Follow Your Heart--A Novel

by Brenda Jackson

  He smiled as he shook his head. “No, and I apologize for staring. I was just thinking how much you and Christy resemble each other.”

  His words reminded her that Christy was his godsister. “People tell me that all the time. Only thing missing on my end is the red hair.”

  “True, but I think your brown hair is pretty.”

  She thought that was a nice thing to say. “Thanks, Senator.”

  He leaned across the table and in a low voice said, “For the next three weeks I’m here to rest and relax so can we forget the ‘Senator’? I prefer if you call me by my first name.”

  “Roman.”

  “Yes, that’s me. That’s also my dad, which is why some people call me RJ. I’ll let you decide which you prefer.”

  “I like Roman.”

  He nodded. “Then Roman it is.”

  She decided she liked him, even if he was a politician. At that moment, a waitress brought him a menu and a glass of water. It was then that he glanced back over at her and asked, “What are you having?”

  She picked up her menu and realized that after all this time she hadn’t really looked at it to decide what she wanted. But she already had an idea. Placing it down, she said, “I got a taste for crab cakes tonight.”

  He nodded. “Are they good here?”

  “Yes, they are delicious.”

  “Then I think I’ll get the crab cakes, too,” he said, smiling.

  “You get to choose two sides with it.”

  His smile widened. “And what two sides are you getting?”

  “Fries and slaw.”

  “That’s sounds good to me, as well.”

  “You won’t go wrong,” she said.

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  When he set aside his menu and began drinking his water, Victoria decided Terica had been right. There was something sexy about the way he drank water. Was it the way his throat muscles moved, working in unison with his mouth? Or was it the way his lips hugged the rim of the glass? She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was definitely arousing.

  Arousing? Yes, to her dismay, she found it pretty darn arousing to sit across from him and watch. Now she wondered how it would be when he ate his food. Would it have the same effect? For crying out loud, she did not understand her strange reaction to him. And she wasn’t imagining it. Not when she was beginning to feel hot all over.

  Quickly taking a sip of her own water, she decided to ask him about his accommodations. “So are you staying at Shelby by the Sea or an Airbnb while in the cove?”

  He placed his glass down and looked at her. “Neither. I’m renting a yacht.”

  “A yacht?”

  “Yes, and it’s docked right off the marina—” he nodded in the direction of the pier “—and has everything I need. A spacious bedroom, bath with shower, galley and sitting area. However, my favorite spot is topside.”

  “I can imagine. Have you gone out in it?”

  “I arrived two days ago and went out both days. You were right. Catalina Cove is a nice place. Quiet and quaint. Somehow it’s been able to retain its small-town charm.”

  Victoria’s lips stretched into a big smile. “You can thank Reid Lacroix for that.”

  “Who?”

  “Reid Lacroix,” she said. “He’s one of the wealthiest men in town and owns the blueberry plant that employs a lot of people. I understand he stopped a multimillion-dollar tennis resort from setting down roots here. I’m told he hates change and has worked with the zoning board to block a lot of the new, more progressive developments from coming to town. His goal is to keep Catalina Cove as a small town. He doesn’t mind the tourists—he just doesn’t want large businesses coming in and overtaking all the mom-and-pop establishments. Some of those businesses have been here for generations.”

  He nodded. “You seem to know a lot about it.”

  “Only because I covered their seafood festival one year. It was my first time here and I was amazed by how this town was such a well-kept secret, free from rampant commercialism. I asked several locals about it. People around here see Reid as a hero for his vision to retain a small-town atmosphere. He’s always looking out for the local business owners, making sure big businesses don’t shoulder their way in and eventually shut down the smaller establishments.”

  They stopped talking when the waitress arrived to take their order. When she left, he asked, “When was the last time you saw Christy?”

  “A little over a week ago. She was in New Orleans for a journalism conference. I talked her into staying the last night here with me in the cove and we had breakfast the next morning at Witherspoon Café. She fell in love with their blueberry muffins.”

  “The blueberry muffins are good there?”

  “Yes, you’ve got to try them. Catalina Cove is considered the blueberry capital of the world. The blueberry plant ships berries all over the nation and abroad.”

  He nodded. “Do you eat at that café often?”

  “I grab breakfast there a lot. Now that I do the noonday show I don’t have to be at the station as early. That’s how I got to meet so many of the locals. A number of them go to the café for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a nice place. You need to eat there at least once before you leave.”

  He smiled. “I think I will.”

  After taking another sip of water, she asked him, “When was the last time you saw Christy?”

  “At that fundraiser Jake gave me at his ranch last year. Before that, I hadn’t seen her or Alex for a couple years. Of course, I’ve been keeping up with her through Mom and Marilyn. I understand she has three kids now.”

  “Yes, she does, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they want a fourth.”

  “She always said she wanted a big family,” Roman said.

  He was right. Christy always said that. “You’ve gone fishing both days since you’ve been here. How’s the fishing going?”

