Broken Hart (A Cross Creek Small Town Novel Book 1)

  Broken Hart

  A Cross Creek Small Town Novel

  Kelly Collins

  Copyright © 2020 by Kelley Maestas

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover design by Sly Fox

  Edits by Show Me Edits

  Contents

  Author’s Note

  Other Books by Kelly Collins

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Sneak Peek at Fearless Hart

  Thank you for reading.

  About the Author

  Author’s Note

  Would you like to get a free prequel to my bestselling Aspen Cove Series?

  Click here to get your free prequel novella.

  Other Books by Kelly Collins

  An Aspen Cove Romance Series

  One Hundred Reasons

  One Hundred Heartbeats

  One Hundred Wishes

  One Hundred Promises

  One Hundred Excuses

  One Hundred Christmas Kisses

  One Hundred Lifetimes

  One Hundred Ways

  One Hundred Goodbyes

  One Hundred Secrets

  One Hundred Regrets

  One Hundred Choices

  One Hundred Decisions

  One Hundred Glances

  One Hundred Lessons

  One Hundred Mistakes

  Cross Creek Novels

  Broken Hart

  Fearless Hart

  Recipes for Love

  A Tablespoon of Temptation

  A Pinch of Passion

  A Dash of Desire

  A Cup of Compassion

  The Second Chance Series

  Set Free

  Set Aside

  Set in Stone

  Set Up

  Set on You

  The Second Chance Series Box Set

  Holiday Novels

  The Trouble with Tinsel

  Wrapped around My Heart

  Cole for Christmas

  Christmas Inn Love

  Mistletoe and Millionaires

  Up to Snow Good

  Wilde Love Series

  Betting On Him

  Betting On Her

  Betting On Us

  A Wilde Love Collection

  The Boys of Fury Series

  Redeeming Ryker

  Saving Silas

  Delivering Decker

  The Boys of Fury Boxset

  A Beloved Duet

  Still the One

  Always the One

  Beloved Duet

  Small Town Big Love

  What If

  Imagine That

  No Regrets

  Small Town Big Love Boxset

  Frazier Falls

  Rescue Me

  Shelter Me

  Defend Me

  The Frazier Falls Collection

  Stand Along Billionaire Novels (Steamy)

  Risk Taker

  Dream Maker

  Making the Grade Series

  The Learning Curve

  The Dean’s List

  Honor Roll

  Making the Grade Box Set

  Foreword

  Dear Reader,

  I’m so excited to bring you the Cross Creek novels. If you’ve read my bestselling Aspen Cove series, you met the Lockhart Brothers in One Hundred Promises. I hope you fall in love with Noah, Bayden, Ethan, and Quinn. Welcome to Cross Creek where anything is possible and love always wins.

  Happy reading,

  Kelly

  Chapter One

  Noah

  Cross Creek wasn’t a metropolis, but with a population of 2,500, I should have been able to escape three of the residents—my brothers—at least for a single night.

  Sitting at a table in Roy’s Bar, amongst many of the other less annoying residents, I brought my beer to my lips as my brothers entered and walked my way. Quinn dropped into the seat beside me. Ethan and Bayden—Quinn’s fraternal twin—sat across the table and signaled for beers.

  Quinn clapped me on the back. “You’re extra broody tonight.” I lifted both shoulders, then let them sag as if the strain of a dozen bags of concrete weighted them down. This time of year always hit me hard, and it amazed me that my brothers didn’t get it.

  “I’m not broody.”

  “He totally is,” Quinn spoke directly to Bayden, who ignored both of us as Angie walked by. Bayden leaned over, watching the sway of her hips as she passed.

  “Don’t even think about it.” Ethan lifted his gaze from his tablet, where he was likely jotting down ideas for our next big construction project and looked at Bayden. He snapped his fingers in front of Bayden’s face but got his hand swatted away. “She’s all wrong for you, bro.”

  The three of them gawked at Angie as she walked away. I wasn’t sure what she had that made them drool like horny teenage boys. I guess living in a small town made fresh meat enticing. Angie hadn’t been here long, but she didn’t seem too interested in dating, especially not my obnoxious brothers. I tossed back the rest of my drink; any other night, it would be one and done, but I had a rough day and my brothers are driving me crazy, so tonight would be a double down—down my throat.

  “Why’d you cut out early today?” Quinn turned to look at me.

  “You guys could handle it.” Old Roy walked up with my brothers’ beers. He owned the bar and could be anyone’s grandfather with his white hair and watery blue eyes. He was a good guy, too—one whose colorful stories were a legend in this tight-knit community.

  “Changing of the guard?” Quinn asked, glancing around at the lack of waiters and waitresses. Roy rarely ran drinks to tables unless he was the only one to do it, so the assumption was the next shift was clocking in.

