Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

She smiled. “Should be interesting to see.”

Something in her tone of voice made me feel unsettled. “Why do you say that?”

Her eyes met mine. “Listen, I really like you, Annalise. All I know about Roger is what I hear from friends of mine and the gossip mill.”

“And what do you hear?”

She looked unsure, all of a sudden.

“Elizabeth—what have you heard?”

With a sigh, she gave me a sympathetic look. “He likes being single. He’s always been a one-night-stand kind of guy. I know he’s hooked up with my older sister’s friend Lucy a few times, but it’s more sex than anything.”

I knew Roger wasn’t an innocent and had most likely been with his fair share of women, and he’d even told me he didn’t date often. No relationships. But hearing it from someone else made my stomach feel queasy.

“Did they date?” I asked, not even sure why I wanted to know. Whatever Roger did in his past was in his past. But was Lucy the one serious relationship?

“No, like I said, it’s always just been a casual thing. They’re friends but nothing more. I think she wanted more, but Roger made it pretty clear they weren’t headed down that road, according to my sister.”

I chewed on my lower lip.

Elizabeth leaned forward and gave me a small smile. “Listen, I don’t think that’s the case with you. I see the way Roger looks at you. He really likes you, Annalise. I didn’t mean to put doubts in your mind.”

“I know you didn’t, and whatever Roger did in the past is his business. Just like mine is.”

“Exactly! And it sure seems like he’s changed his mind and wants something more with you. At least, it sounds like it.”

I nodded and glanced down at my watch. “I’ve got to go do the schedule for the next few weeks. Talk to you later?”

“Yep, talk to you later.”

As Elizabeth walked back toward the hotel, I found myself wondering who this Lucy girl was…and why I suddenly felt so threatened by her.

Roger

“ARE YOU SURE you want to come with me?” Annalise asked as we walked out of the front entrance of The Montclair.

“Yes. I want to help you find a place and make sure the area is safe.”

She smiled that brilliant smile of hers, the one that made my stomach feel like I was on a rollercoaster staring down a straight drop.

“Okay, well, I’ve got two houses to look at for renting. One isn’t far from the hotel, and the other is a few miles out of town.”

We headed over to my truck that I’d parked right down the street. I opened the passenger door and held my hand out for her to climb up.

“Patty is taking me to look for a car tomorrow,” she said. “I’m sure you’re sick of driving me everywhere.”

I pulled her toward me before she could get up into the truck. “I like driving you around.”

Her eyes sparked with heat as she stretched up onto her toes and kissed me. “Do you?”

I nodded, leaned in, and brushed my lips across hers again. “It means I get to spend more time with you.” Then I took her mouth in a searing kiss that left her swaying a bit in my arms. I loved how she reacted to my kisses.

We broke apart, and I helped her up into the truck. I started to walk around the front of it when I heard someone call my name.

“Roger?”

Turning, I saw Lucy and a few of her friends walking up from Main Street.

I quickly looked at Annalise in the truck. She had a warm smile on her face. I turned back to look at Lucy.

“Hey, Lucy. Where are y’all heading?”

Lucy swung her gaze to Annalise and smiled before focusing back on me. “River City Grill to celebrate Mary’s new promotion at the hospital.”

“Nice.” I headed back around the truck and called over my shoulder, “It was good seeing you.”

“Good seeing you too.”

I was about to open the door when Lucy spoke again. “So, the rumors are true. You’re dating.”

Christ, why are people so interested in my fucking life?

“Yeah. We’re in a bit of a rush. I’ll introduce you some other time.”

Something moved over Lucy’s face, but I couldn’t read the expression. “Sure, see you around.”

After I got into the truck, I expected Annalise to ask me who Lucy was. For a moment, I swore she was about to. She glanced at Lucy, a slight wrinkle appeared between her eyes before she cleared it away and faced me. She smiled as she gave me the address of the first house she was set to look at.

Annalise didn’t seem like the type of woman who would be jealous, and truth be told, she had nothing at all to be jealous about. I’d met Lucy in the ER when my brother Truitt had gotten hit by a branch and thought he’d broken his dick. Yes, he actually thought he might have injured his junk. It was the best and worst hospital visit I’d ever had thus far. But there was nothing there feelings-wise for Lucy. She had been a fun time, and that was it. I always knew, though, that if I had offered up more, Lucy would have most likely been up for exploring that possibility. I hadn’t been the least bit interested, though.