Hard Rock Heart

By Jeane Maxwell

Sometimes looks can be deceiving.

Elizabeth Mackey has a certain image in mind for her dream guy. But what happens if the image on the outside doesn't match what's on the inside? The more she gets to know the inner person, the more she realizes that a guy's heart is the most important factor. Decisions become even more tricky when her own heart needs some work. Put a former “rocker” together with a do-it-by-the-book Christian, and what do you get? There are sure to be sparks flying!

This contemporary Christian romance will warm your heart and cause you to think about how you apply what you believe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outlaw Cross Publishing
• Release date: Nov 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386832973

Jeane Maxwell

Jeane Maxwell grew up loving to read romance stories. Soon she was writing her own. This is her third full-sized novel. Her first two novels are part of The Princess Trilogy: The Spunky Princess and The Chunky Princess. She spent her growing up years in Tennessee and Wisconsin and now makes her home overseas where she and her husband serve as missionaries. Graduate of a midwestern Bible college, Jeane desires to share what God teaches her and pass it along to others in a very readable way.

Book preview

Chapter 1

If she touched him one more time, he might have to punch her and run.

Now that he had met her in person, Zander questioned his wisdom in choosing her. She was the most annoying female he had ever had the misfortune to do business with. And that was saying a lot.

And over here, you'll notice the super-fantastic fireplace. Just perfect for cold winter nights. You can cozy up with a mug of cocoa and your favorite girl.

Her eyes were all suggestive, meaning he could cozy up to her. Yeah, right. Like that would ever happen. He wouldn't look at her that way if she were the last of the female species.

Now let's take a look at the master bedroom. She said the last two words as if it were a secret wonderland.

No, I think I've seen enough. I'll take it.

You are such a flirt! She waved a hand and would have skimmed his arm yet again if he hadn't moved back. We haven't even seen the finished basement or the grounds. And the paperwork will take some time to go over. Thoroughly. Together. She lowered her voice and looked up through her mascara-covered lashes.

Why did women do that? Throw themselves in the path of an on-coming male they knew absolutely nothing about? He could be a serial killer, for all she knew.

I'm not joking. If it sounded like a growl, it was her fault. Not that he was Mr. Sociable. But she was pushing him to his limits. I'm ready to sign.

That put her off balance. Well, more off balance than she already was.

Her smile wavered, but she pushed her lips up with an effort while smoothing her hair. Certainly, Mr. VanDamm. I'll get the papers put together right away. She snatched up her briefcase from the wall she had leaned it against, and he followed her to the front door, their shoes echoing in the empty space.

He considered the alternating sounds. Sort of like a bass beat with a staccato snare. The rhythm inspired a corresponding counter-rhythm in his mind, but they reached the door too soon for him to bring it together.

The woman eased the door open, turning slightly to catch the best light, and winked at him. We're off to buy a house!

He said nothing. But there was definitely no we in his thinking.

––––––––

As his Jeep followed her Mazda to the office, he threw back a glance at the first place he ever bought –  two story log house with dormers, half mile from the nearest neighbor, and lots of trees. Way better than what he grew up with. Something like pride welled up inside him at the thought of his own place. It couldn't be soon enough. It had been many long years in the waiting. Even though he knew no one in this area, it was beginning to feel like home.

***

It all came down to glitter. If she didn't have it before tomorrow, the world as she knew it was over. Okay, perhaps she was being melodramatic again. So shoot her. Elizabeth Mackey blew a stray wisp of brown hair out of her eyes. She had exactly fifty cents to her name, and the store was shutting in – she glanced at her watch – ten minutes. Not good.

Mom! She hit the stairs at a run, stuffing her wallet back into her purse while dodging her family members who apparently had nothing better to do than stand unmoving in the hallway at that exact moment. Excuse me! Coming through!

What's the emergency this time? Mrs. Mackey didn't even flinch from where she sat folding laundry in her easy chair.

Glitter! I need some. Be back in a jiffy! She was backing up the little black car moments later, telling herself to be careful. With five minutes to spare, she pulled into the town grocery store and jammed the gear shift into park. Hurry, hurry, she mumbled to herself. The tail of her shirt caught on the door, causing a ripping sound. After freeing herself with a grimace, she raced to the door, ignoring Rosie's disgruntled face at the checkout counter.

