Something Borrowed Read online

  Table of Contents

  Part One

  Part Two

  Epilogue

  Blurb

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Part II

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Dear Reader

  Preview into Book #4

  From the Author

  Books by Lena Hart

  About the Author

  Something Borrowed

  Brides of Cedar Bend 3

  Lena Hart

  SOMETHING BORROWED

  Copyright © 2017

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-941885-37-6

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles.

  Contents

  Blurb

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Part II

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Preview into Book #4

  From the Author

  Books by Lena Hart

  About the Author

  Resident bad boy Jackson Matoa is not very good at expressing his feelings. Especially when those feelings include an inexplicable desire toward his brother’s widow. And if the blow from his young brother’s death wasn’t enough to break him, the guilt of his unwavering lust for his sister-in-law just might...

  Despite her best efforts, Truth Richards can’t seem to make sense of her feelings for her insufferable brother-in-law. She’s certainly not willing to admit just how deep those feelings run. With one phone call, Truth finds herself returning to Cedar Bend and forcing her way back into Jackson’s life.

  Yet with the pain of their loss still fresh, can these two broken hearts borrow each other’s strength to find happiness with each other? Or will their guilt and grief push them further apart?

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  To those who have loved and lost…and those who have found love again.

  Part One

  “Cupid is a knavish lad.”

  -William Shakespeare,

  A Midsummer Night’s Dream

  One

  One year earlier…

  “Aw, come here, cutie. Good boy.”

  Truth Richards knelt down as the small, fawn colored puppy ambled toward her.

  “You’re such a good doggie,” she murmured, rubbing behind his wide, floppy ears.

  The small dog was stocky with short, broad limbs. Yet, he was the softest, most lovable thing Truth had seen since Danny had dropped her off at his family home. She had barely had her bags settled inside when she’d heard the puppy’s soft whimpering coming from outside. The puppy had no collar and was too small to be out fending for himself.

  “Where did you come from, huh? Are you lost?”

  In response, the sweet puppy licked her hand, then tried climbing up her lap to lick her face. Truth fell back on her haunches and laughed when the pup began licking at her wildly.

  “Don’t encourage her or she’ll never stop.”

  Truth jumped at the unexpected male voice behind her and whirled around. The man was huge, with wide shoulders and biceps that stretched his sullied T-shirt. There were sweat stains under his armpits and around his collar. His dark, shaggy shoulder length hair was also just as damp with sweat. He had to have been walking for some time.

  But where had he come from?

  Danny had assured her that she would be safe here alone, that there was only one way in and out to the modest, single-story home. Yet, this man had made it up here without her even noticing him.

  Truth clutched the puppy close to her as the man continued his long-legged stride toward them. His sudden appearance frightened her, but not as much as his unreadable expression behind his thick, unkempt beard.

  He stopped just a few feet away from her, his dark eyes searching. He was filthy and there was a prominent bruise running along the side of his face. Her mouth went dry. But she wouldn’t let him see her fear and trepidation. He was the trespasser here.

  “Excuse me, sir. How did you get here?”

  The man cocked a thick brow, his broad features twisting into what could have been amusement. “I should be asking you that.”

  The man took another step toward her and Truth jerked back. He had to know how big and intimidating he was, but he ignored her and came down on his haunches. To her surprise, the puppy let out a loud bark and wiggled out of her arms. Truth released it and watched as the puppy rushed over to the stranger.

  The man scooped the small, sweet dog in his large arms and rose to his feet. He held the small pup to his chest as it licked him and barked excitedly.

  Truth cocked her head to the side, confused. When the man started toward the house, she jumped to her feet and rushed toward him. She ran up the porch steps and blocked the front door with her body. The idea of her trying to block a man who still towered over her even as she stood on elevated ground was laughable, but there was no way she was letting him inside that house.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you inside. If you’re here to see Danny or his brother, you’ll have to wait outside until they get back.”

  The man’s fingers stilled over the puppy’s head, and he glared at her, letting his dark gaze travel down her petite frame. “And who the hell are you?”

  Truth frowned at his harsh tone and insulting scrutiny. He must have mistaken her politeness for meekness.

  “I’m a friend of the family,” she snapped. “Who the hell are you?”

  The man continued to study her. Suddenly his annoyance faded, and his lips curved into a slow smile. The grin transformed his face and for a moment she found it charming.

  For a moment.

  “I guess that makes two of us,” he drawled. “Now, how about you move the hell out of my way so I can feed this little monster.”

