A Reclusive Heart

by R. L. Mathewson

  expected her to follow after him like a puppy. Deciding against sitting in the car, mostly because it would look like she was pouting, she followed him to the front door.

  “Um, where exactly are we?” she asked.

  He looked over his shoulder at her and ran his gaze over her, making her feel like a bug under a microscope. Finally he looked at her face and sighed as if it pained him to speak with her. “We’re here because you need a complete overhaul and I don’t have the time to do it. So, I’m going to ask a friend of mine to do it for me.”

  Fire scorched her cheeks as embarrassment once again won over frustration.

  She knew she wasn’t exactly a prize, but would it kill the man to sugarcoat it for her? Perhaps a few white lies here and there?

  “Oh,” was her only response.

  The front door opened to reveal a man with more muscles than any one human needed. He looked Nick over and nodded his acknowledgement before turning his gaze to her and frowned.

  A bodyguard? What kind of friend that would help with her appearance needed a bodyguard? Then it hit her. He was bringing her to one of his many lady friends. A model perhaps? She’d heard about him. Heck, she saw the man operate a month ago when she attended that meeting. He seemed to hit on every waitress at the restaurant. It was kind of insulting to say the least.

  “Who exactly are we meeting with?” she whispered, feeling suddenly nervous under the bodyguard’s glare.

  “Dana Pierce,” Nick said casually as if he were ordering a burger.

  Her brows shot up and her heart practically leapt out of her chest. He brought her to the home of Dana Pierce! Was he insane? The woman was a world famous author and actress and did she mention the woman had been in Maxim magazine a total of five times? Nope. She couldn’t and wouldn’t do this. Next to Dana Pierce she would look like dog food.

  She turned to leave only to have the back of her coat grabbed. In seconds she was being dragged inside a house that had a surprisingly down to earth feeling to it.

  “Hey! Let me go!” she hissed.

  “I don’t have time for this, Miss. Harris,” Nick said unapologetically.

  “Uncle Nick!” several small boys yelled excitedly.

  He released her, causing her to stumble. With the help of the bodyguard she avoided going head first into the front door.

  “Thank you,” she mumbled.

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.”

  Jamie brushed her coat down and turned around to see two little shirtless boys around four years old happily latch onto Nick’s legs. An older boy, also shirtless, who looked to be around eight or nine, hugged Nick, careful of his smaller brothers. There was no doubt that they were brothers. She would have known that instantly even without knowing Edward and Dana Pierce had three sons and one daughter. They looked exactly alike and exactly like Edward. That was kind of interesting considering the oldest one was not Edward Pierce’s biologically son. It was kind of eerie.

  As discretely as she could she did a quick glance over the oldest boy. She remembered the incident that occurred five years ago with this little boy. Everyone heard about it. It was hard to turn on the television or pick up a paper or magazine for a month after it happened without seeing a reminder. A babysitter from a well known and trusted agency had a little alcohol and drug party with a guy in this very house and left the two young children alone. As a result the little boy suffered severe burns when he tried to cook food for himself and his sister.

  After that incident a new law was enacted called the Cole Child First Act. It required all California agencies that dealt with the care of a child, handicapped or elderly person to do a federal background search on employees instead of a simple state background check. Monthly drug tests were now mandatory and the laws were tougher. From what she read she was pretty sure the woman who caused Cole’s injury was still doing time along with her boyfriend.

  At least it looked like the boy didn’t have any scars. She shifted her gaze away quickly. No need for people to think that she was some sick-o or something.

  Though, she was sure that she wasn’t the only one who threw the kid curious looks.

  “Where’s your mom, Cole?” Nick asked.

  Cole stepped back and gestured towards the kitchen.

  “Alright, guys. I have to go talk to your mom, but I’ll see you early tomorrow afternoon at your game. Okay?” he said as he bent forward so he could look Cole in the eye.

  Cole beamed. “Can we feed the ducks afterwards like last time?”

  “We sure can, buddy,” Nick said with a fond smile for the boy. He kissed Cole on the cheek and the two little ones on the top of the head before he gestured for her to follow him.

  She was starting to feel kind of awkward being in someone else’s house without an introduction. That feeling of awkwardness was nothing like what she experienced when they walked into the kitchen.

  They walked in on Edward and Dana Pierce during a hot and heavy make out session! To make matters worse they didn’t stop. Dana pierce cupped her husband’s face as she practically devoured his mouth while he cupped her backside, holding her tightly against him.

  Well, at least she could easily say those magazines that Caitlyn read were wrong. Edward and Dana Pierce did not seem to be on the verge of an ugly divorce.

  In fact, it looked like they were on the verge of tearing each other’s clothes off.

