Don't Break (The Reluctant Heart Book 1)

by Jeannette Winters

  It had started a bit rough. He had no intention of staying at Shanda’s so long. The ‘after sex snuggle’ wasn’t his thing. Last night it was different. Everything was. He didn’t want to let go of her. Having her in his arms was a feeling like nothing else. But the separation today might have done him some good. It gave him the opportunity to clear his mind, and think straight. That was something he couldn’t seem to do with her close by.

  And I might not have just made 1.5 million dollars.

  This was the problem with being…personally involved. Sex was one thing: you had it and then you left. Most times, they didn’t speak again. It was just a mutual understanding ahead of time. He didn’t worry about anyone having hurt feelings. That wasn’t the fucking case with Shanda. The chemistry was explosive, and unmatched by anyone he’d ever been with. That alone made it difficult to ignore. But it wasn’t all about how she rocked his world. Kenneth really liked her as a person. If he was anyone other than a Heart, he could picture himself being with her. But his family would hurt her in a way that they didn’t mean to. The need and drive for money and success would eventually smother out the spark of simple happiness and joy that filled Shanda’s spirit. He couldn’t let that happen.

  Kenneth really wanted to see Shanda tonight. She was the one he wanted to call and tell about the big deal he’d just closed. She was also the last person he should see. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours and he was already…missing her. Damn it Shanda. How the fuck did you get under my skin? Because he wanted to see her, was the very reason there was no way in hell he was going to.

  His phone rang and it was Jerry. He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk to him either, but he answered.

  “Hi Jerry. What’s up?”

  “You owe me,” he said.

  He laughed. “For what this time?”

  “The heads up. I just got off the phone with Mother. It seems you haven’t returned her calls.”

  “I’ve been busy,” he stated. And avoiding them.

  “And now you pay the price. She’s probably about five minutes away from your penthouse. I hope you’re alone. I’d hate for Shanda to meet Mother when she’s not happy with you.”

  “You couldn’t have told her that I wasn’t here?” Even before Jerry could answer, he heard the buzzer. Fuck! “I thought you said five minutes?”

  “Guess I was wrong,” he laughed. “Good luck, you’re going to need it.”

  Kenneth ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket. His mother would’ve already been told by the doorman that he was home, so all he could do was let her inside.

  Opening the door he said, “Hello Mother. What brings you here?”

  She huffed and walked past him. “Are you alone?”

  Thankfully, yes. “I am. Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?”

  She turned to him and said, “I would think my leaving you several voicemails would’ve gotten a response, but surprisingly, not one. Why is that Kenneth?”

  “Why don’t we go and sit down?” he suggested. Kenneth knew no matter how he answered, she wasn’t going to be pleased. He couldn’t blame her either, so he might as well just say the truth.

  Once they were seated, she asked, “Is there something you want to tell me, or would you prefer I ask the questions?”

  He smiled. “I already know your questions, so I’ll fill in the blanks.” He gathered his thoughts and said flat out, “I met someone.”

  “Apparently all of Boston knows that,” she stated.

  That was an exaggeration. Kenneth knew there was talk, but everyone knew he wasn’t one to became serious about anyone. “It’s just talk Mother. Nothing more.”

  “Since you’re not returning my calls, those rumors carry more weight. Did you want to tell me about her?”

  He knew his mother had already dug into Shanda and her family, and probably at his father’s instructions. Protecting the family name. Great. A Heart, without one.

  “She’s unlike anyone I’ve…dated.” That put a label on their status. He was shocked he’d even gone that far.

  “And your plans with this woman?”

  “Mother, some things are private,” he said firmly. And undetermined.

  “You do know she is inexperienced and doesn’t even hold a college degree. What is she able to bring into the relationship that will help you grow your business?”

  “Mother. That is…cold.”

  She stared at him and said, “You didn’t think so a few weeks ago.”