  Roy’s deep voice was slow and measured. “Yep. Training a new waitress tonight.” He left quickly as another table hailed him.

  My brothers settled into their seats, and Bayden and Quinn took long pulls off their beers. Their mannerisms were identical, even though they weren’t.

  We often hung out here for drinks after work, which was why quitting time was my favorite part of the day. Usually, we’d haul ass over here and bullshit about everything and nothing. Tonight, I didn’t feel much like talking.

  “Who’d he sweet talk into working here?” Ethan scanned the bar.

  I remained unfazed. As long as they could pull a beer and deliver it, who cared who Roy hired?

  “What’s wrong with working here?” Quinn asked defensively.

  “Nothing, but—”

  Quinn elbowed Ethan, “I’m messing with you. Lighten up. What’s gotten into you guys today? You’re all so damn glum.” He didn’t get much of a response, and with a sigh, he lifted his beer. “To Tuesday night.”

  A few tables down, Gypsy lifted her glass. “
Are you boys being troublemakers again?” She wasn’t one to blend in with her bright yellow and orange tie-dyed shirt. Her long gray hair hung loose to her waist in thick waves, and her bright-green eyes sparkled with mischief. Gypsy was a Woodstock leftover who never got the message that flower power and groovy were over decades ago.

  “Yep, stirring things up as usual,” Quinn lifted his mug in salute, spilling at least a sip over the edge.

  Ethan’s attention left his tablet, and he focused on the door. “Look who came to join the party.”

  Quinn ignored him, instead, continuing his conversation with Gypsy. Bayden glanced over his shoulder and stiffened. It was a Mom-walked-in-and-caught-you-in-the-candy-bowl kind of reaction.

  Interesting.

  Miranda—the new sheriff—stepped over the threshold. She pulled her hat off and nodded at Roy.

  Bayden appeared to perk up, and I wondered if there was something between him and the sheriff. Bayden was Quinn’s opposite in nearly every way, despite them being twins. His dark hair and sky-blue eyes weren’t the only things that made him different. His close-lipped, quiet demeanor meant he kept things close to his vest. Given Ethan’s words, I wasn’t the only one who thought there might be something between our younger brother and the pretty new sheriff. Even though Angie had caught his eye earlier, it was obvious who had his full attention now.

  Roy and Miranda shared a few words while I took in her five-foot six-ish frame. With her inky hair and almond-shaped eyes, she had an exotic air about her. Her fair skin didn’t seem to soak up the sunshine like most of us, and her high cheekbones gave her a regal look.

  While she appeared delicate, there was something fierce about her.

  As if she read my mind, her dark gaze moved toward me then flicked to Bayden before returning to Roy.

  Maybe there was something between them.

  I took a swig of my beer and watched my brother study her.

  “Don’t make me show you a good time.” Quinn’s casual flirting with Gypsy brought a tittering laugh from the older woman.

  “Boy, you wouldn’t know what to do with me. Besides, you need some sweet thing who’s your age.” On the tail end of Gypsy’s words, Angie walked to our table once more. Her brown eyes traced over every one of us, and we all leaned away from her except Bayden, who stayed focused on Miranda and didn’t seem to notice Angie at all this time.

  “Hey, boys.” Angie paused.

  Ethan was quick to speak up. “Hey, Angie, how are—”

  “What’s Benji doing here?” Bayden growled the words, and we all glanced in the door’s direction. Benji, the local journalist for the Creekside Sentinel, stopped Miranda to talk to her, but she seemed less than thrilled.

  “You know he likes to write stories on every new person in town, but Miranda’s been dodging him like a pro.” Quinn sounded proud of the sheriff.

  Bayden turned and scowled, then lowered his beer to the table with a thump. There was definitely something going on with him and Miranda, if only in his mind for now. Was this flirtatious thing with Angie just a game? Was he trying to make the sheriff jealous?

  Without a word about any of it, I finished my beer and signaled for another. Roy caught my eye and nodded before heading back to the bar.

  The back of my neck prickled, and the air took on that electric charge that usually came right before a fight or a wicked storm. I smoothed my hand over my skin and took in the room. Nobody seemed like they were looking for a scuffle, and the last time I saw the sky, it was clear.

  At the bar, a familiar-looking young woman smoothed her hands down the front of her apron with an unsure slowness. Her white-blonde hair framed her face and tumbled down her back. When she lifted her head, I jolted like someone had kicked me in the dangly bits.

  Her brilliant, ocean-blue eyes locked on Roy with a hint of relief, and a smile crossed her full, cherry-red lips.

