Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers Book 1)

by Ahren Sanders

  “Two days, Stephanie. Two days is all it took for me to fall completely back in love with her. Losing her again isn’t an option.”

  “Then, don’t fuck this up.”

  The line goes dead, and I drop my phone on my desk. The stack of paperwork calling for my attention is going to have to wait. The scent of Darby clings to me, inducing more memories. I told Stephanie it took two days to fall back in love with her, but the truth is, I never fell out of love. A familiar pain seizes in my chest at not knowing what I’m up against. This may be the fight of my life, but like I said, losing her again isn’t an option.

  •—•—•—•—•

  When I get out of my truck, I follow the sound of barking from behind the shed. Edward and Darby are tossing a rope-like toy back and forth, and Runner is going crazy trying to catch it mid-air. Annie stands on the porch with a drink in her hand and a smile on her face. She catches sight of me, her smile growing wider, and tips her drink in my direction. I jerk my chin and don’t hesitate to head their way.

  Darby gives in, throwing the rope high in the air for Runner, and when he catches it, he sprints to her, jumping in her arms and setting her off balance. They both go down, and I halt when she hits the ground hard, her body bouncing up.

  “Runner, no!” I scream, racing to her, fitting myself between the overly excited dog and her body. He takes this as an invitation to play more and pounces on my back. “Runner, stop!”

  Darby’s eyes grow wide, and Runner stops moving, slinking to her side.

  “Are you okay?” I scan over her face, neck, chest, and arms, cradling her head in my hand.

  “I’m fine. We were playing.”

  “He took you down rough.”

  “We do this all the time.”

  “You could have been hurt.”

  “I braced.”

  “Baby, that dog could seriously crush you with that much momentum and strength.”

  “You’re overreacting.” Her eyes roll to the sky.

  “Let me help you up.” I slide my other arm around her waist and stand, taking her with me. When she’s steady on her feet, I twist her. There’s a spot of red seeping through her shirt, and I pull the material up to see a long scratch on her lower back.

  “Pierce,” she hisses, trying to wiggle away.

  “Don’t move.”

  “Put my shirt down. Did you forget my parents are here?”

  “I’m inspecting a cut, not ripping your clothes off… yet.” I throw in the last part where only she can hear.

  Her face heats, and she slaps at my hand. Runner rounds our legs, butting up to me.

  “You’ve hurt his feelings. He’s not used to getting yelled at.” She shifts, squatting down and giving the dog a hug. His eyes stay on me, and I swear that dog looks as if he’s ready to cry. His sad expression hits me square in the chest. I kneel next to her and rub his head a few times.

  “It’s okay, boy, but you’ve got to be more careful.” He actually nods in understanding, nuzzling his face in my palm.

  “What are you doing here?” I don’t miss the wince when she stands again.

  “I told you I’d see you tonight.”

  “I guess I thought you’d call first or come after dark.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Less chance of being seen.”

  “I’m not hiding anything, Darby. Are you?”

  She glances down, to the sides, over my shoulder, and finally to me. Her eyes are filled with doubt and insecurity. “It’s probably better for you.”

  “Let me worry about what’s best for me.”

  “We don’t want to give people the wrong impression.”

  I step back into her space, frame her face with my hands, and enjoy the look of shock when she realizes what’s about to happen right before I lower my mouth to hers. She tenses, her body stone still as I run my lips across hers several times. My tongue darts out, and I groan at the taste of toffee and caramel. “You taste delicious,” I murmur.

  A throat clears behind us, and I nibble on her lower lip lightly before turning back to Edward and Annie. Edward’s arm is around Annie’s shoulders, and she is leaning into him with a look that takes me back in time. She’s happy, relaxed, and completely unfazed with my show of affection.

  “Pierce, you want to come inside for a drink?” Edward offers.

  “Actually, I’m going to make Darby dinner. Can I take a rain check?”

  “Sure,” Annie answers, beaming bright.