  She was right. He wasn’t the same person, but he hadn’t lost sight of what was important. If he had, he never would’ve closed that deal today. “Trust me Mother, my business is extremely important to me.”

  “And Shanda? How important is she to you?” she asked.

  He sighed. “Honestly, I’m not sure. But Mother, I’m asking that you please don’t interfere. She isn’t used to dealing with people like us.”

  “My point exactly. She doesn’t have what it takes to be the wife of a Heart. You need to know the social network. You know I laid the groundwork for your father. Without me, where would he be?”

  “I understand the role you play Mother. And I also know Shanda wouldn’t want to live that life. She would want…a marriage based on love.” That didn’t make him want her any less, even though he and Shanda felt so differently about love. She brought something into his life that was new and unexpected. “I am not sure where Shanda and I are going, but it will be for me to decide Mother. Not the family.”

  She nodded. “You have always been headstrong. If this woman is really everything I have heard, then at least there is one thing I don’t need to worry about. She’s not after your money.”

  No. I’m more worried she’s after my heart.

  “Then you agree to let it alone?” he asked.

  His mother smiled at him, and he knew that was a negative. “I’ve already sent her an invitation for dinner on Monday night.”

  What the fuck!?

  “Mother, you should’ve spoken to me first,” he snapped.

  She got up and said, “How many voicemails were there? Three? Four? Oh wait, there were five, that’s right.” She said in a firm tone, “Dinner is at six. Do not be late.”

  He kissed his mother on the cheek and said, “I’ll be there. I cannot speak for Shanda.”

  His mother smiled and said, “She returned my call immediately and accepted.”

  She left and Kenneth was left wondering what the hell had just happened. Shanda spoke to his mother and hadn’t called him? He knew his mother probably hadn’t given her a chance to decline.

  Damn. It’s like I’m feeding you to the wolves. Sorry Shanda. I’ll make this up to you somehow.

  He pulled his cell phone out and was about to call and apologize to Shanda. Kenneth stopped and put the phone back in his pocket. She wasn’t a child. If there was any future for the two of them, he needed to give her space and trust her judgment. If she couldn’t hold her own with his family, then maybe his mother was right, and he should end it now, before she got hurt.

  Kenneth walked over to his bar, pulled out the bottle of bourbon and poured a double. Earlier, all he wanted to do was celebrate, and now he wanted to feel…nothing. Feelings were the one thing he’d avoided all these years. It’s how he was able to build his business as fast as he had. How could he let them get in his way now?

  I might lose a lot more than money if I walk away now.

  He didn’t take risks. He always knew what the outcome was going to be. With Shanda, she was as unpredictable as she was beautiful. They’re a lethal combination in both business and ways of the heart.

  I’m fucked no matter what I do.

  Chapter Nine

  Kenneth enjoyed many outdoor activities, but sitting on a blanket wasn’t one of them. She’d been smiling from the moment he’d picked her up, and there was absolutely no way in hell he was going to spoil this for her.

  “You make a mean ham and cheese sandwich,” he
teased.

  “Are you making fun of me?” she said, looking at him closely.

  He shook his head. “If I were, I would’ve mentioned the fact that you cut the crust off,” he chuckled.

  “There is a very good reason why I did that,” she said.

  “Oh I can’t wait to hear this.”

  “I am trying to watch how many carbs I eat a day. You really cut out a lot if you trim off the crust on your sandwich.”

  He nodded. “Makes sense.”

  “See? I knew you’d understand.”

  He smiled and asked, “And what did you cut off the peanut butter chocolate cake? It was amazing, by the way.”

  Shanda smirked. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you there are no calories in special-occasion cakes?”

  “No. And what is the occasion?” he asked. It wasn’t his birthday, or hers.

  “We’re having cake. Isn’t that special enough?” she said.

  He laughed. “You have an interesting way of rationalizing it. Maybe you can put that in your business plan somehow.”

  “Since you brought it up, I was hoping we could talk about Home Blown.”

