Written on my Heart

by Piper Davenport

“Can we see him?” Melanie asked.

  “Yep. We just have to wait for the doctor to come out.” Samantha smiled and added in a whisper, “I don’t want to look like I’m usurping anyone.”

  “Right.”

  We had to wait another ten minutes before the surgeon arrived to update us. Dad was only allowed two visitors at a time, so I followed my mother down to recovery. I was surprised to find him awake.

  Mom rushed to his side.

  “Hey, babycakes,” he said to Mom.

  “You had me so worried,” she cried, and leaned down to kiss him.

  My dad reached out his hand and I took it, bending down to kiss his cheek. “You kinda freaked us out, Dad.”

  He chuckled. “It’s harder to kill me than you think. I can’t believe y’all flew over for this.”

  “A massive heart attack, Dad...not some little splinter.”

  He scoffed.

  My mom scowled. “Jimmy, I swear to Buddha, I will kill you if you die on me.”

  He smiled. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, babycakes.”

  I took a seat just as Andi walked into the room. I stood again, my southern etiquette lessons kicking in. Smiling, I attempted to put her at ease, but her cheeks pinkened as she dropped her gaze and stepped to my father’s side.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Andi said, and set her iPad on the side table. “I just need to get some vitals on you, Mr. Moore.”

  “Call me Jimmy,” he said. “You’re awful pretty. Isn’t she pretty, Dalt?”

  “Stop flirting with the nurses, Jimmy,” Mom ordered.

  “Wait, I know you,” Dad said. “You’re the duck girl.”

  I bit back a chuckle. Andi had stopped one of my games to herd a duck family off the field. She’d almost gotten slammed by one of the opposing team’s players, however, I had intervened.

  “Yep, I’m the duck girl.” Andi smiled and went about checking my dad’s pulse, temperature, and blood pressure. “For a man who just had open heart surgery, you’re doing remarkably well.” She slid her stethoscope around her neck again. “If you need anything, press the call button. I’m off in half an hour, but Lonnie’s here and she’s amazing.”

  “Thanks, sweetheart,” Jimmy said.

  “Take care.”

  Andi walked out of the room and I couldn’t help but watch her go. “I’ll be right back,” I said, and followed. “Andi, wait up.”

  * * *

  Andi

  Shit, shit, shit! I turned slowly, forcing a smile onto my face. “Everything okay?”

  Dalton nodded. “I just wanted to apologize.”

  I bit my lip. “For what?”

  “For bringing up your brother. I know you had to live with him—”

  “I never went back,” I corrected. No one outside of Aspen and her family knew I was adopted. Right after my brother had been arrested, I’d moved in with Aspen’s family. Up until then, I’d essentially been held hostage in a world of crazy for fifteen years and it’s taken me a long time past that to feel like a normal human being.

  “You didn’t?” he asked.

  “No way.”

  “I figured you must have, since you disappeared without a trace,” he ground out.

  “Are you seriously standing here, growling at me?” I whispered in irritation.

  He crossed his arms and I watched him war with his emotions.

  I slid my free hand into the pocket of my scrubs. “I need to do a few things before I clock out. Do you have any questions for me?”

  “Yeah,” he said after a few tense moments. “Will you have coffee with me?”

  “Questions about your father.”

  “Nope, none. So, have coffee with me,” he said again.

  “No.”

  “No?”

  I bit the inside of my cheek, willing the hippo currently stomping on my spleen to quit it. “You have a lot going on, obviously, considering your memory is lapsing, and I have a super busy schedule, so I don’t really have time. It was great to see you again. Take care.” I turned to escape and heard his chuckle behind me.

  “Nice try, Andi.”

  I faced him again. “I’m sorry?”

  He crossed his arms. “My dad’s gonna be fine, I’m here for at least a month, and you can’t possibly work twenty-four-seven, so how about you stop building that massive brick wall and have coffee with me?”

  “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m just out of a bad marriage and finally putting my life back together, so having coffee with the high school QB really isn’t a good idea in my opinion.”