  “Runner, come on.” I pat my thigh, and he trots ahead of us as I lead Darby back to the shed.

  She remains quiet. Even after I’ve unloaded the groceries out of my truck and made my way around her kitchen, she’s staring off into space.

  “Darby, something on your mind?”

  “I’m not sure what just happened. You drove up to my house, yelled at my dog, touched me tenderly, and then proceeded to kiss me in front of my parents.”

  “Play by play tells me you know exactly what happened.”

  “But why?”

  “Why what? Which part?”

  “All of it?”

  “I came to make you dinner. Runner could have hurt you so, on instinct, I yelled, and I kissed you because this morning was a fuck of a long time ago. I missed you.”

  “You missed me?”

  “That surprise you?”

  “Well, yes, actually, it does.”

  “Have a seat, baby. Let me get you a drink.” I go to her bar.

  “This is weird.”

  “Don’t make it weird. I want to make you dinner, talk about our days, then take you to bed where I plan to make sure nothing is weird.”

  She gives a few shakes of her head, raising her eyes to mine and taking a few seconds as the idea settles over her. “Okay, Pierce, tell me about your day.”

  I uncork the red wine and pour her a glass, taking it to her before going back to chopping vegetables. “It started out fantastic. I went to the office and had a mountain of paperwork to look over. My assistant didn’t quit, which is an added bonus. Made a few phone calls, then hit the field.”

  “Is your assistant usually a flight risk?”

  “Andi’s a little sensitive.”

  “Which means you fly off the handle a lot?”

  I chuckle, flashing her a grin, and dump my mushrooms and onions in a skillet. “Depends on who you ask.”

  She giggles, sipping her wine and coming around the island. “Can I help?”

  “Yeah, you can get your ass back on a barstool and tell me about your day.”

  She grabs forks, knives, and napkins, sets her small table, and shuffles back to a stool, sliding on and twirling her glass between her fingers. Her teeth work over her bottom lip, which tells me she has something to ask. “You have something else on your mind?”

  “Well, you didn’t mention your kids. Did you talk to them?” It’s not lost on me how she forces the question.

  I tense, knowing this is going to be a delicate issue for a long time. “I did. Spoke to them twice. They’re already planning the last week of school, asking to skip the final day.

  “Understandable.” She gulps her wine this time, avoiding my eyes.

  Even though she brought it up, we’re quickly heading into dangerous territory. “Tell me about your day.”

  A small grin forms on her lips. “It was interesting. I made it to the luncheon in time. Your cookies were a hit. Jill kept shooting looks my way, and my face was probably red the whole time.”

  “Mom doesn’t know the meaning of subtle.”

  “I’m pretty certain, at one point, she actually sniffed me.”

  I bark out a laugh and drop the garlic butter in the pan, followed by the steaks. “Did you have fun?”

  “It was nice, but I’m kinda sick of being the center of attention. This was Mrs. Asley’s day, but I still found myself in the spotlight.”

  “People are proud of you, Darby. It’ll die down soon.” I glance over my shoulder
to her.

  “Yeah, you’re right. But people are a little too curious.”

  I concentrate on searing the steak, tending to the vegetables, and getting everything plated before I move to the subject that has been eating at me since I hung up with Stephanie. “Let’s eat.” I grab a beer on my way to her table and almost hit my knees when she lets out a low, throaty groan on her first bite.

  My cock springs to life, and I can’t tear my eyes from her face. She’s chewing slowly, and when she swallows, her gaze is burning into mine.

  “Where did you learn to cook like this?”

  “If you want to finish, you need to quit looking at me like that.”

  A sly grin forms on her lips as she puts another bite in her mouth and moans seductively. She’s testing me and, any other time, I’d yank her up and fuck her on the sofa to take the edge off. Food be damned. But I have a mission tonight. I drop into the chair and circle my fingers around her wrist. “Behave.”

  “Fine, I’ll hold back all moans of appreciation until later.”

