Keep My Heart (Top Shelf Romance Book 7)

by Lex Martin

  The weeks fly by, the hours blurring into days, the days into weeks. Liam becomes a good friend and introduces me to some of his local buddies. He shows me around the bars and best seafood restaurants. It feels like another world out here, but I’m soaking up everything this experience has to offer.

  Travis texts me every few days. When I first arrived, we didn’t talk for two weeks, probably because he was hurt I left without saying anything. Then one night he sent me a picture of Gryff, with the caption We miss you. I cried the moment I saw his sweet little face. Before I could respond, he sent a second picture of the two of them lying in his bed, and Travis sticking his lower lip out in a sad pout. I about lost it. I missed him so damn much, but I knew I had to stay strong. This was good for me, and I had to remember that. Travis and I were in a complicated situation, and all I wanted was to get to a neutral place again where it stopped hurting.

  Now he sends me picture updates of how big Gryff is getting, and he asks how things are here. We don’t say much other than that, which is enough for us right now. I know we’ll have a lot to talk about when I visit for the holidays.

  About halfway through my apprenticeship, I catch some kind of summer flu. It’s awful, but I work through it until I’m off on the weekend. It doesn’t ease up, so Liam surprises me with soup and crackers.

  “You look pale, honey,” he says, placing a cold, wet washcloth on my forehead. “Are you hungry?”

  I press a hand to the cloth and shake my head. “Not really. I just feel really queasy.”

  “I’ll bring your trash can by you just in case.” I watch as he stands up and walks the few feet to my kitchen and grabs it. He’s tall and built. He has shaggy blond hair, which totally adds to the surfer vibe he gives out when he’s not in his suit and tie attire. He overdresses for work and claims it’s going to help him climb the corporate ladder before he’s thirty.

  “Thanks,” I say, watching as he sets it down next to me. “I think I’m just going to try to sleep it off.”

  “Yeah, good idea, hon. I’ll lay on your couch and wait for you to wake up so you can eat.”

  “No,” I argue. “You don’t have to sit around and wait on me. I’ll be okay.”

  “Nonsense. You need to get better so I have someone to go salsa dancing with.”

  I let out a small laugh. “I never agreed to that in the first place.”

  He tilts his head and frowns.

  I groan. “We’ll see.”

  He smiles and flashes me a wink. “Get some rest. I’m going to binge on your Netflix.”

  I sleep for the next three hours, and when I wake up, it’s dark outside, and Liam is still watching TV on my sofa. He pauses it the moment he hears me rustling under the covers.

  “Hey.” He smiles. “How do you feel?”

  “Better, I think. I need to pee.”

  He laughs and goes back to his show. I grab my phone as I walk to the bathroom and see that Courtney has messaged me three times.

  Viola: Sorry, I was sleeping. I think I caught the flu.

  I send back to her urgent messages.

  Courtney: The flu? What are your symptoms?

  I respond with everything I’ve been feeling this past week.

  Viola: Vomiting, nausea, queasiness, headaches, hot flashes and sweats. Liam brought me some soup, so I’m going to try eating some of that and see if it helps.

  Courtney: How long have you been sick?

  Viola: Off and on about a week or so. I think it’s going around work.

  I reply, heading back out to my bed.

  Courtney: Well unless it’s homesickness, I’d say it’s pregnancy that’s going around your office!

  Viola: OMG! I am not pregnant! I haven’t had sex in months!

  The last time was with Travis, of course.

  Courtney: Have you missed your period?

  It takes me a while to think about it because I can’t remember. Which I realize is not a good sign. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t paid attention. I open the calendar on my phone and count back the days from when Travis and I were together, to the last time I remember having my period.

  Three months ago.

  Viola: I can’t remember the last time I had it...I’ve been stressed and busy. But I’m on the pill, so it’s probably just the flu.

  Courtney: Yeah...the flu that makes you skip your period for three months and doesn’t go away, but comes and goes...sounds LEGIT.

  Dammit, Courtney! She’s totally making me freak out right now. There’s just no way. I would’ve been able to tell by now.

  Viola: My body always gets weird when I’m stressed out. Stop jinxing me!

  Courtney: LOL! Too late for that… go buy a test and FaceTime me!

  Viola: I feel way too shitty to leave my apartment right now and I’m not asking Liam to go on a pregnancy test run.

  I told her about Liam when we first met, and at first, she thought we were hooking up, but once I told her I thought he was gay, she backed off. However, I’m still not totally sure about that.

  Courtney: You better find out quick then. There’s a long list of stuff you’ll need to be doing if you are…

  I sigh, taking in a deep breath. I can’t even fathom that right now.

  Viola: I’ll call you tomorrow.

  “Are you okay?” Liam’s voice directs my attention back up to him.

