Pierced Hearts (Southern Charmers 1)

“The resort will be ready.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I sure as hell do, considering Kendrick Construction is involved. I’ll work my ass to the bone to have that hotel ready to open next spring. Knowing that the completion is the only thing standing between you coming home and marrying me is motivation enough to get it finished ahead of schedule.”

I jerk back in surprise. “That’s your new project?”

“That and a side gig I’m working on. We are one of the many contractors.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was going to surprise you.”

“My brother’s involved with the financing, my fiancé is involved with the construction, and I’m now technically a partner with their hospitality team. This is all very weird.”

“Think of it as coincidental.”

I shove the binder and the magazine back in the bag and huff out dramatically.

“Can we go back to the hand-job part of our trip?”

“No, I need my phone.” I snatch it from the console and open the browser.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to teach the old bat a lesson.”

I search through the google results, pick a random location, and forward the link via text to Mom with two simple words.

Back off.

A satisfied smile curls on my lips when the phone starts ringing less than a minute later, and I tap ignore.

“Let her stew on that.”

“What did you do?”

“I found a Justice of the Peace in Kentucky and sent her the link.”

He returns my smile, shaking his head. “Just say the word, and I’ll get us there tonight.”

Chapter 30

Pierce

“This is it!” Darby announces, spinning with her arms wide around her new industrial kitchen.

The area is massive, easily three times the size of what she was working with at home. Recognizable faces of her new team filter in from the adjoining kitchen and swarm her, throwing out questions.

News of her arrival spread, and for the two days we’ve been here, we’ve been inundated with visitors at her new place. I can’t count the number of invitations we’ve turned down to go out and introduce Darby to her new city. These people have encompassed her, welcoming us both and working to make her a member of their crew. A part of me is glad she has this support system. Another part of me wants to steal her back, lock us in her apartment, and continue to fuck her on every possible surface. Unfortunately, that’s going to have to wait because I’m leaving for the airport soon.

While Darby fields questions, I take the opportunity to walk the space, taking inventory of everything and snapping pictures. With what she’s shared with me, and seeing this for myself, ideas for my design begin to come together. Mr. Baldwin sold me the whole building, not only the space she was using, so my plans include expansion.

“Are you almost ready?” She presses into my back, linking her arms around my waist.

“Do we need to unpack those?” The boxes she shipped are stacked in a corner.

“I have all next week to get that stuff arranged.”

“Let’s go then.”

She gives a quick wave to those still lingering, and we head out. The drive to the airport is quiet, and the closer we get, the lead grows heavier in my stomach. I just got her back, and all too soon, I’m losing her again. The circumstances may be different, but the reality of her being far away is sitting heavy on my mind.

“I’m going to be fine. There’s no need to worry about me.” She clutches my hand.

“I didn’t say anything different.”

“No, but the grinding of your teeth and strain in your neck are dead giveaways.”

“This isn’t how I pictured our life together starting, me hopping on a red-eye back to South Carolina and leaving you in Colorado.”

“You almost sound angry.”

“I’m pissed at myself. If I would have handled things differently back in May, we could be in a very different position right now.”

She stays quiet, and when I glance over, she’s staring forward, working through something in her head. An uneasy silence fills the space, and when she turns, her face is filled with sadness. “I would have probably turned them down. If the timing was different, and we’d have reconciled even a few days earlier, confessing all that we know now, there’s no way I would have left you. I’d have given up the largest opportunity of my career to have our life together.”

Her admission cuts me even deeper. “Baby, that’s not what I meant.”

“I know it sucks. My heart is breaking with each mile we get closer to the airport. This is a huge risk for me. I’ve left everyone I know and love to chase a dream. When you get on that plane, it’s my dog and me. No friends, no family, not even an emergency contact that doesn’t require a cross-country trek. I’m scared to death, my confidence is on shaky ground, and the man I’ve spent most of my life loving will be thousands of miles away. Not to mention, my place in your new life is causing a war with the mother of your children, which I knew was going to happen.”