A Cautious Heart (The Heart's Temptation Series Book 1) Read online

  A Cautious Heart

  Genevieve Matthews

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Afterword

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2016 by Genevieve Matthews.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodies in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email [email protected]

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Cover Designer: Mayhem Cover Creations

  Created with Vellum

  When I was a little girl, I’d daydream about my future. Those early imaginings never involved being parked under an overpass, hunched in the driver’s seat of my silver Toyota, crying my eyes out. But here I am.

  I’d only been on the road for an hour when the storm clouds tore open and poured a torrent of rain on my car. It was nearly impossible to see, but I made myself keep going until my composure began to crack. When my tears matched the steady pace of the raindrops, I finally pulled to the side and stopped under the overpass. I grip the steering wheel and let my tears flow as I watch the rain fall in sheets around me.

  People think running from your problems is easy, but my resolve weakens with every mile.

  The shrill ring of my cell fills the car and I jump a foot. I check the number and instantly relax.

  “What’s wrong?” I say without any need for a greeting. Cate Mercer is my business partner and official best friend since the third grade, when we discovered our mutual love for double-dutch jump rope and chocolate chip cookies. We were inseparable then and remain inseparable to this day. Her support was instrumental in getting me through the loss of my parents and has been the only thing keeping me going these past few weeks.

  “Nothing’s wrong, I just wanted to check to make sure you are okay.”

  “I thought we agreed it would be better for both of us if we didn’t talk for awhile.”

  “I know but I worry. You’re so sensitive. I picture you sobbing behind the wheel, trying to find your way.”

  My silence is answer enough.

  “Oh, shit. You’ve cried the entire trip so far, haven’t you?”

  “Not the whole trip.” I try to hold back a sob. “I just haven’t had a lot of time to process everything. I threw some random stuff in my bag and got in the car and started driving. I’m starting to feel the weight of it all, you know?”

  “Hey, listen to me. You’re going to be fine. My mom is going to take care of you until you figure out the next step. This is your chance to start fresh. Take it. Just give yourself time to find yourself again.”

  I take a moment to inhale a few deep breaths and pull myself together again. “I’m just scared of not knowing what happens next.”

  “You’re going to figure it out, Bree. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

  “Right now I’m just thinking about finding somewhere to live and then getting a job before I need to start selling myself on the streets. I can’t stay with your mom forever.” I dab at my leaky nose with a balled up tissue.

  “Well, you know my mom and she’ll be thrilled to have you stay with her as long as you need to.”

  “I know. I don’t want to take advantage, though, and finding my own place is a solid first step to getting back on my feet again.” I look in the rearview mirror and wipe away streaks of mascara. “My first step is to get out from under this bridge and get driving again, and that’s all I can think about right now.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll leave you alone. Now get back on the road so you make it before it gets too late. And no more crying! You’ll get into an accident or something.”

  “Well, I’ll try.” I feel the waterworks welling up again, but I fight them back this time. The rain has finally slowed and it’s time to get moving. “You know how I get sometimes. But thanks for checking in. I feel better just hearing your voice. I’ll have your mom let you know when I’m safe and settled.”

  “Be safe and we’ll talk soon.”

  “Okay, but don’t try calling this number again. I’ll get a burner cell phone once I get there. I can’t risk being tracked.”

  Before pulling out from under the bridge, I pull the SIM card out of my phone and drop it under the wheel. I put the car into drive, look over my shoulder to check my blind spot, and merge back onto the highway.

  The sun finally peeks out and I’m able to ease up on the death grip I’ve had on the steering wheel and enjoy the scenery around me. It is fall and the leaves are just beginning to change colors. I drive through beautiful winding roads covered with canopies of red, orange, and yellow leaves as the sun begins to set over the crest of the hill.

  Once it’s dark I get antsy from being in the car all day. I worry that I am further away than I initially thought when my headlights illuminate the cheerful ‘Welcome to Winterhaven’ sign. Things are very quiet and most of the stores are closed up tight for the night.

  I am more than ready to be out of the car by the time I find The Cozy Cottage. Cate’s mom, Greta Mercer, moved here a few years ago and opened her own little inn. Winterhaven was one of the locations we scouted to start our own coffee shop because of her and how she really talked up the town. In the end we decided on a larger city to make sure we had plenty of business as we got everything up and running.

  The Cozy Cottage is the perfect name for this inn. It looks like a typical English cottage. There’s a long stone path leading to the front door, with giant green hostas, asters in every shade of pink, blue and purple, yellow goldenrods, and fragrant stalks of lavender lining the path. My eyes are drawn to all of the windows, each with a set of green shutters that complement the tan bricks. A few trellises lean against the walls with an abundance of creeping ivy and climbing roses growing up the side of the building. All of the windows are lit with a soft glow. It is quaint and peaceful. It’s obvious from first glance that Greta has added her personal touches all over the place.

