Unbreak My Hart (The Notorious Harts 4)

eep inside the penthouse, in a beautiful living room framed by windows that showcase the water like a sparkling backdrop, are the notorious Harts.

‘Oh, God.’ My stomach loops. He reaches down and squeezes my hand reassuringly—at least I presume that was his intention but it’s not reassuring because it sets off a cacophony of feelings inside me, like being buzzed with a live wire.

My eyes jerk to his and it’s even worse. Electricity sparks between us. I pull my hand away then smile awkwardly, apologetically. Fuck, I’m a mess. How could he have ever thought he was in love with me? He is such a great guy. So nice and kind and mature—Exhibit A, him putting aside that night, that fight, and coming here today just to support me. Who does that?

Barrett, that’s who. The same Barrett who listened to a throwaway comment about Disneyland and understood that it was a dream of my heart and so made it happen for me.

At the entrance to the lounge my nerves become almost deafening. The room is full of people. I look from one to the other, trying to see familiarities in them, things about myself that I can recognise, but there’s nothing really.

They stand up. My stomach loops. Barrett’s hand in the small of my back propels me forward.

‘Avery, this is Jagger.’ He starts by introducing one of the brothers. He has blond hair, cropped close to his head, and eyes that are thoughtful. ‘And Grace.’ He indicates the woman at Jagger’s side. She’s pregnant, about six months along, I’d guess.

‘Hi.’ Her smile is loaded with warmth. Jagger is just staring at me, like he’s seen a ghost.

‘Hi.’ Anxious. High-pitched. I swallow.

‘Theo and Asha.’ He draws me to another couple. They’re holding hands, and I feel Theo’s anxiety. Somehow, it’s relaxing to me, that they might be nervous about this too.

‘Pleased to meet you.’ Again, it’s Asha who speaks, not the Hart.

I nod jerkily, not quite able to return the sentiment.

‘And Holden and Cora.’ Cora’s smile lights up her face. Holden regards me with the same sense of hesitation I’m feeling. That relaxes me even further.

‘Some family reunion, huh?’

A couple of them laugh.

I feel Barrett’s breathing beside me. I feel his heart beating, somehow. I feel everything.

‘Have a seat.’ Jagger gestures to one of the armchairs. I choose the sofa instead, hoping Barrett will sit beside me.

‘Would you like a coffee?’ Barrett offers, his eyes warming me to the tips of my toes.

I bite down on my lip, so close to tears at his perennial kindness, and even more so because I honestly don’t deserve it.

‘Or something stronger,’ Theo offers over Barrett’s shoulder.

I’d love a coffee—just to have something to do with my hands—but I don’t want Barrett to leave the room. I shake my head jerkily.

‘No, thanks.’

His eyes narrow almost imperceptibly and then perhaps he understands, because he takes the seat beside me, not close enough to touch but he’s there, a wall of strength at my side.

‘This must have come as quite a shock,’ Grace says after a few quiet, awkward moments.

I look at her gratefully. ‘You could say that.’

‘We didn’t know about you.’ It’s Holden. His voice is gruff, his bearing defensive. I warm to him. I get the feeling we’re kindred spirits, and not just because of the surprises we’ve borne. It’s strange, given that he’s the one I don’t actually have a biological connection to.

I nod. ‘Barrett told me.’

‘It was an accident we even found you.’ Theo now.

I nod once more.

‘The thing is—’ Jagger takes over ‘—our father was a bastard. He never saw a beautiful woman he didn’t want to take to bed.’