Free Bitter Hearts (A Southern Loving Book 3) by Ava Thorn Page B

face.
    “Fine,
I won’t say relationship, but all I’m asking is for you to learn about genuine
unconditional love.” Farrah touched his hand. “That doesn’t have anything to do
with infatuation, lust, or what makes you happy. Find the meaning of true
intimacy that can touch your soul.”
    Hank
thought about what his Farrah had just told him, when he thought about the
relationship that he shared with Natalie he realized that they didn’t’ have a
deep connection. They fell in love quickly and next came marriage. He thought
by sacrificing, and tolerating Natalie’s negative behavior was proof that he
loved her. Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t love at all.
    Where
was the understanding, seeing and hearing and accepting him for who he was?
Hearing Farrah’s words aloud made him realize that the marriage that Natalie
and him had was conditional.
    “You
just need someone who is going to simply love and adore you,” Farrah said in a
low voice.
    “Did
you guys come all this way to talk about relationships?” Hank asked, slipping
on his gloves to get back to work on the cribs.
    “Actually,
the state fair is this weekend and Greg the lead guitarist is still recovering
from a broken leg,” Austin said hesitantly. “I need you, bro.”
    Austin
had his pick of the liter to find someone to play alongside him at the concert.
A second ticked by before Hank gave his answer. “Just for the state fair.”
    Farrah
nudged Austin and cleared her throat.
    “Well---See
if Greg isn’t ready by the Country Music Awards I was thinking you could…”
    “Oh,
hell no.” Hank shook his head vehemently, “You said state fair, and before you
know it you’re going to want me on the road with you or worse in the studio.”
    “It’s
a paying gig,” Farrah said, trying to help.
    “Hank
doesn’t need the money,” Austin said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “He has
more than enough money. He may appear to be the ranch manager in both places
but Hank is a wealthy man with all those smart investments and not to mention
the ranch in Wyoming that his grandfather left him.”
    “I
thought…” Farrah said, appearing in shock.
    “That
he’s poor?” Austin shook his head no. “But it’s not my story to tell.”
    “I’ll
do it,” Hank said reluctantly. “But only until Greg is up and at it.”
    “Thanks
I’ll owe you one.” Austin gave him a brotherly hug.
    “You
should come back to the house for dinner,” Farrah interjected.
    “I
need to finish up the cribs before Kari is up my neck,” he said, and started
make his way to workshop.
    “Or
in your pants,” Austin quipped raising an eyebrow.
    “I’m
making grilled chicken with a whiskey barbecue sauce and my famous spicy
coleslaw,” Farrah said quickly.
    “You
know what, I’m not going to say anything,” Hank said, taking off the gloves he
just put on. “I know we tease you relentlessly.”
    “Is
that what you say,” Austin laughed, as he guided Farrah to the pickup truck.
    “Plus
I can’t turn down Farrah’s cooking.” Hank rubbed his stomach that was growling.
His mouth was already watering and he hadn’t even taken a bite of the food.
    ***
    Kari
walked into her office with the biggest smile. That wasn’t her first sensual
kiss in her lifetime; she’d had plenty of boyfriends in her past. Sitting in
the chair behind the desk, her hands went to her lips that missed Hank’s
attention. Kari never had a kiss that awakened her sexuality. Sighing, she
picked up her ink pen to concentrate, but she couldn’t contain the giddy
feeling she was having. She was behaving like a schoolgirl who just experienced
her first kiss.
    “What
is that look on your face?” Corey asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
    “Nothing,”
she said as she picked up papers and stacked them on her desk.
    “Is
this about that handsome cowboy, who looked disappointed when I went to see him
the other day at the ranch?” Corey pried.
    “Who
Hank?”
    “Who
Hank,” he mimicked.