  She turned around, not sure who she should be more embarrassed for, her or them. Nick on the other hand didn’t seem to be too worried. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him lean back against the wall and cross his arms over his chest. He looked almost bored.

  “If I could interrupt you for a moment?” Nick said, grabbing her arm when embarrassment demanded that she make a run for it. He pulled her back and in one swift move had her turned around so she could face the couple they just walked in on. Did this make her a peeping tom?

  Instead of looking angry at the interruption they looked amused. Edward pressed a sweet kiss to Dana’s mouth and nose before stepping back.

  “You know,” Edward drawled as he leaned against the counter, “most people would have just walked out and given us a few minutes. Maybe knocked on the door or something.”

  “Sorry,” Jamie muttered automatically, still not quite meeting their eyes.

  “Who’s this?” Dana Pierce asked in friendly tone? Jamie wasn’t sure mostly because her ears were still burning from embarrassment.

  “Oh,” Nick said as if she was an afterthought. “This is the favor I need your help with.”

  “Does this favor have a name or are we all supposed to follow your rude example? Honestly Nick, sometimes I wonder why I love you so much,” Dana said, stepping forward.

  “Hey!” Edward snapped.

  Nick grinned hugely.

  She rolled her eyes playfully at her husband. “Don’t give me that look, you know I have a soft spot for Nick.”

  “That’s funny, because I have a hard-” Nick began only to be cut off by Dana slapping a hand over his mouth.

  Dana smiled warmly as she looked at Jamie. “I’m sorry that my very rude friend here is being, well….himself. I’m Dana and this is my husband Edward.

  We’re very please to meet you…..,” she prompted smoothly.

  “Jamie Harris,” she managed to answer.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Jamie. Would you care for something to drink?”

  “No, thank you,” she said, feeling really nervous and wishing Nick would release her so she could make a run for the car or the border, whichever was more convenient.

  Dana nodded, turning her attention back to Nick. “I’m going to remove my hand now. Behave yourself,” she warned sternly, but the smile she gave him kind of defeated the tone.

  “Now tell me what this favor is that you need,” Dana said, walking back to her husband to lean into him. Edward’s arm automatically came around her waist to hold her.

  Jamie had to look away again, feeling like she
was intruding on another private moment. It was obvious that this couple was madly in love. Something she would never experience.

  Wow, that was a really depressing thought.

  “I need you to take Miss. Harris out for a complete makeover.”

  Dana frowned as she looked back at Jamie. No doubt she too thought it was a hopeless task.

  “Not that I could ever say no to you-“

  “You better be able to say no to him,” Edward practically growled, making Dana smile.

  “-but do you mind telling me why she needs a makeover and what it’s for so I know where to focus?”

  Nick sighed. “She’s an editor, well really an author Rerum has signed and I’m her editor. I need to get her ready for some PR, but I don’t have much time.”

  Dana frowned, looking thoughtful. “Have I read anything you wrote?”

  Nick chuckled. “Most likely, but she writes under a penname.”

  “Oh, what name?” Edward asked, kissing the top of Dana’s head.

  “J.L. Lewis,” Nick announced to her horror.

  Why must the man do things like this? Did he enjoy humiliating her? First with the tampon and the toilet shield, then he put her down in Rick’s office for a good half an hour. Now he was determined to have a good laugh at her expense.

  Like Dana Pierce really knew who she was. Puhlease. That was so ridicu”The J.L. Lewis of the Immortals on Earth series and Vampires of the Heart series?” Dana Pierce asked with a deadly serious expression.

  Wow, Jamie thought, Dana Pierce heard about her books. That was pretty cool. Maybe she had some advice or something about her books. Of course she probably only heard about her series from Rick. Jamie really doubted someone like Dana Pierce actually read her work.

  “That’s her,” Nick said casually.

  Dana’s jaw dropped.

  Jamie became worried.

  “Honey? Are you okay?” Edward asked.

  Not bothering to answer, Dana rushed towards her scaring the crap out of her. Dana took Jamie’s hands into hers as she gushed, “I am such a huge fan of yours! Oh my god, you have to sign something!”

  Chapter 4

  “You know, you don’t have to do this,” Jamie mumbled.

  The two women who’d practically dragged her here, slowly turned around, looking horrified. “I love makeovers!” Amy Benet, Edward Pierce’s baby sister, gushed.

  Dana chuckled. “She’s just hoping we let her out of this.” She gave Jamie a warm smile. “Don’t worry. This will be fun.”

  Jamie wasn’t so sure of that as she glanced past the two women towards the open floor of the upscale beauty parlor.

  “Besides Rerum Publishing is paying for this so I say enjoy it,” Dana said with a firm nod.

