Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) by Ava Thorn Read Free Book Online Page A

furniture,” he bragged, as he toss the ball in the
air.
    “You
did an awesome job,” she confessed, looking at him as she tucked a tendril of
hair behind her ear.
    “Thanks,”
he smiled.
    His
smile was warm and welcoming. It made her forget about the tension between them
and the headache she had earlier was gone. “Oh, I forgot. Here are the designs
for the cribs,” Kari said, changing the subject and putting so much needed
distance between her and Hank.
    He
accepted the sketches she handed him. “I’ll get started on the pieces tomorrow.
You can come out Saturday to get the measurements for the rooms.”
    “Sounds
like a plan.”
    Time
seemed like it stopped between them. Their eyes locked. His eyes bore into her
sharp, whiskey brown eyes. In that instant he knew what was happening: Hank was
attracted to Kari Hayes. “I need to be get…going.” He sucked in a nervous
breath and stood up.
    “Yeah.”
She stood up and walked him to the door. “Thanks for stopping by.”
    Hank
put on his cowboy hat and nodded his head as he strolled out the office. Kari
stood there at the window and watched him get into his truck and drive away.
     Grabbing
her purse and turning the lights off, she locked her office front door. Buying
her townhouse on Market Street gave her the opportunity to live and work at the
same place. The first floor, housed her office and a small kitchenette. The
second and third levels were her domain. With her designing background, and the
help of a great contactor she turned the two-level into her oasis.
    Going
up stairs, Kari looked around the house she paid for with her own money. Not
bothering to stop in the living room, she made her way to her glamorous bedroom
that was her favorite place in the house. The lights were already on and the
fireplace was going. Going to the dresser, she put clothes onto the metal bed
with burnished brass finish that was custom designed by her. It was the focal
point of the room. The fabric on the headboard and footboard were also custom
made gold and cream colors. She added cute gold and white ceramic succulents
that made the room pop, but it was the vintage gold ceiling chandelier made the
room come together. 
    After
her shower, Kari sat on the terrace enjoying the nighttime air and drinking a
glass of red wine. Sorting through today’s mail, a letter slipped through her
hands when she saw who the sender was.  Kari poured herself another glass of
wine and gulped it down. Adjusting the throw blanket on her, she tore open the
white envelope and began to read the words on the paper.
    Dear
Kari,
    I’m
hopeful that you will read this letter. Two years ago you walked out my life
and I can’t blame you, but you must know that I did love you genuinely. Every
day I suffer from the guilt of abusing your love and trust.  We may not be
together anymore, but I’m still in loved with you.
    I’m
told that you live in Nashville now. I’m traveling there for business and hope
that you will give me the privilege of meeting with you….
    There
was more to letter but Kari didn’t want to read it. Standing up, she walked to
the glass fireplace and tossed the letter in it. She wasn’t that same woman
that she was two years ago. How could the man she respected and love break her
heart and cause her to sob for days? Sitting back down in her lounge chair, she
wished she could forget the way she loved him. But no matter how much she tried
to forget there were always memories of the love she had for Sam that haunted
her.  Kari didn’t want to be in the same room as Sam, and she didn’t want to
read a letter detailing how sorry he was either.
    After
the breakup with Sam, all she wanted to do was lay in bed and forget the hurt
and pain that he caused. Closing her eyes she could feel the temperature
dropping.  It’d been two year but her heart was still hurting like it was
yesterday. Kari didn’t want to admit it but she was miserable and bitter. A
gentle breeze blew over her and