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

look at us now. You’re climbing up on people
radars as an interior decorator and designer.”
    “I
couldn’t do it without you,” she said, as she kissed the side of his cheek.
“I’ll call you later tonight.”
    “I
love you, Kari,” he said.
    “I
love you, too,” she said, before walking out the exit. 
    ***
    Hank
stood in the distance watching Kari going over the sample baby bedding with
Farrah. She wore designer white skinny jeans with a navy blue silk halter top
with ruffles all down the front that matched her designer high heel shoes. Long
curly ebony hair fell just below her shoulders, she must had sensed him
standing there looking at her, because those deep brown eyes met his.
    “Are
you going to stare at her all night?” Austin teased, standing behind him.
    “I
wasn’t staring,” Hank lied.
    “Whatever
dude.” Austin walked passed him and to where the two ladies was conversing.
    “Honey,
look at the bedding samples,” Farrah gushed.
    Hank
found himself looking at Kari instead of paying attention on what was going on
around him. He was so amazed at the work she did. He studied everything about
Kari from her smile, the dimples in her chin and the laughter that sound like a
melody.
    “Uh,
yeah you did a great job,” Hank said.
    “Are
you okay?” Farrah and Austin asked in unison.
    “Why
do you ask?” he asked, plastering a fake smile on his face.
    “You
were making this noise, more like a grunt,” Austin said, looking at him with a
smirk on his face.
    “I
should be leaving,” Kari said, standing up from the table and packing her tote
bag quickly.
    “Why
don’t you stay for dinner,” Farrah offered. “I made more than enough.”
    “I
shouldn’t impose,” Kari said.
    “Don’t
be silly.” Farrah shook her head. “I made a Mediterranean style dinner.”
    Hank
held his breath waiting for Kari’s answer. He didn’t have a chance to talk to
her about the kiss the other day.
    “Okay,”
she said.
    “I’m
going to check on dinner it should be ready in a few,” Farrah said, pulling
Austin towards the direction of the kitchen leaving Hank and Kari alone.
    “Hey,”
he said softly, moving closer to her. “Can we talk?”
    “About
what?” she asked with a slight frown on her face.
    “Kiss
me, and I’ll show you,” he said breathlessly.
    Kari
exhaled a breath before she closed the small space between them and kissed him.
There was something between them, something deep and real that was floating to
the surface. He kissed her back with all the emotion she gave him.
    “Kari!
Hank!” Austin yelled out. “Dinner is ready!”
    They
broke apart. Kari opened her eyes slowly and Hank looked at her with lust
filled eyes. That look told her that he wanted to skip dinner and go back his
house. Looking away from his eyes quickly, Kari knew if she continued to stare
into those eyes she would ask if they could leave.
    “Hank,
I…We can’t do…”
    “We
can just go with the flow,” he said.  “Just think about it,”
    “It’s
time for dinner,” she said, walking away from him but not before she turned
back to meet his eyes.  Don’t be stupid, Kari told herself as she walked
into the kitchen.
    Minutes
later, Kari sat at a glass table in the kitchen in front of huge floor to
ceiling windows that gave a scenic view of the ranch as the sun was beginning
to set. Farrah had outdone herself with grilled lamb chops with roasted garlic.
    “This
is so delicious,” Kari said, biting into her lamb. Her tongue was met with
rosemary, thyme and cumin.
    “I’m
happy you like it,” Farrah said between bites of her lamb. “My husband and his
cousin would tell you in a heartbeat they only eat red meat and potatoes.”
    “I’ll
have you know that we do eat chicken,” Hank said.
    “So,
Kari, tell us about yourself,” Austin said, looking at her from the head of the
table. “Why design?”
    “My
grandfather owns a successful architecture design firm where they specialize in
the exterior