Follow Your Heart--A Novel

by Brenda Jackson

  “You won’t be able to talk to Mama Laverne next weekend. She left this morning with Uncle Milton and Aunt Dora on a twenty-day cruise.”

  Victoria threw her head back and sighed. She’d forgotten about that cruise her great-grandmother took with her oldest son and daughter-in-law about this time every year. “Twenty days?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I need to talk to her when she returns.”

  Christy didn’t say anything and then she asked, “How do you feel about Roman, Victoria?”

  She decided to be honest. “I’m falling in love with him, Christy. I know that I am. That could only mean one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Somehow Mama Laverne made a mistake in pairing me with Tanner.”

  * * *

  “SWEET THING, I GOT the photographs you sent over and read your PI’s report. Sounds like your senator has been busy.”

  Audria leaned back against the seat of her car. She hated when he called her “sweet thing” and would usually correct him. But not this time. She needed Buddy’s help. “So when will you run the story?” There was no need to tell him that she’d doctored John’s report to make things look worse than they really were. People didn’t read The Tattler for the truth, anyway.

  “The Monday after he returns. My sources tell me the senator will be back in DC sometime that Friday. I want to think of it as ‘The Monday Surprise’ and prefer using my capital reporters to question him. They are known to be aggressive. And I have a reporter in place in New Orleans, as well, for Ms. Madaris. It’s best to handle them separately. On top of that, we also plan to question Tanner Jamison to see if he had any idea just what his girlfriend has been doing behind his back.”

  She could hear a shuffling of papers, then Buddy said, “Only thing, we can’t find any articles or news reports of a romantic relationship between Jamison and Victoria Madaris or an announcement of an engagement. The only thing we could find is the mention of him opening some nightclub in New Orleans.”

  “Not sure why their engagement hasn’t been public, unless they are keeping it a secret for some reason. I figure the reason he’s opening the club in New Orleans is to keep an eye on her. I think deep down, Tanner Jamison knows she can’t be trusted,” she theorized as she glanced out the car window, knowing what she was saying was all lies, but Buddy wouldn’t question it. More than anything, she needed him to run that article.

  “You’re probably right and that’s the angle we’re going for. We’re going to paint Jamison as the victim in all this, with the senator and Victoria Madaris having an affair behind his back. In other words, we will implicate the senator in a love triangle with the Madaris woman. Even if they deny it, it will throw shade on both of their reputations because we have all those photos to back up our claim.”

  Audria’s smile widened. That’s what she wanted. Roman would seek her out to help clean up his image. “And I happen to think that angle is a good one.”

  “You owe me, sweet thing, and I intend to collect. Be at my place tonight at nine and don’t be late.”

  Audria frowned at the sound of the phone clicking in her ear.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  TANNER TOSSED THE report he’d been trying to read for the past half hour on his desk. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a tension headache coming on. He never got headaches of any kind. What was going on with his body...other than the obvious signs of sexual withdrawal?

  He stood and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked over to the window to look out. The workers had left for lunch and he was in the building alone. Hank had popped into his office more than once to report the renovations of the bathrooms were finished and the workers had started on the walls and floors. Then there had been the sounds of men at work, voices, the sound of a hammer against wood and the hum of a drill. Now everything was quiet...except for the sound of his heart beating in his chest.

  What in the hell was wrong with him? Why did Lyric Evans still have him tied in knots? After all they’d shared on Monday, she should be out of his system by now. Yet here it was Thursday and she was even more deeply embedded in there. He thought about her every waking moment and when he went to bed at night, he dreamed about her, reliving every single thing they did together. Every touch, every kiss, and the feel of him sinking deep into her body and hearing her scream his name as their bodies exploded together.

  He rubbed his hand down his face. He’d had sex with many different women, and the experiences had all been good. But what he’d shared with Lyric had been exceptional, totally extraordinary and over the f-ing top. He honestly didn’t know how to deal with it and why it had affected him so intensely. He should have moved on by now. She should have been three women ago, but he hadn’t had another woman since her. He didn’t want another woman. Somehow, she’d infiltrated every part of his body whether he wanted it or not. None of it made any sense to him.

  He turned when the cell phone on his desk rang. Recognizing the ringtone, he quickly moved across the room to pick it up. “Yes, Blade?”

  “Hey, man, just wanted to verify all the kitchen equipment has been ordered. You should have gotten the paperwork today.”

  “I did. First thing this morning. The courier was waiting for me to sign on the dotted line when I arrived.”

  “Good. How are things going?”

  “On schedule.”

  Blade didn’t say anything for a minute and then asked, “You okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”

  Tanner figured no, he didn’t. And because Blade used to have a players’ card like him, maybe he could answer a question for him. “Why is it that after a man nearly screws a woman’s brains out, he still can’t get her out of his system?”

  Blade, Tanner noted, had gone quiet. Then his friend said, “You got some damn nerve telling me what you’ve been doing to my cousin Tanner.”

