Coldhearted Heir (The Heirs Book 1)

by Michelle Heard

  I pull an awkward face and glance around my room, hoping another way out would magically appear.

  Damn, I can’t miss another day of lectures.

  Sucking it up, I press my lips together and open the door again. I keep my eyes on the floor and quickly walk down the hallway, doing my best to not just make a run for the front door.

  “She’s alive,” Jase hollers. “Mila says you watched movies yesterday.”

  “Yeah, we had an impromptu Netflix day. See ya later,” I ramble and rush out of the suite. I quickly jog to the elevator. When I hear the front door open behind me, I make a mad dash for the stairs, not wanting to be caught while waiting for the elevator doors to open.

  When I burst through the doors of the dorm, I let out a breath of relief.

  I stop by the restaurant and get a cup of coffee from the barista before I head over to my first class.

  As the lecture starts, I force myself to pay attention. I take down notes, and when the professor ends the session, I check my schedule to make sure I have ethics next.

  I pack up my stuff and file out of the auditorium with the other students, bumping shoulders with the next class already arriving. Making my way down the hallway, I hear Jase’s laughter, and my head snaps up, only for my eyes to connect with Hunter’s.

  “Shit.” I begin to back paddle and swinging around, I say, “I… forgot something.” I hightail it back to the economics class and fall into the first open seat I can find.

  The professor’s eyes scan over the students, and I slide down, using my hand to cover my face just in case he recognizes me from the previous lecture.

  The group must be third years because I have no freaking clue what the professor is talking about, but my butt remains glued to the seat.

  Good one, Jade. Now you’re behind in ethics as well.

  HUNTER

  Jade’s avoiding me.

  It fucking sucks that she runs away at the sight of me, but I can’t blame her.

  It’s been a long day, and I can’t say that I remember anything from my classes.

  “This day sucks ass,” I grumble to Jase as we walk into the suite.

  The one second Jade is standing in the kitchen, and the next, there’s no sign of her. I stop by the counter and frown, sure I just saw her drinking a bottle of water.

  Jase walks to the fridge and taking two bottles out, he throws one to me, then his eyes go to the floor, a frown forming on his brow.

  I watch him lift his chin, and then he grins like an idiot. “Let’s go to my room.”

  I shake my head and walk toward him, which has him widening his eyes at the floor.

  Yeah, pretty sure that’s where Jade disappeared to.

  When I reach the edge of the counter that also serves as a breakfast table, I lean over it and glance down at Jade. “Hey.”

  Slowly, she glances up, and then she gives me an awkward smile. “H-hey.”

  When she scrambles up from the floor, I set after her, and before she can shut her bedroom door in my face, I follow her into the room. Locking her only exit, I pocket the key then turn to look at her. “I think it’s time we talk. I’m not going to have you hiding just to avoid me.”

  “I’m not,” she blurts out, and when I tilt my head at her, giving her a knowing smile, she begrudgingly admits, “Fine, I’m hiding.”

  “Is it because you’re angry with me. If that’s the case, I understand, but I don’t want this thing between us getting any worse,” I explain.

  She quickly shakes her head, and walking to her bed, she slumps down on it. “I’m not angry.”

  She gives me a quick awkward glance before ducking her head low, then mumbles, “It’s because you saw me in my underwear.”

  I’m surprised by her confession. I was certain she would be angry because I forced a kiss on her. “Let’s pretend you were wearing a bathing suit,” I offer to make her feel better.

  Bullshit, Hunter. No bathing suit on this planet has ever looked so good.

  I might have been intoxicated, but I’ll never forget the sight of Jade in her bra, panties, and those damn boots.

  She gives me a grateful smile, then asks, “Are you really ready to talk, though?”

  I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her. “Yeah.” Glancing at her, I say, “You start. Tell me why you blamed me.”

