Unworthy Heart: The Donnellys, Book 1

by Dorothy F. Shaw

  Jacob unbuckled his belt and jumped out of the car, running for the front door before Ryan had turned off the ignition. Cyn greeted her nephew under the portico, scooped him up in her arms and waved to them before disappearing into the house with him.

  Ryan grabbed the six-pack of Coronas he’d bought, took her hand and walked toward the door. Every step Maiya took felt like she walked through thick mud.

  Just before they entered, Ryan turned and kissed her cheek. “Breathe.”

  “I swear to God, I am not this much of a freak. I’m fine, honest. Let’s go.” She gulped her anxiety down and forced a smile.

  What was her problem? It was just his parents and family; a ton of them, she was sure, but still. She was a damn adult, a corporate professional and a regular badass. She could freaking do this. Game face in place, Maiya stepped through the front door of this gorgeous house and tried like hell not to gawk at the antique décor. It appeared lived in though, warm and welcoming. A place where kids played and adults relaxed. It felt like a home—a real one.

  “Mom?” Ryan called out.

  “In the kitchen!”

  “Wow! Your hair is really cool.” A young girl with hair hanging in front of one eye walked out from what looked like the formal living room. Did all girls go for that look? Jeez, she was completely out of touch with kids and trends. “Hey, Julia. Come see,” she called over her shoulder.

  Another girl, a bit older, but with the same hairstyle, came running to them. “Wow! And ohmygawd awesome tattoos!”

  “Hello there, ladies. This is Maiya. Maiya, these are my two beautiful nieces, Julia and Tori.”

  Both girls blushed.

  “Nice to meet you both.” Maiya smiled. “And thanks, I’m glad you like my hair. Yours is pretty cool too.” She wasn’t touching the tattoo compliment.

  “Our moms won’t let us color it yet. You color yours, right? I can kinda tell since it’s got like, three different colors in it. When I grow up I want to be a hairdresser,” Julia said without taking a breath.

  Tori looked at Julia. “I’m totally getting tattoos when I’m eighteen. Oh, I didn’t tell you. My mom said I can do highlights when I’m thirteen.”

  “Shut-up! She did? I am soooo gonna whine to my mom. That’ll be way unfair if you get to and I still can’t.” Julia pouted and put her hands on her hips.

  “We’ll see you gorgeous beauty queens in a bit.” Ryan shook his head, chuckling and pulled Maiya away.

  “It was nice meeting you,” Maiya called over her shoulder while he tugged her toward what she assumed was the kitchen. “They’re freaking cute.”

  Ryan squeezed her hand. “My sisters are going to have their hands full when those two hit high school. Serves them right.”

  Then they entered the greatest kitchen she’d ever seen. With wide eyes, Maiya glanced around the large space. It had one of those stainless steel, professional-chef stoves on one side and a huge island in the center, complete with a prep sink. Dark-mocha marble counters topped the antique white cabinets that took up three walls of the space. Beyond the cupboards sat a large rectangular table with enough chairs to seat an army.

  At the stove stood a woman about Maiya’s height and build with short blonde hair. Not a single gray in sight, either. She turned when they entered and wiped her hands on a towel. “Well, hello there. Your father said you were bringing a guest; I had no idea it was such a pretty one.”

  Still holding her hand, Ryan walked toward his mother. “Hey, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “This is Maiya Rossini. We work together.”

  Maiya held out her hand to his mother. And sleep together. “Hello, Mrs. Donnelly. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Please, call me Roseanne.” She smiled and took Maiya’s offered hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you as well, Maiya.”

  “Everyone else out back?” Ryan asked.

  Rosanne moved to the counter. “Naturally.”

  “Nice to see Mary and Katie both made it out. Cam and Jerry too?” Ryan pulled two beers from the six-pack and put the remainder in the oversized to-die-for stainless refrigerator.

  Jimmy sauntered into the room. “What? You writing a book?”

  “Ahh, here he is, the prodigal son. What up, my brother?” Reaching out, Ryan clasped hands with Jimmy and pulled him into one of those shoulder-to-shoulder manly hugs.