  He grinned. “I’m that irresistible to you, huh?”

  Arrogant son of a bitch! “Have a nice life, Dalton.”

  “It’s just coffee, Andi.”

  “Yeah?”

  He raised three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

  “You weren’t a scout,” I challenged.

  “Was too. Three years in a row,” he quipped.

  “Fine. Coffee. Tomorrow, ten-thirty, Starbucks on Broughton.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  I nodded and scurried away like the coward I was, filing the last of my charts and clocking out. I fell into bed as soon as I got home, but sleeping was another story. Dalton freaking Moore. Dang it! I was screwed.

  * * *

  Dalton

  “Um, what do you mean you’re having coffee with Andi Rivers tomorrow?” Samantha demanded as we sat in the pool room of our parents’ home.

  Samantha had just put both the boys down and since Mom was still at the hospital with our father, Samantha, Kade, and I had the place to ourselves. We were now raiding the “bev fridge” (which our parents had stocked nicely) after finishing a game of pool.

  “Which part didn’t you understand?” I asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know...the part that involves the why? Do you not remember what her brother did to Pepper?”

  I took a deep, calming breath. “I was there, Samantha, I remember.”

  “So, you’re having coffee with the enemy?”

  “Samantha, she’s not her brother,” I reasoned.

  “Yeah? Well, she did nothing to stop it, Dalt, so she’s just as culpable.”

  I dragged my hands through my hair. “She was fifteen, what could she have done?”

  “Told someone,” Samantha countered.

  “You’re so sure she didn’t?” This came from Kade and Samantha glared at him.

  “Stay out of this, majesty,” she snapped.

  Kade chuckled. “Look, I understand you feeling protective of Pepper, and I understand everything we went through with Jet in Scotland. But sometimes children have no control over their circumstances, so I’d reserve judgment on the lass until you know for sure.”

  Jethro Rivers had not only assaulted Pepper back in high school; he’d then stalked her a few years ago, for months, before Connall Gunnach met her. Everyone thought that once the two were bound in the way of the Cauld Ane, she’d be safe, but Jet followed her to Scotland and attacked her.

  Samantha crossed her arms with a scowl. “Pepper was nearly raped, Kade.”

  “I know, love,” Kade said softly. “But it sounds like this Andi person hasn’t had it easy either, so perhaps we can give a little grace in the situation.”

  I tipped my beer toward Kade in thanks, a little surprised by my sister’s stance. Samantha was sweet, loving, and wholly forgiving...well, unless I did something she deemed inane, which was often. But when it came to people, other women in particular, she was always the first to step in and defend. Especially Pepper. Ever since Samantha had had her babies, however, she was a little less quick to give the benefit of the doubt. Pepper said it was her Mama bear instinct coming out, but this was Mama bear on steroids.

  “I’m gonna have coffee with her tomorrow and I’ll find out as much as I can.”

  Samantha rolled her eyes. “You and pretty girls. You just can’t stay away.”

  “Andi’s not just a pretty gir
l.”

  “Yeah, you had this weird fascination with her back in high school, too,” she accused. “Why didn’t you just date her then?”

  I shrugged. “She was with Jeremy Roth.”

  That wasn’t entirely true, but the truth wasn’t really any of my sister’s business.

  “Oh, yeah, he was a winner,” Samantha droned, sarcastically.

  “What are you trying to say, Samantha?” I challenged. “First you think she’s poison, now I should have fought for her in high school? Make up your mind, sis.”

  “Careful, Dalton,” Kade warned.

  “I can fight my brother on my own, honey, but thanks,” Samantha added, squeezing Kade’s knee. “I think you need to figure out what you want, Dalt, and I mean that in a very general sense. Because if you continue to enjoy wham bam, thank you ma’aming your way through life, it’s going to catch up with you. But, whatever. Sue me for wanting you to be as happy as me and Kade.” She rose to her feet, leaned down and kissed my cheek, and held her hand out to Kade. “We’re going to turn in.”