  She clasps her hands together and clears her throat. “I don’t have an excuse. I was upset with you for walking in on Brady and me. I think it just got out of hand when I heard he had taken his life.” She sucks in a deep breath and lets it out on a sigh. “With time, I convinced myself you had something to do with his suicide. It was stupid of me, and I’m so sorry.” Her eyes come up to mine, and I can see the regret written on her face. “I was awful to you, and I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me, but I’ll do anything to make up for it.”

  There’s a moment's silence as I gather my thoughts. “I’m not going to lie, the past two years have been hard.” Turning my head to face her, I admit, “You really hurt me.”

  Her face crumbles a little as if she’s fighting not to cry, but she keeps it in. “I’m sorry sounds so inadequate. I wish I could tell you how much I regret my actions.”

  “I know what you mean,” I admit. “My behavior from the other night is right up there with what you did.”

  Jade shakes her head and stares miserably down at her hands. “Not in a million years, Hunter. Nothing you do can ever compare to the hell I’ve put you through.”

  My eyes search over her features. Seeing her remorse is all I wanted. “Where do we go from here?” I ask.

  Jade shrugs and whispers, “I have no idea.” She shoots me a hopeful glance. “Can’t we go back to the way things were?”

  I think for a moment, then shake my head. “Too much has changed. I don’t think it’s possible.”

  The corners of her mouth pull slightly down, and her chin begins to quiver. “I guess you’re right,” she whispers as a tear spills down her cheek. “Can we at least make peace and be nice to each other?”

  Lifting my hand, I bring it to her face, and with my thumb, I wipe the tear away. I tilt my head to try and catch her eyes, but she keeps staring at her hands. Putting a finger under her chin, I lift her face so she’ll look at me. “I’m not saying we can’t be friends, Jade. We can take it one day at a time. Let our relationship follow the normal path.”

  Her face fills with hope, and the corner of her mouth begins to lift in an optimistic smile. “So, you still want to be friends with me?”

  “Didn’t you listen to the song I sent you this morning?”

  “I did,” the words burst from her.

  “I meant every word. I don’t think I can ever give up on us.”

  “Me too.” There’s a cute expression on her face. One I haven’t seen in years, and it makes me smile. “Are you going to call me Little Bean again?”

  I let out a chuckle and shake my head. “You’re not so little anymore,” I tease her. “It was your childhood nickname, and we both know you’re no longer a kid.”

  Her cheeks flush red, and she buries her flaming face in her hands. Letting out a groan, she complains, “Oh God, I’m never going to live it down.” Then her hands drop from her face, and she stares at me with wide eyes. “Please don’t tell the others I stripped in front of you.”

  I can’t keep the grin from forming on my face and placing my arm around her shoulders, I pull her into my side. “Your secret is safe with me, but if you ever give me shit again, I’m advertising it to the entire world.”

  “Deal.” She holds her right hand out to me and placing mine in hers, we shake on it.

  We sit for a couple of minutes, and I try to think how I’m going to start talking about the topic of the kiss, when Jade says, “About the kiss.” Her eyes snap down to her hands, and she shifts awkwardly, which has me dropping my arm from around her shoulders.

  “Which one?”

  She pulls an uneasy face. “Both, I guess.”


  I grab onto the most plausible excuse. “We were both just emotional, and at our wits end with each other.”

  Jade’s head instantly bobs up and down. “Totally. You’re right.”

  “We’re good?” I ask as I get up.

  Jade also rises to her feet. “Ahh… I’m glad we finally made peace, but I still feel like shit. Isn’t there anything I can do to make it up to you?”

  It’s going to take time for our friendship to get back to where it was. I’m just about to tell Jade not to worry about it when an idea pops into my head. “You owe me two years’ worth of hugs. You can start by making up for that.”

  A wide smile splits over her face, and then she face-plants against my chest. When she wraps her arms tightly around my waist, I let out a burst of laughter.

  I move my own arms around her and press my mouth to the top of her head. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath of her scent.

  Thank’s Jade. This is what I needed. Just being able to hold you again.

  I tighten my hold on her, and she responds by snuggling as close to me as she can, and then she whispers, “I’m so sorry. I know you must be tired of hearing me say those words, but I mean them. I’ll never forgive myself for the way I treated you.”

