Forever in My Heart
Table of Contents
Title Page
Forever in My Heart
Copyright
Dedications
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
A word about the author...
Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
“What happened today between us can never happen again.”
“Because of your sister?”
“Because of my entire family. Kate isn’t the only member with a grudge against the DiSilva family.”
Just his bad luck.
“My parents and I have never done anything to warrant being shunned by them. Our parents were best friends.”
“That doesn’t change what your brothers did or how it’s impacted my family. It’s one thing to deal with you living in the same town. It’s another for them to accept what just happened between us.”
“What happens between us has nothing to do with your family,” he snapped. He was tired of being judged. It wasn’t like she didn’t feel something for him. He lowered his voice and cupped her cheek. “Things can be good between us, Vick. You know it.”
She held his gaze, and he felt her tremble. He leaned forward, determined to convince her to give them a chance.
Her hand shot out and stopped him from doing more than graze her lips.
“Stop. Nothing good will come of this.” She rolled off the bed and kept her back to him.
“You’re choosing them over your own happiness?”
She wiped at her face before turning to him. Despite the tears that dampened her eyes, her answer was clear from the stubborn set of her chin. “What choice do I have?”
“There’s always a choice.”
“And a price to pay. They’re my family. I pick them. I’ll always pick them.”
Forever in
My Heart
by
Maria K. Alexander
Tangled Hearts Series, Book 2
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Forever in My Heart
COPYRIGHT © 2015 by Maria Ketterer
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: info@thewildrosepress.com
Cover Art by Diana Carlile
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
PO Box 708
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Champagne Rose Edition, 2015
Print ISBN 978-1-62830-809-9
Digital ISBN 978-1-62830-810-5
Tangled Hearts Series, Book 2
Published in the United States of America
Dedications
To Jessica and Ryan.
May you always strive to accomplish
your heart’s desire.
~~~
To my husband, Joe, for your support and love.
~~~
To my mom for your love and encouragement.
Thanks to you and Dad for teaching me the value
of family, for the many Italian recipes, and for
explaining the difference between sauce and gravy!
~~~
To my dad who was my best guy, my hero,
and my role model. There isn’t a day goes by
that I don’t draw on your quiet strength
and remember how proud you were
of my accomplishments.
I think of and miss you every single day.
~~~
To my blog partners, The Violet Femmes,
and our continued friendship and successes.
A special thanks to RoseAnn and Joanna for
your input into making this a stronger story.
~~~
To New Jersey Romance Writers.
This story was written during the first two
Jersey Romance Writer Month (JeRoWriMo)
writing challenges. Thanks for pushing me to write
1,000 words a day, even when I thought I couldn’t.
Chapter One
Jamie DiSilva’s morning was about to be ruined by a cannoli. Hesitating outside a café in his hometown of Northeast Philadelphia, he considered his next move. Stepping inside was going to throw salt on an old wound, which is why he’d been avoiding this particular store the past month since moving back home. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
He wiped damp hands on his jeans and told himself he’d faced worse while serving in Afghanistan. How bad could seeing an old high school girlfriend be after all these years?
Suck it up, DiSilva, and own up to your mistake.
Nodding to himself, he pushed open the door and was enveloped by the aroma of fresh baked bread and sweet desserts. The sign outside proclaimed Decadent DeLites to be a place to get homemade treats that reminded you of your grandma’s kitchen, and from the tantalizing smells, it promised to deliver. Endless rows of cream-filled pastries lined the display case, and as Jamie contemplated the mouth-watering selections, he almost forgot why he was there.
“Can I help you?” a brunette behind the counter asked when the customer in front of him left.
“Two coffees, please.”
While she poured, Jamie glanced around the room. Years ago it used to be a pizzeria, and although the once red walls were now painted white, the black and white checkered floor in combination with the red vinyl booths and chairs still spoke of the past.
The clerk put the take-out cups in a cardboard tray and set them on the counter. She nodded in the direction of the display. “You interested in trying something? They’re fresh out of the oven.”
He eyed the case again. What harm was there in getting something sweet to take the edge off his nerves?
“I’ll take two cannolis, the ones with the ricotta filling.”
He glanced to the back of the store and the door that led to the kitchen. During high school, he’d worked summers in that kitchen. Sweated his ass off washing dishes and even bussed tables when one of the waitresses didn’t show.
Enough with the nostalgia bullshit, wimp ass. Do what you came in to do.
“Is the owner here?”
