Page 34 of A Heart to Find
“Surprise! We have a fun morning planned with you guys!”
Jared bit back a retort. Would have been nice to get a warning ahead of time.
But he acknowledged that it was his own shame driving his negative internal thoughts.
“Couples’ massages!”
“That sounds delightful,” Keira responded.
Jared tapped Matt on the back of his shoulder in greeting and closed the door behind him.
“And since you can’t walk on that foot quite yet, they’re bringing the spa to your room,” Megan gushed.
“What a thoughtful surprise,” Keira said, not sounding as thrilled to Jared’s ears. But Megan and Matt didn’t seem to pick up on her social masking.
Moments later, staff members in teal scrubs swarmed the room, rearranging furniture and setting up massage tables while instructing the couples to change into the provided loose-fitting, lightweight spa clothing.
Anxiety coursed through his body. He needed more time alone with Keira so he could get everything out in the open. Withholding this important piece of his heart and his life felt dishonest, and the last words she dropped about their stances on families back in the day could come back to bite him if he wasn’t careful.
But after such an emotionally charged conversation coupled with the feeling that she was getting to the point of believing this relationship might stand a chance, he couldn’t bomb her with news of his child in front of the bubbly couple they now shared space with.
He needed alone time.
But as his heart’s racing settled, his face reddened. He was a coward.
Because now with his anxiety and fear somewhat abated, relief nestled into his belly and curled up like a happy hunting dog at the end of a long day.
Selfishly, he planned to allow himself to use this relaxation time to continue to convince Keira that she could love him again.
Like he had never stopped loving her.
Keira couldn’t relax into the masseuse’s skilled hands, no matter how much the masseuse commented on how tight her muscles were. The pleas to relax only made her tighten up more.
The need to question Jared more about their time apart and his new feelings hammered in her head.
Had he really changed as much as he claimed to have?
Could she trust that his motivations were pure?
Did she dare to take down a piece of the wall she had built around her heart to protect herself from men like him?
The last time she let herself feel anything even semi-deep for a man, he ran off with her sister.
Trust didn’t come easy.
She glanced over at the object of her indecision, making eye contact because he had done the same.
She quickly averted her gaze.
She took a deep breath, easing the lavender scented air into her lungs. Classical music played softly, beckoning her to relax. Relax. Relaaaaaaaax.
No matter how hard she tried, and no matter how wonderful the masseuse’s skilled hands felt on her aching and stressed muscles, she couldn’t let go of the feeling that her heart was already taking over her decision-making process.
But could she trust it?
Her grandmother’s locket dug into her chest.
Thanks for the reminder, Nana.