Four minutes, Elizabeth! The words chased her down aisle six.

She scanned the lower shelves, knowing roughly where to look. She breathed slowly to control her breathing, finally putting her hand on the shiny vial. Whew! She stood, and with less urgency, made her way to the front. Rosie was scanning the few items Doc Thurstan had chosen, keeping up a steady conversation with him.

Elizabeth greeted the doctor and patiently answered his question about her brother's recent ear infection. When he headed to the door with a final wave, Rosie leaned closer to her last customer of the day.

Have you heard about the new guy in town? Her dark eyes did not blink, her facial expression saying this one was a good one.

New guy. Nope, guess I haven't heard. Do you know how much this is? I only have fifty cents.

You don't get it. This is not just any guy. He's like . . . gorgeous. Well, not that I've actually seen him, but—

What? You've gotta be kidding me. How do you know he's gorgeous?

Amanda told me.

Have you seen Amanda's boyfriend? Elizabeth paused to let that sink in. And you trust her judgment of gorgeous? She gave a knowing look.

Rosie didn't appreciate her wisecrack. She lifted her chin. If you aren't interested . . .

Elizabeth knew she'd never hear the end of it if she didn't hear the whole story. Okay, okay. I'm sorry. So Amanda sees this amazing specimen of humanity, and—

Rosie scanned the glitter. That'll be seventy-two cents.

Elizabeth handed her the change she had. Could I pay you back later? It's only— she did the math – twenty two cents.

You're good. Must've been homeschooled. Rosie's lip twitched with humor.

Elizabeth pulled a face. Pretty please? I'll pay up. I always do.

Rosie dug around in her apron pocket and found a quarter which she displayed between two fingers before accepting Elizabeth's money.

Okay. I'm interested. Tell me who this guy is. And how did Amanda meet him?

Rosie waited until the machine spit out the short receipt to answer. And three cents is your change, ma'am.

Rosie!

I hate to say it, but Amanda didn't see him either.

Elizabeth fought an eye roll. And lost.

"Stacia's mother heard all about him from her daughter. She leaned closer again, eager to finish her story. She just sold him the Johnson place. He acted all mysterious and macho, I guess. And he's got hair like a rock star!"

Elizabeth accepted the change and the small bag holding her purchase. She held back a shudder. Didn't sound like anything she'd be interested in. Anything else?

Stacia is trying to let people know he's hers, if you know what I mean.

Of course. She gets dibs on all the new ones. I wonder if that's why she went into real estate. Not a bad idea, if you're in the market for a man. Elizabeth grinned.

And you're not? Is that what you're saying? Rosie untied her dark apron and folded it up as Elizabeth headed to the door. You're not too young to get married. It might help you spread your wings a bit. Get out of that overstuffed house of yours.

Elizabeth didn't expect her to understand. She smiled. Thanks for the help. I'll pay you back tomorrow. Rosie waved her off as if pushing her out the door. Or maybe out of the nest.

She considered Rosie's words on the short trip back home. She was interested in guys, but this tiny town didn't offer what she was interested in. Her small church wasn't much better. She'd probably end up an old maid, living here the rest of her life. She had never considered that a bad thing. It was comfortable. Home. She had plenty to do to keep busy. She loved her job and her ministries. She didn't feel she was lacking just because she didn't have a ring on her finger. Besides she was only twenty-four. She had plenty of time. God could bring just the right person into her life at just the right time.

And I'll bet he doesn't come with 'rock star' hair! She laughed out loud at the thought.

***

Hannah was finishing up the name cards when Elizabeth entered the kitchen.

Thank you for your help, Hannah! Elizabeth leaned over her shoulder to inspect the laminated sheep and horse heads. They look great. Make sure we have markers on the To Bring list.

Got it. Hannah looked up at her from where she sat at the table. Find the glitter?

I did. She removed it from the sack with a flourish. Will you help me finish up here? She put on her do-me-a-favor face.

You betcha. Hannah used a German accent, a reminder of the play she had been in last year. There's nothin' vee can't do for you.

Great. Elizabeth eased into the next chair, her glitter and glue in either hand. Let's hit it.

