The Heartbreaker by Vicki Lewis Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

backed away with a barely audible sigh of relief and put a hand over her pounding heart. “Keep that same pressure as you finish the outline. There. Excellent.”
    He released the cutter handles and picked up the glass. It broke away cleanly on the score lines into a perfect heart shape. “Amazing. I can see what Dad’s talking about. You could manage this with no training at all. Even kids could do it.”
    Gradually her pulse regained its normal rhythm. “My father came up with the idea after he struggled through teaching a class at a retirement home using the old-style cutter. But he...died before he and Ernie could market it.” She still couldn’t say that without a sharp stab of regret.
    Mike turned to face her, his expression tender. “That’s the other reason my dad wants this to be a success, isn’t it? As a tribute to Pete.”
    â€œThat’s—” She paused to clear her throat. “That’s one of the reasons I want it to be a success, too.”
    â€œHe was a great guy,” Mike said softly.
    She couldn’t stop the flood of pain. “Then why didn’t you come home when he died, Mike? He was like a father to you!”
    He flinched as if she’d slapped him. Then he took a deep breath. “Within an hour of the time I heard about your dad, I had an airline ticket in my hand. But then, while I was sitting at the gate I thought about it and finally figured you and Alana had enough to deal with, without having me around. I called Dad back, and he said he was holding up okay, so in the interests of keeping the peace, I tore up the ticket. If it’s any consolation, I wish I hadn’t. I shouldn’t have left my father alone at a time like that, no matter what the consequences to you and Alana.”
    She was stunned. “You put aside your own grief because you thought we wouldn’t want to see you?”
    â€œMy grief wasn’t important. But I should have been here for my dad.”
    â€œHow can you say your grief wasn’t important?”
    He shrugged. “I’m a guy. I’m supposed to be tough about those things, right?”
    â€œAnd were you tough?”
    He looked away. The jaguar tooth around his neck quivered as he swallowed a lump of emotion.
    Pain squeezed her heart as she pictured him leaving the airline terminal and going back to some impersonal room where he’d undoubtedly wept alone for the man who’d helped raise him. “Oh, Mike.” She slipped her arms around him and laid her cheek on his chest. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, holding him gently.
    With a long sigh he wrapped her in his arms and rested his cheek on her hair. “I’ve missed you, Beth.”
    â€œI’ve missed you, too.” Holding him was heaven, but no matter how much she wanted to comfort him, she dared not stay too long. Slowly she extricated herself, stepping away as she broached the one subject that might save her from doing the unthinkable. “Alana called this morning.”
    He regarded her intently. “Did you tell her I was here?”
    Her courage flagged and she looked away from that piercing gaze. “Uh, no, I didn’t.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œShe’s...she’s in the middle of an important trip. Her business is just getting off the ground, and if she left that family in the middle of their vacation, there’d be hell to pay.”
    â€œAnd you think she would leave them if she heard I was here?”
    â€œI don’t know. She might.”
    Mike captured her chin and forced her to look at him. “Is that the only reason you didn’t tell her?”
    Her pulse quickened. His knowing gaze saw far too much. “Mike, please.”
    His hand gentled and slid along her jawline. “You said you missed me. What was it about me that you missed?”
    She should move away. Letting him touch her this way, considering how low her