The Heart Read Online Free Page A

behind aviators, and he was jean-clad with a simple white t-shirt. He was a wet dream as he tapped out his kickstand in old dusty work boots and killed the ignition. I stood stunned for a moment before my sister cleared her throat. Hesitant to look in her direction, both Dean and Dallas stared at me with amused expressions, Dean even more so as he tapped the hood of his Jaguar with a lifted brow.
    “Yeah, I can see how you wouldn’t find him interesting,” Dallas said with a knowing smirk. “Now look, honey,” Dallas said sarcastically, “all the grown-ups are occupied this weekend. You are just going to have to find a way to entertain yourself.” She blew me a kiss before she joined Dean in the car. Just as she shut her door, he pushed an exaggerated foot on the gas and shot out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell, honking as they passed Jack. I laughed at them before I caught sight of Jack and fully drank him in.
    I could still feel the rumble of that bike vibrate through me as he approached with a lady-killer smile. “Was that Dallas and Dean? They said they might take off. I bet they’ll love Shreveport. It’s no Nola, but it’ll do in a pinch.”
    Jack stopped to stand in front of me. The bright, early morning sun made me squint as I looked at him. With his shades still on, it was hard to gauge what he was thinking, and I suddenly felt like a slob. Very aware my hair was still wet, an involuntary shiver danced through the top of my shoulders. I held my hand up to shield my eyes and tilted my head to get a better look at him.
    “Ah, so it was your idea for my sister and her husband to gamble away my niece and nephew’s future.”
    “Guilty,” he admitted with a slow grin.
    “Well,” I said, “good for you. I guess a guilty conscience doesn’t bother you.”
    “Not often, no.” He smiled fully. “Everyone’s got to roll the dice at least once.” He looked toward the way of Dean’s now invisible car then back at me. “How’s that tongue of yours?”
    I froze, completely affected by him and his clean scent: a mix of something heavenly with a little sun and sweat. Beads of perspiration knotted on the smooth white scar above his top lip, and I was tempted to wipe them away so I could get a better look.
    “It’s much better. Thank you.”
    Live a little. Ask him over for dinner. Something simple. You can make that four step goulash. It will be informal. It’s just dinner. He’s alone, you’re alone, just a simple invite. You promised yourself, Rose.
    Jack cleared his throat just as an eighteen-wheeler made a slow climb to the circular drive in front of the center.
    “Well,” Jack said as he stole a glance at the intrusive truck before he turned back to me, “that’s my cue.”
    And I’d just missed mine.
    Still standing in front of him, gathering my courage, I went to speak as he lifted his hands to his sunglasses, sliding them off slowly so our eyes met before turning them to place them on me with the same slow precision. “These look better on you. How about you hold on to them for me.”
    Stunned at the personal gesture and relieved at the renewed ability of sight, I drank him in one last time. “If you need me, you know where to find me.”
    He nodded and tucked his full bottom lip under his teeth then scraped it slowly before he released it.
    “You’ll find my phone number on an extra set of golf cart keys in the break room,” I added, throwing my shoulders back, a move I often did when I was nervous and had no need to be. Except the minute I did it, my chest bounced slightly and he noticed.
    “Sounds good,” he said as the driver of the truck jumped out of the cab and walked toward us.
    You are running out of time.
    “Thanks for the loan,” I said as I pointed to the glasses like an idiot. His full smile was my reply as I dismissed myself then made my way back to the cart on shaky legs.

Jack
    Loyalty is a bitch I would love to screw.
    And as I watched Rose walk away,