“When isn’t she here?” the clerk said. “She’s in the kitchen. Give me a sec, and I’ll get her.”
Jamie reached into his pocket for his wallet and waited while she rang up the order. Suddenly, there was a loud bang as a woman burst through the kitchen door.
“Damn dishwasher is acting up again, Luce. I’m going to need to call someone to—” She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening with surprise when they locked with his.
The impact of seeing Vicky DiFrancesco after all t
his time slammed into him like a bullet in a flak jacket—hard enough impact to knock you down, but not kill you. She must think him an idiot, staring, but the nine years since he’d seen her had transformed her from a young and innocent girl to a hot and sexy woman.
Despite her quick recovery, Jamie had seen the flash of hurt before she glared at him with an air of indifference that was all Vicky…and still sexy after all these years.
“Hi, Vicky. It’s been a while.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, banging the tray of muffins she’d been carrying on the counter so hard one of them flipped off and onto the floor.
He nodded at his purchases on the counter. “Picking up a late morning snack.”
She pointed to the door. “Get out of my store, Jamie. You’re not welcome here.”
Her reaction didn’t surprise as much as disappoint him. This would be easier if she didn’t look as though she wanted to clock him with the tray of muffins.
“Nice place. Looks like you’re doing pretty well for yourself.” He lowered his gaze to her chest, and his cock stirred at the full mounds beneath the purple T-shirt. Someone had grown up since their teenage years.
“What are you, deaf?” She leaned forward and slid the cardboard takeout tray that held the bag and cups toward him. “I asked you to leave.”
He shook his head and tossed a ten on the counter. “Not until we talk.”
“You’re nine years too late for talking.”
Ouch. He wasn’t surprised she cut right to the chase. No bullshit with Vicky. The sad part was he deserved it.
“Please, Vick. I’m asking for five minutes.” He lowered his head and attempted what he hoped was a remorseful expression. “For old times’ sake.”
She glared at him with light brown eyes. Teddy bear eyes he used to call them, and damn if they still didn’t turn him on.
“Five minutes.” Grabbing the tray with his food, she stomped around the counter to a set of empty tables.
Grateful she hadn’t refused, he followed. Although she dropped the tray on a table, she remained standing, feet firmly planted, hands on her hips, and attitude rolling off her in waves.
Now that he had her attention, his mind blanked. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. She smelled like berries, apples, and cinnamon, and he had to fight the urge to reach out and see if she tasted as good.
She tapped her foot. “Time’s a-ticking, DiSilva.”
Get with the program, man.
He cleared his throat and slid his hands into his back pockets. It was brief, but he caught her glance at his biceps—now muscular and unlike his scrawny teenage self—and purse her lips in an exasperated, but sexy, pout.
“I’m sorry how things ended between us. I was a jerk after I left for basic training. Breaking it off with you in a text was wrong, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“There’s something called the telephone. Maybe you’ve heard of it? It’s the other major function of a cell phone.”
No matter how many ways he tried to spin it, he’d been an insensitive ass. There was also nothing he could do to change what his adolescent self had done. All he could do now was try and make her believe his apology was sincere—and it was.
“You’re right. I should have called. I didn’t handle it well, and I’m sorry.”
How could he put in a text or even verbalize his own realization of what he signed up for? The awareness he would be deployed somewhere dangerous and with the full understanding he might not return alive. This, along with the fact that her brother would kick his balls outside the stratosphere if Jamie touched her again, had made him break things off.
“You could have talked to me when you returned that Christmas.” She held up a hand before he could interrupt. “Oh wait, that would have been difficult since when I saw you then, your tongue was down Cathy Constantino’s throat.”
He cringed. He’d forgotten about fun-time Cathy. Returning home after being away for months had been difficult. Basic training had changed him, prepared him—as best it could—for battle. What it hadn’t prepared him for was handling the female race. No, back then he’d still been naïve, hence the hook-up with a high school classmate. Yeah, he’d been a world class jerk.
“I’m sorry. I thought staying away from you was for your own good,” he said.
She gave him a tight smile. “Turns out you were right. Staying away from me was the best thing you could have done. So, thanks.” She started to turn away.
He reached out and touched her arm. A spark jumped between them. She must have felt it, too, because she jolted. All these years and his blood still heated up being near her.
“My five minutes aren’t up.”
“For the love of God.” She gestured upward with her hand. “Continue.”
“I returned home a month ago and started a home improvement business.” He removed a business card from his pocket and handed it to her.
