Hear My Heart: Baytown Boys Read online

  Hear My Heart

  Baytown Boys Series

  Maryann Jordan

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Author Information

  Author’s Notes

  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

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Hear My Heart (Baytown Boys) Copyright 2018

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.

  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, then you are reading an illegal pirated copy. If you would be concerned about working for no pay, then please respect the author’s work! Make sure that you are only reading a copy that has been officially released by the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by: Becky McGraw

  Editor: Shannon Brandee Eversoll

  Proofreader: Myckel Anne Phillips

  ISBN (ebook): 978-1-947214-29-3

  ISBN (print): 978-1-947214-30-9

  Created with Vellum

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I have to thank my husband, Michael. Always believing in me and wanting me to pursue my dreams, this book would not be possible without his support. To my daughters, MaryBeth and Nicole, I taught you to follow your dreams and now it is time for me to take my own advice.

  My best friend, Tammie, who for over twenty years has been with me through thick and thin. You’ve filled the role of confidant, supporter, and sister.

  My other best friend, Myckel Anne, who keeps me on track, keeps me grounded, and most of all – keeps my secrets. Thank you for not only being my proofreader and my Marketing PA, but friend. I do not know what I would do without you in my life.

  My beta readers kept me sane, cheered me on, found all my silly errors, and often helped me understand my characters through their eyes. A huge thank you to Denise, Sandi, Barbara, Jennifer, Danielle, Tracey, Lynn, Stracey, and Jamila for being my beta girls who love alphas!

  Shannon Brandee Eversoll as my editor and Myckel Anne Phillips as my proofreader gave their time and talents to making all my books as well written as it can be.

  My street team, Jordan Jewels, you all are amazing! You volunteer your time to promote my books and I cannot thank you enough! I hope you will stay with me, because I have lots more stories inside, just waiting to be written!

  My PA Barbara keeps me going when I feel overwhelmed and I am so grateful for not only her assistance, but her friendship.

  Chas…thank you for all you do!

  Most importantly, thank you readers. You allow me into your home for a few hours as you disappear into my characters and you support me as I follow my indie author dreams.

  Author Information

  USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author

  I am an avid reader of romance novels, often joking that I cut my teeth on the historical romances. I have been reading and reviewing for years. In 2013, I finally gave into the characters in my head, screaming for their story to be told. From these musings, my first novel, Emma’s Home, The Fairfield Series was born.

  I was a high school counselor having worked in education for thirty years. I live in Virginia, having also lived in four states and two foreign countries. I have been married to a wonderfully patient man for thirty-seven years. When writing, my dog or one of my four cats can generally be found in the same room if not on my lap.

  Please take the time to leave a review of this book.

  Feel free to contact me, especially if you enjoyed my book. I love to hear from readers!

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  Email

  Website

  My husband worked as a forensic accountant and fraud examiner for many years before retiring. He has now become my biggest supporter and champion of my writing and his book is lovingly dedicated to him.

  Michael - For all you did for us…for all you do for me…all my love, Maryann

  Author’s Notes

  I have lived in numerous states as well as overseas, but for the last twenty years have called Virginia my home. All my stories take place in this wonderful commonwealth, but I choose to use fictional city names with some geographical accuracies.

  These fictionally named cities allow me to use my creativity and not feel constricted by attempting to accurately portray the areas.

  It is my hope that my readers will allow me this creative license and understand my fictional world.

  I also do quite a bit of research on my books and try to write on subjects with accuracy. There will always be points where creative license will be used to create scenes or plots.

  Four years ago, my husband and I discovered the Eastern Shore of Virginia and fell in love with the area. The mostly rural strip of land forming the peninsula originating from Maryland has managed to stay non-commercialized. The quiet, private area full of quaint towns captured our hearts, and we rushed to buy a little place there.

  It has become our retreat when we need to leave the hustle and bustle of our lives. I gather ideas, create characters, and spend time writing when not walking on the beach collecting sea glass.

  1

  Music blared over the noise of the crowded room as Aiden MacFarlane stood behind the bar serving drinks, talking with the locals, and chatting up the women who were vacationing in the area. Though Baytown was just a little coastal town on the Eastern Shore, it always managed to pull in those looking for a beach retreat.

  Co-owner of Finn’s Pub, along with his older brother, Brogan, and younger sister, Katelyn, he was used to the crowd. A longtime business in Baytown, originally owned by their grandfather, Finn, it had been deeded to them when he decided to retire. Finn’s Pub was one of the few restaurants in the little town that stayed open all year and the locals made it their regular weekend stop because of it. Baytown vacationers looking for a drink, a good meal, and local color, filled the tables as well.