  Tanner blinked. “Your cousin?”

  “Yes. Was the woman Victoria?”

  “Victoria! Hell, no! I haven’t seen Victoria in weeks. I told you about the last time I saw her and she told me she was seeing some dude, and I said I was happy for her and meant it. No matter what Ms. Laverne got you all believing, I am not the man for Victoria. Damn, man, how many times do I have to say that? I’m into someone else, Blade. Someone that should be an OD but refuses to be.”

  “She’s stalking you?”

  He wished. “No. In fact, she’s probably gone her merry-ass little way and I haven’t even crossed her mind. I’m the one with issues.”

  “And why do you have issues? Sounds like you just need another night with her. It works that way with some ODs. They become TDs, two and done. It happens even when you don’t want it to. Better yet, why not make her a CH? Then, as a casual hookup, you won’t have that problem.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because there’s something about her that tells me I can’t put my guard down. She’s different.”

  “Umm, funny you should say that,” Blade said.

  Tanner lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”

  “Because that’s one of the first things I thought about Sam, that she was different from the other women I’d messed around with.”

  Tanner frowned. “I didn’t say she was different from the others. I said she was different.”

  Blade laughed. “I’m going to let you go, Tanner, because you’re not making much sense and being difficult. In fact, your entire attitude is concerning.”

  Tanner slid into the chair at his desk. “Concerning in what way?”

  “If some woman got you tied in knots and she’s not Victoria, then that’s concerning. Why aren’t you interested in my cousin?”

  Tanner rolled his eyes. “Oh, now you want me to be interested in her?”

  “No. I’m just concerned that you’re not. This scenario is not
playing out the way it should. Not how my great-grandmother’s matchmaking plan usually works. It usually kicks off with a rough start, but then it runs smoothly, and the couple eventually falls in love.”

  “I’m not falling in love with anyone. Your cousin or any woman, Blade.”

  “I hate to tell you this, but you won’t be able to stop it, and from the sound of things, if the woman isn’t Victoria, that could only mean one thing.”

  “What?”

  “Mama Laverne made a mistake in picking you for Victoria. You should have caved in by now and be all into Victoria. It took me less than thirty days to get all into Sam, and about the same amount of time for Lee and Nolan to get into Carly and Ivy. You’re not acting normal.”

  “I am acting normal. The only thing we agree on is that your great-grandmother made a mistake if her plan was to hook me up with Victoria. I like Victoria, but I can’t see myself falling in love with her. She and I don’t share anything in common.”

  “But you and this woman who put an itch in your crotch do have something in common?” Blade asked.

  “Yes. In fact, Lyric and I have several things in common,” he said, not denying the itch was definitely there. But deep down he knew it was more than just an itch. It was an intense yearning the likes of which he’d never felt before. He’d discovered she was someone who was easy to talk to and he’d shared things about all the charities he was involved in. On the flight from Crystal Beach, she had mentioned she was involved in similar charities here in New Orleans. Even with her long work hours every day and assisting her parents at the gym on the weekends, she still found time to help in the soup kitchen, to read bedtime stories to the kids at the children’s hospital and assist the vet at the animal shelter on occasion.

  “Sounds like there’s more to this woman than her being a bed partner for you, Tanner. That makes my concern for Victoria increase.”

  “Why?”

  “Because unlike the rest of us, Victoria had no problem letting Mama Laverne select a man for her, which means she expects you to one day get in line and fall in love with her.”

  “That won’t be happening,” Tanner said, getting tired of repeating himself.

  “Then I can see Victoria getting hurt.”

  “I can’t see her getting hurt. Like I told you, the last time I saw her she looked happy and even told me she was seriously involved with someone.”

  Bladed snorted. “That’s bullshit. Victoria is not seriously involved with any man. And I told you that she probably just told you that to save face and not have you think she was pining for you, waiting for you to get your shit together about her. If you aren’t the man meant for her then either Mama Laverne made a mistake, or you’re too much of a stubborn ass to accept your fate.”

  “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that your cousin is not my fate.”

  “Then somebody needs to talk to Mama Laverne before Victoria’s heart gets broken.”

  “Then maybe your family needs to intervene and have a talk with your great-grandmother.”

  “She’s on a cruise.”

  “Then I suggest you talk to Victoria.”

  “That won’t do any good since she thinks Mama Laverne’s word is the gospel, and usually it is. The best person to talk to is Mama Laverne, and my cousins and I will have a talk with her when she gets back from her cruise.”

  * * *

  “YOU SURE YOU’RE OKAY, honey?”

  Lyric looked up into her godmother’s warm eyes, which seemed full of concern. Granted, she hadn’t been as talkative today as she normally was. But that wasn’t cause for any alarm. “I’m fine, Goddie. I just have a lot on my mind.”

  She wasn’t surprised when Susan LeBlanc slid into the chair across from her. Lyric had stopped by the bakery to sample a few beignets before heading over to the children’s hospital for story hour. She was one of the volunteers who read to the young patients.