  “Great. I toss them back.”

  “And then you catch those same ones the next day,” she said in amusement.

  He laughed. “You’re probably right, but it wasn’t nice of you to point that out, Victoria.”

  Victoria’s breath caught in her throat. There was just something sexy about the way he said her name. Sexy, just like the rest of him. Now she was reacting to him like the women in her office had. But then, could she really fault herself when he was so darn sexy? Still, her reaction bothered her.

  “Just keeping you honest, Roman,” she teased.

  He leaned back in his seat. “And speaking of honest, would you like to tell me what you have against politicians?”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ROMAN HADN’T BEEN able to believe his luck when he’d walked into the restaurant, found it packed and spotted Victoria sitting alone. When he’d asked to join her, she hadn’t suspected that she was the reason he’d come here. He wasn’t sure why of all the women he knew, he was so fiercely attracted to her, but he was.

  “It has to do with Christy.”

  Her words drew his attention. “You have something against politicians because of Christy?”

  “Yes.”

  She obviously saw the bewilderment on his face, because she added, “Remember that time she was kidnapped?”

  He definitely did. A few years ago, Christy had been working as an investigative reporter and had exposed an international human-trafficking ring mostly run by US politicians. If it hadn’t been for a family friend, Sheik Rasheed Valdemon, and Christy’s husband, Alex, Christy would have been a victim herself.

  “Yes, I remember,” he said.

  “It’s truly somewhat of a miracle how things turned out,” Victoria said. “Not only did she get the blockbuster story she went after, but she brought down an international human-trafficking ring that saved a lot of teenagers’ lives. If you recall, there were severa
l politicians involved.”

  “There were,” he said. “I won’t lie and say those senators involved didn’t give politicians a bad name, but they weren’t the only ones, Victoria. There were several businessmen involved, as well. Not only that, a few members of the clergy were arrested, too.”

  She didn’t say anything, and he hoped he had gotten her to thinking. He was thinking, as well, but no longer about Christy’s abduction. At that moment, he was struck by how the lamp on their table illuminated her features, making her even more beautiful.

  She looked up at him and frissons of heat raced up his spine as he gazed into her dark brown eyes. “All you’ve said is true, but my opinion about politicians won’t change overnight, Roman.”

  He liked the way she said his name, even when it came with a warning. “I understand and don’t expect it to. All I can ask is that you not lump all politicians in the same bag. You know Senator Lansing, right?”

  “Of course. He’s married to Aunt Diana, so I consider him my uncle.”

  “Do you think of Nedwyn as corrupt?”

  “No.”

  “There you have it. As you can see, there are honorable politicians, just like Nedwyn. I hope you don’t see me as one of the bad ones.”

  She shrugged what he thought was a pair of beautiful shoulders. “I have no reason to think you are. But then, although I’ve always known who you were, I’ve never really gotten to know you.”

  He nodded. “I was just thinking the same thing about you. I’ve always known who you were, but my association with the Madaris family was limited to Jonathan and Marilyn’s kids, your brothers and male cousins.” He paused a moment and then said, “I know a way to remedy that.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “How?”

  “I suggest we spend time together while I’m in Catalina Cove to get to know each other.”

  * * *

  VICTORIA HEARD WHAT Roman was saying and wasn’t sure that was a good idea. Shouldn’t she be concentrating on Tanner, and getting to know him better? But how was she supposed to do that when Tanner obviously wasn’t concentrating on her? He still hadn’t called for that rain check dinner.

  “To get to know each other as friends?” she asked for clarification.

  “Yes, of course,” Roman said. “What other reason would there be?”

  Now she felt embarrassed for having thought there could be anything else. From his bemused expression, there was no telling what he was thinking, and she felt maybe she should explain. “Sorry, but I had to ask because I’m promised to someone.”

  She saw him glance down at her hand before lifting his eyebrows. “You’re engaged?”

  She shook her head. “Not exactly. This guy and I were promised to each other.”

  Roman’s brow furrowed. “Are you saying you’ve agreed to an arranged marriage or something?”

  She figured he was even more confused. “Not exactly an arranged marriage, but he’s someone my great-grandmother has chosen for me.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  Clearly, he’d heard of her great-grandmother’s matchmaking shenanigans. It didn’t surprise her since he was close to members of her family who would have enlightened him.

  “Well, let me assure you, Victoria, that I’m here for rest and relaxation, not romantic entanglements. I just figured since we both know of each other, but never got around to really getting to know each other, now would be a good time.”

  He took another sip of water and then said, “Besides, I figured as a family friend, who’s also a politician, I could get you to see that not all politicians are bad.”

  “I don’t think they’re all bad. And just so you know, you did get my vote last November. My family thinks highly of you.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “There’s something else that bothers me about politicians,” she said, deciding to open up.

  He gave her a quizzical look. “And what’s that?”

  “Their celebrity status. I know some who are followed about like they are the president himself. The paparazzi can be brutal and inconsiderate. You’re one of the popular ones, so I’m surprised they aren’t following you around now.”