  I still have one question I need to be answered, so I turn my face and resting my cheek against her hair, I ask, “Did you ever stop caring for me?”

  “Never.” Pulling a little back, she looks up at me. “That’s why I was so angry. It felt like I was betraying Brady by still loving you.”

  I know she means the words as a friend, but they still stir something in my chest. “So, you still love me?” I ask, milking this moment for all it’s worth.

  Jade breaks free from my arms and quickly pulls her phone from her pocket, then she rambles, “Hold that thought. I have a song for you.”

  She brings up a playlist, and after pressing play, she holds the phone out for me to take. I look at the screen as she comes to stand next to me, and together we listen to Sad Song by We The Kings.

  The song is so damn cute, and it makes a broad smile form around my lips. I go to place the device on the bed, then turn back to Jade. Taking hold of her waist, I pull her close to me, and when I begin to sway with her, I say, “I owe you a dance.”

  She lets out a burst of laughter and grins happily up at me. Halfway through the song, she whispers, “Thank you, Hunter.”

  Giving her a warm smile, I pull her closer, and we dance until the song comes to an end.

  Before I pull away from her, she gives me another hug, then teases, “I owe you seven hundred and thirty hugs. I figure if I give you a couple a day, I can pay off my debt faster.”

  I let out a burst of laughter, and our eyes lock. There’s still heartache to work through, but at least we’ve waved the white flag.

  “It’s a start,” I say to her.

  Nodding, she agrees, “It can only get better from here on out.”

  God, I hope so. More than anything in the world, I want my Jade back.

  Chapter 16

  JADE

  Even though we’ve made peace, things still feel awkward between us.

  You can’t expect things to magically go back to the way they were, Jade.

  Together we walk out of my room, only to see our friends scatter toward the living room.

  “Seeing as you all listened in on our conversation, we don’t have to tell you anything,” Hunter jokes with them. He makes a beeline for Jase, and slumping down on the couch next to him, he punches Jase’s shoulder. “Fucker.”

  “Oww.” Jase rubs his arm. “I wasn’t the only one eavesdropping.” He lets out a disgruntled huff. “Besides, we couldn’t hear shit.”

  I first go to get myself a bottle of water and take a drink from it. Fallon, Hana, and Mila’s eyes keep darting between Hunter and me, and not having the heart to make them suffer any longer, I say, “We’ve talked things out.”

  Hana’s face instantly lights up. “So, things are good between you again?”

  “Yeah.” I chuckle when she jumps up, and fist bumps the air.

  “Thank God,” Jase mutters. “Now, I can focus on my own drama.”

  Mila’s head snaps toward him. “What drama?”

  With a heavy sigh, he states, “You giving me a constant case of blue balls.”

  Mila chokes on air, and the rest of us explode in laughter. When she finally catches her breath, she gives Jase a death glare. “Haha. Always so damn funny.”

  Jase’s face sets into a super serious look. “There’s nothing funny about having blue balls. I’m pretty sure it’s dangerous. In fact, you could at least give me a handjob and save my life.”

  Mila drops her forehead into the palm of her hand, shaking her head. “I’m not going to win.”

  “Nope.” Jase lets the P pop. “When you’re ready to surrender, just say the word, and we can go to my bedroom.”

  “Holy shit,” she exclaims. “Someone, help me.”

  “Jase is just fucking with you,” Noah says, his shoulders shaking from all the laughing.

  “No, I’m not fucking with her,” Jase corrects him. “If I were fucking with her, we’d both be in a state of bliss right now.” He climbs to his feet and adjusts his crotch as he walks away, looking like he just rode a horse for hours.

  We all crack up again, and there’s even a smile on Mila’s face.

  When the fun fades, Fallon says, “Let’s order in and watch a movie tonight. I’m too tired to do anything else.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Hunter agrees.

  After thirty minutes of arguing, we end up placing five different orders because we can’t decide on just one place to get food from.

