Broken Heart (Broken Heart #1) Read online

  had an aura about him; A shining bright light that surrounded his whole incredible body. I felt star struck. He was so handsome that I could actually say he was “beautiful.” He was wearing a black

  suit with a light grey shirt and black tie. His eyes were gleaming like emeralds in the dim light of the gallery. He was so sexy it spilled over everywhere he went…and he knew it.

  “We’ve met before, haven’t we?” he said with a skewed smirk on his face; “John Jay College and the men’s bathroom at STK, right?” I looked down at the floor in embarrassment and horror. He must have noticed how I felt and then he said quickly, “Why don’t we start over? Let me formally

  introduce myself, Hi, I’m Michael…Michael Hunter…my close friends call me Mike…and you are?” he asked softly as his heart-shaped lips parted with anticipation for my response.

  “That’s a very formal introduction, Mr. Hunter. I’m Jenesis, Jenesis, spelled with a J,” I answered. Oh my God! How corny am I? Jenesis, spelled with a J. How elementary was that! He smiled a perfect smile at me, and I lost myself for a moment.

  “Nice to meet you, Jenesis, spelled with a J. Do you have a last name? Oh wait, I remember…Heart…Jenesis Heart, right?” he replied as he extended his rather large hand to me.

  “That’s right…great memory…Jenesis Heart, spelled like the heart-shaped heart, no middle name.” Okay…now I’m dying of embarrassment.

  I smiled casually, and I reached out to shake his hand, and he held my hand in his. His touch electrified me sending shock waves throughout my body. I was rattled just by his touch alone.

  “What brings you to a boring place like this?” he said, catching a glimpse of my lips that rested on the rim of my martini.

  “Oh, it’s not so bad, I like the art, but I could do without the artist.” I shrugged my shoulders as I placed the martini on the small pedestal table near me.

  “I see you’ve met Jolie. She’s harmless, trust me.” He leaned his elbows on his knees, moving in closer towards me. He held his hands together studying my eyes that were batting every eyelash at him.

  “Oh…you know her?” I had a feeling he did…and trust you? I don’t think so. I don’t trust anyone. I sat back a little moving away from him on the sofa. I was starting to feel intimidated by his good looks even though I wanted to be close to him…I couldn’t.

  “Actually, I do. I worked with the lawyer who drew all of her paper work to rent this gallery. She is odd… but deep down inside… she’s a nice woman.” He laughed as he spoke. His smile consumed me. The more he spoke the more I wanted him.

  “I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders in discontent.

  “My job allows me to meet a lot of interesting people…like you,” he said as he waved his hand in the air to get the waitresses attention.

  The waitress handed him a martini and smiled at him with her kittenish brown eyes. He looked at her, handed her a fifty-dollar tip, and gave her a soft, all white teeth, warm smile.

  “Wow, big tip for one martini, don’t you think?” I said jokingly, but what I really wanted to do, was knock the tray from under that red big-boobed booby. “Is that how they do it out here in New York?” I asked with a hint of condescension.

  “Well, that’s New York for ya, but…when I wave my hand…she’ll run anyone over with her roller-skates to get us drinks…get it? Where are you from?” His blue-green eyes widened with curiosity.

  “Pennsylvania,” I replied hoping he would change the subject.

  “Where?” He was eyeing me and making me nervous.

  “Lehigh County,” I answered quickly. I was starting to get nervous and now I really needed a drink.

  “Nice, I love going to the Poconos. There’s a ton of things to do out there,” he said as he eyed me up and down, staring at my slinky silver pumps and stripping my tan legs of my silk stockings with his eyes. I waved my hand to the waitress to test his theory.

  He was right…she did run some people over to get to us. I grabbed another martini to help ease my nerves. I was becoming anxious about our little discussion. I didn’t want him to ask me about

  my parents. Somehow, I felt that that would be the next question, and I definitely didn’t want to answer.