  As I walk through the front door, I anticipate the smell of apple pie and cinnamon. I don’t see her at first but I hear a soft ding as I step into the foyer. A moment later a woman walks down the large antique staircase that leads into the main room.

  “Bree! You made it!” She says as she walks right up to me and scoops me up in a big bear hug. “Welcome to The Cozy Cottage!” She extends her hand and waves it behind us, presenting her inn to me. She has laugh wrinkles at the corners of her bright green eyes. Her hair isn’t typical for an older woman, it is long and white pulled back in a loose bun low on the back of her head. She is very beautiful. And everything about her takes me back to my childhood.

  “Wow, Greta! Y
ou have really outdone yourself with this little place. It’s so beautiful and cozy.”

  “I’m glad you finally have the opportunity to see it. Lucky for you, I have plenty of rooms available so you’ll get your pick. If it were summer, it’d be a different story. A lot of people come for long weekends to check out the shops and restaurants in town. It’s a beautiful place. But now we’re on the tail end of fall and winters around here can be brutal. Needless to say, tourism slows down!” she laughs and her joyful mood is infectious. I find myself smiling for the first time all day.

  “Do you have everything you need?”

  “I just have a few more things I need to grab from my car. If you just want to point me in the right direction you don’t need to wait for me.”

  “Oh, sure. You’ll go up the staircase and your room will be just to the right. Number 4. There is a bathroom in the room and a small refrigerator to keep things cold. Otherwise I’ll have breakfast out in the dining room in the morning. Feel free to help yourself.”

  “Thank you so much.” I take the room key from her and throw my bag over my shoulder.

  “Well I will be happy to show you around town when you’re up for it. I could introduce you to a few people that might be able to help get you back on your feet.” I’m sure Cate has filled her in on everything that has happened to me but she doesn’t mention it and I’m incredibly thankful for it.

  “That would be great. I look forward to it, thank you.”

  After an extremely tumultuous day, I am finally settled in my room and snuggled in the middle of the large sleigh bed under a huge fluffy down comforter. Greta sure knows how to make people feel at home.

  I assumed I would pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow but I have a hard time turning my thoughts off. I think about Cate and the fight in her that is infectious and somehow influenced me to pack my bags and get in my car. I think about Greta and how she moved on her own to this little town and opened this adorable inn. New beginnings.

  I try to stick with that thought, that being here is a brand new adventure for me. Even with that small note of confidence, I can’t help hiding out in my room for a few days feeling sorry for myself. I left my room long enough to grab some groceries from a small store down the street. Double stuffed Oreos found their way into my cart and I managed to inhale every one. Some of us need to eat our feelings.

  A few days later, it is an unusually warm day for late September. The sun is bright in the sky, no clouds, which makes it feel warmer than it is suppose to be. I’m dressed in a pair of jeans and my most comfortable college sweatshirt. I lean against Greta’s car and pull my hair into a ponytail. I would have taken my sweatshirt off by now if not for the cool breeze that reminds me that it is indeed closer to winter than summer. Greta has just run into the little bakery across the street. I decide it’d be a good time to get out of the car and stretch my legs.

  She forced me from my room and is taking me on quite the tour of the town today. Main Street reminds me of The Cozy Cottage, quaint and charming. It has old fashioned storefronts with gold leaf embossed windows. Window boxes are stuffed full of colorful flowers and there are huge potted mums and hay bales lining the streets. Fall decorations hang from the old fashioned street lights.

  Next to the bakery is a hardware store. Parked to the side is a pick-up truck and there is a handsome man loading lumber into the back. I notice from across the street how nicely his black t-shirt hugs the muscles in his shoulders and chest. He hoists the heavy beams of wood over his shoulder and then transfers them into the truck bed. His arms are a deep tan which could be the result of working outside but his black hair makes me think he has a darker complexion even in the winter months. I decide to just take a moment to enjoy the way his body moves as he hauls loads of supplies into the truck.

  A moment later Greta walks out of the bakery at the same time an older man leaves the hardware store. They greet each other and stand talking together. Greta turns to me and waves me over. I push off the car, look both ways and cross the street.

  “Bree, this is Jack,” Greta says as I step up onto the curb. She hands me a small white bag and coffee from the bakery. “He’s an old friend of mine. I was just telling him about how you’ll be staying with me for awhile at the inn.”