  “Love you, Samantha,” I said as they walked out the door.

  “Suck it, Dalton,” she called back, and I laughed.

  In “Samantha speak,” that was just as much an endearment as anything. After finishing my beer, I called my mom to make sure my dad was still on the mend, and then dragged my tired body to my childhood room.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket, so I fished it out, chuckling to myself. “Hey, Pepper.”

  “Well, hi there. What’s this about Andi Rivers?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine, Pep. Thanks for asking.”

  “I already know you’re fine because I talked to Samantha, so how about you just fill me in?”

  “I thought you two couldn’t communicate telepathically.”

  Once Cauld Ane men bound their mates, they were able to speak telepathically, which I had no interest in. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t want a woman running around in my head.

  “We can’t, but I can feel her emotions if they’re strong enough, so I called her,” Pepper said.

  I sat up and frowned. “Did you say anything to Samantha?”

  “I promised I wouldn’t, Dalton.”

  “I get it, but it’s Samantha, so I kind of made the request, even back then, knowing it was a crapshoot you’d listen.”

  Samantha and Pepper had been best friends forever in the general sense, and now that they were married to brothers, they were officially family and best friends forever in the legal sense.

  “Signed a gag order, Dalt.”

  “Oh, right. I forgot about that.”

  She giggled. “I always liked Andi.”

  “I wish my sister shared that sentiment.”

  “Dalt, Jet attacked me and, since Samantha doesn’t know what Andi did, Samantha’s going to defend me to the death,” she said. “What I don’t understand is why neither of you ever told her what really happened. Especially you… you know, you should have made Samantha understand. You adored Andi—”

  I choked on a laugh. “I’m sorry?”

  “You have always had a thing for Andrea Rivers, Dalt, and I had hoped that what her brother did to me...and her, if you’ll recall...didn’t stop you from acting on that ‘thing.’ I guess maybe my hopes were in vain.”

  I rubbed my forehead. “Pep—”

  “Dalt, don’t sit there and try and tell me I’m wrong.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you that. What I don’t get is how the hell you know any of that.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t. You just confirmed it.”

  “Becoming Cauld Ane hasn’t made you any less evil.”

  “This is true,” she agreed. “But I’m no more evil than I was when I was human.”

  “That’s debatable.”

  “So, are you going to tell Samantha? She knows something’s up and since I’ve never been able to keep anything from her, this is driving both of us nuts.”

  “No, but you can tell her.” I shook my head. “Actually, I’ll tell her.”

  “Even better. You know it’s harder to keep stuff from her since she can feel my emotions. It’s actually really inconvenient.”

  I laughed. “You had that goin’ on way before you became Cauld Ane, Pep.”

  “Well, I guess that’s true,” she said. “Anyway, I really think you should revisit this thing you’ve got going on with Andi.”

  “I don’t have anything going on with Andi, Pep.”

  “Well, then make sure you get something going. Seriously. I have a really good feeling about this.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not sure that makes me feel better.”

  “Trust me. When have I ever steered you wrong?”

  “I don’t think you want me to answer that,” I retorted.

  “Probably not.” She chuckled. “I have to go rescue Connall from our children, but we’re going to fly out next week I think, so you and I can talk more then.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  “See you later, buddy.”

  “’Bye Pep.”

  I hung up and got ready for bed. There was something comforting about being at home and I fell asleep almost immediately.

  Andi

  I STOOD IN front of the mirror and scowled. What was I thinking agreeing to meet Dalton for coffee? I couldn’t do anything with my hair, I also needed to lose a couple pounds (if my jeans had any say about the muffin top I was currently sporting), and I had nothing to wear.

  In the end, I grabbed a pair of yoga pants and a sweater that at least I knew looked good on me, and pulled my hair into a ponytail. What did I care if I looked a step up from a homeless person? I didn’t.

  Okay, I did, but I was determined to ignore that niggly little fact.

