Love Struck Read online

  Love Struck

  Love Demands a Holiday

  McKenna Rogue

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Also by McKenna Rogue

  1

  Gerard

  I hated this guy.

  Cora had never invited me to meet her boyfriends, which I’d always been grateful for. I didn’t want to know any of them. None of them were worthy of her. They’d always let her go, which meant they had no idea what they had in the first place.

  I’d held her while she cried, ate vats of ice cream, drank her weight in cheap wine coolers, and usually passed out draped over me. And I knew I should stock up on tissues, because this guy was next on her list to be an ex. At least I hoped so.

  If he became a regular part of Cora’s life, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Already, from the guy’s stiff posture, like he had a stick shoved right up his ass, and the way his eyes glazed over with a disinterested expression or he buried his face in his phone any time Cora talked, I knew he wasn’t good enough for her, and I hadn’t even met him yet.

  Cora wore an overly covered dress that reminded me more of something a stereotypical preacher’s wife would wear than Cora. When had she become so conservative and reserved? Being a teacher, she didn’t wear plunging necklines and miniskirts by any means, but she liked color instead of this muted pink. She always shined, but tonight she looked hollowed and empty.

  I’d been gone longer than usual and when I left town, she’d barely started seeing Nick, and now he was important enough she wanted me to meet him.

  I approached the couple as I made my way through the tables at Basil and Olive. It was the only nice place in Jubilee Falls.

  Cora stood up when I stepped up to the table. “Hi, Gerard.” Her shoulders were stiff, her back ramrod straight, and her mouth was tight like she was smiling too hard.

  “Hey, Red.” I leaned in to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  Usually we gave lingering, squeezing, happy hugs; tonight, she barely wrapped her arms around me.

  “Nick, I want you to meet Gerard. My best friend.”

  Nick could barely contain his disdain. He all but rolled his eyes, set his phone down, and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you,” he muttered.

  I had no problem towering over him as I shook his hand, gripping it a little too hard. That seemed to catch his attention. “You too,” I said.

  Nick sat up in his seat and turned his phone over, so the screen was facing down. His hairline was receding, and while he wasn’t in terrible shape, he certainly didn’t look like me. The guy was probably at least five years older than Cora. She had the world around her, and this was the guy she saddled herself with? Why?

  “Did you just get into town?” Cora asked.

  I nodded. “Yeah, I would’ve been here sooner, but the jetlag was hell. I stayed in Omaha and slept most of the day before I got it the car to drive home.”

  “And made a stop at the Omaha zoo, no doubt.” Cora smirked. “Where were you, again? I can never keep it straight.”

  I loved that Cora knew of my love for the zoo, and only jokingly gave me any shit about it. It was just one more reason I counted her as my best friend.

  “Prague.” I glanced over at Nick. “Have you been?”

  His expression darkened into a tight scowl. “No, but I’m not really interested in traveling there.”

  “Of course.” What a schmuck. Did he have interest in anything aside from defiling my best friend and counting money?

  The server appeared ready to take our drink orders.

  “Shall I order a bottle of wine for the table?” I asked.

  Nick’s lip curled. “Sure.”

  Cora glanced at him nervously. “Nick doesn’t really like wine.”

  “Then a bottle for you and me?” I asked.

  “Cora, darling, do you really think you should be drinking at all? I know you were trying to lose weight.” Nick’s tone was light, but it immediately fucking frustrated the hell out of me. Who was he to tell her she was anything less than perfect?

  “Oh, you’re right, honey.” Her cheeks reddened. She could never hide embarrassment with her fair skin and red hair. “I’ll stick with water.”

  “Good choice.” Nick reached his arm to rest on the chair behind her, his smug expression directed at me, like somehow, he’d put us both in our place.

  Once we gave our orders, the server disappeared leaving us again.

  “Gerald, does your boyfriend travel with you? He could’ve joined us.”

  I plastered a smile on my face, my gaze flickering to Cora. Her mouth fell open like she couldn’t believe Nick had just said that.

  Me? I wasn’t surprised.

  “My name is Gerard. And I’m not currently seeing anyone.” He thought he could ruffle me? He was dead wrong.

  “Gerard isn’t gay, honey. He’s very straight.”

  Nick twisted in his seat a little, his laser eyes focusing in on her with an accusatory glare. “Sounds like you’re talking from experience.”

  Cora’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

  I leaned forward and took her hand gently, drawing her attention away from his insecure asshattery. “Cora and I have only ever been friends.” I kept my smile on.

  I was doing this for Cora. She didn’t deserve the pissing contest her boyfriend was attempting, and I didn’t need to prove anything to him. I wasn’t about to make a scene in the middle of a crowded restaurant either, but this guy really deserved a beat down.