  I blink away the tears and set my phone down, needing to clear my head from the revelation I just had. “I don’t know.”

  Chapter 15

  Travis

  THREE MONTHS LATER

  “You can set the computers and printer over there,” I say, directing the delivery drivers as they wheel a big hunk of plastic and boxes into the building. At random moments, like right now, I think about Viola. Though it’s been six months since she left for Boston, it seems like yesterday, and each day she’s not here is heartbreaking torture. Randomly we text back and forth, but it’s not the same. Honestly, it hasn’t been since she left without allowing me to explain myself fully. She took my heart with her, and I’m waiting for her to personally deliver it back to me. To this day, the only woman I want is the one who stole my heart—Viola Fisher.

  Somehow, I’ve managed to stay busy and put my focus on getting my business off the ground. The sign for King Marketing will arrive in the next thirty minutes and is being installed on the outside of the modest building I leased. The sign in the office that hangs on the wall behind the reception desk has the logo on it, King Marketing: Where you’re treated like royalty. I laugh at the memory of Drew giving me so much shit over it too, but now he says I should have the logo printed on T-shirts so he can proudly wear it.

  As I stand back and look at the reception desk and the open office space, I think about how proud Viola is that I really did it; I started my own business. I don’t burden her with all the details, knowing she’s staying plenty busy right now, but I know Drew is keeping her up to date. With the holidays approaching, the grand opening and scissor-cutting ceremony aren’t until after the new year. I’ve invited community leaders, potential clients, and even the mayor, but the only person I want to be there is her.

  As I look around, I remember how empowering it was to leave Crawford Marketing five months ago. The accident and Viola leaving was the wake-up call I needed. Going after my dreams is scary as fuck, but the reward is so much greater than the risk, and so far, I haven’t regretted my decision. I now laugh at the day I took control of my career and gave Crawford Marketing the hypothetical middle finger. Blake was reaming my ass, as usual, something about not using time stamps on printed documents, and it all just clicked. There was no way I could stay there any longer—not with the tension, the lies, and the whole corporate vibe.

  As Blake continued to shout at me, I stood and started grabbing small items off my desk and tossing them into my briefcase. He was so far up his own ass that he didn’t even realize what I was doing. After asking him if he was done, I told him I quit. Hilariously, he told
me I couldn’t quit and demanded I get my ass back to my desk. I laughed in his face and walked out of my office without looking back. All the stress that miserable job caused instantly disappeared when I took my final step out the door. I wished I would have done it sooner.

  The following day, I wrote out my business plan and continued to push forward on opening my own marketing firm. As ready as I am, and knowing I’ve given it my all, I’m still nervous as fuck because failing is not an option.

  Once the computers and printer are set up, I realize I should’ve hired an IT person to make sure the networking is installed correctly. Remembering Viola mentioning Courtney being a computer genius, which still shocks the shit out of me, I decide to ask Drew for her number.

  Travis: Hey, do you have Courtney’s number by chance?

  Drew: Who?

  Travis: Courtney. Has the hots for you. Viola’s crazy blonde friend. Usually parading around in cowgirl boots and red lipstick.

  Drew: Thanks for such a vivid picture. No, I don’t, but I’ll ask Viola for it.

  He sends it back to me in under a minute. I’m sure Viola was more than willing to give it to him, probably because she thinks Drew wants to ask Courtney on a date or something. It actually makes me laugh. I would’ve texted Viola and asked myself, but our conversations haven’t been anything more than small talk or pictures of Gryff. She texts me about her job duties and her friend, Liam. She posts pictures of them together on Instagram, and it drives me insane that she’s spending so much time with him even though she swears they’re only friends.

  I don’t tell her how much it hurts to have her gone or not to know where we stand. I don’t tell her it feels as if we’re in limbo, and I have no idea if she’ll ever move back or if we’ll ever be an us again. I don’t tell her any of those things because I fear it’ll scare her away forever.

  Although I’ve given her the space she’s clearly asked for, it’s killing me inside. I want to beg her to come back to me, tell her I need her, and that every day since she’s been gone has been the worst day of my life. But I know that isn’t fair to her. She’s worked so hard for this opportunity, and I can’t be the one to get in the way of it. I know she’s making a life in Boston, and although it still pains me to know she doesn’t trust me, I’m not giving up on us. I’ll never give up on us and will do whatever it takes to gain her trust back. I know she’ll be home soon for the holidays, and that’ll be my chance to lay it all out for her. She won’t leave again without knowing exactly where I stand.

  Union International will more than likely offer her a full-time position. They would be idiots not to, but it’ll be her decision to accept or decline.

  The selfish part of me hopes she hates the snow as much as she hates the rain and will come back to sunny California without a second thought.