  “I didn’t ask you…do you work?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Oh, you don’t want to tell me?” he said as he curled his lips to the side and leaned his shoulders back against the couch. His shoulders bulged out of his suit. I was hoping he took the jacket off, so I could get a better look.

  “I work in a police precinct…I’m a secretary. I work nights,” I said a little ashamed. I took a quick sip of my martini and avoided eye contact.

  “Cool…” he said smoothly as he sipped his glass with his heart shaped lips.

  How I wish I were the rim of that glass.

  We laughed and smiled at one another as we kept our conversation flowing. We always managed to capture an extended glance into each other’s eyes. Even if we were silent for a moment sipping on our martinis, our eyes would always have something to say. My eyes wanted to say come closer

  and kiss me tenderly on the lips. I really wanted to know what he was thinking about and what his eyes were saying to me. A song that was playing sounded familiar to me, it reminded me of my

  mother and I when I was a child. I glanced up at him, and I saw his beautiful lips moving. He was singing the song silently to himself. My God! He’s just so adorable!

  “You know these old songs. My mother loved this song. She would sing all of the time when I was a kid.” Of course, when the devil wasn’t around.

  “It’s pretty old, though.”

  “Yes, it’s an 80’s song. I’m a young guy with an old person trapped inside of me. I love the oldies, 80’s, and 90’s music. My mother played music all of the time. We used to dance together.” He

  lowered his head for a moment. I wanted to change the subject; it seemed as if the mention of his mother saddened him so I asked for a drink.

  “Hey, another drink? Let’s wave at the waitress…maybe someone will trip her on the way over here?” I laughed and he shook his head.

  “Your bad…I like that.” He winked at me.

  As the night went on and the conversation got deeper, Michael mentioned his mother and what a great relationship they had. She passed away after a long battle with breast cancer five years ago. He said that his father was not in his life and had left when he was three. It sounded like the typical

  scenario. Why is it that the father is never around? Or he’s a drunk or a cheater? I listened to him and enjoyed his honesty, but I didn’t say anything about my father or my mother. What was I going

  to tell him? That my father was a drunk and beat my mother every night? He must have noticed that I didn’t offer any information about my parents, so he didn’t pursue the conversation and I cut

  it short. We were soon interrupted again by a waitress who offered us another drink. Soon the drinks kept coming and I was overcome with the heat of the liquor I had consumed.

  I took my shoes off and said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I think the martinis are making my feet swell,” I giggled like a little schoolgirl, and he was enjoying every minute of it.

  “By all means, I’m going to get a little comfortable myself.”

  As he reached for his tie, he stared at me and slowly slid the tie gently from around his neck down passed his firm chest and placed it on to his lap. I followed his every movement with my eyes sipping on my martini and wishing I could move a little closer without him noticing. The

  overwhelming heat of the alcohol surged through my veins. He fiddled with his shirt until he unbuttoned the first button, then the second, and I just continued to gaze at him, with my mouth

  slightly parted. I exhaled as I felt warmth between my legs watching his fingers gently unhook the buttons. I wondered how quickly he could unhook my bra! He was so sensual, with those blue-

  green eyes gleaming and heart shaped lips.
You could feel the attraction between us, the heat, and the animal magnetism! I would give anything just to place my lips on his. I knew what he was

  trying to do, and it was working. I sipped on my martini and swallowed hard, licking my top lip discreetly but enough for him to still see me as my expression of delightfulness reached his eyes.

  My heart was sprinting under my dress and I found myself enjoying the view. I was surprised at my behavior, I didn’t even think I could feel this way, it was exhilarating, but deep down inside, I

  knew the alcohol had a lot to do with my bravery. He was working everything he had to try to seduce me with his eyes, and if he came any closer, he could seduce the panties right off of

  me…and I wanted him to. I was so captivated by his actions that I had to look away. I glanced around the gallery and saw Dave who was staggering towards me with his new female friend.