  Amy quickly agreed, making her fight back a smile. These two women were nothing like she expected. Never in a million years had she expected that Dana Pierce would drag through her house to her private office so that Jamie could autograph a piece of paper for her. Nor did she expect Dana to call her sister-in-law and brag rather excitedly that J.L. Lewis was in her house. That of course made the other woman screech and demand that no one move until she got there.

  Now they were embarking on what could only be described as a day of torture. The other two women argued with Nick for over an hour about what needed to be done. When Nick explained what he wanted done she frowned along with the other two women. Even Edward Pierce looked a little confused. The way he explained it she could have sworn he expected her to turn out nerdish.

  Thankfully the other two women shot him down. When he argued, Dana enlisted the help of her three boys and little girl to chase a laughing Nick out of the house with water guns. The new game plan now was hair, makeup, laser eye surgery if it turned out she was a candidate and then clothes.

  Jamie didn’t have much hope, but didn’t say anything. She knew she wasn’t pretty. Caitlyn was the pretty sister. Everyone always said so. Jamie was the smart one, the responsible one. It was the role she was born into and accepted it without complaint. Never once had she even considered, well not really at least, having a makeover. What was the point? There wasn’t enough makeup in the world to turn this ugly duckling into a swan. No point in wasting her money.

  She didn’t want to waste Rerum Publishing’s money either, but the two women were so excited and happy to do this with her that she couldn’t bring herself to tell them it was pointless. She just hoped when this was all over that they weren’t too disappointed.

  ******

  Nick glanced at his watch as he stepped out of the car.

  “Shit,” he muttered as he headed for the front door. It was a quarter to nine and he was more than two hours late in picking Jamie up. Dana was going to be pissed, but there was no helping it. He just spent the last eleven hours on the phone, computer and overseeing five assistants all so he could make J.L. Lewis’

  introduction to the world perfect, smooth.

  This was the big chance he’d been waiting for and he wasn’t about to let anyone mess it up, not even J.L. Lewis herself, especially not J.L. This was his big break. This was his “Dana Pierce.” When he was done, everyone was going to know who J.L. was and it would all be thanks to him.

  Before he got the chance to knock on the door it was pulled open. A disheveled looking Dana stood in the doorway with a silk pink robe wrapped around her body. Her lips were puffy and glistened from a recent kiss and her hair was mused.

  He couldn’t help but smile. “Did I interrupt something?” he asked innocently.

  Dana blew out an exasperated breath, sending a strand of hair out of her face. “You’re late.”

  “Aw, were you waiting for me? Does Edward need some help?”

  “I seemed to manage just fine on my own,” Edward said, walking into the large living room, wearing nothing but a pair of unbuttoned jeans and a shit eating grin.

  Nick frowned as a thought occurred to him. As hot and heavy as Edward and Dana were for each other they would never ignore a guest to play mattress leap frog.

  “Where’s Miss. Harris?” he asked.

  Edward wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her back into his body.

  “The girls dropped her off at her car a couple of hours ago.”

  “Damn it! Why didn’t someone tell me? I need to see her tonight and see how things turned out so I know how we should proceed with press releases.”

  Dana shrugged. “We did call you, but she wanted to go home and I don’t blame her. She was really upset.”

  “Upset?” Crap. The makeover hadn’t helped one bit and the little recluse was heartbroken. No doubt she thought a snip here and there and a little blush was going to perform miracles. He could have told her not to expect much, but wouldn’t that have just been cruel?

  “She had a big shock tonight, Nick. Just leave her alone and let her get used to it, okay?” Dana, always sweet, kind and considerate, said. If only he could listen to her, but he couldn’t. He had a job to do and that meant going over to Miss. Harris’

  apartment and seeing how much damage control he had to do. If it was really bad he’d have the photographer do some touch ups after the photo shoot tomorrow.

  Normally he’d invite himself in and make a nuisance of himself to mess with his friends, but tonight he had work to do. After thanking them for all their help, even though it probably hadn’t done much, then again he hadn’t expected much, he made his way over to Miss. Harris’ apartment.

  He wasn’t entirely surprised to discover the little recluse lived in an average city neighborhood. There wasn’t much to set this place apart. It looked to have a convenient store, a package store and a small bakery that promised half off coffee rolls every Thursday with the purchase of a large coffee.

  Even her building was average, a three level brick building with a basic security door and buzzer. There was absolutely nothing special about it. He walked up the two front steps and looked over the apartment listings. Not surprising that the little reclus
e lived on the third floor. It was out of the way and the perfect floor for a little hermit.

  He pressed the button marked “J. Harris,” and waited. When no response came he hit the buzzer again.

  “Hello?” Miss. Harris’ voice sounded from the raspy speakers.

  “Miss. Harris, it’s Nick Quinn. You were supposed to wait for me so that we could go over your schedule for the next four weeks.”