  “I know looking at this handsome black man, well dressed, in a creative vocation, traveling all over the world taking pictures of half-naked models, you’re looking for something to not feel threatened by. I’m afraid you’re going to just have to keep on looking. But I assure you, if Cora wants you, and is happy with you, I’m nothing but supportive.”

  Cora let out a nervous giggle.

  Nick glanced at Cora. “Something funny about that, dear?” he said through clenched teeth.

  “Gerard is just teasing. Please tell him you’re just giving him a hard time.”

  I managed another toothy grin. “I have to make sure you’re good enough for my Cora.”

  Nick’s lips twitched and his eyes widened like he’d just figured something out. He pulled his arm from behind her and moved his hand to her thigh under the table. “I believe she’s my Cora.”

  Before I could decide whether to stoop to the banker’s level, a familiar face walked up.

  “Gerard? I didn’t know you were back in town.”

  I smiled at Kal and quickly introduced him to Nick. Cora needed no introduction. “I’m just here for a few days. You know how it is.”

  Kal nodded. “You know, a man of your status shouldn’t be living in a rented one-bedroom. I found this great property off Bleeker, and I think we could renovate it into a hell of a home for you.”

  Nick choked on the water he was sipping as his eyes grew wide.

  I didn’t need him to say anything, to know why he was choking. I was sure he didn’t expect a person like me to be able to afford somewhere on the nice side of town, and Bleeker Street was only a block away from the Davenports’ homestead. “Why don’t you call my assistant tomorrow, w
e’ll set something up.” I didn’t really have any plans to live in a mansion, no matter how nice I was sure Kal could renovate it to my tastes. But Nick didn’t need to know that. And I might not feel the need to have a dick-measuring contest with the man, but I certainly wasn’t above letting him know how much fatter my bank accounts were.

  Kal grinned. “You got it.” Then he turned to Nick and pulled out a business card. “If you’re ever in the market for an upscale renovation, give me a call.”

  Nick took the slip of cardstock and set it next to his phone on the table, but the sneer on his face clearly said he’d never call. “I just bought a new condo, but maybe I can call you and discuss your banking needs some time.”

  Cora looked like she was trying to shrink into her seat.

  I smiled, trying to smooth the situation over. “It’s great to see you, Kal. Let’s definitely get together soon for lunch or something.”

  Kal nodded. “Cora, it’s great to see you again. We should all get together soon, have a drink or something, catch up.”

  She glanced at Nick before she said anything, and it just made me want to punch the man even more. “Maybe.”

  As Kal walked off, part of me wished I could go with him.

  This evening was not going to be over fast enough. Once our meals came, there was some reprieve as we ate. Cora filled most of the silence trying to somehow weave a bridge between the two of us.

  Nick ended up back with his face in his cell phone when Cora and I talked about traveling. She’d always talked about wanting to travel and see the world. Being more than an elementary teacher. She loved her job, but she wanted more out of life. And more wasn’t going to come from this guy who was telling her she needed to lose weight? To settle for a moron like him? What the fuck? Cora didn’t need to watch her weight. She just needed to drop the deadweight next to her.

  Finally, the check came, and I snagged it before he could. I paid the tab, tipped heavily, and said good night to Cora.

  My apartment was lit up when I entered.

  “Kelly?”

  I’d hired the buxom blonde from the coffee shop a year ago to help me out when I needed it, and as she bounced into the main room from the kitchen, I could tell she was doing just that. “I’m sorry. I meant to be gone before you got back here. Your order took a little longer this time.”

  “No worries. I don’t mind. I gave you a key so you could come and go.”

  “I know. I just like being an invisible assistant like the furniture in Beauty and the Beast. Give you the illusion of magic.”

  I chuckled. “You helping me at the drop of a hat is magic all on its own. How are you?”

  “I’m great actually. Thanks to your ridiculous salary. My life is finally starting to fall into place. You know, if you settled down with that girl of yours, you know the one you never stop talking about, she could help you when you’re traveling the world. Or she could go with you and you could double my salary.”

  “What girl is it you’re talking about?”

  “Cora. I know who she is, you know?” Kelly went back into the kitchen to finish putting everything away. “You’re a catch. And if I wasn’t thoroughly involved in someone else, I’d be doing your shopping and then undressing and waiting in your bed when you came home.”

  I burst out laughing. “Now I remember why I hired you.”

  “Forthright, I believe, was the term you used.”

  “And you’re just here to give me a hard time?”

  She folded the reusable grocery bag and slipped it into the pantry with the others. “I love working for you. It’s the easiest job in the world. And you’re a great boss. If you don’t like something, you tell me. And I never do it again. No admonishment, no drama. Plus, you’re out of town a lot. But you literally come here to see her and then you’re dashing off again. There are cities closer to the coasts and travel wouldn’t be so horrible. Your mom moved to Florida. You’re in this rink-a-dink town because of her.”

  “I don’t recall asking your opinion.”

