Free What the Heart Wants by Kelli McCracken Page B

startled Heaven. She flinched as she turned to see a silver Escalade driving by. The rapid beat vibrated the tinted windows and her eardrums. Her eyes trailed after the vehicle in annoyance until it disappeared down the crowded street.
    “I’m not comfortable sharing something that could give you reason to commit me. You already mother me enough.”
    “Only because I worry about you. You shut down after all the drama with Mick. Then these dreams started.”
    “Please don’t bring him up.” Heaven choked back the lump in her throat. The last thing she wanted was to think about her ex, or the hell he’d put her through. Her dreams had nothing to do with him. In fact, the dreams helped her get over the trauma he had caused.
    “Relax. If I could give anyone a permanent vacation to a white padded room, I’d choose Faith. She’s always been crazy,” Hope chuckled.
    The warmth on her lips quieted the buzzing in Heaven’s head. Deep down, she knew Hope’s protectiveness was nothing to fear.
    “Sometimes talking helps.”
    Hope could be persuasive, but Heaven just couldn’t.
    “I’ll tell you more after the wedding.”
    The smile once teasing Hope’s lips gave way to tense brows. “At least tell me what he looks like.”
    “What part of ‘I’ll tell you later’ don’t you get? We’re here for Chelsea. Remember?”
    Another breeze blew, carrying the scent of honeysuckle in it. Had they been standing outside during the dream? Is that why the sweet aroma rushing through her nose or the swaying branches of the tree made her heart long for him that much more?
    She shouldn’t be thinking about him at all.
    “Don’t make me reconsider committing you, instead of Faith.” She wouldn’t dare. “I’m worried. Just answer a few questions and I’ll leave you alone. For now.”
    Heaven sighed. “What do you want to know?”
    “Is it someone you know?”
    “No. There, I answered your question. Happy?” Heaven moved to the trunk, ready to stick in the key when Hope grabbed her arm.
    “I said a few questions. Not one. What does the guy look like?”
    Was this a police station? It sure seemed like an interrogation.
    “I don’t know. He has dark eyes and wavy hair. And he’s tall. Next question?”
    “Is he hot?”
    Now she wanted to make jokes?
    “What’s your point?”
    Hope released her arm and backed away. “Just curious. I don’t think you’d be obsessing over an ugly man.”
    “Other than his eye and hair color, I don’t have much more I can tell you. I don’t know what he looks like.”
    It wasn’t the whole truth. No, she wouldn’t recognize him on the street. But yeah, she knew the exact shade of his eyes and hair. Knew how full his lips were and how much she wanted them. She even knew he had a body to swoon over. But she couldn’t tell Hope anything else.
    Not until the wedding was over and she could think about her happiness, not her best friend’s.
    “Oh,” Hope said. Her hands fell to her sides, shoulders slumping in disappointment. “So you don’t recognize him?”
    “Nope.”
    Heaven’s stomach lurched and knotted. The bitter taste of longing made her lips pucker. That restlessness grew each time she thought of him .
    “One more question and I’ll leave you alone.”
    “I already told you what I could remember.”
    “Yeah, I know,” Hope paused as she ran her finger across the trunk of the car, “but what were you doing in the dream?”
    Good God. How could she get around this answer?
    Feeling her cheeks heating, she hugged herself. She fought back the urge to run away and pull some of her hair out.
    “Talking.”
    Hopes eyes went to the trunk. “Just talking?”
    “Yeah. Are we done now?”
    Hope sighed. “I guess, since you want to be so evasive.”
    “I’m not being evasive. I’m trying to be a good maid of honor. I have to put Chelsea first right now.” Guilt gnawed at her when Hope’s lips turned down. Heaven stroked her arm. “I promise to tell you more after