  Aspen wouldn’t be home until after six, so I didn’t bother with a note before heading out the door. As I stepped onto the front porch, I almost ended up knee-deep in the carcass of a mutilated raccoon. I squeaked and pulled the front door closed with a slam. “Damn cat,” I snapped. Last week there’d been a mouse, the week before a possum. Aspen was convinced it was a neighborhood cat, although, we’d never seen it.

  I locked up and pulled out my phone, dialing Aspen’s number. “Hey, lady,” she said.

  “Hey. We have another feline gift, so watch out for it if you make it home before me. I’m running late, but I promise, I’ll get rid of it when I get home.”

  “Dumb cat.”

  “I know, right?”

  “Why are you running late?” she asked.

  Oh, shit.

  “Coffee with a friend.”

  “A friend, huh?”

  “Yep,” I said.

  “Which friend?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Aspen, I have to go.”

  “Oooh, so it’s a boy.”

  I hit unlock on my key fob and my car beeped. “If I say it’s a boy, can we skip the third degree until I have a bottle of wine in front of me?”

  “Sure.”

  “Okay, it’s a boy.”

  “Yes,” she said. “’Bout time, lady.”

  “I could say the same thing about you, you know.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “We can talk about that over wine too.”

  “Deal.”

  “Is it Dalton?”

  “That falls under the save for later subject,” I said.

  “Oooh, so it’s Dalton. Okay, can’t wait to hear everything.”

  I slid into my car and smiled. “I’ll talk to you tonight.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Aspen hung up and I took off to my doom. One thing I was glad I’d stood my ground on was my car. It might have been a low-end, cheapie, but it was relatively new and never broke down on me. Jeremy tried to take everything, but the car was in my name, so he failed to take that.

  It didn’t take long to get to Starbucks, but the parking lot was packed, so it took a bit to find a parking space. I ended up having to walk from the far end, but I saw Dalton pulling open the doo
r just as I turned the corner. He grinned and waited for me, allowing me to precede him inside. “You look beautiful,” he said.

  “Ah, thanks.” I took in his dark jeans, tight black T-shirt, and motorcycle boots and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from letting out a school-girl sigh. He’d cut his hair shorter than I’d ever seen it and, not surprisingly, he rocked the look. “You look great, too.”

  He grinned, and we headed to the counter. I ordered my normal skinny caramel latte and blueberry muffin and Dalton ordered a coffee, black. He also had them heat up some egg sandwich thingy and then led me to a table by the window since all the comfy chairs were occupied.

  We’d just sat down when our names were called, and Dalton told me to “stay put,” while he gathered our stuff from the counter.

  “So, fill me in on your life,” he said. No easing in with small talk, no beating around the bush...just get to the meat of it, which had always been Dalton’s way.

  I smiled. “Not much to tell, really. Crappy childhood, married Jeremy to escape, brother went batshit and is now in a psych prison. Don’t talk to my parents, mostly because they refused to deal with my brother before he went fully batshit, so I’m batting a hundred so far.” I let out a quiet gasp. I couldn’t believe I’d just dumped that out. “Sorry, Dalton. I...ah...how about you?”

  He studied me with his ridiculously gorgeous hazel eyes, and I had to look away, so I tore off a piece of my muffin and popped it into my mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

  “Let’s revisit the escape part,” he said.

  “No, let’s not.”

  Dalton chuckled quietly. “Fair enough.”

  “Tell me about you,” I said. “It looks like your sister got married and now has a couple kids.”

  “Yeah. She lives in Scotland with Kade now. I’m back and forth, but not sure where I want to be. Although, with Dad dealing with his health stuff, I’m thinkin’ I may end up being here more than Scotland.”

  That statement sent a shockwave through me. I suddenly wanted him close. Okay, if I’m being honest, it wasn’t sudden. I’d always had a helpless crush on the man.

  “You’re a good man, Dalton,” I said, my voice heavy with emotion. I took a sip of my latte in an attempt to wash the weightiness away.

  “Did you ever want to leave Savannah?” he asked.