His Love Lesson

“End of January. I’m taking a little vacation to celebrate before I start.”

“Wow. I can’t imagine going back to writing papers and attending classes again. You’ve wanted to do this for so long.”

“I know, but what could I do? We simply ran out of money and since the shop wasn’t doing well, Mom and Dad couldn’t help. It was almost depressing, seeing my classmates graduate without me. Once the shop started doing better, I could finally afford to save enough to go back.

“We have you to thank for that! It will all work out. You deserve this. Good luck! Where are you going for vacation?”

“Near Salt Lake City, Utah.”

Chey pulled the phone away from her ear when her sister screamed, “What the hell is in Utah?”

“I booked an amazing villa. I plan to ski, snowboard, drink hot chocolate in front of a cozy fire and work on that book that I’ve wanted to write forever.”

“I’m going to have to report this identity theft because you’re clearly not my sister.”

“This is just the beginning,” Chey declared.

“I love it! I may need to take a page from your book. I could use some excitement. Maybe I’ll come for a visit. You know how much New York City intrigues me.”

“Great idea! Let’s put it on the calendar.”

“It’s a plan!” Deanna gasped. “But I’ll wait until your spring break. That cold weather is unbearable. Anyway, I gotta run, sis! I just realized I’m late for a conference call. You know how it is dealing with coworkers on the West Coast. The time difference is a killer. Give me a call tomorrow. Okay? Love ya.” Deanna ended the call before Chey could say goodbye.

Since Deanna was a data analyst who worked from home, she was always mindful of making sure her bosses knew that she was a diligent employee. Even though she often worked from their parents’ variety shop, she was sure to get her reports in and respond to emails or calls as quickly as possible so her bosses would never have to question her dedication or whereabouts. She needed this job, since the family business didn’t pay much at all.

Chey laid the phone on the side table closest to the loveseat and walked over to the mirror near the door. Twisting her head, she took in the sleek look of her new hairstyle and ran her fingers through it once again. She recalled how nervous she’d felt when she’d sat in the hairdresser’s chair with a picture of Halle Berry and told her she wanted to look like that.

When the stylist finished, she’d been shocked at how different she looked. At first she’d wondered if her sudden change had been too drastic. In the days following, Chey would absentmindedly attempt to run her fingers through her hair and be reminded that she had chopped all of it off. As the days passed, Chey had received loads of compliments at her part-time job and eventually became so pleased with the style that she wondered why she hadn’t cut it before. Her new look highlighted her high cheekbones and made her big brown eyes pop in a good way. Then she remembered. She’d kept it long because Todd preferred that length.

Feeling free and light was becoming addictive. Chey had taken other actions and made plans to do things she had wanted to do for years. Now that she was no longer tied to Todd, she did whatever she desired and it felt great!

Chey’s phone rang. She walked over to retrieve her cell from the side table. She didn’t recognize the number but did recognize the area code as being from her hometown in Virginia. It had to be someone she knew.

“Hello,” she said in the same courteous tone she used at work.

“Chey?” Todd’s greeting sounded more like a scolding.

Chey hadn’t heard from him since the day she left home three months before. She resisted the initial urge to hang up. There was no reason to hide from him.

“Hello, Todd.” She kept her tone professional.

“I’ve given you enough time to get over whatever little fit you’ve been having. It’s time for you to come home. I need you here.”

Chey found herself laughing at how ridiculous he sounded. “You can’t be serious.”

“You find this funny?” He was clearly annoyed.

“As a matter of fact, I do. It’s not that at all, is it? You don’t like the idea of me being independent. You can’t handle the fact that I walked away from you! This is a joke!”

“This has gone on long enough.”

Chey dropped her head into her free hand and shook it. “Todd. We’re done. I have a new life. I truly wish you the best with yours.”

“Tell me where you are.”

“Goodbye, Todd.” Chey ended the call, but not before hearing him declare that he would find her.

Chey walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the bottle of champagne she’d purchased to bring in the New Year. Suddenly she felt as if there was no need to wait the few days. She popped open the bottle and toasted to all the fresh starts of the past few months and the ones on the horizon.

Chapter 2 (#ulink_6195bf77-70e7-5cae-8aca-30521508860b)

Hunter looked across the roomful of people at his brother Blake snuggled up against his fiancée, Cadence, on the couch and wondered if settling down was somewhere in his future. No one ever anticipated Blake finding a wife before his big brother, Hunter, who was more laid-back. Drew, forget about it! As the youngest, he was the rebel, completely commitment phobic and having way too much fun running through as many women in as many countries as he possibly could. Jade Donnelly, the only woman the family thought could have been “the one” for Drew, had run off with a chunk of his heart and was never to be seen again. Hunter believed that there was a slight possibility that Drew might have been holding out for her return.

“Hey, bro. You don’t hear me talking to you.” Drew pulled Hunter from his thoughts, bringing him back to the roomful of music and people attending his brother’s New Year’s Eve party.

“What’s up?” he asked, sipping the champagne in his hand.

“I said, look at Blake—he’s a sucker for love.” Drew’s infectious laugh roared, garnering the attention of nearby guests.

“Yeah! Rightfully so, though. Cadence is a great catch.”

“You’re right. I’m just teasing. She’s good people!” Drew took a long swig of his beer. “What about you? You think you’ll find someone that would make you want to quit the singles game?”

“I don’t know, li’l bro. I don’t know.” Hunter sipped again.

For a moment, Drew seemed caught in pensive thoughts. “I don’t know either.”

“What about Alana? The two of you went out before, right?”

For a quick second, Drew looked uncomfortable. “Hmm, Alana,” he said with a puzzled expression. Hunter gave him a look that told him he wasn’t buying his poor attempt at acting as though he didn’t know whom he was talking about. “Oh! Pfft!” He waved his hand dismissively. “She’s cool.”

“Ha!” Hunter shook his head at him and continued sipping.

“Hey, Hunter!” said some girl dressed in baby pink, looking like a happy Easter egg.

“Hey...” He hesitated, trying to figure out if he knew her name.

“Tricia,” she paused a moment, apparently waiting for some sign of recognition to spread across Hunter’s face. “I recently joined the New York Association of Attorneys.”

“Oh! Okay.” Hunter had no idea who this woman was. “Nice to see you, Tricia.” He held out his hand to shake hers. She was pretty enough not to forget. Hunter discreetly took in her curves. Obviously, he wasn’t inconspicuous enough. She smiled seductively and arched her back slightly, giving him an unobstructed view of her ample cleavage.

“I guess I’ll see you around,” she said, then turned slowly and swayed her hips, leaving an imprint on Hunter’s mind with her seductive gait.

“Who is that?” Drew reappeared by his side, ogling the woman as she walked away.

“Tricia!”

“Tricia?”