Her gaze dropped, but she didn’t take it. “You left the army?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Too many reasons to count, but that wasn’t important now. “Nine years is a while, and it was time to come home.”
“What’s this have to do with me?”
“I’m having difficulty getting business and was hoping you’d consider me doing some work in here.”
“What’s wrong with the way it is?”
“Nothing if you still want it to look like a pizzeria.”
“How dare you.” She stepped closer, hands now fisted by her side. “You have some nerve coming in here insulting my café.”
“I’m not trying to insult it, but come on, Vick.” He waved his hands around the room. “It still looks like your parents’ place. I could replace the floor, repaint, and freshen it up.”
When she started to talk, he held up his hand. “Not a lot of changes, just enough to make it look different and more like a modern café.” And not something from the eighties. “It would be a win-win for both of us.”
She was shaking her head before he even finished. “No way am I going to have you in here messing up my place. I have plans to fix it up, and I’ll get to it when I’m ready.”
“All I’d ask is for you to cover the cost of the supplies. What are you afraid of?”
Her nostrils flared, and he knew he’d lost her.
She pointed a finger in his chest—or tried to—and winced when it didn’t make a dent. “I’m not afraid of anything. I don’t need you or your help.”
But he needed her, and maybe for more than redeeming his family’s tainted reputation it seemed, based on the throbbing of his heart.
He lowered his voice. “We used to be close, Vick.” He took a step forward and wasn’t deterred when she took one back. “As close as two people can get.”
“That was a long time ago. I’m no longer the naïve girl who can be charmed by you.”
He flashed a dimpled smile. “As I recall, you did a fair amount of charming. If your brother hadn’t interrupted us—”
“But he did.” Her cheeks flushed in anger…or maybe embarrassment. “Nick was right about you. You’re trouble. Just like your brothers were.”
His own temper flared, and he grabbed her wrist. “That’s not fair. You know I’m not like them.”
Her gaze dropped to his hand. “Do I?”
He released his grip. There were no similarities between him and his brothers, and she damn well knew it…or at least she used to.
“You’re not welcome here.” She picked up the pastry bag and shoved it hard into his chest. “Get out.”
When she turned to leave, he got a view of how well her jeans hugged her ass—and what a sweet ass it was.
“Don’t come back,” she called over her shoulder. “Otherwise, I will call my brother.”
With that parting comment, she disappeared into the kitchen.
Of all the scenarios he pictured, that went as badly as he’d imagined. He
pulled away the bag and grimaced at the ruined cannoli filling that had broken through the flimsy paper and dampened his T-shirt.
What a waste of a good pastry.
“You heard her. Please go,” the clerk said, now as annoyed as her boss.
Yeah, he was doing a real bang-up job racking up friends in town. Guess he wouldn’t be sending them any friend requests.
Nodding, he picked up the tray and strode out the door.
Outside, he glanced at the sign in the front window. “A little taste of Italy with the sass of Philly.” Yeah, they sure as hell served plenty of sass. A slight smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Good thing he liked a little sass in a woman. It would make redeeming himself to Vicky and the town all the more interesting.
****
Vicky grabbed several pastry boxes off the shelf and slammed them onto the stainless steel table in the middle of the kitchen. Jamie DiSilva. Here. In her place of business.
Seeing him after all these years, and at a time when she was finally getting traction with her life, was like a slap in the face. After overcoming a humiliating divorce in addition to her own insecurities, Vicky had finally found herself and her passion for the future. Decadent DeLites had only been open a couple months. Although business had been promising, it was going to take all her energy to sustain the crowds and grow the business the way she wanted.
The last thing she needed was a setback in the form of Jamie DiSilva and a reminder of the uncertain teenager she’d once been. Back then it seemed as though no one understood what she’d been feeling—hell, she’d barely understood it at the time. But Jamie got it. Also the youngest in his family, he could relate to living in the shadow of his siblings.
Once she’d gotten to know him and seen his own vulnerabilities, so similar to hers, it was easy to open up and admit her fear of being nothing. And it wasn’t one-sided. He’d shared his own frustrations with his family, especially his brothers. Over that brief summer when she was seventeen, this boy, who she’d known since she was a baby, became her best friend—and more.
That’s why it’d hurt when, knowing her anxieties, he’d pushed her away after leaving for the army. Pushed her away as though what they’d shared meant nothing. And maybe it didn’t…to him. But to her, it had been everything.