Hearts Awakened by Linda Winfree Page A

He’d asked why he wouldn’t want her. He couldn’t seriously be interested in her, could he? No. Not with women like Angel around, women who could meet his normal needs. Even if he was attracted to her, she couldn’t risk getting involved with him. Sooner or later, the issues would be too much for him and she’d end up hurt.
    She’d definitely done the right thing by walking away.
    Her cell phone chirped and she dug it out of her purse. “Hello?”
    “Hey. Are you busy?” Tick asked.
    She brushed an ant off her ankle. “Nope. Just finished a group session. How’s Cait?”
    “Not so good. She’s really nauseous today.” He cleared his throat. “Listen, about the conference in St. Augustine—”
    “You’re bailing on me, aren’t you? Tick, it’s okay. I understand.”
    “Cookie’s taking my place.”
    Her ability to think or breathe dissipated. Surely he hadn’t just said that. “What?”
    “I meant to call you last night and forgot, but I talked to Cookie and set it up. He’s going to Florida with you.”
    She lowered the phone and stared at the screen. Oh Lord. Now what was she supposed to do?

Chapter Four
    He had to get out of this car. Mark gripped the armrest on the Miata’s door. Tori hadn’t spoken since lunch in Lake City, more than two hours ago, and the silence made his nerves crawl. As if that wasn’t enough, she was the worst driver he’d ever seen. Every trucker between here and Tallahassee had to be cussing her for all he was worth.
    “Tori,” he said, keeping his voice casual, “who taught you to drive?”
    The wind, rushing in her open window, tousled her hair. “Tick. Why?”
    “Just wondering.” Well, that explained it. He checked his watch. “We should be there soon.”
    She nodded. “I love the way the landscape changes the closer you get to the ocean.”
    An ancient and abandoned roadside diner flashed by. Cookie turned his gaze the other way. The place had once served the best pancakes in the area. Jenny had been crazy about them smothered with blueberry syrup. That last morning, she’d eaten two helpings of them.
    He hadn’t wanted a pancake since.
    “Oh, my gosh!” Tori’s excited squeal jolted him seconds before she swerved into the left-hand turn lane.
    Heart pounding, he threw out a hand and braced against the dash. He glanced behind them, expecting to see a multi-car pileup in progress. “What?”
    “I have to stop here.”
    “Where? Why?” The car sounded okay. What was with the sudden need to stop? And there was nothing here to stop for. They were fifteen miles outside of St. Augustine and at least five miles from Preston.
    “Look at this place. It’s incredible.”
    He glanced up, his stomach still jumping with the suddenness of her turn. A chill swept over him. The antique mall. He stared at the long low building with the massive double-decker bus in front. No way. He couldn’t go in there.
    Her wheels crunched on the white limestone and she pulled to a stop near the front door. “This is so great.”
    One look at her face and he sighed. Her eyes sparkled with glee and a wide smile curved her mouth and showed off white teeth. For that smile, he’d go anywhere, even his own personal hell.
    She swung out of the car, her wind-tossed hair bouncing around her shoulders. The faded jeans hugged her cute little rear end. Yeah, he’d follow that anywhere too.
    He pushed the door open and stepped out. She perused the items piled along the building front. The rounded fullness of her breasts pushed against her snug white T-shirt. Slamming the car door, he leaned an arm on the roof. How could she look like that and think no guy would want her? Hell, looking at her made his teeth hurt.
    Still smiling, she looked at him over her shoulder. “Let’s go inside.”
    He filled his lungs with moist, salt-laden air and complied, holding the screen door open for her. He caught a whiff of her sweet scent as she passed him. Three days. He’d never survive. Either