Curing Her Heart

By K A Northam

When a beautiful waitress drops hot coffee on his designer suit, Nicholas Pearce took it as a positive omen. He was making the right decision to leave his job at his Uncle’s extremely prestigious accounting firm to interview with the highly respected charity.
Instead his omen should have come as a warning.
Everything good in life comes at a hefty price.
On the same day he decides to alter his life’s path, Nicholas learns that his brother Jon is suffering a life threatening illness, which Nicholas must keep secret from his family.
The only things he finds solace in, after hearing of his brothers devastating diagnosis, is kissing the beautiful woman who dumped coffee all over him and the prospect of a new job.
Problem is there’s a whole lot more to the woman he thought was just a waitress and she holds the key to him landing that job.
If Nicholas thought convincing her he’s right for the job was hard, trying to do the same with her heart is proving even harder. Is he strong enough?
He thinks so... However her past and secrets, say otherwise.
When Jon succumbs to his illness, the truth is uncovered and it ultimately betrays both their hearts.
When faced with the possibility that he could lose Rayanna, Nicholas must find the strength to forgive and forever cure her heart

• Language: English
• Publisher: K A Northam
• Release date: Feb 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310407420

K A Northam

Born in NSW, Australia in 1979, I grew up in a small town on the NSW North Coast.After finishing high school I moved to Sydney where I worked as an apprentice chef for a few years before moving into Sales and Administration.I now reside on the NSW North Coast with my partner and our two children, who along with my day job, keep me busy!So how does a chef, who works in an office, end up as a romance writer you ask?Well, I have loved reading since I was young, hoping that one day I might meet my 'prince charming', just like Cinderella did.And I did.After having the story of Nicholas and Rayanna (from Curing Her Heart) play out in a dream back in 2014, I thought why not have a go at putting that story into written words so that other readers like me, could read it.I'd like to think that my books will bring the same kind of enjoyment that reading gives me.

Book preview

Curing Her Heart

K A Northam

Copyright

Copyright © 2015 by K A Northam

This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Acknowledgement

For my fiancé and our two beautiful girls.

You are my happiness always

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Connect with K A Northam

Chapter 1

Holy shit that’s hot!

Having watched the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on make her rounds serving coffee and food for the last half an hour, I can’t manage more than the words I’ve just uttered just as she manages to dump the espresso I ordered in my lap, thankfully missing vital organs.

Sea green eyes framed by dark brown hair look down at me as though she’s committed the most horrendous of crimes.

I’m so sorry. Let me get you a towel. She says as she hurries off to grab me a towel.

Detecting a subtle hint of an English accent takes me by surprise. I had her pegged for the girl next door not the next continent.

I try to dry as much of the mess left on my pants with paper serviettes, I look down at my expensive suit and am thankful that it is the end of the day and I’m on my way home. I also don’t want the sweet English angel to feel bad.

Geez Nick, what did you say to that pretty waitress to make her drop coffee on you?

The familiar voice of Alistair Reed, friend and colleague, with a smug grin spread across his face, telling me he was watching the show from a distance and decided to do nothing to help me out.

Alistair and I have been best friends since we were kids, growing up together in Connecticut, only living a couple of houses apart. After graduating high school we were both accepted into Harvard, although I think it was getting internships at the same accounting firm in our final year and now both working at Howard Kent Group - the largest accounting firm in New Haven – that really cemented our friendship.

Nothing Alistair, it was an accident.

A fortunate accident that allowed me to absorb her facial features from close up. If only she would hurry back so I can ask the questions I want to know the answers to.

Nicholas Pearce… I know you better than that. I’d bet money on it that you were trying to hit her up.

Unfortunately Alistair does know me better and knows that the girl serving me is exactly the kind of girl I would’ve done pretty much anything, to get into her pants for the night, back for in our Harvard days. Although for some reason, since going to work at Howard Kent, my preferences in women have changed. Now days I tend to end up with either highly strung, high maintenance or just nasty pieces of work. Nothing at all like the woman serving me.

No, I was admiring from a distance and she just happened to serve me my coffee. Now shut it because she’s coming back.

Alistair smirks at my discomfort, as she leans over the booth to hand me the towel and also a small bag containing ice.

Again, I’m so sorry. Did it burn you anywhere?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alistair trying hard to hold back his laughter.

No, I don’t think so; it was more a shock than anything.

None the less, you should put a cold compress on it until you can run it under cold water. You should also get it looked at, as you might have suffered second degree burns.

Her seriously formal tone makes me aware that her concern is genuine and causes me to gaze at her face for a little longer than necessary.

Really, I think its fine.

She seems to relax once I take the bag of ice and place it on my leg. Alistair looks like he’s about to explode. He starts to say something to her, but she cuts him off.

Gentlemen, if you are not in any hurry, I would like to replace the coffee and also arrange for your suit to be dry-cleaned. It’s the least I can do.

Finally I catch a glimpse at the name badge she is wearing and it’s not a name I would say fits the sheer elegance of the woman in front of me. Neither does this coffee house seem to be where she belongs.