  “Nice to meet you, Bree.” Jack extends his hand and I shake it. He has a strong grip and kind eyes. His gray hair is thinning and he seems like the kind of man that has really lived his life. “Come on over, I want to introduce you to Heath.” He steps over to the truck where Heath has just finished throwing a piece of lumber into the back. Now that I’m standing so close to him and not just gazing at him from across the street, he is large and built. I’ve never been one to go for a man just for the way he looks, but I’d make an exception for him.

  “Heath, this is Bree.” Jack puts his arm around Heath’s shoulder and squeezes it as he turns around to look at me.

  At first he doesn’t say anything. He seems to be forcing himself to hold eye contact and remember his manners. I’m intrigued. This isn’t the reaction I expected from such a handsome man. I assumed from his looks that he would be brimming with confidence from the flocks of women that must throw themselves at him. I look right into those deep brown pools of heaven.

  “Hello,” I say.

  He smiles a polite smile. “Hey.”

  Not the friendliest, but he does step forward and reach out to shake my hand. I quickly accept and as his hand wraps around mine I notice how warm his skin feels when our palms touch. His hand is strong and much larger than mine. I love how a man’s hands can feel so rough from years of use and yet they are capable of doing such soft, intimate things. Although I haven’t technically been out of a relationship for that long, it has been an extremely long time since I felt passion with a man. His touch makes me feel warm and funny inside all the way from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

  I ignore it.

  I’m sure he’s the typical pretty boy that spends more time looking in the mirror than paying attention to what’s going on in the world around him.

  It’s a quick hand shake and then he turns back to loading the truck.

  Jack gives me an exaggerated smile, as if he feels the need to make up for Heath’s brusqueness. “So what brings you to Winterhaven?” he asks.

  “Well, I’m good friends with Greta’s daughter and we own a coffee shop together in the city. We’d like to expand and we thought Winterhaven would be a nice place.” They always say when you need to tell a lie, stay as close to the truth as possible. What I told Jack was a future plan that Cate and I had talked about. Future is the key word. Our plans were put in motion much faster than we had anticipated.

  “Well this is a great place to own a business. I own the bar right on the corner when you first come downtown. Jack’s Bar and Grill. Greta has a successful inn, we’d be happy to help you get set up here.”

  “Yes!” Greta says a little too enthusiastically. “We would love to help you with anything you need.”

  “That’s so kind of you both.”

  “So you’ll need somewhere to stay for an extended period of time?” Jack asks and I can already see the wheels turning in his mind.

  “Yes. I figure I’ll stay with Greta until I can find somewhere more permanent to stay. I’m also going to have to find somewhere to work so I can bring in some money until I’m able to get the coffee shop up and running.”

  “Well, that gives me an idea,” Jack says with a smile.

  Once I finish loading the truck, I slide behind the steering wheel and shut the door. I have to get away from her. Bree. She’s the most incredible woman I have ever seen. The muse of my next wet dream. I want to roll her beautiful name around on my tongue as I come apart inside of her.

  When she crossed the street toward me I had to stop and stare. I literally did a double take. My heart dropped into my stomach and the rest of what I felt came through my cock. At first it was a completely physical attraction. The way
her wavy reddish brown hair blew in the breeze and her full hips swayed as she walked made me desperate to study the rest of those beautiful curves. She hid them so well. I wanted her naked. As soon as our eyes met, though, I felt an instant connection. Something about the way she looked at me with those blue eyes hypnotized me and pulled me in. She was a natural beauty, clean with not much make-up, if any. I had to look away. It was like looking too long at the sun. Eventually your eyes started to burn and you have to spend a few minutes waiting for the spots to clear.

  The last time I trusted my heart to someone it nearly broke me. Not to mention how close I came to a jail sentence. I have come across a lot of women since moving to Winterhaven and I’ve even taken care of my needs every now and then when the opportunity arose. But, this was the first time I felt that pull to claim what I wanted. Make her mine and no one else’s. Like I would gladly send a man to his grave if he tried to take her from me. But I can’t do that. I have to be careful and she isn’t mine to take. So in order to stop feeling this overwhelming desire for a woman I don’t know, I make my escape.

  I sit in the driver’s seat waiting for Jack to get in the car. I can’t help adjusting the mirror and taking the opportunity to watch her. She’s stunning when she smiles. The wind is really whipping around today and she keeps bringing her hands to her hair to tuck it behind her ears.

  A moment later Jack finally joins me in the truck. “Sorry about that. I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to mingle with a few beautiful ladies. I’m surprised you bailed so quickly.”

  He turns to look at me with an accusatory stare. Jack is nothing if not straight to the point. I’m sure it was all of the years he spent as a cop. You learn to tell people how it is, no beating around the bush. We are on our way out of town, headed to Jack’s cabin. Today’s agenda includes replacing all of the rotted wood on the porch.