What the Heart Needs

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

A loud thump startled Heaven from her sleep. She peeked over her shoulder, half expecting to see something—or someone—in the window. As she adjusted her eyes to the moonlit room, she searched for clues to what had made the noise. Nothing appeared out of place.

The stupid movie she and Dylan watched before going to bed had messed with her. She made it a point not to watch thriller movies for a reason. The chase. The mystery of not knowing what lay in wait. It brought back too many memories of Mick. And Zeke. Most people never faced a stalker situation, much less two. Now, she jumped at the smallest sounds.

No one could break into the house. They’d have to get past the large shale wall surrounding the estate. Not even the paparazzi or their cameras had managed that. What an electrifying experience it would be if they tried.

As a gust of wind blew through the blinds, it twirled the curtains like tiny ballerinas performing their first recital. The full moon cast a soft glow across the bed. Heaven followed the pale blue path until it brought her to Dylan’s face.

The moment he came into view, the hum of their connection steadied her heart. She traced his features with her eyes. Dark brows. Long lashes. Full lips. And that square jaw… He was a perfect masterpiece created for her to love.

She admired the diamond on her finger, the princess cut jewel that sparkled in the moonlight. The ring signified many promises for her and Dylan’s future. Soon, there would be another ring beside it that would prove their bond to everyone else, including Dylan’s father.

How would he handle the news of their engagement? How would anyone? She and Dylan should have made the announcement right away instead of taking a few weeks to prepare. They knew they would face pushback from their friends.

Her stomach fluttered.

She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and she sat up. It was too quick. The walls rocked from side to side. She grabbed the edge of the bed, crumpling the sheets in a fist as she waited for the dizziness to pass.

But it grew worse.

If she could get to the window and feel the cool night air against her face, her head would clear. God help her, she needed the strength to make it across the room without falling down.

The soft threads of the carpet caressed her feet as she rose from the bed. She glanced back at Dylan, checking to see if her movement had disturbed his sleep. It hadn’t. His energy intertwined with hers until she couldn’t identify one from the other.

When she made it to the window, she pulled the string to raise the blinds. A soft breeze blew through her hair, lifting the curls from her shoulder. The cool air was like a long-awaited breath she’d denied herself.

She had to get over the fear of how their family would react to their engagement. The people that mattered would be happy. Except Faith. She would have something sarcastic to say. Then again, she had her own issues to deal with.

Wood casing indented Heaven’s temple as she leaned her head against the window and thought about her sister. Was Faith pregnant or not? It didn’t surprise Heaven that neither she nor Hope had heard from their sister. Faith knew how much they worried and she loved tormenting them.

But what about Layne? Had Faith talked to him yet? She had told Hope that he’d grown distant. Even if he had, he still had a right to know if Faith was pregnant.

Dylan hadn’t mentioned Layne either. Heaven only remembered a few calls between them, and those were about the band. Dylan had spent the last few weeks devoted to her and their relationship, nothing else.

Yet she hadn’t stopped thinking about Layne or the way his soul tugged on hers.

As a wave of nausea hit her, she gripped the window frame. Any second, the room would spin again. She waited for her mouth to stop watering, but the sensation worsened. The blood in her face drained to her navel, then the tunnel vision began. Soon, her body would greet the floor.

Instead of passing out, a mirage of images flickered before her. Flashing lights of a camera. Nate’s discouraging face. Caramel eyes staring deep into hers. White-crested waves of a teal ocean. Dylan’s full lips curved toward the sky. The round belly of an expectant mother.

What the hell?

The strength in her hands faded. She lost her grip and stumbled backward. Yet the carpet didn’t greet her. Warmth did. It began at her shoulders, spread around her arms, and continued down until it tickled her belly.

Then sweet words caressed her ear.

“I’ve got you.”

Dylan…

His arms tightened around her as he held her close, allowing his energy to mold with hers. She loved how a single touch invigorated her. He was her rock, her lighthouse in the dark abyss of confusion. She didn’t know how she’d survived without him before now, but she prayed she would never have to find out.