The Way Back: Hired Hearts Series, #1

By Tressie Lockwood

Keon Kitson has lost his five-year-old son in a car accident, the same way he lost his parents when he was a kid. His fiancée left him before he woke from a coma. Keon can't see past the pain in his heart and the darkness surrounding him. He wants to give up on life, but his best friend keeps pushing him to go on--as if it could ever get better.

Shakita Chambers has just landed a dream job working with a man she's admired for years. She would love to learn all she can from Keon, a world famous author. Except Keon is broken. He's determined to drink himself into the grave, starve himself there, or tick her off so bad she kills him herself.

Despite Keon's ugly attitude, Shakita is attracted to him. One minute they're arguing, the next they can't keep their hands off each other. Shakita knows she's playing a dangerous game. Keon still loves his ex, and his ex won't let him forget it.

Shakita's worried about her heart, and so is every other interfering busybody in her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressie Lockwood
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386645153

Book preview

Chapter One

Y ou’ve had enough, Keon.

I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough. Give me the bottle, Jamie.

His friend held it away, and Keon sneered at him. He started to snatch it but hesitated. Having drunk so much he wasn’t steady on his feet. He didn’t think he cared about anything since the accident. Funny enough, he still had enough pride left not to look like a fool in front of Jamie and fall on his face.

Why are you here? he demanded.

Because somebody’s got to stop you from drinking yourself into the grave. Jamie turned his back and walked over to the liquor cabinet. He tucked the half empty bottle of whiskey into the cabinet and turned the key in the lock. Keon knew before he pocketed the key that he would do it. Jamie always was an interfering SOB.

Keon dropped into the armchair he hadn’t moved from for days, except to use the facilities. With his face dumped into his palms, he wondered why he hadn’t ended his sorry excuse for a life already. Maybe he was a coward on top of everything else. No, that wasn’t it. He kept hoping she would change her mind and come back.

The room stretched around him in silence. Jamie never did say more than was needed in a given situation. He had no problem with solitude. Keon was the one who loved people around, or maybe it was because of her.

A knock at the door brought his head up. Everything inside strained to see and hear as the door opened. He knew he would end up disappointed, but his stupid heart ached for it anyway.

Just one more time. Just once, please.

Mr. Kitson. The boring secretary/housekeeper—or whatever she was—stepped into the room. Jamie had hired her for him. He resented the woman being in his house. The only woman who should be there wasn’t his anymore. Why?

Why did he have to… No, he couldn’t afford to let his mind go there. Not with Jamie present. She was saying something. He ignored her, looking past her to the door. Every fiber of his being longed to see his little son dart into the room as he’d done so many times before.

Daddy, daddy, look what I found. He’d jump onto Keon’s lap, upending his papers and his books without a care. Orin, his son, would demand Keon’s attention whenever he was around his dad, and Keon gave it to him. His son and his fiancée were Keon’s life. He had considered himself the luckiest man in the universe. That is, until the accident.

Keon felt sick again. He hadn’t eaten since…when? He wasn’t sure. Yet, he’d filled his stomach and system with alcohol. His head hurt like hell. The pain pills were in his pocket, but he couldn’t remember that last time he took those either.

Mr. Kitson!

He focused on the African American woman standing just a few feet away from him. She was short and plump, with too much of everything. She wouldn’t be around long.

I told you not to disturb me, he snapped.

She pursed her lips with big brown eyes full of defiance. What kind of employee had that kind of attitude? He wondered where Jamie had found her but didn’t care enough to ask.

"And I told you," she emphasized. Mr. Westgate hired me. Not you. He said I should make sure you eat. So, I’m here to find out what you want. If you don’t tell me, I’m going to cook what I like, and you’ll have to make do with that.

Jamie chuckled while Keon stared at her in disbelief. He glared at his friend. I’m assuming you didn’t get references.

Jamie shrugged. I think she’s perfect. And, Shakita, you can call him Keon and me Jamie. We don’t need to be formal.

It doesn’t matter what she calls you. Keon leaned back in the chair and shut his eyes. As soon as the images flashed before his eyes, he opened them again and stared out the window. She won’t be here long. I don’t need help.

You say that, but this room is starting to smell ripe, my friend.

Keon clenched his jaw.

Sorry, but it’s the truth. Jamie rubbed his hands together. Now that Shakita is here, we can freshen things up.

If you don’t like it, get the hell out of my house.

