Unworthy Heart: The Donnellys, Book 1 by Dorothy F. Shaw Read Free Book Online Page A

said on the other end of the line.
    Ryan sat on the couch. “Hey, little man, how’s it going at Nana’s house?”
    “Good! We made cookies. Nana makes the bestest cookies.”
    “Yeah, she sure does, Jacob.” Ryan leaned back and let his little boy’s sweet voice wrap around him. His son was spending the week of school vacation with Ryan’s parents. A pang of sadness rang through him. He missed Jacob more than he’d expected. “So you’re having a fun time, then?”
    “Uh huh, tomorrow we’re going to Knott’s Berry Farm. Can you come too?”
    “No, buddy, I can’t. Wish I could, but I have to work.”
    Ryan’s mother said something in the background.
    “Nana says to tell you she’ll have me home at seven on Friday. I miss you, Daddy.”
    “Tell her that’ll be fine. I miss you too, little man.” Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. “You better head to bed now. It’s getting late. Nana spoils you.”
    “Nanas are apposst to spoil kids.”
    “Supposed to.” Ryan chuckled. “Yes, I guess they are. I love you, little man. You can call me tomorrow night if you want.”
    “Love you too.”
    “Sweet dreams.” Ryan listened and Jacob relayed his message to his grandmother before the phone cut off.
    Jacob. Exactly the reminder he needed. Ryan had to keep his head on straight for his kid. His little boy was his world, and he’d be damned if he would allow his son to be hurt because he had an attack of horny…or lonely. If he wanted to date, he needed to be dating the right kind of woman. Someone not so wild, maybe a little softer around the edges.
    Maiya wasn’t that woman.

Chapter Seven
    Maiya rushed from the building as fast as she could. She didn’t know if she was more disgusted with herself or Ryan. It wasn’t fair to be mad at him, but who the hell cared about fair anyway. She should have pushed him away, should have denied him. And the way she did what he told her to do… Maiya covered her mouth with her hand. The thought made her stomach fold in on itself and bile burned the back of her throat.
    No matter what, she always stayed in control. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment. Giving in like she had freaked her out. Whether she enjoyed it at the time didn’t matter either. Who the fuck did he think he was anyway? Some sort of dominant-pounding-his-chest-alpha-male type she’d read about in romance books? Like hell. Mr. Ryan Donnelly was nothing but a Porsche-driving pretty boy. Freaking typical snob!
    For damn sure nothing she wanted.
    Growing up like she did, in a decrepit old trailer on the outskirts of Vegas, had hardened Maiya. Her mother was always absent. Her father? What father. Maiya was self-made. She took orders from no one. Not bikers, not musicians, and sure as shit not some stiff shirt from work. The fact she’d graduated high school and earned a bachelor’s degree from community college had been a miracle.
    Now, at twenty-nine, she had a career, a nice home and badass car. A life—a hella good one at that—and no intention of throwing it down the drain for some too-high-and-mighty guy from work.
    Not. Happening.
    Pushing open the door to her hotel room, Maiya set her things down and ordered room service, then set up her laptop to finish the analysis on the project. She’d be up past midnight getting all this crap done. Not wanting to talk to anyone, she signed into the work instant messaging system in “invisible” status. She settled at the small oak desk in the hotel with her room service dinner and glass of wine, and worked.
    About thirty minutes and an emptied glass of wine later, she noticed Ryan online. She focused on his green status light and visions flashed before her eyes: him kissing her fingers, her lips. Her body on fire for him. She shivered, but then agitation rolled through her.
    Tossing down her napkin, Maiya got up and paced behind the desk chair. She should message him, but had no idea what to say. They hadn’t had sex, not real sex anyway. It was