  Truth hesitated then glanced down at the puppy, who was now chewing and drooling on the man’s shirt. If this strange man was a homicidal maniac, he certainly was an animal loving one.

  She sighed and stepped aside. With a small shake of his head, the man brushed pass her and entered the house. She hesitated for a millisecond before she followed him inside.

  The man stopped in the kitchen, pulled down a bowl and filled it with puppy chow. The dog went at the meal eagerly, munching on the pebbles as if it had been starved. Maybe it had been.

  The man then took down another bowl, filled it with water, and placed it beside the pup. He bent down and began rubbing the back of its ears.

  “That’s my girl. Eat up.”

  Truth watched the interaction with some amazement. This man didn’t seem like the gentle, caring type yet here he was tending lovingly to this small animal. In that moment, she realized he must have been sent here to dog sit and she suddenly felt shitty about their earlier encounter.

  “What’s her nam
e?”

  “She doesn’t have one yet.”

  Truth tilted her head to the side. “Why not?”

  “Because she wandered up here a few days ago.”

  “Oh…well if you’re going to keep her, she’s going to need a name.”

  “Little Monster seems to be sticking,” the man said affectionately.

  He straightened and for a short moment she had forgotten how tall he was. When he took a step forward, Truth took an automatic step back. He stopped in his tracks and arched a brow.

  “Look, lady—”

  “Truth.”

  “What?”

  “My name’s Truth.”

  His thick brows pulled together in a deep frown. “What kind of name is Truth?”

  Her back drew up, but she tried not to let her irritation show. “What kind of name is…”

  She trailed off, realizing he hadn’t given her his name. She paused, waiting for him to do so. When he continued staring at her expectantly, Truth waved her hand dismissively.

  “Oh, never mind.”

  He shrugged. “Well Truth, I’d say it’s been nice meeting you, but I’d really hate to lie.”

  Warmth filled her cheeks, though she wasn’t sure why she was the one embarrassed. He hadn’t exactly been a delight himself.

  “Listen, we started off all wrong,” Truth began. “I’m sorry I was rude earlier. Danny didn’t mention a dog or that someone was coming up here to care for her.”

  The man studied her in that unnerving way of his. “Where is Danny, anyway?”

  “His brother had car trouble. He went to pick him up.”

  His mouth curved up in amusement. “Is that what he told you?”

  Truth frowned. Danny was as honest and straitlaced as they came, yet this man’s words seem to suggest otherwise. “Is there something I should know?”

  “Yeah. His brother is a no-good, son-of-a-bitch that got himself arrested for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. Car trouble is the least of his problems.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath. “How dare you?” She may not have met her brother-in-law yet, but she’d be damned if she’d let this guy talk about him like that. “I thought you were a friend?”

  The man shrugged again. “Well, it’s true. And as much as I’d like to know why Danny brought one of his groupies here, I really don’t care. I’m tired and sweaty and done with this conversation.”

  Groupie?

  Before she could set him straight, the man walked around her and out of the kitchen. When he began peeling off his shirt, Truth’s mouth fell open and she started after him.

  “Whoa! What do you think you’re doing?”

  The man slung the shirt over his shoulder and turned to her, irritation plain in his dark brown eyes. But it wasn’t his eyes that drew her attention. The muscles that rippled down his tanned arms and across his sculpted abdomen held her mesmerized. She didn’t consider herself a shallow woman, but in that moment she wanted nothing more than to glide her palm over his chest and down his—

  “See something you like?”

  Truth blinked, and her gaze flew up to his. In place of his earlier irritation was a smoldering heat, hidden behind a sly grin. She shook her head and began babbling like an idiot.

  “Sorry. I was just…I didn’t mean to stare. I was…it’s just…”

  Lord, what’s the matter with me?

  His gaze raked over hers. “It’s just what?”

  She shook her head, her face and body flooded with warmth. “Nothing. I was just…caught off guard.”

  “That’s all?”

  She nodded jerkily.

  He smirked. “Liar.”

  Before she had time to gather and make sense of her thoughts, he closed the space between them. His intention was blatant, and she immediately backed away.

  “Don’t you dare—”

  With one swift move, he looped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. He planted his lips over hers and the sudden contact was a shock to her system. She stood there frozen as he moved his lips over hers until the heat of his touch seared through her.

  For a fleeting moment, Truth shut her eyes as shock waves of electric energy rolled through her. It left her with a fierce trembling that threaten to have her legs buckle beneath her. If she hadn’t been latched on to his thick arms, she would have surely melted at his feet.