  “Same old, same old.” Jimmy leaned over and kissed Maiya’s cheek. “Hey, darlin’.”

  “Hey yourself. Good to see you, Jimmy.”

  “All right, trouble twins. Out of my kitchen so I can finish prep.” Roseanne looked at Maiya. “You get these two together and it’s best to take cover. Oh, and remove any sharp objects.” Laughing, Roseanne went over to the island and hacked into a stack of vegetables.

  “I’ve seen them in action so I have an idea what you’re talking about. Can I help at all?”

  “Oh no, dear. I’ve got it. Cooking is what I do for a living, and fortunately I still love to do it.” She looked up from her task. “Go on outside. My kids are all eager to meet the guest Ryan brought to dinner. Jimmy’s spent the last half hour teasing them all.”

  Ryan bumped Jimmy’s shoulder with his own. “Dude, what the hell. Seriously?”

  Roseanne sliced a cucumber in half. “Language.”

  “Sorry, Mom,” they both said in unison.

  With a smile, Ryan held his palm out for Maiya. “Come on, baby. Let’s head out back and have a beer.”

  She took his offered hand, doing her damnedest to stifle a giggle at how effective Roseanne was at putting them in line. “Guess she told you two.”

  “Not another word,” he mumbled and ushered her into what appeared to be the family room.

  Much to her surprise, her anxiety had vanished. She guessed meeting his mother had been the big hurdle she needed to jump. How interesting. Plus, she hadn’t so much as glanced at Maiya’s tattoos. On to meet the rest—or part of, at least—his family. They stepped onto the back patio and…holy shit there were a lot a people. This wasn’t even all of his family. Anxiety slammed back into her tummy like a sledgehammer and she tightened her grip on Ryan’s hand. Breathe… Breathe…

  Ryan pulled Maiya farther out onto the patio. When she squeezed his hand, he leaned over and kissed the side of her head and then let his gaze roam over the patio and backyard, taking in his family.

  His sisters—Katie, Mary and Cyn, along with his sister-in-law, Stephanie—had gathered around one of the outdoor tables on the far end of the patio. His father, Joe Sr., his brothers, Joey and Jimmy and his brothers-in-law, Jerry and Camden, were tossing a football around the backyard. His son and his nephews, Steven and Cam Jr., were running around, trying to snatch the ball from the adults.

  They made one hell of a motley crew, and not all of his siblings were present. Good thing too, Maiya might well have had a heart attack. “Come on. It’s all good.” He led her to the table.

  Getting up, Cyn gave her a hug. “Hey, Maiya.”

  “Hey, Cyn. Nice to see you again.”

  “Let’s do some introductions.” Ryan clapped his hands, rubbing them together. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to remember everyone’s name.” He nudged Maiya’s hip with his own.

  “There might be a test later,” Katie piped up with a grin.

  “Bad form.” Ryan chuckled. “I’ll go oldest to youngest. How’s that?”

  Katie tossed a chip at him. “Go for it. Brat.”

  He went around the table, introducing each sister, stopping to tease each one of them, of course. “Ladies, you know I love every one of you. Now, this is Maiya Rossini. We work together.”

  “It’s nice to meet all of you.” Maiya’s voice was timid.

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” Mary stood and shook Maiya’s hand, then motioned to her sleeves. “Awesome artwork you have there.”


  Maiya smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Join us,” Katie said. “Ryan, you go run along and play with the other lesser species.”

  “Lesser? You just declared war. We’re playing Pictionary later, and I am so gonna kick your ass.” Ryan rubbed Maiya’s lower back.

  “Bring it.” Cyn grabbed another chair and placed it next to her own. Maiya was nervous and Cyn must be able to tell. Bless his sister, all of them actually, because he knew they’d scoop her up. In no more than fifteen minutes, Maiya would be fine.

  “Have a seat, babe.” He kissed Maiya’s cheek. “I’m going to go play with the other cavemen.” He grunted, ape-like, at Katie and stepped away from them.