Jamie pretended to shiver in fear. Whoa, scary deep voice. I’m not going anywhere. So, let’s see. Shall I give you a bath or should she?

Keon looked at him in horror, and Jamie laughed.

It’s in what you feel you can deal with, Jamie explained, pissing Keon off even further. The soft and gentle hands of a woman, or mine? I don’t promise to be gentle. You’re showering today, so which will it be?

Will you leave me in peace, damn it? Keon roared. No one asked you to accept what I smell like. No one asked for your help. I don’t need to do anything except—

Except what? Jamie interrupted. The smile was gone from his face, and he appeared to be deadly serious. Jamie was always the more patient of the two of them. This time he sounded like he’d lost his temper. To what, Keon? To die? Is that what you think I’ll let you do? You want to die because Orin died?

Shut your mouth!

Keon leaped up from the chair, but his head spun, and he grew weak. He dropped to the floor and landed hard on his shoulder. Jamie came after him, but he waved him off.

I’m fine, damn it. Just back off. I can pick myself up.

He felt heat in his face and knew both Shakita and Jamie saw the flush that spread from his neck to the roots of his hair. He wished he never woke up from the coma.

Getting up from the floor was clumsy and painful. He suspected hunger added to the weakness, but he couldn’t stomach the thought of eating. By the time he was seated again, moisture coated his face and back. He didn’t look at either of them. Sense told him not to bother ordering them out of the room. Jamie wouldn’t budge, and he suspected neither would Shakita, damn the woman.

He considered calling the cops on her if she wouldn’t get lost, but he didn’t want to push Jamie that far. Besides, it wasn’t her fault that Jamie insisted on hiring her for a position where she wasn’t wanted. Maybe he had a tiny bit of heart left after his family ripped it out. No, that wasn’t it. Jamie would scalp him. Perhaps he should let him. Then Jamie would write him off and never come back.

Then I could…

He didn’t finish the sentence because bile rose in his throat. Jamie had been in his life since they were kids. He was like a brother. If he lost Jamie as well, would he be bold enough to end everything?

When he was able to balance without falling, he stood. "I’ll go clean up—on my own. When I’m done, I guess I’ll have eggs. Scrambled. Plain."

You hate eggs, Jamie said.

Keon left the room, moving past Shakita without looking at her.

Chapter Two

O h, Lord, I can’t stand him. Shakita pressed fingers to her forehead. It had begun to ache. She popped a couple of pills, but they had done nothing to stave off the coming migraine. She looked up at Jamie. You know why I took this job, right?

Yes, I know, and I’m grateful for you sticking around this long. He’s difficult, but you understand why.

Back in the kitchen, Shakita was making short work of cooking the eggs. She had delayed until she heard Keon step out of the shower because eggs cooled quickly. Not that it mattered because she doubted he would even taste the food if he bothered to eat it at all. Over the last few days, nothing had passed Keon’s lips except alcohol.

She paused after cracking three eggs into a bowl. Last year he lost his five-year-old son in a car accident.

Yeah, and he was driving. He hasn’t admitted as much, but I suspect he blames himself. Keon was in a coma for three months, and by the time he woke up, his fiancée—Orin’s mom—was engaged to someone else.

She moves fast. Shakita slapped a hand over her mouth. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.

He grinned. Not out loud anyway.

She snorted. Jamie was kind and handsome. She couldn’t understand how some woman hadn’t snapped him up already. Even as good-looking as he was, his looks didn’t compare to Keon’s. That is, if Keon wasn’t half drunk every day and angry. His bitter attitude turned her off even as she felt sorry for him.

Keon was hard to take. She kept asking herself why she would agree to be his secretary/housekeeper. Talk about a crazy job, but she’d jumped on the idea because of the chance to work with a world-renowned author. It might have been a dream come true before the accident.

Debulah never loved Keon, Jamie explained. At least, not the way his future wife should have. She fell for his money and his status. For where he could take her and the things she could give him.

How horrible.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m pretty sure she loved their son. His voice thickened with suppressed emotion. "I loved him. Orin was everything to Keon. He’s lost his way with the loss of his son. I wouldn’t be any different if I had a child and he died."

I’m so sorry for all of your loss. It would kill me too.

He nodded. Keon could have fought through it if he had Debulah with him when he woke up. She turned her back on him and is engaged to another man.

Couldn’t she have believed for his recovery for at least a year?