  “The senate is on break, and they assume I’m resting on my ranch in Texas.”

  “Well, I don’t see how you can tolerate it.”

  He shrugged. “It’s all part of the career I’ve chosen. The media in some cases can be a necessary pain in the ass, but you learn how to grin and bear it.”

  He then asked, “What about you? I’m sure your face is recognizable since you’re a television personality.”

  “Yes, but it’s a local station and the show isn’t even in syndication. New Orleans and Catalina Cove are the only parishes that can watch the show. So if I travel to Shreveport or Baton Rouge, no one will recognize me, thank goodness. I detest being in the limelight and don’t see how you can deal with it.”

  “Like I said, you learn to grin and bear it.”

  “Well, that might work for you, but it wouldn’t for me. I can only admire your tolerance for such things. I know how brutal the paparazzi can be.” She paused a moment, then said, “They are the reason Jake and Diamond kept their marriage a secret for so long. Then there was the time they badgered Clayton’s wife, Syneda, when it became known that Syntel Remington was her father. And when it was discovered that Skye’s father was Senator Ryan Baines, they practically tried storming the Madaris Building to get a story.” Skye was married to Blade’s twin brother, Slade.

  “Yet you became a news reporter,” he said, as if pointing that out to her.

  “I consider myself a journalist who reports the facts. Not a sleazebag reporter who distorts them. I offer accurate information, not sensationalism.”

  “Point taken.”

  They paused their conversation as the waitress delivered their food.

  “Now, back to us getting to know each other,” Roman said. “I just thought we could do what we’re doing now—enjoy dinner or breakfast and talk. I’d love to catch up on how your brothers and cousins are doing. I haven’t seen or talked to them in a while. And you did say you like to fish. Right?”

  Victoria grinned. “Yes, I did say that.”

  “Tomorrow is Saturday. Do you have any plans?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then how would you like to go fishing with me?”

  “And recatch those fish you tossed out today.”

  He chuckled. “Hey, watch it.”

  Victoria chuckled, as well, enjoying his company. She hadn’t planned on doing anything tomorrow but lounge around and read a mystery novel. She smiled over at him and said, “I’d love to go fishing with you.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  JUST LIKE THE day before, Roman was on the upper deck and caught sight of Victoria on the pier. He watched as she strolled toward his yacht. This time she was wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top, with a baseball cap on her head and a fishing pole in her hand. He thought she looked absolutely adorable.

  The sun wasn’t even in the sky but that didn’t matter. She was bringing her own brand of sunshine with her, a brilliance that was shining all over the place. At least he thought so. Just from talking to her over dinner last night, he got the impression she was a rarity among women. A woman who was honest and expected honesty in return.

  Like when she’d told him she was promised to someone, so he wouldn’t be wasting his time if he wanted more than friendship. He was glad she’d been up front about that, especially when he was attracted to her. Every time she’d smiled last night and flashed those dimples, it had done something to him. Just watching her walk toward his boat, he felt a sexual hunger stirring to life in his lower region.

  It was something he intended to get over. He’d meant what he’d said when he’d told her he was here for rest and relaxation and nothing more.
Definitely not romance. But he did want to get to know her better. Why, he wasn’t sure. He just knew that he did.

  He knew the exact moment she saw him. She smiled and he couldn’t help but return it. Her smile caused desire to throb deep within him. When she threw up her hand in a wave, he waved back. He knew that somehow, today he had to focus his attention on fishing and not on her. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to invite her. But then he had a feeling he would have spent the entire day thinking about her if he hadn’t.

  “Good morning, Roman,” she greeted when she reached his boat.

  He quickly moved to help her board. Extending his hand out to her, something happened the moment their hands touched. A charge sliced through him and he almost snatched his hand back. He quickly glanced at her at the same moment she drew in a sharp breath, which meant she had felt it, as well.

  Trying to downplay what had just happened, he said, “Good morning, Victoria. Welcome aboard.” The moment her feet stepped on the deck, he swiftly removed his hand from hers.

  “Thanks. I hope I’m not too early for you.”

  “No, you’re right on time. The sun hasn’t quite come up.”

  “Good. I get to see the sunrise on the ocean this morning,” she said excitedly. “Usually, I just see it peeking through the apple trees.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Apple trees?”

  She smiled up at him. “Yes, the house I’m leasing backs up to an apple grove. I don’t wake up to the smell of the ocean but of apples.”

  “Apples are delicious.”

  “Yes, and I love them. And what’s really nice is the owner of the grove has given his permission for me to pick as many as I want. So now I have apples each day. I brought you a few,” she said, taking off her backpack and pulling out two beautiful red apples.

  “Thanks. And I got you something, as well,” he said.

  “What?”

  “These,” he said, grabbing a bag off the table.

  She peeked inside and then flashed what he thought was one dazzling smile. “Blueberry muffins? From the Witherspoon Café?”