  “If it was that difficult to order the food, I dread picking the movie,” Hana mumbles as she lies down on the couch with her head on Noah’s thigh and her legs hanging off the side.

  There’s a knock at the door, and we all look at it in surprise.

  “The food can’t possibly be here already,” Mila says as she gets up. When she opens the door, she lets out a squeak of surprise. “Oh my gosh! Tristan!” She hugs him before dragging him inside.

  Hana’s head pops up, and then she falls off the couch in her hurry to get up. “Shit, I’m wearing sweats.”

  I chuckle as she runs for her room, yelling, “Don’t look at me.”

  Tristan laughs. “You always look beautiful.” Then he calls out, “Come back.”

  “Not a chance in hell. I’ll be out in five minutes,” she shouts back.

  I go to give Tristan a hug. “What’s with the surprise visit?”

  “I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by the campus.” His eyes keep darting to Hana’s closed door.

  “So, you and Hana?” I ask, more nosy than anything else.

  “Yeah,” he takes a deep breath, then asks, “How are things here?”

  “Good,” I say then catching Hunter’s gaze on me, I correct myself, “Actually things are great.”

  Hunter gives me a warm smile that has my insides doing cartwheels.

  It’s because you’re happy that things are better between you.

  Lies, all lies, but I’m not about to admit the truth to myself.

  HUNTER

  Getting my cardio session in on the treadmill, my eyes scan over the lower floor. Yeah, I’m secretly hoping Jade will start working out in the mornings again.

  Just as I slow my pace to cool down, Jade walks into the gym. I watch her look around before she makes her way to the punching bags.

  Stepping off the treadmill, I grab my towel and wipe over my face and behind my neck. Pulling my water bottle from the holder, I take a deep drink as I walk toward the stairs.

  “Hey, Hunter,” some girl greets me on my way down. I just nod my head, my eyes on Jade. She’s pulling on a pair of gloves.

  Today she’s wearing black and purple tight-fitting pants, with a matching top. I still don’t like the tight as fuck outfits, but it’s gym cloth
es, so I just have to deal.

  Coming up behind her as she jabs at the bag, I can’t resist the urge and slap her ass.

  “Oh, my God!” she snaps, and spinning around, her arm is already in swinging mode. My hand shoots up, and I block her punch inches from my face. When Jade’s eyes focus on me and recognition sets in, she begins to ramble, “Hunter! I’m so sorry. I thought you were some jerk looking for a beating. I didn’t mean to almost hit you.”

  Meaning it as a joke, I say, “Wouldn’t be the first time you take a swing at me.” I instantly regret my words when a shadow settles over her features. Her lips begin to form the words, but I interrupt her, “Don’t apologize, Jade. It’s in the past.”

  “Okay,” she murmurs. Then she darts forward and wraps her arms around my waist in a tight hug. “Another one down,” she teases as she pulls back, making me grin at her.

  Jade’s eyes sweep over my body, then she asks, “I didn’t see you when I came in, but it looks like you’re done with your workout.”

  “I just finished a cardio session,” I explain. “You in the mood to spar?”

  Jade tilts her head at me, a smile tugging at her lips. “Do you seriously want to get on the floor with me?”

  Get on the floor with me. Those are the only words registering right now as heat sweeps through my body, sending my blood rushing through my veins.

  I’d be stone cold and dead not to admit that I find Jade attractive.

  Okay, fine, more than attractive.

  She’s every man’s wet dream.

  The thought makes me scowl at the students around us to make sure no one is ogling her.

  “Yeah.” I have to clear my throat when the word sounds like my voice is breaking all over again.

  “Okay.” Jade gives me a don’t cry later look and grabs protective headgear.

  I strap on a pair of gloves, and once I have my own headgear on, I move onto a mat. “Show me what you’ve got, Bean.”

  A wide grin breaks over her face, and she jumps closer, tapping me on the shoulder with her glove.

  I roll my eyes at her. “Come on, don’t hold back now.”