She didn’t last a month. The man she’s with now is someone she’d been seeing before she met Keon. Maybe it was innocent in the beginning. Maybe he offered his support in her difficult time and old feelings rose up.

She studied his face. You don’t look like you believe that.

It doesn’t matter what I believe about Debulah. I never liked her.

Did he try to get her back?

As soon as he left the hospital. He shut his eyes as if remembering tortured him. To the point of humiliation. Keon’s never loved before. He’s had many relationships, but when he met Debulah, she was it. I suspected that when he finally fell in love it would consume him. He’s intense about everything. It must be the artist in him.

He’s pretty intense about starving himself and drowning his liver.

Shakita, try to get him to eat.

She put a hand on her hip. Look, I’m strong, and I’m just as determined as the next person. But Keon is a big man. If I try to shove food down his throat, he’ll snap me in half.

You’re exaggerating.

She pursed her lips. Why don’t you do it? Buy him a baby bottle. Force feed him baby food.

The kitchen door banged against the freezer behind it, and Shakita jumped. Keon must have heard what she said and didn’t like it. He stood in the doorway wearing the same awful frown, but he’d changed his clothes. His dark hair was wet, and the scent of soap wafted over to her.

She tried not to notice his gorgeous good looks, the way his hair curled on the ends when wet. He was built like he played some type of rough sport. His bulky muscles were probably never covered under a sheet of fat. The blue eyes burned with anger, but anger couldn’t snuff out their beauty.

Intense? Oh, yeah, he was intense, and Shakita wondered what it would be like to be the object of his love. That is, before he opened his mouth.

You’re not being paid to gossip about me. If you’ve got so much time on your hands, why don’t you edit the pages I did last night?

She gritted her teeth. If only she could punch him in the face and keep her job. Probably not. I edited the pages you wrote last night.

He frowned and dragged a chair out from beneath the table. Just the fact that he sat down grated on her nerves. Keon almost never entered the kitchen. She didn’t have an office at his house, so the kitchen was her sanctuary. He had to invade that space with his ugly attitude.

I finished at eleven. There’s no way you edited everything.

Well, you would know if you bothered looking at it.

Guys, please. Jamie held up his hands. Enough. Why don’t you eat your eggs, Keon? I’m sure it will improve your mood.

What are you implying?

Jamie smirked. I’m sorry. Did I stutter? You’re both getting on my nerves. Shut up, and eat your food, Keon.

Shakita bit off a laugh and placed his plate before him. He shoveled the eggs around on the plate a few times before daring to take a bite. Shakita was pretty sure they were cold by now. He chewed blank-faced and then scooped up another forkful.

Shakita piled the dishes she’d used in the dishwasher and went to bring up the pages that Keon left for her on her laptop. She took the laptop to the kitchen and set it in front of him. A few clicks and the document sat before him.

He scowled at the screen as he scrolled through the pages. What’s the problem with this scene?

She was tempted to ask him if she stuttered in her notes but decided not to push her luck. I hope you don’t mind if I’m honest, but it doesn’t make sense. Not only is the MC’s voice different from the earlier part of the book, but you’ve totally forgotten details of her background.

Nonsense. He argued for argument sake.

Aggie is from New York, not Maine. Her dad died when she was a kid, so he couldn’t call her on the phone. Not unless he’s a ghost.

Keon colored.

The fact that he’s gone means the whole conversation, which lasts for two pages, can’t happen. Now, the talk she has with her best friend has potential, but I think you’d be better off if you go a different direction. What I suggest is—

He narrowed his eyes. At what point were you hired to give your opinion?

Her jaw dropped, and a twang of pain stabbed her heart. He’d hurt her feelings. The most sensitive area of her personality was when it came to her writing. She hadn’t completed her first novel yet. A big part of that was confidence. She kept telling herself if she learned a little more, did a little more research, studied successful works a little harder, then she would be ready. That time never came.

Keon! You don’t have to be so harsh, man.

Keon looked over at his friend, who had helped himself to some of the eggs, along with bacon and toast. Really? She didn’t hesitate to tell me my book is garbage.

Shakita snapped the laptop closed. "Nobody said your book is garbage, but if you’re going to be a baby about it, I’ll keep my

Reviews for The Way Back

[samantha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The parents storyline was a complete turn off. Unfortunate. Wish it was edited without it

[mintedrose · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was enjoying the book so much until the parents were inserted. I didn't find them to be humorous at all.