  Glancing back, he watched Maiya as she took a seat. When he neared the guys, Jimmy tossed him the ball. Ryan ran toward him, taking him to the ground in a full tackle. Aw yeah, this is so on! Jacob jumped on top of both of them, giggling his little head off. A few minutes later, laughter reached his ears from the direction of the ladies. Like he’d thought, Maiya fit right in. Life was definitely good.

  Ryan hung with his brothers, and then with Maiya, then back to his brothers. Later, everyone gathered around the patio for dinner. His sisters kept Maiya included in their conversations and his brothers teased her whenever they had the chance. She laughed and talked with everyone, carving out a space among them like she’d done with him.

  After dinner, he carried an empty potato salad bowl into the kitchen and found his mother at the counter. “Thanks, Mom. This was nice.”

  “It was nice.” She ran her hands over her hair. “So…?”

  “Hmm?” He walked to the sink to rinse out the bowl and put it in the dishwasher. Jimmy was already there, washing pans by hand.

  Jimmy set a pot to dry on the rack. “Dude, you know she wants the DL on Maiya.”

  “You button it up and wash the dishes.” Ryan plucked him in the back of the head.

  “Oh, you are so gonna get payback for that when you least expect it,” Jimmy said.

  “Not in my kitchen.” Their mother sat at the table. “Are you serious about her?”

  Ryan approached her and leaned a hip against the island counter. “I’m curious. What do you think, Mom?”

  “I think you never bring women around, yet you brought this one. So, yes, I think you’re serious about her.” Crossing her legs, she propped her elbow on her knee, resting her chin on her fist.

  “I think I might be.”

  “Jimmy says she’s senior to you at your company.”

  Ryan glanced over his shoulder at Jimmy. “Did he now?”

  “I plead the fifth.” Jimmy scrubbed the pot in front of him.

  “I think she’s amazing, Mom.” Blowing out a breath, Ryan ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s got so many different layers, and I want to know all of them.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “The tattoos? Do they bother you?”

  His mother laughed, and motioned to Jimmy. “Uh…”

  Ryan rolled his eyes. “True.”

  “Stuff like that doesn’t matter to your father or me. You know that. I will say, I was a bit surprised when I first saw them, but only because she looks more like Jimmy’s type, not yours.”

  “Weird, huh?”

  “Just unexpected, yet I see how you two have been looking at each other all evening. There’s definitely something there. I’m happy for you, just…” She tilted her head to the side, a thoughtful smile gracing her lips. “Take it slow. Let it grow, son.”

  “Feelings have grown pretty quick with her. Like an instant connection. I don’t know if slow is in the cards, but I hear you.”

  Jimmy strolled over, a dishtowel thrown over one shoulder. “Mom, he’s been denying his feelings since I’ve been home. If you ask me, he needs to make her his girl already.”

  “No one asked you, boy wonder.” Ryan chuckled and caught the towel mid-air when his brother tossed it at him. “Well, at least not today.”

  “You’ll figure it out.” His mother stood. “Take it outside before I beat both your butts. Don’t think I won’t just because you’re grown. Vamoose. Out of my kitchen, now.” She laughed and walked back outside.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Maiya stayed quiet in the front seat, listening to the music play from the radio on the ride back to Ryan’s home. The whole evening had been overwhelming in a wonderful sort of way. Jacob was out like a light, snoozing in the backseat. Poor kid had tired himself out playing with his cousins.

  It was interesting seeing Ryan’s family interact with one another. She’d had friends growing up who had siblings, but most of those kids were from the same trailer park and didn’t have the best families. Not all, but most.

  Aside from the few times she’d gone to her college roommate’s home for visits, she hadn’t been around a family like Ryan’s. Of course, they had to have their faults, no family was without them, but they were the closest thing to the Brady Bunch she’d ever encountered.

  They’d charmed her for sure. She shouldn’t have been surprised since it was exactly how Ryan made her feel most of the time too. She fit, but didn’t exactly fit, which she realized, made no sense at all.

  Ryan rubbed her thigh. “Whatcha thinking about?”

  “I should call my mother and check in on her.”

  “Probably a good idea.”