Patty thanks for the offer but the dry cleaning is really unnecessary.

A crimson hue spreads across her cheeks as though my chivalry is embarrassing her, but then she starts to smile and almost breaks out in laughter. I’m not sure what I’ve said but I would definitely like to hear her laughter, to find out if it’s as sweet a sound as I’m imagining it to be.

Really it is necessary. I won’t accept no for an answer and I promise I won’t drop anymore coffee on you.

She smiles again before turning away, leaving me unable to object again. Alistair is shaking his head at me like I’ve just blown any chance of getting to know her.

You couldn’t just say thank you and let her get on with her job could you? You embarrassed her. She probably wouldn’t have run off so quickly and you could’ve made a move

Move… I don’t use moves on women. Most of the women I’ve dated have crept up on me, not hit me full force like Patty is.

I ignore Alistair’s attempt to get me to bite and instead drop the bomb on him which was my reason for meeting him here.

So, I’m resigning from Howard Kent after Christmas.

I’m glad Patty hadn’t returned with our coffees yet as Alistair would definitely have sprayed his all over me. He takes a moment to regroup before launching an all-out offensive.

What the hell, Nick. This better not have anything to do with Ashley?

Ah Ashley… my ex fiancée who decided that the best method for telling me it was over was to get into bed with Thomas Kent, one of the partners at Howard Kent. It made things awkward around the office. The only people to show me any support or concern were Alistair and Peter Howard, the other partner at the firm, who also happens to be my uncle.

Yes and no. For the last twelve months I haven’t had that same buzz I used to when we started at the firm. Besides managing the money of those who have shitloads of it and don’t spend it wisely is starting to wear thin. Ashley sleeping with Thomas was just the icing on the cake.

Alistair looks at me as though he understands and he would see straight through me if I tried lying to him. I’ve had enough and want to try another direction.

So why did you ask her to marry you then?

Alistair is getting pissed with me now. He warned me before I proposed to Ashley, that not being a hundred per cent in love with her was only going to cause issues. Unfortunately for me Ashely was driven by motives other than love, namely that my uncle was a partner at the firm where we worked and she thought tying herself to me in matrimony was the quickest way to an office on the top floor. I know she thinks that’s how I got my job but I happen to be damn good accountant.

You know what? I don’t really want to know why you asked her. But explain to me why you think she’s a good enough reason to give up your job.

I just told you she is only part of my reasons for resigning. I need to make it now or never make it at all.

Alistair smiles at my last words. Words repeated many a time at university and at work. It was our driving motto and when said we each understand the seriousness in which it is delivered.

Well, I wish I could stop you but your decision is already made. All I can say is go for it and know that if you need anything. Don’t ask me.

I am about to thank Alistair - for I know he is only kidding with his last sentence – when Patty – so far the highlight of my day - returns with two coffees and a plate of pastries big enough to feed an army. She’s also carrying a piece of paper which she hands to me.

This is a voucher for the dry cleaners three doors down from here. They will do a good job on your Burberry suit.

Knowing designers must be a female thing. As much as I’ve always taken pride in my appearance, I never really cared for who made my clothes. Ashley bought me this suit as a gift for my birthday and was constantly reminding me who made it and how much it was worth. Patty’s actually done me a favour devaluing it with a coffee stain.

I’m intrigued to know how this gorgeous woman knows who made my suit without looking at a tag. I’m about to ask, but the nervous look on her face tells me this is not a conversation she would want me to start.

Thank you Patty, you have more than compensated me for what was an accident.

It’s nothing, besides my boss was going to fire me if I didn’t make it right.

She starts to giggle at my shocked expression and I wonder why she’s so amused. I would like to have a quiet word with her boss about firing her, but her amusement is bewildering and I think there’s more to her comment than she’s letting on. Besides I plan on coming back here frequently for coffee.

Excuse me, but I have some other tables to serve, so if you don’t need any more coffee dumped in your lap...

I chuckle at her apparent attempt at humour and when she walks away I find myself intently admiring her figure.

Whilst she’s gorgeous Nick, do you really want to try making up for Ashley by getting into something with a waitress? Alistair’s condescending tone at the word waitress surprises me. It’s unlike him to talk down about others.

Since when do you care about a woman’s occupation when you’re hitting on her? I really want to get to the bottom of his comment. He’s known Patty for less time than I have and I don’t appreciate his judging her.

Girl like that would get eaten alive in our world. Would you want to take responsibility for ruining such sweet innocence and breaking hearts when it all turns to shit? Ah, so that’s his ammo. He’s just being a concerned friend to both of us.

She couldn’t break my heart. I try saying this convincingly knowing that even after what Ashley did my heart is still intact, but to have a woman like Patty and lose her would destroy me. What am I saying all she did was serve me coffee.

I meant her heart, not yours. Alistair lets out an exasperated sigh.

Alistair thanks for the concern. I’ve got to get home and then to East Haven. Jon’s hosting poker night and it’ll cost me more than what I’ll lose on the game if I’m late.

How is your little bro anyways?

