Longing Hearts (Healing Hearts Book 2)

by Maxene Novak

  Fuuck! Clearly Heather was not going to make this easy on him. Evan shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think about something else. Even before he opened his eyes he knew that she’d stepped closer to him. It was like he was suddenly in tune with her body and aware of her every move. He opened his eyes to find her just inches away from him. His fingers were itching for him to touch her but he wouldn’t let himself. Not now. Not today. One day in the near future, maybe…hopefully…but not today.

  “Heather, trust me when I say I want this to happen, but not today. I don’t think that either of us are ready for what it would mean if we were together.”

  Heather took a step back and a look of guilt took over. “Oh my god, Evan, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. It’s just been a really long time for me, and you’ve been so nice, and I guess my hormones just took over my brain for a second. Shit. What was I thinking? You’re married and I know you love Blake.”

  Evan stepped closer and took both of Heather’s arms in his hands, and caressed them gently to soothe her. “Hey, hey. Slow down. First of all, I think you’re taking what I said the wrong way. You’re right. I am married to Blake and I do love him, but he loves us both. I haven’t been kidding about that. What I am saying is if something is going to happen between me and you it has to be because we truly care for each other; not just some sexual hookup.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Can we sit?” Evan gestured to the bench under the bay window. Heather walked over and sat down, and he took a seat beside her. “Remember when I told you that Blake let me know he was in love with you when we started dating? That I’ve always known he loves you?” Heather nodded. “Well, we agreed well before we ever decided to get married that if he ever had the chance to love you again we would both be okay with it. We also agreed that there was a possibility we might both love you. You yourself said you see similarities in us, and the way he talked about you… I always imagined you to be easy to love. I felt like I got to know the woman he loved through his stories, and if you were even half the woman he described I knew it couldn’t be anything but joy to bring you into our life together. Now that I’ve met you I’ve got a strong feeling I was right already, but I had planned for the three of us to get to know each other better before anything like us kissing happened. That was just—”

  “Instinct,” Heather interjected. “I felt it too. Like we were drawn together.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “I thought that was just me.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. Not just you.”

  Evan smiled. “You know, you don’t seem as freaked out about this as I thought you’d be. Especially since I wound up spilling the beans so much sooner than I thought I’d need to.”

  Heather shrugged. “I watched my best friend and two men fall in love with each other. Some people might think it’s strange, but I’ve seen them together and the three of them share a love that would make even the biggest romantics in the history of the world jealous. So, I understand that love between three people can exist, and it can be fantastic. Doesn’t mean it’s easy. Hell, relationships are hard enough between two people who love each other.”

  “That’s true,” Evan agreed, “but if you love the person or people you’re with, I think it’s worth the effort.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “So, your best friend, that’s Lorie right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “How does she feel about you staying here with me and Blake?”

  Heather’s face turned beet red but she didn’t say anything.

  “Oh, come on.” Evan nudged her. “After that reaction I have to know what she said.”

  “She said I needed to hurry up and jump both of your bones. That it would be a disservice to women everywhere if I left here without having my way with two hot motherfuckers like the two of you.”

  Evan just stared at her for a second, then he threw his head back and burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from the corners of his eyes. “Oh my god! I have got to get to know your friend better. I am certain I need her in my life. If she talks like that all of the time, I am going to love her.”

  “Actually, she did text me earlier wanting the three of us to have dinner with her, Clay, and Spencer.”

  “That sounds great. I’m sure Blake would be happy to meet your friends too.” Evan looked at his watch. “Actually, he should be home any minute.”

  “Alright. I’ll let Lorie know that we can make it.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Evan left her to make her phone call and went to the living room to wait for Blake. Hopefully his husband wouldn’t be too upset with him for spilling the beans so soon, but he felt a hundred pounds lighter having come clean with Heather. He liked having all of his cards on the table. It left less of a mess to clean up if things weren’t brushed under the rug, and everything was definitely out in the open now.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Blake

  “I can’t believe you told her all of that so soon,” Blake whisper-shouted. He didn’t want Heather to hear, but he was not happy with his husband for telling Heather that he was hoping the three of them could work out some kind of relationship, even if it was exactly what he wanted. “Shit, Evan, it’s only her first day here. Now she thinks the only reason you or I offered to help her was to pull her into some three-way relationship.”

  “Calm down, Blake. That’s not what she thinks. She’d not opposed to the idea of three people being in a loving relationship. I think she was happy I was honest with her about what we want, what I want. If you want the two of us to get to know one another and possibly one day give this throuple thing a shot, don’t you think we should be honest with each other?”

  “Of course, but I just don’t want her to think our only motive for helping her is because we hope to gain something in return. I mean, you volunteered to help her before I ever knew she’d been hurt, but she might not believe that now that she knows I’m hoping she’ll want to be with us.”

  “Blake, I promise I don’t think that.” Heather’s voice had them both turning to face the hallway that led to the guest room. “I have no doubts about Evan’s sincerity when he demanded I allow him to care for me, or with what he shared with me earlier today. I promise you I’m not that cynical. If anything, I’m a romantic at heart. How else do you think I get through day after day reading and editing so many romance novels?”