  She had never been rendered this weak and breathless from a kiss. Not even with—

  Danny!

  That sudden realization was like ice water to her heated senses. Truth brought her palms up to the man’s chest and shoved him away. He stumbled back, surprise and frustration flaring bright in his molten gaze.

  “What the hell!” Truth swiped her fingers across her mouth, trying to remove the heady taste of sweat and tobacco from her lips. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

  “Cut the act. You fucking liked it.”

  And the fact that she had only aggravated the situation. What was she going to tell Danny?

  Before she could respond to the man’s shrewd observation, the faint sound of a car approaching rumbled in the distance.

  Her heart stopped.

  Truth rushed to the window and pulled back the curtains. Danny’s smoky gray sedan pulled into the driveway.

  “Oh no,” she muttered, heat from her guilt and shame filling her face.

  The man came up behind her and placed a hand on the small of her back. Truth jerked from the unexpected touch.

  “Relax. It’s just my brother.”

  She whipped around to face him. “Wait. You’re Jackson?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Finally figured it out?”

  Truth could only stare at him, horrified. The enormity of what just happened between them began to sink in and she felt the blood drain from her face. When the car door slammed shut, she winced.

  Any minute now, Danny would be walking into the house. What was she going to tell him? He didn’t deserve to be hurt like this.

  With every fiber she possessed, Truth schooled her features into a serene mask. “We have to tell him what just happened between us.”

  Jackson arched a brow. “Why?”

  Truth carefully put some distance between them and clasped her hands in front of her. “Because Danny’s my husband.”

  “What do you think of my Ruthie?”

  Jackson Matoa leaned back in his seat and took another drink of his beer. While they waited for Truth to finally emerge from the bedroom, he used that moment to get his own emotions in check. He couldn’t remember when he’d been in a more irritable mood.

  He didn’t want to talk about Truth—or think about how very unavailable she was.

  “Come on, Jackson.” Danny nudged his leg with his knee. “What do you think of her?”

  Jackson shrugged. “She’s cute.”

  A wide grin stretched across his brother’s tawny brown face. Aside from their height, they shared little physical resemblance. Where Jackson was broad, his little brother was lean—the result of having different fathers.

  But that didn’t change how Jackson felt about his little brother or how protective he was of him. Danny was his closest family and Jackson wouldn’t do anything to hurt him. If it meant keeping his true feelings about his new sister-in-law to himself, so be it. There was no point in yearning for someone he couldn’t have. No matter how sweet she tasted. Or how right she felt in his arms.

  “You think I rushed things, don’t you?”

  “What does it matter what I think? I see you’re happy. I’m happy for you.”

  “Don’t give me that. You’re obviously annoyed about it.”

  “Actually, I’m surprised. Why didn’t you tell me about her or that you were planning to get married?”

  “Because it wasn’t planned. We eloped. It’s…complicated.”

  Jackson’s hand tightened around the can. “How complicated?”

  “She’s not pregnant, if that’s what you think.”

  Ja
ckson relaxed his grip, ignoring the relief that suddenly filled him. “Then why the rush. Did she need a green card or something?”

  Danny shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Something like that…”

  He stared at his brother then burst out laughing. “Okay, now it all makes sense. For a minute there, I thought you were going to say something stupid like you were in love.”

  Danny glared at him. “I do love her. Very much. We would have eventually gotten married, but circumstances sort of pushed up our timeline.”

  The sincerity in his brother’s voice was steadfast and Jackson inclined his head.

  “So…” Jackson began, running his finger along the lip of the can. “Car trouble, Danny? Really? If you’re going to lie to your wife, you’ll need to do a little better than that.”

  His brother shrugged, but remorse clouded his dark eyes. “Hey, I had to tell her something. I wasn’t quite expecting a detour to the police station on my first day back home. Besides, I didn’t want her to get the wrong impression about you before you two got to meet.”

  Too late.

  Jackson shoved away the thought. “Well, I’m glad Doyle decided not to press charges. I’d be doing time and you’d probably start telling people I’d joined the army.”

  Danny balled up a napkin and threw it at him. Jackson effortlessly dodged it and laughed.

  “You know, joining the military isn’t a bad idea,” Danny offered. “Maybe it’ll give you some discipline. Truth has a second cousin who’s in the Air Force. Maybe she can—”

  “I’ll pass,” Jackson cut in, taking another sip of his beer. “Where is she from, anyway?”