This Heart of Mine by Novak Brenda

Author:Novak, Brenda [Novak, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
ISBN: 9780778316725
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2015-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

14

Phoenix waited anxiously at Just Like Mom’s for Jacob to arrive. She looked her best, felt ready in that regard. But she hoped Riley wouldn’t accompany their son. Surely, now that he’d had a chance to sober up, he would see it was better if they didn’t spend time together. It would be far too easy to fall back into a physical relationship. Easy for her because she’d never really gotten over him. And easy for him because he didn’t seem to have anyone else in his bed at the moment. His need and her longing could create another lopsided relationship, if she let it.

But it wasn’t Jacob’s Jeep that turned into the drive. It was Riley’s truck—and, just like two weeks ago, both Jacob and Riley got out.

“Can’t I ever catch a break?” she muttered.

“Did you say something?” the woman next to her asked.

Phoenix shook her head. “No. Sorry.”

The hostess called for the next party and Phoenix prepared herself for Riley and Jacob to walk in, but she was nervous about facing Riley. She wanted to act as if last night had never happened. And maybe that wouldn’t be hard. Riley couldn’t have enjoyed dancing with her as much as it seemed—no more than he would’ve enjoyed dancing with any other woman.

“Morning,” she said to Jacob as they came through the door.

Jacob hugged her, and Riley seemed about to do the same. It would’ve been the standard “hello” embrace, nothing significant. But she pretended she didn’t recognize his intent and stepped back before he could touch her. He really did have to be careful about getting close to her, especially in public—or he’d learn what it was like to be an outcast.

“Thanks for coming,” she said. “I was afraid you’d decide to sleep in.”

Riley was wearing a pair of sunglasses. He’d straightened when she dodged him but said nothing.

“You look great,” Jacob said.

She squeezed his arm. “Thanks. I got my stitches out, so that’s good.”

“You went back to the doctor?”

“No, I took them out myself. I didn’t need a doctor for that.” She pulled her hair away so he could see the red line—all that was left of her injury.

“You’ve got to be the toughest mom in the world,” Jake said with a startled laugh.

“It wasn’t hard,” she said. “All I felt was a little tug.”

Riley didn’t comment, but he took off his sunglasses as the hostess approached and, once Phoenix could see his eyes, she guessed he had a hangover. “Three for breakfast?” the hostess asked.

Riley answered before Phoenix could. “Yes, and we’d prefer a booth if you can arrange it.”

“No problem. I have a party that’s finishing up now.” She looked across the restaurant, saw that a busboy was in the process of cleaning the table she’d had in mind and grabbed three menus. “Actually, we can go over.”

“Are you excited about your game on Tuesday?” Phoenix asked Jacob as they settled into the booth.

He sat down across from her; Riley sat beside him.

“I am,” Jake said. “Will you be able to make it?”

She smiled.

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