  Heather smiled at them both, and Blake felt a great weight lift off his chest.

  “Also,” Heather added, “Lorie said dinner is at seven at her place.”

  “Her place?” Blake asked. “I thought she lived with someone.”

  “Two someones, actually. Clay and Spencer will be there too. Clay is adamant that her and Spencer refer to it as their home. I’m expecting a wedding sometime in the near future. That man does not move slow when he finds something he wants. Then again, the three of them all seem to be moving at the same speed. I guess that’s what happens when you find the people you’re supposed to spend your life with.”

  Heather winked at Evan and Evan turned his bright, cocky smile on Blake. “Yeah, yeah. I get it,” Blake said. “I overreacted. If we’re going to make it to this dinner on time we need to get ready.”

  Heather turned like she was going back to her room, but stopped and turned back to face Evan and Blake. “Oh, and just a little warning. My father might have died a long time ago, but Lorie is worse than any dad in history. Just, be prepared to get grilled when we get there.”

  Blake and Evan chuckled. “Oh, I remember how loud Lorie can be,” Blake said. “I’m sure she’ll use her best interrogation techniques on us. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

  Evan shrugged. “I’m not worried. She already loves me for taking care of her friend.”

  “Yeah, but that was before she found out you’re hoping I’ll fall for the both of you so you can get in my pants.”

  Both men look
ed at each other, then back to Heather in shock. “You didn’t,” Evan’s words came out as a whisper, but Heather heard them anyway.

  “Lorie and I don’t keep secrets from each other. If something big is happening in my life I’m going to share it with her. I’d say entertaining the idea of a three-way relationship is pretty big. Wouldn’t you?”

  “Yeah,” Evan and Blake said in unison.

  She turned and went back to her room, and Blake turned to his husband. He grabbed Evan by the face and pulled him in for a piercing kiss. “Did you hear that?” he asked with excitement lacing his tone. “She said she’s entertaining the idea of being with us!”

  Evan laughed and placed a chaste kiss on Blake’s lips. “Yeah, babe. I heard her. I guess it’s just me you’ll need to convince now.”

  “Whatever.” Blake playfully pushed Evan’s shoulder. “You were in the minute you decided to take off work and take care of her after her accident. You wouldn’t have done that otherwise. She’s hard not to fall for. Trust me, I know. I knew I loved her moments after meeting her. I’m beginning to think the same thing has happened to you.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready to say that yet, but I definitely like her and believe the potential for falling in love is there. And you were right, she is the most beautiful woman I’ve met. I’ve never wanted a woman like I found myself wanting her today. Maybe I just can’t say love at first sight because my heart was already full with love for you, and now it is working to expand itself to make room for the feelings that are growing for another.”

  Blake wrapped his arms around Evan’s neck and kissed him softly. “You know, you have a beautiful way with words. Sometimes I wonder if you should be the one working in the publishing industry instead of me.”

  Evan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Now, like you said, we better get ready if we’re going to make it to dinner on time. I get the feeling that Lorie wouldn’t take kindly to us showing up late.”

  “Ha. Yeah, not likely.”

  ***

  They pulled up to Lorie’s at ten minutes to seven. Since Blake was driving, Evan had insisted he sit in the back so Heather could sit up front. A point Heather wasted a good five minutes arguing over before Evan simply got in the back seat and locked the doors on both sides, leaving the front the only option for Heather to take. Blake had laughed at how similar the three of them were when it came to being stubborn.

  Evan was quick to hop out of the back and open the door for Heather, taking her hand as he helped her out of the car. They all walked up the steps to the door together, and Blake smiled when he looked down and saw Heather’s hand still in Evan’s with their fingers laced together. Evan raised his hand to knock at the same time Heather reached for the door and just walked in. She looked back at him with a smile and said, “You don’t knock when you’re family.”

  “Right.” It wasn’t the first time Blake had heard that phrase. It had taken him several months before he had finally learned not to knock when he went to see Heather at Lorie’s house. Lorie had chastised him repeatedly over knocking, telling him that he loved her BFF and that made him family, and family didn’t knock. And that had been before Heather’s own parents O.D.’d and Lorie’s family took her in permanently. He remembered Lorie threatening to slap him silly once if he made her get up to answer the door one more time. He laughed out loud at the memory, causing Heather and Evan to look over at him with questioning looks on their faces. “Just remembering something from a long time ago,” he said. He heard Heather laugh softly but she kept walking.

  When they entered the kitchen they found the blonde Blake had met the day of Heather’s accident, who he now knew to be Lorie, surrounded by two men. One stood in front of her with his arms wrapped around her front, his lips glued to hers, and another larger man behind her caressing her hips. Blake and Evan looked at each other with sly smiles.

  “Jesus,” Heather scolded them, “can’t the three of you keep it in your pants long enough to cook me some food?”

