taken off of Clay’s shoulders when he felt a large hand tap him on his right bicep.