  Winking at the woman in front of him, Aiden watched as his older brother carded a couple of young girls that looked to be in college. He laughed as they pouted and tried to flirt their way to getting a couple of drinks. They stood no chance of that with Brogan. As expected, not a second later Brogan shot them down with a glare that would make most people cringe.

  “Don’t mind him, girls. Just make sure to come back in a couple of years when you can try one of my specialties. I’ll still be here and better than ever!” He grinned, his blue eyes flashing as he flexed his arms.

  They smiled at him and, casting a glare back toward Brogan, moved away from the bar.

  “Man, why you gotta flirt like that?” Brogan growled.

  “Why
you gotta scare away fuckin’ potential customers?” he shot back.

  “Why you gotta cuss in front of the customers?”

  “’Cause they don’t fuckin’ care. Why you gotta get on my case all the time?”

  “Both of you shut up and serve the drinks!”

  They swung their heads around in unison and watched as Katelyn walked behind the bar. Her arched eyebrow and glare had both of them quiet, but grins played about their lips.

  Brogan bent to kiss her cheek and asked, “How’s my nephew?”

  Her scowl fell off her face as her lips curved into a proud smile. “Wonderful, as always,” she replied. “Mom and dad are babysitting Little Finn right now.”

  Aiden offered a chin lift to Garreth, her husband, as he moved in to wrap his arms around her.

  Katelyn’s long dark hair and lush curves were in contrast to the slender blonde who slid behind the bar and immediately moved to Brogan.

  “Who’s keeping law and order in Baytown tonight if you’re here?” he quipped, grinning at Brogan’s wife, Ginny, one of the police officers in town.

  “All’s quiet and tonight’s my night off,” she replied, her sharp eyes glancing around the bar, landing on the young women at the other end.

  “Before you say anything, Brogan’s already carded them and read them the riot act,” he said.

  “Good,” she retorted, shooting him a grin before lifting her gaze to Brogan.

  He stood for a moment and stared at the two couples, both whom he loved more than life, but the usual feeling of glad to still be free did not come. Instead, he recognized that another feeling had been sliding through him lately…one of longing. For what, he had no idea, but it was replacing his carefree attitude more and more.

  Sucking in a deep breath, he cast his gaze toward the back of the bar where a gathering of their friends sat, most in couples. Most of the men had been raised together on the bay, earning the nickname the Baytown Boys as children, and it had stayed with them into adulthood. Each had all joined the military after high school and had returned to live in Baytown as adults. Many were now married and some had children.

  Looking back to Brogan and Ginny, he smiled. Even they were expecting now. Life was changing for the Baytown Boys, and the melancholy thought hit him in the gut. Is it passing me by? A shout from the side jerked him out of his morose reverie.

  “Aiden? You comin’ tonight?”

  Harvey, one of their young line cooks, was throwing a beach bash and he nodded. “I’ll be there,” he called out.

  Turning back to the side, he caught four pairs of eyes on him. Lifting his eyebrow, he tossed the rag in his hand to the bar. “What?”

  “Aren’t you getting a little old for those kind of parties?” Katelyn asked, her blue eyes flashing at him.

  Brogan threw in his two cents. “No food, just alcohol—”

  “And probably college girls who are looking for a hookup,” Ginny finished, her lips pursed into a thin line.

  “Sounds like my kind of party,” he quipped, ignoring the niggling voice inside that agreed with them. In truth, he enjoyed the Baytown Boys’ parties more, filled with good food and good company, but Harvey’s gave him a chance to find some casual action. At least, that was what he told himself.

  “You need to find someone you can settle down with,” Katelyn said.

  “And leave all of this,” he swept his hand down his tall, muscular body, giving off his panty-melting grin, “for just one woman? Not ready for that.” He looked at the clock and said, “I’ll head out in an hour. Time for me to get my prowl on.” He laughed as the others rolled their eyes but, though he would not admit it, his smile did not reach his heart.

  Sitting in the corner of Finn’s Pub, Amelia Smith watched the antics of the people behind the bar. New in town, she had to admit she was envious of their easy camaraderie, but the one man’s cocky bragging had her pinching her lips. Looking down, she tried to focus on the delicious fish tacos in her takeaway bag while she waited for her bill, but the bartender was hard to ignore. He was certainly handsome, but she had little room in her life for any man, least of all a stuck-on-himself, overgrown playboy. Still, unable to stop herself, she watched from under her lashes as he headed out, not a care in the world. Lost in her thoughts, she startled when the server brought her credit card back. Signing the receipt, she made her way out into the evening, hurrying to get home.

