MY HEART TO KEEP (Hazel Island #2)

CHAPTER ONE Luke Wright loved the woods. He’d been lucky, growing up near woods he could wander around in to his heart’s content. He’d only gotten lost once; after that, he’d always been careful about staying on the trails. He knew the trails near his parents’ place like the back of his hand. So when he heard a voice up ahead, he paused. This particular trail was on private property. Some of the trails were open to residents of Hazel Island, but not this one. It ran only a quarter mile from the Wright mansion, a meandering trail that was relatively flat. Sometimes people who didn’t know this trail was on private property wandered onto it. Although there were signs, people sometimes didn’t heed them. Or didn’t see them. Most people apologized and left without causing a ruckus. When Luke realized the intruder was none other than his ultimate nemesis, he knew a ruckus was about to start. Jocelyn Gray—nothing about her was gray or muted. She was made of bright colors: red, like her temper, and the sharp side of her tongue that could make the thickest of hides bleed. Yellow, like her golden hair that Luke already knew was silky soft. Blue, like her eyes and the heart of a flame. Jocelyn was staring at her phone. When she heard Luke approach, her head whipped up. Then her eyes narrowed. “Seriously?” was all she said before sighing loudly. “Most people say the word ‘hello.’ Or ‘hi.’ I heard those are both acceptable greetings in the English language,” he replied. Jocelyn scoffed. “I have plenty of greetings I’d like to give you.” She was dressed for hiking, at least, so this trip wasn’t impulsive. She had a water bottle, now three-quarters full. She was a little red-faced, but that might’ve just been because she was near Luke. Luke was used to Jocelyn’s antagonism aimed solely at him. She’d had her claws out, ready to scoop out his heart, since they’d been teenagers. And he couldn’t exactly say that her reaction was unwarranted, either. Luke stepped close enough that he could see a blush darkening on her cheeks. She pushed a few strands of hair from her forehead. “Are you lost?” he said. “No.” “Are you sure? You seem a little frustrated.” That made her snort. “I’m always frustrated.” “Fair point.” While Jocelyn continued to do whatever it was she was doing on her phone, he took in her appearance. She looked tired: the circles under her eyes were darker than usual. She also looked a bit thinner. Considering she was a chef, it was hard to imagine she wasn’t getting enough to eat. Her sharp gaze landed straight on his face. “Are you staring at me?” “Yes. Does it bother you?” “Obviously.” Then she asked, “So? Have you figured me out yet?” “No, but you do look tired.” He probably would’ve been better off telling her that she had nice t**s than saying something that pointed out any vulnerability. She scowled darkly up at him. “People who have to work for a living get tired,” she snapped. She stuffed her phone into her pocket. “But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” That smarted. Luke might come from a rich family, but he wasn’t rich. He had to work, too. Maybe it wasn’t a grueling, twelve-hour-shift kind of job that Jocelyn was used to, but he was hardly lazy. “You know what they say about making assumptions,” he said. “They’re usually wrong. You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Jocelyn just shrugged a shoulder. “Yet I’m sure you’ll be fine regardless. Rich boys usually are.” As she began to walk in the direction of the Wright house, Luke considered telling her that she was on the wrong trail. But pettiness won that battle. He smiled, his teeth flashing, as he watched her firm backside flex ahead of him. He started walking a few paces behind her. After about three minutes, she said over her shoulder, “Are you stalking me?” “We’re just going in the same direction, that’s all.” She narrowed her eyes at him. Then she shrugged and kept walking. They were silent the rest of the way. When Jocelyn tripped on a rock, though, Luke shot forward to catch her. But she batted his hands away. “I’m fine,” she said. Would anyone convict me if I tossed this woman off the nearest cliff? he thought to himself. It was like being near a neurotic porcupine. The trees thinned out as they got closer to the house. Jocelyn slowed a little, allowing Luke to catch up. “This isn’t right,” she said. Luke said nothing. But as they got closer, the gates of the Wright house now in view, he could see Jocelyn’s color rise in her face with every step. He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He knew if he made a sound, she’d go for his jugular. It’d probably be worth it, though. It wasn’t too often he’d seen Jocelyn out of sorts like this. She stopped walking a few yards from the gate. She began to fiddle with her phone as Luke waited. He’d wait all day and night if he had to. Finally, Jocelyn put her phone away. Then she said in a tight voice, “Can you give me a ride to my car?” When Luke stopped the car to let Jocelyn out, he locked the passenger door with the child lock mechanism before she could escape. “Don’t you have something to say to me?” he said sweetly. If looks could kill, hers would have. Her expression just made Luke’s grin grow wider. “I guess I was lost after all,” she muttered. “No, not that.” Jocelyn was practically shaking. “You son of a b***h—” “Come on, Gray. It’s two words.” She looked like she might burst into flames. Or punch an elbow through his car window. Nothing would surprise him with Jocelyn Gray. Then, to his surprise, she laughed. Laughed! The sound startled him because he’d so rarely heard it in his presence. She shook her head, smiling wryly. “Thank you. You have saved me from an uncertain fate, kind sir.” He bowed. “You’re welcome, my lady.” She snorted, got into the car, and was soon out of sight.