The sisters worked together to finalize the decorations for the church foyer. Tomorrow would be decorating day after the Sunday evening service ended. Elizabeth loved Vacation Bible School. She had tons of fond memories from her own attendance as a child. This summer, she would try her hand at actually directing VBS for the first time. It had been more work than she had expected, but she couldn't wait for the kids to step into the church Monday morning and experience the changes. Well, that and to have the chance to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus. That was the whole purpose in the first place.

As she pressed the green glitter to another cut-out stalk of grass, she prayed silently for all to go well, for children to understand and make decisions for Christ, and that none of the teachers would call in sick.

Looking good, girls. Mrs. Mackey selected a name card and turned it over in her hand. Lots of work, isn't it? But it's all for a good cause. Do you know how many kids are signed up?

Elizabeth answered from the sink where she washed the goo from her fingertips. Last I heard it was around fifty.

Seriously? That's up from last year, isn't it? Her mom waved the name card in front of her face to create a breeze. I hope we get a cold front through here. Game time could be brutal in this heat.

I'll make sure we have plenty of liquids to keep everyone hydrated. Can you add that to the list, too? She directed the question to her sister.

You've got this director job down, don't you? Delegating all the way. Hannah shot her a wry grin.

I have very able helpers.

Good answer! Her mother laughed. I've taught you well.

Elizabeth only hoped she could actually pull this all together. The weight of responsibility was on her shoulders. It wasn't like this was her first attempt at taking charge of something. But it was definitely bigger than planning a funeral dinner or a Valentine's banquet. She had a feeling that next Friday would feel very good, after it was all over.

***

Zander directed the delivery guys to the lower floor. He couldn't wait to get settled in. Including his newly-arrived  weight room equipment, his new place now boasted furniture in three rooms, a fully functioning kitchen, and a decent place to hook up his guitar and amp. He clenched his jaws together when the delivery boy dropped a barbell. He waved off the apology and hurried the men from his space with a small tip.

When he heard their truck drive off, he felt himself relax. Maybe if he had a good workout, he'd burn off some of the stress of this long-distance move. The internet was scheduled to be connected early next week, and the utilities were already hooked up. Almost home free.

His stomach did its lion imitation, leading him to his kitchen. His new full-sized fridge hummed quietly, and he admired the dull shine of steel. He liked his new kitchen. He would  never have guessed he could derive pleasure from something like that. Maybe it could be chalked up to being able to choose appliances that suited him for once. A new food processor stood in line next to his bread machine, toaster, and rice cooker. He swung open the fridge, only then remembering he had used up most everything. With a groan, he grabbed the notepad from the kitchen drawer to make a short list of what he'd need. It meant another trip to town.

––––––––

Soon, he was placing food in his cart at the town's only supermarket. The store was adequate for his needs, but he wondered how fresh the stuff was. He scrutinized a green pepper before adding it to the growing pile. He turned the corner at the end of the third aisle and stopped short. A petite woman with obnoxious pigtails sprouting from the sides of her head was clutching a handful of Koolaid packets, talking to herself. Or maybe she had an imaginary friend. As he continued to stare at the spectacle, he noticed her gingham dress and frilly white apron. What era was she from?

She noticed his presence and looked up, a surprised look stamped on her face. The fake freckles dotted across her cheeks caused him to stare. She lowered her head and darted away from him, her rubber boots squeaking a strange melody in her wake.

He continued to stand there a moment, wondering what sort of town he had landed in. With a cleansing shake of his head, he came to himself, putting the strange woman out of his mind.

The checkout lady moved at the speed of a slow-motion replay. She tried to engage him in conversation, but his grunts and monosyllables gave her the only answer she needed: Back off. She did her best to eye him up before, during, and after the purchasing process. He figured in a town this small, his personal profile would probably be front page news for a week. After everyone figured out he was the new hermit in town, they'd get over it and move on. He sure hoped so, anyway. They didn't want to see him angry.

He waved off the baggage boy's offer to help, grabbing up all his bags at once and jamming them in the back of his Jeep. He couldn't help himself from leaving a little rubber in the parking lot. Nosy people.

Chapter 2

What's with you? Leah bumped shoulders with her as they waited for the kids to line up for game time outside. Ever since you got back from the store, you've been acting weird.