  The loud sound of a truck entering the parking lot directs my attention out the window, and I see the sign installers have arrived. I stand outside as they use a lift to attach the sign to the outside of the building, and I’m so damn excited about it. I snap a picture and send it to Viola with the message.

  Travis: It’s really happening.

  Viola: That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you :)

  Her words mean the world to me.

  Travis: Thank you, princess. I hope you’ll still be in town for the scissor-cutting ceremony. I’d love to have you there.

  She doesn’t respond, and I know I’ve pushed too far. If we weren’t three thousand miles apart, I know our relationship—or whatever the hell you want to call it— would be in a completely different place. I try to be cautious when telling her how much I miss her, but sometimes I slip up, which throws a wrecking ball into the conversation. My feelings haven’t changed, regardless of the time that’s passed, and I’m pretty sure I’ve made that clear.

  Once the sign is installed, I decide to lock up for the night and head home. It’s been a long-ass day, and the next two weeks are going to be even more hectic with interviews and pre-booking appointments with potential clients.

  As soon as I walk into the house, Gryff is at my feet, barking and jumping all over me. He’s so fucking happy to see me every day that it puts a huge smile on my face. I open the front door and allow him to run outside. We have a daily routine now. Every night after I come home, I let him out, and he runs around the yard. Then he chases the neighbor's cat, and I hope he never catches it. Once he’s done, he rushes inside, and I feed him his treats and stock his water and food dishes. He’s a spoiled little shit, and I’m pretty sure I’m the trained one instead of him.

  After taking a shower, I relax on the couch, and Gryff lies down next to me. He places his head on my lap as I watch the news and suddenly remember I forgot to text Courtney.

  Travis: Hey. It’s Travis King.

  How original. I roll my eyes at myself. I don’t know why I’m nervous.

  Courtney: THE Travis King? To what do I owe this honor?

  She doesn’t even ask how I got her number or she doesn’t care. Either way, I’m ready to make a deal with her.

  Travis: I have a business proposition for you.

  Courtney: Depends what it is. I might be too busy getting my nails and hair done.

  Travis: Way to live up to the cliché.

  Courtney: Way to be an asshole.

  Travis: Well, it is my specialty.

  Courtney: All right, King. Get to the point.

  Travis: I heard you’re good at tech shit, and I need help with setting up the new computers at my office with our network and installing the firewall and all of that stuff. I pay well.

  It takes her a long time to respond, and I start wondering if asking her was a bad idea.

  Courtney: That depends. Can you get me a date with your stud best friend?

  Travis: I’d try, but I have a feeling he’s against prostitution.

  Courtney: You don’t know until you ask!

  I’m not even sure what to say back. Whoring out Drew would be the cheapest way to get this done, but maybe not the most ethical. I laugh because she doesn’t seem to have any filters about this. Before I can respond, she sends another text.

  Courtney: Geez. I’m just kidding! You’re no fun to mess with if you don’t take the bait. So what time and where?

  Travis: Tomorrow around 11? I’ll text you the address.

  Courtney: You got it, boss!

  I groan.

  Travis: Don’t make me regret this.

  Courtney: I already do.

  I laugh and shake my head. I really hope she knows what she’s doing. If I didn’t witness her graduating with honors, I’m not sure I would’ve ever believed she was a little genius because she doesn’t put off that nerdy, smart girl vibe. Her accent, blond hair, and blue eyes give her a Southern belle vibe but mixed with sorority girl gone wild. She’s completely opposite from Viola in almost every way, but maybe that’s why they get along so well.

  At least now, I’m able to relax a little, knowing that part of the business will be taken care of—hopefully.

  Hours later, Drew comes home in his gym clothes with his uniform thrown over his shoulder. He looks like he’s had a day from hell, and when he cracks open a beer before he does anything else, it’s confirmed.

  “Wanna talk about it?” I ask him as he sits down on the couch and starts mindlessly flipping through the channels.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m never going to get over Mia.”

  I hate hearing her name on his lips, and I hate seeing him so distraught. It’s been months since the big blowout, and she still manages to string him along like a plaything. He’s addicted to her, and regardless of what we all tell him, he can’t let her go.

  I think back to Courtney’s text message, and an evil grin spreads across my face.

  “How would you like to do me a huge favor?”

  He chugs his beer until it’s empty.

  “What’s that?”

  “Bring lunch for Courtney tomorrow, at the firm, around elevenish?”


  He gives me a pointed look. “Your favors are dangerous, King.”

  I throw my head back and laugh because it’s true. All of Viola’s and my rekindling started with a single favor—a lunch favor, actually.

  “You’re being weird,” he says.

  “If you wear your cop uniform, I might be able to get her to install the software on all of the computers I had delivered today for free.”