Okay I guess, I haven’t seen him for a couple of months as he’s been travelling all over with work, this is the first I’ll have seen him since Fourth of July weekend.

Well make sure you punch him for me. And count me in next time. Poor Alistair has been roped into some ungodly chick thing with his latest conquest. And he thinks I’m bad with women.

Yeah will do.

As I get up from the booth and head for the door, I catch Patty watching me and my ego is boosted that extra inch and then she gives me a smile which makes my heart beat just a bit harder.

I hope my poor serving skills don’t stop you from coming back to the best coffee house in New Haven.

Did she just tease me? It sure as heck sounded like it.

The coffee isn’t the only thing I enjoyed here today Patty.

I say this with a wink and instantly enjoy seeing my reply blush on her cheeks. I wish I could tell Patty that nothing would stop me coming here again as long as she served my coffee.

Alistair was wrong she would break my heart.

Chapter 2

If Jon wasn’t my brother, there is no way in hell I’d be driving from West to East Haven on a Friday afternoon.

At this rate I’ll make it by the end of the poker game and have to hand over hard earned cash without even playing a hand. Jon has this stupid rule that if you show up late or disrupt a game in progress, then you must be punished by means of payment.

An hour after leaving my place, I manage to find a park a couple of doors down from my brother’s townhouse and find myself walking – actually jogging - toward his place. As I get closer, the loud music alerts me that the game is about to get underway. I run up the only few steps to the door and bash the doorbell.

While I wait, I think back to my unusual afternoon and how much I could go a coffee right now.

Suddenly the door flies open.

Only winning money or a hot chick would put a smile like that on your face.

My younger brother stands in the doorway, normally standing taller and more solid than me – he’s a bit of a gym junkie – tonight he looks like he’s lost some of his muscle and his pale colour suggests he has finally gotten tired of me hanging shit on him for getting spray tans.

What’s up little brother? You look like shit. I really shouldn’t antagonise my brother. I may be older but he could definitely beat the crap out of me if he wanted to.

Nah, you don’t get to change the subject. So who is she?

She is no one. I just was remembering something funny that happened earlier.

Seemingly Jon buys my explanation and stands aside to let me in. How can I explain the events of this afternoon without sounding crazy?

I follow him down the hallway and drop my keys in the hall stand. I won’t be driving home tonight. Jon and I have a heap to catch up on and that requires copious amounts of alcohol, as it helps digest all the bullshit we discuss on poker nights.

So what’s up with you Jon? When I said you look like shit, I meant it. Don’t tell me you’ve met a girl and she’s keeping you up late?

Not now, pokers about to start.

Something’s going on. Jon’s not usually that short and abrupt. Looks like he’s going to make me wait to tell me what the hell it is.

Although he is three years younger than me, Jon behaves more like a forty year old married man rather than the thirty year old bachelor he is. He took it upon himself to be the man of the house when mom and dad split when I was thirteen. I went off to live with dad and he stayed with mom. I was pissed at mom for cheating on dad, not that dad blamed her. He was never home.

What I didn’t know until I left for Harvard was that dad cheated on mom just as much as she did on him and I think Jon knew this even though he was only ten.

We lived apart, but we’ve always kept in contact through our weekend catch ups. We often gave each other advice on school, career options and most importantly, girls.

I’ll see your ten bucks and raise it another ten. Jonathan’s giving me his best poker face trying to call my bluff.

I’ll call. Poker face or not he’s not going to win.

Jonathan lays down three nines on the table and a couple of dead cards with it. The corner of my mouth turns up in a wry smile, this is going to be good.

I start laying out my three of a kind, all eights. Jonathan shifts in his seat starting to reach for the pot in the centre of the table.

Hang on speedy, you need to wait until my full house has been played.

I drop the pair of queens down on the table and as I do, Jonathan thumps the table so hard it makes the chips jump and knocks his friend Billy’s beer over.

Cheating Son of a…

That’s our mom you’re talking about. Watch it

Fucking Accountants! Forever cheating us out of our money. Hah, usually he dishes out the accountants are boring line, now I’m a cheat also.

Well gentlemen, I believe my brother has cleaned us all out, game over.

Dismissing everyone so early in the evening is out of character for Jon, normally he’s begging everyone to stay until he wins as much as he can before kicking everyone out. I’m confused.

Billy, Jared, Christian. I’ll call cabs for you, before my Nick plays us out of our houses.

A half an hour later the cabs turn up to take the guys home and as Jonathan shuts the front door and turns to me, I hit him up.

So what’s going on Jonathan?

Let’s get a beer.

I follow him back to the lounge and tentatively take the beer he offers me. As we sit across from each other on the lounge, Jonathan avoids eye contact.

So is everything Okay with work Jonathan?

Jonathan joined the Navy straight after high school, skipping college and choosing to serve his country instead. My biggest fear was that he would get called up to serve overseas during the war, however he ended up going into training new recruits instead of active service and whilst that keeps him moving around the country often it is definitely less stressful than worrying about him in combat.

I wouldn’t know. I haven’t worked since August. He still won’t look