  Blake swore he heard the big guy growl before he turned to face Heather with a scowl on his face. Blake went to move in front of Heather instinctually feeling protective of her, but before he could the big man stuck his tongue out at Heather and they both started laughing. The other man gave Lorie one more kiss before he released her and looked up at them. “You’re early,” he said.

  Heather rolled her eyes. “Oh, so it’s our fault we walked in on the three of you practically devouring each other in the kitchen. Because we’re a few minutes early.”

  “I’m glad you see it from my perspective,” the man said with a smile, then he approached the three of them and held his hand out for Blake. “I’m Clay, and this is Spencer.” He gestured to the larger man. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Blake, and that’s my husband, Evan.” Evan held his hand out to shake the two mens’ hands as well. “Thanks for having us over for dinner,” Blake said looking between Clay and Spencer.

  “Okay, that’s enough of the formal introductions,” Lorie jumped in. “Now, give me a hug.” Before she had the words completely out of her mouth she was wrapping her arms around Evan’s neck, then she kissed him on the cheek. “It’s really nice to see you again, Evan.”

  “It’s great to see you too, Lorie.”

  Blake wasn’t surprised to see Lorie show Evan such affection. She’d been in the accident that caused Heather’s brain bleed, so she was well aware of the fact that Evan had been the paramedic who took care of Heather then. Evan had also discussed taking care of Heather with Lorie before Heather had even woken up. If he had to guess, Lorie was probably a bigger fan of Evan than she was of him at this point, so he was not surprised by the warmth she showed his husband. He was surprised, however, when she didn’t hesitate to walk right up to him and hug his neck just as she had Evan’s.

  “It’s been a long time,” she said. Then, closer to his ear she whispered, “You better not disappear this time.” She pulled back slightly and gave him a look that said if he did she’d hunt him down and end him.

  “I won’t,” he responded. He made sure to keep eye contact so that Lorie could see the sincerity in his words. When she nodded and gave him a small smile, he took that as a sign that she’d believed him.

  “If everyone’s done hugging, the food is ready and I’m hungry,” Spencer announced to everyone. Evan and Blake laughed lightly at the big guy. Blake was big, and Evan wasn’t exactly small, but he wouldn’t want to stand between Spencer and anything. The guy was huge and built like a brick shit house.

  ***

  Dinner was full of friendly conversation and laughter. Blake had always liked Lorie when they were kids, even if she could be intense, and that hadn’t changed in adulthood. The woman could make anyone laugh. Clay and Spencer were cool too. Spencer was the quieter one of the three, but when he did say something his dry wit usually left everyone laughing. It was during dessert that Lorie brought the conversation back to Blake.

  “So, what are your intentions with my friend, Blake?”

  “Lorie,” Heather ground her friend’s name out between clenched teeth.

  “What?” Lorie looked at Heather like she had no clue what she could be worried about.

  Blake placed a hand over Heather’s arm to get her attention. “It’s alright. I don’t blame her for asking. She’s just being a good friend. I’d expect nothing less from her.”

  Lorie spoke up again, “I’m asking because I see the way you look at her, and I know that look from high school. You are looking at her like you’re in love, but I know you and Evan are married and I see the love you have for him in your eyes too. You see why I have questions.”

  Heather jumped in again before Blake had the chance to respond. “You’re not serious. You are sitting between two men who you love. Two men you live with in a loving poly relationship.”

  “I know that, and I’m not judging,” Lorie said. “I’m just asking if that is what the three of you have. I met Spencer and Clay
around the same time and we grew together. I’m just curious how it works for you all when Evan presents an anomaly because he married Blake without ever knowing you; the two of you only recently met.”

  “Evan has always known about Heather,” Blake finally got the chance to speak. “He knows how much I love her and accepts it completely.”

  “So it will just be you and Heather dating while you’re also married to Evan?” Lorie asked.

  “I hope not,” Evan said. He reached for Heather’s hand, which was resting on the table by her plate and laced their fingers together. “Blake is telling the truth about me knowing about Heather. He’d told me enough that I feel like I know her too, and I know enough in meeting her to know I want to know her better.”

  Blake watched them and smiled when he saw Heather’s cheeks lightly flush pink as she smiled over at Evan and gave his hand a squeeze. Heather looked back to Lorie. “I like him too, and you have always known how I feel for Blake. That kind of love doesn’t ever go away. Nothing is written in stone yet, but I do know that I want to get to know Evan better and learn more about the man Blake is now, and I hope that our relationship will grow into something more as the three of us spend more time together.” Heather looked back and forth between Clay, Lorie, and Spencer with a smile. “If we are truly blessed we will grow into a love like the three of you have. I can’t think of anything more that I could hope for.”

  Blake had to blink away the moisture Heather’s words had caused to build up in his eyes. She wanted to try. She was going to give him another chance; give him and Evan a chance. He didn’t think before acting as he reached for Heather’s face and turned her towards him. His lips were on hers before she had a chance to question his actions. It only took a second for Heather’s body to relax and her mouth melded with his. It felt amazing to have his lips pressed against hers after all of the time that had passed. It was like coming home. It wasn’t better than the feeling he had when he kissed Evan, just different, and wonderful.