  She said something I couldn’t hear, and every bit of me tried to tune in to listen to her voice. Her fingertips brushed her cheekbone and shifted her hair back as she focused on Roy. Whatever he said had her nodding, and she gracefully tied her hair up with an elastic band she had wound around her wrist. Getting it up and out of her face only drew more attention to her beautiful features. She laughed at something Roy said, and the sweet lilting sound ribboned through me.

  My heart stilled, then burst forth like it had been shocked with paddles—paddles covered in barbed wire that shredded me to bits.

  What was Kandra doing here?

  As I looked at my empty mug, I came face-to-face with the realization that she was the girl Roy mentioned.

  “I know we are young, but I have never been more sure of anything in my life, Kandra.” I got down on one knee and looked up at her, “Will you marry me?” She had tears rolling down her face, and I thought I was about to be the happiest man in the world. Then she said, “Noah, I love you, but I can’t stay here in Cross Creek. I have dreams. I want to see the world, I want to be a photographer, and I can’t do that if I’m here.” Then, without so much as a second thought, she left, and I was there, kneeling like a chump and holding a ring I couldn’t return.

  “Noah?” The tone and inflection told me it wasn’t the first time Quinn said my name.

  “Yeah?” I locked down my emotions, hoping the shock didn’t show on my face, but it was too late. He tapped both Ethan and Bayden to get their attention.

  All eyes on him, he nodded toward the bar. “Is that…” Quinn seemed at a loss for words.

  I looked at her again, hating every second of my life for the current moment. This was an awful dream—a nightmare—a cruel trick played by the powers that be. There was no way this could be happening. I refused to give in or let my brothers see how she still affected me.

  Kandra laughed, her straight white teeth just as bright and perfect as they were back then.

  Roy showed her the taps, and she filled a glass but didn’t tilt it as he taught her. The foamy head overflowed and spilled to the counter. She jumped back, and the glass slipped from her hand and shattered against the bar.

  Her cheeks turned crimson, and a string of apologies fell from her lips.

  My insides simmered, working up to a full boil. Where are my apologies?

  Roy calmly helped her clean up the mess. The second attempt went better as she tipped the glass and triumph shone in her beautiful features.

  “Is that Kandra?” Quinn finally found his voice.

  “Damn.” Ethan finished his beer and signaled Roy for another. “I’m not interested, but even I can see time has been kind to her. She’s even more beautiful now.” A thunk sounded under the table. “Ouch.” He glared at Quinn. “What the—” Our brother must have kicked him.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Quinn said to Ethan, before turning to me.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Kandra and I were old news. She moved on when she realized I couldn’t give her the life she wanted, so it didn’t matter that she was back. Not one bit. “You can have her.” I finished my beer.

  “You can’t have her,” Quinn said to Ethan before turning to me. “Noah, you loved her, man. Maybe her coming back is a sign.”

  “Yeah, it’s red, octagonal, and says STOP in big white letters.” I glowered into my empty glass. I would not let Kandra back into my life. I swore back then I’d never hand anyone the tools to gut me ever again.

  “Come on, Noah. Nobody’s falling for it.” Quinn’s forgotten beer rested between his hands while he leaned across the table to get closer.

  “There’s nothing to fall for.” I refused to look at her again for fear that something would give me away.

  Quinn snorted. “You’re still in love with her.”

  I shook my head. “Why don’t you play matchmaker somewhere else? I’m not interested.” I jerked my chin in Bayden’s direction.

  Quinn had to know he and Miranda were making eyes at each other, but Quinn ignored his twin and scrutinized me instead. “Nice try. You don’t get
to deflect this.”

  “There’s nothing to deflect because there’s nothing there.” He didn’t get it. Kandra and I were a dead end. There was nothing between us but bitter history, and no amount of probing, pestering, or pleading on his part could change that.

  “Okay. Then you won’t mind if I do this.” Quinn stood up, cupped his hands around his mouth, and called out, “Another round, please.”

  “You’re a dick.” I wanted to kick him, but when I swung my boot, he stepped back.

  He grinned. “I’m gonna hit the head.”

  Bayden stood up and moved in Angie’s direction, but Ethan shoved him back into his chair. “Don’t even think about it.”

  My brothers glared at each other.

  “What’s this sudden interest in Angie?” I asked.

  Bayden looked from me to Ethan to Miranda. “Maybe I’m interested … or maybe I’m trying to make someone jealous.”

  “Which is it?” Ethan grumbled.

  “What’s it matter to you?”

  “Sorry, guys.” Roy dropped off our beers, ending the sibling exchange, and rushed away.

  “Guess the universe is giving you a break since Roy delivered the drinks.” Ethan didn’t take his eyes off Bayden. There was something feral and territorial in them. They were like two dogs going after the same bone.