  Dave, please, walk a little faster…I thought to myself. I was feeling out of control. Between the liquor and his beautiful face…I couldn’t take it. The heat between my legs turned into a moist, wet

  jungle of love, and I was panting for that blue-green-eyed tiger to come and devour me. Dave approached as he swayed back and forth, his body unsteady, and his eyes blood shot red.

  “Jen, I’m sorry! I almost forgot about you! Here’s…some money…for a cab…home,” he said as he threw a hundred dollar bill at me. His words slurred as he gently wavered from side to side as

  he spoke. I knew he was in no condition to go home alone. His drunken breath and his garbled speech infuriated me. He reminded me of my father. I was so embarrassed when he tossed that

  hundred-dollar bill at me, I mean, what the hell! Don’t I deserve a little more respect than that! And what cab driver has change for a hundred?

  After the five seconds of embarrassment that seemed like an eternity, I looked at the woman he was talking to who walked cautiously with him.

  She didn’t know him, so I felt obligated to take him home to make sure he was going to be all right. I introduced Michael to Dave and Dave shook his hand strong and tight as if he wanted to send him a message. Michael looked at him with his intense green eyes and immediately jerked

  his hand away. I quickly grabbed Dave by the arm and sat him down on the couch. His new friend whispered to Dave in his ear,

  “Here’s my number, call me tomorrow.” She handed me his cell phone. She looked at me and smiled.

  “I’m Margaret; it’s Jen, right?” she said guardedly as she extended her hand to me.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said with a half- smile as I propped Dave up against the couch. Margaret looked at me and slowly pulled back her hand towards her side when she noticed I didn’t extend my hand in return.

  “He mentioned to me that you’re like the daughter he never had. Please make sure he gets home safe, if you need me, just call,” she said as she slipped me her number on a folded napkin. I looked

  at Dave’s phone to remind her she just put her number in his contacts. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

  I thanked her with a nod and looked over at Michael. He looked a little annoyed and began to button his shirt and fix his tie. I looked at him regretfully and said,

  “I’m sorry I have to leave so suddenly, but I need to take him home.”

  “I’ll get a cab, I want to make sure you get home safely,” he said, looking at Dave with aversion.

  I shrugged my shoulders and agreed. We took him home in a cab. The ride was quiet and tense. Michael stared out of the window as Dave gave Michael a piercing stare. I glanced at both of them and just kept wondering how the night would have ended if Dave wasn’t drunk. We arrived at the

  apartment building, and Michael helped me walk Dave upstairs. We were holding Dave underneath his arms practically dragging him up each step. He kept looking at Michael harshly while he

  staggered up the stairs. Michael just ignored him shaking his head every chance he got. We finally got to the door; I took Dave’s keys from his suit jacket pocket and opened the door.

  “Thanks Michael, I got it from here,” I said politely. Then, I quickly turned around and asked, “Can you wait a minute?” He nodded and looked into the apartment. I felt so bad.

  Michael stood in the doorway and watched as Dave stammered in and plopped on the couch.

  “Dave, are you going to be okay?” I whispered gently as I lifted his chin with my hand.

  He grunted with his eyes closed. I took off his shoes and gently laid him down on the couch. Dave grabbed my hand,

  “Thanks, Jen,” he said then he looked towards the doorway.

  I looked over at Michael who appeared to be uneasy with the situation. I turned off the living room light and left the kitchen light on for him. I closed the door behind me, locked it, and looked at

  Michael. He was leaning his back against the wall in the hallway with his hands in his front pockets, slightly lifting his suit jacket. He looked like perfection.

  “You don’t have to say anything. I’ll take you home.”

  “Good thing you just have to walk a couple of steps…I live here, too, right upstairs on the fifth floor, number 12.”

  “Saves me money on a cab, beautiful,” he said teasingly.

  We walked up to the fifth floor. I felt I owed Michael an apology. I was embarrassed that Dave was drunk, so I reached out and touched Michael’s hand gently.

  “Thank you,” I said apologetically. He leaned down and kissed me affectionately on my cheek. The hairs on my skin stood in attention when his warm lips pressed against my cheeks. I didn’t want him to leave, so I said hastily, “Coffee?”