  Even though the sun had just set, the beach party was in full swing by the time Aiden drove up to the small house and parked outside. With the Pub short a server, he had been unable to get there earlier.

  Walking toward the beach, he spied Harvey and waved. Harvey, his arm around two women, gave a chin lift and he grinned in return. As he glanced around, he recognized the blow-out of a party was truly as Brogan had predicted—more alcohol than food. And girls. Lots of girls. Most of them he did not recognize from town, so they must be vacationers. And they looked young…spring break young. He sighed.

  He accepted a beer from a kid standing next to the washtub cooler and wondered if the keeper of the alcohol was old enough to drink. Chastising himself for thinking like a bartender with a business instead of a partygoer looking for a good time, he walked over to the bonfire.

  Several girls lounged on a blanket spread over the sand, beer bottles propped next to their long, tanned legs. Their bikini tops barely covered their tits and he averted his eyes. Somehow it seemed like perving instead of appreciating. Sighing again, he smiled as one of them grinned up at him.

  “Hi, handsome,” she purred, and her friends giggled.

  Purr? Did she just purr? He eyed their drinks and said, “You ladies enjoying the party?”

  More giggling ensued and the blonde said, “Yes. At least here we can drink. We tried going to that dinky bar in town but some old guy carded us.”

  His eyebrows lifted to his hairline as he tried to think what she meant. The only bar downtown was Finn’s, and the only old guy was his brother, who was only one year older than him.

  Before he had a chance to respond, she leaped to her feet and clapped her hands. “I love this song!” she screamed and threw her hands into the air. “Dance with me.”

  As the other girls crowded around, all dancing in a group, their bodies rubbing up against each other’s, she asked, “Don’t you just love this song?”

  “Can’t say I’ve ever heard it before,” he replied, and more giggling met his ears. Frustration coursed through his veins and he begged off dancing. Moving back to the table that was supposed to have food, he spied a few bags of chips and one tub of salsa.

  Turning to leave, he felt fingers grab his arm and looked to see the blonde had moved to him. She bit her lip and looked down slightly so that as she gazed up at him, her face was poised perfectly. Coy. Flirtatious. Fake. Irritating.

  “You need something?” he asked, recognizing his voice was flat but unable to manage the practiced charm he used so often to entice women into his bed for a few hours. That was all he was willing to give them, but he found no shortage of willing women who wanted just what he had to offer.

  “Sure, gorgeous,” she grinned. “I thought maybe you and I could find a quiet place to get to know each other better.” She leaned in, pressing her breasts against his arm. “The guy throwing the party said you like ‘em hot. I promise that’s me. We can even ask my friends to join if you wanna.”

  Irritation flew through him at the thought that Harvey would have said that. It had been a long time since he had gone with anyone this young. He stared into her wide eyes and saw surety. And, I used to be a sure thing, too.

  Unable to summon the politeness necessary, he shook his head as he disentangled himself from her hand. “Sorry, not interested.”

  She blinked as though unable to process what had just occurred. “You…you’re turning me down?”

  “Just not in the mood.”

  Her fists landed on her hips and she arched her back. “You’re nothing to get excited about anywa
y, you know. You’re just some old guy.” With that, she flounced back to her friends and he heard the burst of giggling again.

  Sighing for the millionth time since he arrived, he tossed a wave toward Harvey and climbed back into his truck. As he drove home, he wondered when it had happened. The young man on the prowl who now came home early because the party was filled with people barely out of their teens. And no longer my scene.

  2

  As one bloodshot eye opened, the glare of the light coming through the window caused a sharp pain in Aiden’s skull and he squeezed his eyes shut. The sun was rising over the horizon, shooting rays of pink, yellow, and pale blue across the sky, but he had no interest in that. Rolling over in bed, he smacked his lips, grimacing at the taste in his mouth. It felt like cotton balls had been stuffed in his cheeks. Make that whiskey-soaked cotton balls. He did not often drink as much as he had last night, especially alone, but...well, there were always a few exceptions.

  As his brain slowly began to awaken, he lay sprawled across the bed, wondering for a few seconds where he was. Without lifting his head, he opened both eyes and determined he was, indeed, in his bedroom. Navy curtains. Boring brick walls with no adornment. Slatted wood headboard. Matching chest of drawers. Yep, my room.