  Arching a brow, he asked, “You want to talk business?” He pretended to look around the open field, then back to her. “What did you do with Shanda?” he joked.

  She gasped. “I wanted to talk about business on Friday but you kept distracting me.”

  He leaned over and kissed her lightly. “Like this?” he asked. When he pulled back, her eyes were still closed and he gave her a tap on the nose with his finger. “It wasn’t that good,” he said.

  Shanda opened her eyes and said, “But it was a good start. Why did you stop?”

  “Because you want to talk business and I’m here to answer anything you ask.” This was what he’d hoped. Shanda was going to put Home Blown first.

  “I’m not going to run Home Blown any longer,” she stated.

  Now his mouth gaped opened. “You’re giving up? Why?” He’d thought for sure that with his guidance, she’d be motivated to invest more time and energy in it.

  “Not giving up, just changing the plan. I know you were helping me to bring Home Blown to a wider market. You know that isn’t ever going to happen with me at the helm. I don’t have what it takes to do it. Honestly, I don’t want to either. My heart is in the back room where I can dream and create items that Home Blown needs to fill its shelves.”

  “So you’re not selling. Good. What is your plan then?” he asked. She seemed to be nervous and was twisting her fingers into what looked like a knot. “Shanda, it’s your company. You don’t have to be afraid of what I think.”

  She looked up at him, “I’m not afraid, it’s just I don’t know how to ask you.”

  “After what we shared, I think you can ask me just about anything,” he said. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him.

  “I need someone to manage my shop. To do the marketing and the sales. I have Brianna, but she is just graduating from high school. She has less experience than I do. I need someone like…like you.”

  He gulped. Me? He ran a multibillion-dollar business and she wanted him to handle the direct sales in a shop in Hope Valley?

  “Shanda, I said I’d help you, but you honestly can’t believe I’m the right person to run your shop.”

  “Oh God, no!”

  He was both happy and shocked by her firm response. “Then what did you mean?” Because I’m totally lost.

  “I need someone like you to guide me through the process. You know what I need.”

  She gave him a warning look when he smiled and said, “Still talking business here.”

  He nodded and she continued. “I don’t want to hire someone who has no business experience, or rips me off. You know I’m…naïve about certain things.”

  “I’d be happy to help you find the right person. It needs to be someone who knows your product as well as understands your goals. So what is your goal Shanda?” He knew it was different than his. She had shown him different didn’t mean wrong or bad. At least not anymore.

  “I told you my sister DeeDee got married right?” He nodded. “Well someday I will have a nephew or a niece running around. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Home Blown became something generations of the Morris family could enjoy?”

  “You’re not worried that in the tech world of today they might not want to be spending hours in the back room blowing glass?” he asked. It sure as hell wouldn’t be how he spent his free time. Then again, he wasn’t into art unless it was to buy and resell. To him, the only value in it was what he could sell it for. Things needed to be old and rare. Her’s weren’t either.

  “I guess I’ll worry about that once one of us has children,” Shanda shrugged. “But I have to have a goal, and that is better than the one I had before.”

  “And what was that?” he asked.

  “Get out of the red,” she sighed. “Now I want to expand and make Home Blown a household name.”

  Kenneth laughed. “You might want to change the name of the shop.”

  “Why?”

  “They might have expectations of something that you don’t sell.” He winked at her and she blushed. “Exactly.”

  “Oh, Granddad. What were you thinking when you named it?” She shook her head. “And don’t you even say what I think you’re thinking,” she warned.

  He tried to look innocent, but that definitely was what came to mind. Granddad was one lucky man. “So how do you feel about changing the name?” he asked, trying to take the focus off him.

  “I think I’ll need to talk to Granddad about that. But he stopped by the shop yesterday and I really think he’ll be okay with whatever I decide to do. Kenneth, it was so nice. I mean, I had been so stressed about disappointing him all this time that I forgot how loving and supportive he is. He might love Home Blown, but not as much as he loves me,” she said smiling. When she reached over and placed her hand over his, he almost pulled back, but didn’t. She said, “You’re a good man too. He’d like you Kenneth.”

