Sacred Hart Read Online Free PDF

turned to speak to him. “I… I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to say thank you and tell you I’m sorry for how I acted. It was—”
    “It’s fine.” His jaw pulsed as he looked at me.
    “I mean, the man, he was my neighbor.”
    Ryan’s hand tensed on the door. “He was your neighbor?”
    “He didn’t make it.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” He stared over my shoulder as he spoke in a robotic tone.
    “Are you?” I wasn’t sure why I asked it, or why I’d infused attitude into my tone, but part of me thought his reply was too scripted, and it made me curious.
    “I am.” His dark brown eyes swallowed me whole as he gave me his full attention.
    I nervously chewed on the side of my lower lip, having that much intensity pointed in my direction all at once wasn’t something I was used to. “I’ll have your order ready in a few minutes.”
    “Thank you,” I said softly, not sure if he’d catch that my thank you was for this morning and the food.
    He held my gaze, and the way he watched me – like I was something to memorize, like he hadn’t seen anything like it before – caused each breath, each beat of my pulse to rise.
    He nodded and swallowed before he dropped his eyes to the floor, retreating back into the kitchen. My cheeks felt hot and I was sure I was blushing. Tony was looking at me with a coy smirk, and a secret in his eyes. “I hope to see you around here more often.”
    I smiled. “I’m sad I’ve never come in before.”
    “Oh honey, you were here at least once a week when you were knee high to a grasshopper. I told you, me and your dad, we played cards. You and your mom would come and dance to that very same jukebox.” He laughed openly as we both turned to watch Beth wiggle her hips. The memory hit me like a freight train. After they died, I couldn’t think about the past too much. It was like cutting open an almost healed wound, the pain was sharp.
    “I remember,” I whispered as I closed my eyes. I felt my mom’s hand in mine as she twirled me. The bluegrass, the banjos, the smell of bacon. The memories flooded through me, and I felt the heat of my tears overflow onto my cheeks.
    “My wife was sick. I’m sorry I didn’t come to their funeral.” Tony’s smile faded as his eyes met mine. “They were good people.”
    “They really were.” The words were a strangled knot in my throat.
    “Mom, we must come here again.” Beth ran over to me, and I barked out a laugh. My life was an emotional rollercoaster.
    Tony looked back at the kitchen door and gave me that secret grin again. Lou, who had been in and out of the kitchen so many times I couldn’t keep up with her, came out again, but this time with our food and two cups of cocoa. “Here you go.” She handed Beth her cup and handed me mine, as well as the bag. “Tony instructed me, it’s on the house.”
    “No, you don’t have—”
    “Just don’t be a stranger.” Tony’s smile was small.
    “I won’t.”
    “Good, see you soon. And, Beth, watch out for her. She’s far too sappy looking for such a young pretty thing.”
    Beth giggled, and I shook my head. “Let’s go, Bee.”
    “See you.” It was then when I looked over my shoulder to wave goodbye, that I saw him again. Ryan. His keen eyes trapped mine, and the butterflies in my stomach surged. I wasn’t sure if it was him or the memories. Either way, this place… it held a piece of me I’d lost, and I wanted her back.

Chapter Four
     

     
    There wasn’t any rain tonight. My eyes were heavy, but my mind wouldn’t shut down. She hadn’t told me her name, but her eyes – those damn, soft blue eyes told me all I needed to know. I’d made her anxious. That same unsettled look I’d gotten from her this morning at the crash site, it was there again this afternoon at the diner. It irritated me, having someone actually look at me. She watched me take in each breath, each movement, and I didn’t like it. It made me feel like a spectacle or a display.