  “I usually hear from her when I’m gone, but she’s been oddly quiet this week. I have to admit I’m a little worried.”

  “You want to call now, or wait until we get to the house?”

  “I’ll wait.” She placed her hand over his and twined their fingers. “Thank you for taking me to meet your family. Or at least some of them. My God, you have a huge family.”

  “You’re welcome.” He raised their clasped hands and kissed her fingers. “You fit right in. Just like I said you would.”

  “I don’t know about that.” She brushed a stray hair away from her eyes. “Everyone was really nice though. I had fun.”

  “You’ll see them more.”

  “I can’t even imagine what the holidays must be like there.”

  “Stick around, Maiya Rossini.” He glanced at her. “You’ll get to see firsthand.”

  “Oh, boy.” What in God’s name did he mean by that? He couldn’t have meant that he thought they’d still be involved by the time the holidays rolled around, could he? She wasn’t sure she should ask.

  When they got inside the house, Ryan carried Jacob upstairs and got him settled in bed and Maiya found her spot on the back porch and called her mother.

  It rang until the voicemail picked up. “Hmm, that’s odd.” It was only nine p.m. She dialed again, and got the voicemail once more. Her mother wasn’t out because she didn’t go anywhere. She preferred the ass print worn into her despicable recliner to visiting someone. Maybe she was asleep. Maiya smoked a much-needed cigarette, and then made her way upstairs when she was done.

  Ryan was coming out of Jacob’s room, and he pulled her into his arms. “How’s your mom?”

  “I didn’t reach her. She must be sleeping or something. Odd for her not to answer though.” She nipped at his chin. “I’ll try her in the morning.”

  He ran his hands down her back to her ass. “There’s something I need to show you in here.” He motioned with his head toward his bedroom.

  “Oh really?” She smirked, and he walked her backward into the room and then shut the door behind them with his foot. “Slick.”

  Catching Maiya off guard, he scooped her up under her arms and tossed her onto the bed like he’d done the other night. She yelped when she landed and burst into giggles.

  He tackled her with a growl. “I’ll show you slick.” He helped her out of her shirt, and then ran his lips and tongue over the expanse of skin he exposed.

  When she was naked, he stood and removed his clothes and then
stretched out beside her. Without preamble, she straddled his hips, and slid his hard length into her channel. Riding him at an easy pace, Maiya made love to him. Rolling her body in time with the rise and fall of his pelvis. Ryan sat up and wrapped his arms tight around her waist, holding her in place against his body, and they both tumbled over the edge into climax.

  Paradise—sweet, unadulterated paradise. And while she struggled to catch her breath, Maiya became aware of only one thought: she wasn’t sure if she could ever again deny the need to experience the paradise that was Ryan Donnelly.

  Ryan rolled over and lay beside Maiya, holding her tight to his chest.

  Curling against him, she shivered a little. “Let’s get under the covers.”

  “I’m all for that.” He tugged the blankets from beneath them and then covered them. Maiya rolled to her side and backed herself against his chest. Pulling her close, Ryan nuzzled her soft hair and traced the lines of her arm to her waist and then down to her thigh. “Tell me about your brother?”

  “It’s a sad story. Why do you want to hear that?”

  “Because it’s part of your past. Part of who you are.” He kissed her shoulder. “I want to hear about it.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. “All right, but don’t get all weird if I start to cry. It happens sometimes.”

  Keeping quiet, he held her close to his chest. He wanted to know so much about her, especially the things that made her vulnerable, yet strong.

  “Once upon a time my mother was a Vegas showgirl. Did I tell you that?”

  He smiled against her hair. “Wow. No you didn’t. Must be where you got your talent for dancing.”

  “Ha, maybe. It didn’t last too long though. She lost the job. I still have no idea why, maybe too much partying, but once she lost it, she became a stripper. Nice huh?”

  “Ah, baby, it’s okay. I’m not going to judge her or you.”

  She took another deep breath, as if she needed to calm herself again. Aside from the understandable sadness over the loss of her brother, he couldn’t understand what made her so reluctant to tell him.