  “No, thank you, but I will take a rain check, how ‘bout tomorrow night, around six?” he asked with his soft sexy voice.

  “Sure…goodnight,” I said with an anxious smile.

  I closed the door behind me and held my stomach. I burst into tears as I slid down against the door and sat on the floor. I don’t know why I was so hurt, but I was. Dave had disappointed me, and I

  drank again. I was more disappointed with myself. I was embarrassed and I felt like I did when I was in high school, when my mother used to call me at my friend’s house and I would have to leave my friends to pick up my drunk father at the bar and take him home. The funny thing was as soon as my friends heard the phone ring they knew it was my mother and that I had to leave. These horrible memories will always haunt me. I was angry with Dave, and I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t want to hurt him. He was beginning to become an integral part of my life and I needed him. I’ll tell him tomorrow.

  CHAPTER 9

  Tomorrow came, and I said nothing to Dave. I didn’t have the heart to hurt him, he’s been so good to me and this was just one incident. Hopefully, it wouldn’t happen again. I was more interested in my date with Michael than having a painful conversation with Dave.

  It was 5:54 PM, and so many thoughts were running through my head as I waited for Michael to come. I can’t believe I’m having dinner with the stranger I so longed for. Who is he? What’s he

  all about? I hope he’s not married. He looks too young to be married. Why did I invite him to my apartment?

  I had prepared a delicious dish my mom was famous for, Chicken Francese with potato croquettes, a garden salad with tangerines, and baby shrimp, and a bottle of Piedmont, Italy 2007 Gaja

  Barbaresco. My mother kept this bottle in the basement hidden away from my father. She was saving it for my graduation and gave it to me to hold. I kept it in my suitcase at school; it was

  expensive, about a hundred and twenty dollars and that was expensive to us, maybe not to someone like Dr. Logan.

  I was becoming anxious because it was a little after six, and I already had a glass of cheap wine alone. I thought maybe Michael didn’t want to come because of yesterday’s fiasco. I glanced out

  the window to see if I saw him, and I could barely see anyone it was pouring so much. The drops of rain filled the city streets sending people to run for cov
er. The sidewalk and streets were already

  flooded, and I worried the rain would keep him from me. I poured myself another glass of cheap wine, took a sip, and placed it on the windowsill. I heard a knock at the door. My heart pounded

  in my chest as I walked over to answer the door eagerly, desperately brushing my hair with my fingers.

  “Who is it?” My heart was hammering against my chest.

  “It’s me, Dave,” the familiar voice on the other side of the door answered. I was disappointed, and my heart calmed down to a steady beat again. “Hey Dave, how are you feeling?” I asked for the

  sake of asking, and I know he noticed it in my expression. I wanted to know where Michael was, and that was it.

  “There’s this guy downstairs looking for you. I think it was that guy from the gallery last night.” He pointed towards the staircase.

  My eyes opened wide and my heart skipped a beat. I ran out of the apartment and leaned over the banister to catch a glimpse of him.

  “Michael! It’s me, Jenesis!” I shouted.

  He looked up toward the stairwell. His blue-green eyes glowed as he smiled with that beautiful, contagious smile. He looked absolutely gorgeous. He was wearing a black trench coat that fit him

  to perfection. His hair was drenched and the water slowly dripped down from the side of his face. He had what looked like flowers in his hands wrapped in a red plastic wrap.

  “I’m coming up!” His voice was deep and sensual and just hearing it made me all tingly inside.

  Dave was standing in front of my apartment door waiting for Michael to come up. An unusual look crossed his face as if he were confused or angry, I couldn’t tell. His eyebrows raised, and his forehead crinkled more and more as Michael approached. Michael walked towards my door and

  glanced over at Dave. Dave walked over and shook his hand tightly and Michael, this time, held his hand tighter then pulled his hand away abruptly.

  “How are you feeling?” Michael asked politely.