Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“Maybe the shed is best.”

“Whatever you want. Let’s get back in the house. Lynda and I have been dying to hear all about your new bakery space. Evin has been tight-lipped.”

“Do you need your chair?” I start to grab it, and she shakes her head to stop me.

“Okay, let me get my purse and phone out of the car.”

“See you inside.” She and Lynda head to the back door, but not before she gives me another sympathetic glance.

I pay close attention to her steps and balance, which seem to be right on track. Then I think about the meaning behind her look. She’s on to me. I’m not fooling anyone. It’s been twelve years since I’ve spent any lengthy amount of time with my family in Charleston. I purposely lost all touch with my old life.

When I made the decision to come home and help Mom, I knew things had to change. I found a wonderful woman to lease my townhome, took care of my business and clients, packed what I needed, and made arrangements to store the rest. All of that was fairly simple with the help of my dad, brother, and best friend.

Then I went to work on me. It was easy to find a trainer, and with extreme commitment, I successfully lost twenty pounds, redefining my overly voluptuous curves into a leaner figure. The new hair and wardrobe came next. The purchase of the car was a bigger deal. Evin almost hemorrhaged when I told him how much I needed out of my portfolio to pay cash for the Infinity. He tried to talk me out of it but quit when I threatened to pull all my money and find a new money manager.

The vehicle is nice, but it’s not really me. No more free-spirited, wild-haired, relaxed and easy Darby. That girl disappeared a long time ago. The new me is a sharp-minded business owner that most likely won’t be recognized.

When I walked away from him, I gave him this part of my life. There was no choice. Charleston was his home, too, and he was making a hell of a lot of roots here that would have destroyed me if I’d stayed. Moving was easy. It was the years of self-torment and heartache that came afterward.

I gave Pierce Kendrick my heart, my soul, and my beloved Charleston.

And he never even blinked.

Chapter 1

Pierce

Three Weeks Later

I lean casually against the brick column, drinking my coffee and watching the cars piling into the parking lot. Children and parents fuss with backpacks, lunch boxes, and what look like presents as they rush into the school. A few wave in recognition, but mostly, everyone looks panicked.

A flash of red catches my eyes as my Connie flies into the lot and nearly crashes into a post. I take a deep breath and go to help when she stomps around to the trunk, snapping at Cole and Maya to hurry and help her. They do as they’re told, but both abandon their mission when they spot me coming.

“Dad!” Cole breaks out into a run, slamming into me. Maya is gentler, but her arms grip me tight.

“Hey, guys. What’s going on?”

“Can some of you please come help me?”

Cole tenses at Connie’s shout, and I recognize the irritation and exhaustion in her voice, which always results in her being a total bitch.

“Come on, kids. Let’s help your mom.”

Connie places two large shopping bags on the ground, never making eye contact. Her bad mood is even more apparent the closer I get.

“Hey, why don’t you two go ahead and get inside? I’ll help your mom with all this and meet you in the auditorium.” Their faces fill with relief, and they don’t even glance her way before taking off.

“What’s the deal?” I cross my arms and prepare for the heat.

“What’s the deal?” she sneers, her eyes coming to mine and flaming with anger. “The deal is Maya is eleven-years-old and needs a swift slap to get a lesson in manners. Cole didn’t want to get up this morning, and I found out he snuck out of bed and played some fucking video game online until midnight. The teachers asked for volunteers to bring refreshments for the assembly, and since we were running so damn late, I had to swing through and get donuts, which means all the snooty-ass moms are going to have a shit fit that I brought unhealthy choices. Not to mention, it’s teacher appreciation week, and today is gift day.”

That explains all the bags.

“Okay, let’s break this down. You slap my daughter, we’re gonna have a problem. She’s getting too old for a spanking, and if we need to punish her, we’ll do it together. But you haul off and slap her, you’ll answer to me.”

The anger in her eyes begins to glow, her face twisting in disgust. I continue before she can respond. “You needed help with refreshments, you should have fucking called me. I would have picked them up. But, just saying, donuts are fine. Any snooty bitch that has a problem with it can go fuck themselves. As for Cole, I’ll have a talk with him. He’s losing his gaming system and his technology until the end of school.”