  Westley always complained about the amount of time she devoted to her charities instead of to him, trying to make her feel guilty. She was so glad it hadn’t worked. Now she was seeing just what a selfish bastard he’d been.

  And why was she still constantly thinking about Tanner to the degree she’d barely thought of much else? Tomorrow was Friday and she would be working at the gym. She didn’t expect a lot of people since most were participating in the New Orleans Marathon. Even her parents would be running in the race. Tanner was to have been her eight o’clock appointment in the morning, but she knew not to expect him since he would not be returning to the gym. In fact, when he’d dropped her off to get her car on Monday evening, he’d again reiterated his position and—not to be outdone—she’d firmly reiterated hers. They wouldn’t be seeing other again. It was a mutual decision.

  “Lyric?”

  She’d forgotten her godmother had joined her at the table. “Yes?” The last thing she wanted her godmother to do was worry about her. She’d done enough of that after her breakup with Westley and discovering his betrayal with Wendy.

  She and her godmother always had that kind of relationship. Susan was someone she’d always been able to confide in. Of course, she didn’t tell her everything that went on in her life, but over the years she had shared a lot with her. Susan was sixty and her mother, Yvonne, had been Lyric’s grandmother Isabelle’s best friend since grade school. Susan had promised Isabelle Evans that if anything ever happened to her that she would be there for her three grandchildren. When Isabelle died three years ago, Susan had kept her promise.

  “I was just wondering,” Lyric murmured.

  “About what?”

  “How can a woman meet a guy and not like him at first, but after spending a day with him, she can’t think of anyone else?”

  Susan lifted an eyebrow. “I would say that person made an impression on her. Something he hadn’t done when they initially met.”

  Her godmother was right. Her initial impression of Tanner had been that he was arrogant and conceited. He was probably still those things, but she had to hand it to him, he deserved to have an ego after what all he’d done to her and had given her. He’d been the most gracious, giving and considerate lover any woman could have. And then the fact that he had washed her clothes for her. That had been thoughtful of him. She hadn’t expected any of those things of him.

  “You’re dating again?”

  Lyric shook her head. “No. It was just one date.” No need to tell her godmother what all they’d done on that one date.

  “Why just one date?”

  “We didn’t connect like I thought we would,” she said quickly.

  Susan LeBlanc tilted her head and gave her a curious look. “Obviously, the two of you connected in some way better than you expected. Otherwise you wouldn’t be thinking about him so much.”

  Before Lyric could think of a response to that, her godmother stood when a customer came into the bakery.

  * * *

  TANNER WALKED INTO his apartment thinking how different it looked. Since he wasn’t a fan of clutter, he had taken the time to finally unpack and put stuff away. Doing so had kept him busy and he had needed that. Otherwise, he would have spent his time thinking about Lyric, and remembering their time together and wondering what she was doing now...and with whom.

  She was constantly intruding on his thoughts, disrupting his concentration. It was so out of character for him. Never had a woman filled him with such desire and longing that he was certain her scent was still on him, even after taking countless showers. All it took was for him to remember her taste. Damn, he wondered if what some guys said was true. The one woman whose taste you couldn’t do without was the one who could either be your downfall or your salvation. He didn’t want Lyric Evans to be either.

  Moving to his kitchen, he grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator, uncapped the bottle and took swig. What he did want was to move on with
his life, pick up his normal routine. He had a little black book full of names, yet he hadn’t had the desire or the inclination to call one of them, even when he desperately felt the need to get laid.

  He threw back his head in frustration as he leaned against the kitchen counter. What the hell was happening to him? Why was he behaving like a man possessed? A man on the verge of losing his control, his mind...and his heart.

  His heart—the possibility totally freaked him out. Surely, it had to take more than one day in bed to feel something like that. He must be dealing with a case of intense lust and nothing more—is this what was called being p-whipped?

  Damn. He knew his problem was more serious than Blade thought. He seriously doubted making her a TD, two and done, would be a fix. If anything, it might push him completely over the edge. Little did Lyric know, but his day with her had blown his mind in several ways. Hell, now he even liked her as a person.

  On the flight back to New Orleans she had even told him about her ex-boyfriend and discovering that he was sleeping with a woman she’d considered a friend. A woman who’d frequented the gym that she’d befriended.

  Now he understood why she needed to make sure he wasn’t already involved with someone before agreeing to spend Labor Day with him. Tanner figured she’d been candid with him because she knew it would be the only time they would spend together.

  Tanner took another swig of his beer and then drew in a deep breath. He pulled out the little black book he kept in the pocket of his jacket to see who he would call tonight. He’d gone without female company too long. Tomorrow was Friday and it was time he made plans to kick-start his weekend.

  Moments later, he tossed the book on the counter, not believing he still couldn’t do it. The thought of making love to a woman other than Lyric did something to him. It was crazy that the one woman he craved was the one he was determined to keep his distance from.