  “You didn’t. And I’m sorry if I’m being too forward. But I like to think of us as friends. Our emails, text messages, and phone calls have turned into more than just orders and questions.”

  “We are friends. I just didn’t realize we were the kind of friends who told each other the truth.”

  She brought me a beer and we sat down on the couch. “I bring all of this up, because I actually need some advice. It involves telling a friend who dealing with her own unrequited issue.”

  “Yeah? I hate to think I’m an expert, but twelve years does constitute some wisdom.”

  “How do you deal with it?”

  I chuckled. “That’s it? That’s your question.”

  “I’m afraid so. I’m…my friend is going out of her mind.”

  “I thought it’d be obvious. I don’t deal with it. I just went out to dinner tonight with her and her boyfriend. She wanted us to meet. She’s never wanted me to meet her men before. If you want my real advice, get out of your funk. Seek out new people. I’m a lost cause. I’m around models in foreign countries and I haven’t had sex in two years because Cora is all I can think about. Pathetic. Stupid. But here I am. Kelly, you’re way too great to be hanging around waiting for a guy to notice you. If he doesn’t press you against the wall and kiss the hell out of you, you deserve better.”

  Kelly blinked at me. “Wow. That wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I thought you’d give me some great speech about patience and eventually he’ll get his head out of his ass.”

  “Men are stupider than women. And if I can’t get Cora to see me as anything other than a friend, then the poor sod you’re in love with doesn’t stand a chance. Get out now.”

  She slumped back into the couch. “You’re probably right.”

  “I’m sorry, Kelly. I don’t mean to be a downer. I just…you should be happy. And if I were a better man, I would sweep you off your feet and carry you into the bedroom so we both could forget. At least for a while.”

  “That’s a nice thought, Gerard. I appreciate it.” She knocked back half her beer. “I should probably get going.”

  “You can hang out for a while if you want. I was just going to turn on a movie.”

  “You sure?”

  “What are friends for if I can’t distract you from heartache for a couple of hours?”

  She clinked her bottle against mine. “Cheers to friendship.”

  Part of me wanted to curse friendship too.

  Halfway through the movie, I was half asleep. A knock brought me back. Kelly sat up. “You expecting anyone?”

  “No, but I know who it is.”

  I heard Kelly shifting around behind me as I headed for the door. I didn’t even bother with the peep hole. I yanked open the door and there Cora was with pink cheeks and a flushed chest which meant she was mad.

  At least it was more fire than I’d seen from her the rest of the evening.

  Cora stormed through the apartment into the living room and stopped cold when she saw Kelly standing from the couch.

  “Hi, Cora.” Kelly ducked around her and glanced at me. “Good luck,” she mouthed. “I’ll talk to you later, Gerard.” And then Kelly was gone.

  Cora rounded on me. “What the hell was that?”

  “What the hell was what?” I dared her to blame the events of the evening on me.

  Cora pointed at the door behind me. “Did I just interrupt a date?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Kelly is my assistant or my house runner or whatever you want to call it. She stayed to have a beer and watch a movie. We’re friends. Why are you pissed off?”

  Cora raised her arms and dropped them like it was the most unreasonable question. “Why were you so hostile with Nick? He thinks you don’t like him. He thinks you’re threatened by him.”

  “That’s rich. You need to take a long look in the mirror. What are you doing with a guy like that?” I hadn’t meant to return the hostility, but how much did I have to
endure watching her with someone who wasn’t worth the shit on her shoe?

  Cora’s shoulders rose with the tension building inside of her, her green eyes bulged, and her skin turned bright red. “Excuse me!?” She scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. “What is your problem? Why are you being so judgmental?”

  “Were you at the same dinner I was?”

  Something in my tone must’ve caught her off guard, because she took a deep breath, and said more calmly, “I don’t know what happened. I was just introducing the two men in my life. I want you guys to like each other. And you didn’t even try.”

  She was right about that. I didn’t. And I wasn’t going to.

  “What do you like about him?”

  She threw her hands up in the air and let out a loud “Ugh” as if she couldn’t even believe I’d asked such a thing. “You’ve never behaved like that before.”

  “You’ve never made me meet one of your daft boyfriends.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  I put up my hands in a small sign of surrender. “Cora, I’ve been gone for months. I’m sorry dinner didn’t go well. I’m sure the next time we have to all hang out together,” which would hopefully be never, “things will go better. I’m sure it was an off night. He probably doesn’t like that one of your best friends is a guy and this good looking.” I didn’t know why I was placating, but I didn’t want to fight with her.

  Cora blinked at me and slowly I saw her soften. “Your confidence is annoying.”

  “Charming, is the word you were looking for.”

  “Arrogant?”

  “You got me.” I winked at her.

  She let out a long-frustrated breath. “I don’t know what got into him. Or me. I felt like a pod person. He’s never been like that before.”