  Was this panic setting in? Because he felt his stomach turn and his breath catch in his throat. This was getting dangerously serious. She had no clue who he really was. He wasn’t a good man. He was driven and greedy, and thought only about himself. If he wasn’t careful, she might end up saying the L word, and that’s the last thing he needed.

  “Speaking of meetings, I hear you spoke to my mother.” If anyone was going to set Shanda straight as to what an asshole Kenneth was, it was her.

  “Oh yes, I can’t believe I forgot to mention that. I tried to decline, because I had wanted to speak to you first, but she informed me that you were already aware of the invitation.”

  “I am.” It was after the fact, but at least someone had told him.

  “Kenneth, I am beginning to see a pattern. First Krissy and Billy invite me, and now your mother too. Are they all trying to get you married off or something? Because I see a conspiracy and you’re the target,” she joked.

  He laughed. “If Billy heard you put him in the same sentence as my mother, he’d die. She is a wonderful woman, but if you think I’m business-minded, you’re going to be shocked when you meet her.”

  “Really? She didn’t sound like that over the phone.”

  Kenneth said, “And that is what the spider does to the fly.”

  She asked, “Are you just saying that so I’ll be scared and back out of meeting your parents tomorrow?”

  “Would it work? Because I can come up with some really good shit,” he teased.

  “Kenneth Heart, you’re horrible. I think it was a very nice gesture of your mother to reach out to me. I honestly didn’t think your family even knew I existed. Well, besides the brother I met at the auction. What was his name?”

  “Jerry. You can’t attend something like that without people talking. Because you were a new face there, the rumors started to fly,” he explained. And I didn’t shut them down.

  “Oh, so you didn’t mention me to them?”
she asked. He shook his head. “I can’t go tomorrow.”

  “Why not?” he asked. He should be thrilled that she was bailing on him, but he wasn’t, and that confused him even more than her changing her mind.

  “Because I thought you…that you wanted me there. And now I kind of feel like…like…”

  He reached over and took her hand in his. “Shanda, don’t overthink it. It’s dinner at my parents’. Don’t dress all fancy, and don’t try to be anyone you’re not. I’m going to be sitting there right beside you. Okay?”

  “Can we maybe have a code word if I need a breather?” she asked.

  “Sure. What do you suggest? Maybe mention the weather?”

  Shanda wrinkled her nose. “Everybody uses that one.”

  “Okay, what do you suggest?”

  She gave him a wicked grin and said, “How about, I cough and say I have a tickle in my throat? And then you’ll know what I mean.”

  “Oh, I’ll know, but I’m warning you now, we won’t make it back to your place without pulling over on the side of the road first,” he warned.

  “Kenneth, you wouldn’t. That’s against the law,” she stated.

  He looked around; nothing but open, grassy fields and trees as far as the eyes could see. Kenneth grabbed her waist and pulled her to sit on top of him. “I’m not afraid of a little indecent exposure. Are you?”

  She giggled. “Not worried about bears coming out of the woods to eat you?”

  “Oh, something is going to get nibbled on, but it won’t be from a bear,” he said before claiming her lips.

  He trailed kisses down her neck as his hand slipped beneath her T-shirt. She stopped him and he broke their embrace. “What is it?”

  “Kenneth, I thought we were just having a picnic and I… I don’t…have any protection with me.”

  He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and held up a foil packet. “Sorry, no fancy colors, but it’s ribbed.” He tossed them onto the blanket before pulling her back into his arms. “You were so damn beautiful when we made love under the stars, now I want to see all of you in the light of day.”

  He pulled at the base of her T-shirt, which molded around her large breasts, her taunt nipples teasing him, begging to be fondled. Shanda lifted her arms and he easily pulled it over her head. He looked down at her and noticed it wasn’t her usual white. “Red? And yet you weren’t expecting this?” he teased.