Can't Hardly Breathe (The Original Heartbreakers #4)

“Morning, Momma.” She made no mention of Virgil’s confession. What good would it do? Carol would feel bad for gossiping, and Dorothea would feel guilty for making her feel bad. But lesson learned. Carol couldn’t be trusted with her secrets. “I’ll be back in about an hour. You’ve got your phone, right? The guests might ring you for a meal. And if anyone else shows up wanting a room—”

“I’ll see to them, don’t you worry.” Carol wiped her dirt-covered gloves together. “Daniel told me to tell you he’s waiting for you at Anthony’s, and you aren’t to leave him behind.”

“Great. Thanks.” One step away, that was as far as she got.

“I noticed he stayed the night at the inn,” her mother continued.

Tread carefully. “He does that sometimes.”

“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck, young lady. I know he stayed in your room.”

“Well, we’re dating.” Openly! “That’s going to be happening quite a bit in the near future.”

Carol frowned at her. “I hope you know what you’re doing. He’s—”

“A wonderful man. I know.” And that’s my cue to go. Dorothea kicked off.

When she reached Style Me Tender, she jogged in place, watching as Daniel played with the dogs. He noticed her and smiled a special smile. One she’d never seen before. One she liked to think was for her alone. Rays of sunlight spilled over him, his masculinity on full display.

But the special smile didn’t last long. A shadow of concern passed over his features.

Concern for what?

“Hey, Virgil. Hey, Anthony,” she said with a wave. The two were at their table, playing checkers.

“Hello again, Miss Dorothea.” Virgil padded over to kiss her cheek. “Now, I want you to know something. I’m not sorry for gettin’ stern with the pretty boy back there. He did you wrong, and that’ll never be okay in my book.” His gaze slid to his son. “Not ever. I’ll tan the hide of anyone who breaks your heart, and I mean that.”

Anthony nodded his agreement, and she wanted to laugh. They were acting like fathers—hers rather than Daniel’s. The way fathers were supposed to act.

“That’s enough out of you two.” Daniel handed her Echo’s leash—actually, he presented it to her, as if he were making a point about something—and she gladly accepted. “Get ready for the workout of a lifetime.”

“I’m stronger than I look. This pup isn’t going to get the better of me.”

“Just you wait.”

They started off slowly, teaching the dogs to stay at their sides and not buck or lunge when squirrels and cars passed. Soon sweat beaded on her forehead, trickled down her temples. Echo yanked the leash so many times Dorothea lost count, and her arms began to burn more than her legs.

“Okay. You were right. This is not easy.” She was already huffing and puffing. “I feel like I’m the one being walked.”

They ran another few blocks before the dogs calmed. Huffing and puffing himself, Daniel said, “Are you going to be okay?”

She knew what he meant. Was she going to be okay with her ex and his girlfriend-non-girlfriend staying at the inn, a constant reminder of what she’d lost?

Daniel knew only about the divorce, not her precious Rose.

A whimper escaped her. A whimper Daniel misinterpreted.

“Do you still love him?” The question lashed like a whip.

“I do not.”

“You sure? I distinctly remember you telling me that love lasts forever.”

“Real love does. With Jazz, I had attachment and gratitude, nothing more.” Even back then, her heart had belonged to Daniel. She saw the truth now.

I think you’re perfect just the way you are.

It was funny how one sentence—one moment—could impact a life forever.

He stopped and she did the same, realizing they’d come full circle. They were back in front of the salon.

“Why did you look like you wanted to cry?” he asked.

A car drove past and honked. Virgil and Anthony waved at the driver and pretended not to eavesdrop when it was obvious they were straining to hear every word.

“Let’s talk about it later.” Or never.

No, she had to tell him. He deserved to know the truth. And she needed to be prepared for any reaction. Unconcern. Pity.

Pity might kill her.

He turned away, his posture rigid. “Come on. We should probably return to the inn.”

The abrupt change in his mood threw her. What had she done? Besides temporarily deny his request for more information. He’d done the same to her on multiple occasions, and she hadn’t thrown a fit.

Men! Were they even worth the hassle?

As Daniel jogged away, sweat trickling between his shoulder blades, his butt tight in his running shorts, his muscles bunching, she sighed. Yes. Yes, they were. At least, this one was.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THE NEXT THREE DAYS passed in a blur. With the increased number of guests, Dorothea’s duties expanded. She cleaned the rooms, did all the laundry and helped her mother in the kitchen. She also hunted for knickknacks for the theme room. As soon as she clocked out, Daniel would take her on a date, every night ending in a different location...or locations—wherever they happened to be when his control snapped. In a dark alley. In his bedroom at his dad’s house. In a car, which he parked on the side of the road. Once, he took her to a field of wildflowers and, lit by his truck’s headlights, seduced her on the hood.

As they’d lain wrapped together in the dark of night, a full golden moon steeping the moment in romance, he’d said, “I’m running a background check on Jazz. A dirty one, where we dig into all the hidden nooks and crannies.”

“Why?” she’d asked. “I mean, other than the obvious. He’s my ex, yes, but he has no part in our relationship.”

“I don’t like the way he’s stalking you. What if he’s dangerous?”

“He’s not.” He was just annoying.

More than a dozen times, Jazz had cornered her. Just to talk, he’d said. To explain the terrible mistake he’d made, to make things right with her. He hadn’t wanted to cheat on her, he’d added, but he’d needed the job—for her, to be the one to support their family; that meant he’d needed Charity’s approval. But through it all, he’d never stopped loving Dorothea. Blah, blah, blah.

The only thing he’d said that had gotten her in the feels was Rose’s name.

After the fall down those steps, Jazz had visited Dorothea at the hospital. In fact, he was the one who’d called 911. He’d chased after her, had seen her go down. As she was wheeled back for surgery, she told the doctors not to give updates to her soon-to-be ex-husband, and most definitely not to allow him inside her room. The only detail they’d shared with Jazz was Rose’s death because, technically, her condition had nothing to do with Dorothea’s, and he was the father.

She’d expected, maybe even hoped, he would fight his way in to see her, but he hadn’t, and the knowledge had hurt.

Now he was back, claiming he was ready to fight for her.

Why now? What had changed?

“Learned anything incriminating yet?” she’d asked Daniel.

“Only that he cheats on his taxes.”

Not exactly surprising.

In another not so surprising turn of events, Holly, who saw Jazz as a surrogate father or goofy uncle, had begun cornering Dorothea, too.

He loves you.

He realized he messed up, and he’ll never do it again.