  “Good idea.” I kiss the inside of her wrist and let it go, cutting into my steak. “I like what you’ve done with the shed. It’s quite a showplace.”

  “Spoken like a true contractor,” she teases. “You always were a sucker for the finer details.”

  This is the truth and one of the reasons why it took me so long to redesign my home. “When did you redecorate?”

  She scrunches her eyebrows and counts down on her fingers. “I’m guessing four years ago. Mom and I were walking through a home design store, and I ran across that set of pillows.” She points to the oversized pillows on her sofa with nautical designs. “They were the inspiration, and we knew right away this place could use a facelift. It took three months of shopping, comparing notes, and finally, it all came together. I drove down for a week, and we worked hard, but the end result was exactly as we pictured it.”

  “The two of you did it alone?”

  “Not really. Stephanie came with me. Dad and Evin were hands-on, too. Dad had the cabinets painted, the new fixtures in place, and new counters installed before I got here.”

  “What about the double crown molding and the light fixtures.”

  “Boy, you don’t miss anything.”

  “I built this place originally. I remember everything.”

  “Yeah, that was all us. Like I said, we worked hard.”

  It scalds inside, knowing I could have had a crew over here and finished in less than two days, but I keep it to myself. It’s another reminder of how the Grahams distanced themselves.

  “Evin teased it could no longer be named the shed, considering we made it into a coastal chic paradise, but I’ve never wanted to change the name.”

  “It is the nicest shed I’ve ever seen.”

  “Thanks, I enjoy it.”

  I take a long drag of my beer and push forward. “Do you think you’ll decorate your new place in the same way?”

  Her eyes widen, her skin pales, and the look on her face confirms what I feared.

  “No, I don’t think so,” she whispers, setting her fork down.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “How did you know?”

  “I had my suspicions, but no confirmation until this moment.”

  “Suspicions?”

  “Small details that, alone, would raise questions, but once put together, they are glowing signs. You’ve got boxes stacked in your closet labeled personal items that you have yet to unpack. Today, in your bakery, I grabbed cookie sheets from a Rubbermaid storage bin when you have shelves lining your walls for all your supplies. I noticed Runner’s tags on his collar don’t reflect an address, only your phone number, and today, a request came across my desk that Mr. Baldwin is looking for bids to do renovations on the building you are leasing. The project notes don’t include a bakery expansion.”

  “I guess your ability to seek the finer details isn’t restricted to construction.”

  “Full disclosure, I also called Stephanie this morning.”

  This time, her eyes bulge, and panic washes over her features.

  “She wouldn’t tell me anything. Her loyalty to you is strong, which ironically gives me peace of mind that you have someone like her in your life.”

  “She’s the best, but why did you call her?”

  “I had my reasons. You know she gave me her card, told me I’d need her when the truth came out. She was right. I needed her, but unfortunately, we didn’t get far.”

  She nods, not surprised. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her what happened between us. We were supposed to talk tonight.”

  “I think I gave her the run-down, and she knows where I stand.”

  “I’m sure she loved that,” she replies sadly.

  “I’m right, aren’t I? You’re planning to leave?”

  She nods again, and this time, a slice of pain slashes through my sides. Nothing could have prepared me for what she says next.

  “Let me start at the beginning…”

  For the next half-hour, I listen intently, hanging on to every word about how Darby created her business in Charlotte, built her clientele, and proceeded to impress the right people along the way. She stays on the topic of her business, but I pick up on the holes in the story where she pushed herself harder around the times my kids were born. When she gets to the event last November that led her straight into the direction of Brasher Resorts, my body tenses, knowing this is what Stephanie couldn’t tell me about.

  Darby talks about the job opportunity with as much enthusiasm as if she was talking about the weather, showing no emotion. The only time her voice hitches is when she mentions relocating across the country. That pain spreads through my body, intensifying so deep, my vision goes cloudy.

  “Aspen?”

  “Aspen,” she confirms.

  “When did you sign the contract?”

  She fidgets, avoiding my question, and I’m forced to sit still, waiting her out. Finally, she admits, “Tuesday evening, I gave my commitment to Stephanie. Wednesday, I spent the day with Evin, going over financials and actually signing the contract with a notary and witness.”

  The weight of her answer pounds into my head, and I drop my chin to my chest, fighting for air. Tuesday night… The night she saw us at Rosen’s. The first time she saw me with my kids… Miller’s hateful words thrown at her… Connie… then her showing up at my place. The vulgar things I said in my kitchen. The way she ran, not returning home and going straight to Evin yesterday morning.

  “Fucking shit.” Reality crashes down, and absolutely everything Stephanie said clicks into place.

  “Now, you know it all.”

  “You’re leaving me again.”

  “That’s not true, and you know it. I wasn’t meant to come back to this town long term. You and I can never get back what we had.”

  “Why not? The past hurts like hell, but the thought of losing you again hurts worse.” I pin her with my glare.

  “As much as I wish that were true, it’s not. There is no place for me in your life, Pierce.” Her eyes glisten, and her lips tremble. “I’m sorry it’s gone this far.”

  “That’s bullshit, Darby. I love you.”

  Her body jerks forward. “You love me?”

  “I told you this last night, but you refused to listen.”

  “You said a lot of things last night.”

  “Did you hear any of them?”

  “Yes,” she admits faintly.

  “Then you heard me say I was going to make things right with us.”

  “You did, Pierce. Things are right, but it doesn’t change anything.”

  Irritation spikes in my blood, and I grab our plates, taking them to the sink before I say something rash. She comes to my side, lightly gripping my chin and bringing my face to hers. “I understand if you want to leave. Let me handle the dishes.”

  I turn, taking her into my arms and crushing her body to mine. “I’m proud of you, Darby,” I tell her th
e truth because, regardless of the emotional upheaval in my brain, she deserves to hear this. “But you need to know; I’m not giving up.”

  “Pierce—”

  “No.” The hesitation in her voice sets my nerves on edge. “You’re not pushing me away this time.”

  “You have to understand—”

  This time, I cut her off by closing my mouth over hers. Her tongue curls around mine without a fight, and she sinks against me. I kiss her gently, sending her a message. She’s not convinced we can survive this, but there is no way in hell she’s getting away from me again. Slowly, I break away, skimming my lips over hers and feeling the warm pants of her breath. “Baby, there’s a change of plans. I do need to go home.”

  She stiffens, yanks back, and turns away, but not before I spot the disappointment on her face. “I understand,” comes out shakily.

  “I don’t think you do. If we’re going to Aspen in two weeks for you to meet with your new team, I need to start making arrangements tonight.”

  “We?”

  “You don’t think I’m letting you go across the country to make the biggest announcement of your career without me, do you?”

  “Why would you do that? It’s going to complicate things even more.”

  “It is, but clue in; things are going to be complicated until we figure this out.”

  “Pierce, figuring this out is an impossible scenario. It’s doomed.”

  “A month ago, I would have agreed, but after last night, having you back, I know differently.”

  She blows out a ragged breath and face plants into my chest. “There is no way this is a good idea. Clearing the air and having phenomenal sex doesn’t make our problems disappear. We have no future.”

  For the first time in an hour, I find myself grinning. “Phenomenal sex and the fact that I love you are two reasons we will have a future.”

  She mumbles something about bad decisions, delusional intentions, and insanity into my shirt. What she doesn’t do is argue or move away.

  Now, I need to figure out a way to pull off a miracle.

  Chapter 13

  Darby

  A small whimper of gratitude escapes as soon as my feet hit the warm soapy water. My nail technician smiles, sets the whirlpool function, and leaves me to soak. I settle back in the massaging chair and try to relax, shoving all thoughts of responsibility to the back of my mind.