Elizabeth closed her eyes at the memory of the mystery man in the store. THE mystery man Rosie had told her about. Yup. He definitely had rock star hair. Heat singed her cheeks that had nothing to do with the hot air flooding in through the back door. She eyed her younger sister, wondering if she should tell her what happened. Leah's questioning look probed her harder.

Elizabeth linked arms with her, pulling her toward the frivolity outside. Since she was just acting as crowd control during games, she guessed she had time. Standing together beneath one of the massive maples on the perimeter of the playing field, she absently watched the game leader dividing the 56 children into two teams. Then she spilled the details of her recent humiliation.

Leah had the nerve to laugh. A full belly laugh, at that. Elizabeth fanned herself with her day's schedule. You had to be there. You would have been horrified, too. She stamped her foot in affected outrage.

That's rich! Oh, I wish I could have seen his face! More laughter. When Leah finally controlled herself enough to actually speak intelligibly, she dug for more info. Tell me about him. I've heard he keeps to himself and that he's cute. Was he hot?

Elizabeth weighed her answer. She hadn't had time to consider his looks. All she could remember was her own embarrassment over being seen in her VBS costume. Why couldn't they have chosen a princess theme instead of Farm Days? At least she could have looked demure and pretty. Instead of ridiculous.

Does he really have punk hair?

The most striking thing about him is definitely his hair. It's this white-blonde. Almost unnaturally white. It comes down to like here. She indicated a level down to her chin. And he's really tall. Another sigh took over her. "I hope I never run into him again. I would just die."

Don't worry. Leah's laugh was back. He probably won't recognize you in real life!

She could always hope.

***

Driving past the church in town, Zander wondered what could be happening there on a Friday night. The parking lot was jammed with pickups and minivans. He used to attend church with his family long ago. But that was before—

He quit that train of thought before it could go any farther.

He remembered the colorful church choir in their matching robes. They hadn't been half bad, except for that one alto who tried to outdo the rest of the ensemble. Not that he'd been interested in their kind of music. Ever since junior high and the garage band with his friends, he had been discovering music that suited him. Unknown to most, his taste in music was very eclectic, from rock to classical to country.

He steered with one hand while pulling up his latest favorite band on his mp3 player. He let the hard beat wash over him, his mind instantly attuned to the amazing skill of the lead guitarist. He got so lost in the music he almost missed his turn onto the main highway. That would be bad. His decision to make a run to Hampton, the biggest city in the area, had been made last night after sitting around in his quiet house. He hadn't been to a decent music store in years. He was beginning to feel almost giddy with anticipation. He hoped they had what he needed to set up an entire home studio. If not, he'd have to travel farther to find it. He couldn't live without music.

***

Thanks, Elizabeth, for another job well done. Pastor Hesselgrave shook her hand as she exited the church with Leah and Hannah. You really have a knack for serving the Lord with excellence. Well done!

Elizabeth smiled her thanks for his kind words, glad VBS was now officially over. She couldn't wait to drop into bed after the long week. The program had gone really well, with lots of parents in attendance tonight to watch their children give a summary of what they'd learned all week.

Thanks for helping clean up, everyone, she told her two sisters and the handful of ladies who'd stayed behind. Though she still had lots to pack away before the following Sunday, they had at least cleaned up the food from the fellowship and vacuumed the entire church.

You're welcome, her sister grinned. "We know where to find you when we need help on our next projects." Hannah gave her a pinch, causing her to squeal.

You betcha, sis. You can count on me. Elizabeth's attempt at a German brogue fell flat, and she was made fun of all the way home.

––––––––

She was back at the church by one o'clock the next day, along with Hannah and their youngest brother Ben. It had taken promising them ice cream afterward, but it would be worth their help. It was time consuming to rid each classroom of the farm-themed decor, VBS attendance charts, half-broken crayons, and overflowing garbage cans, but they teased each other as they worked to make it more fun. Hannah was wearing a cardboard barrel as a skirt when they heard the pastor's voice in the foyer. Her face was priceless, causing endless laughter.

There you are. Great job, you all. The church is looking better than ever. Is there anything I can help you with?

I believe we have things under control, Pastor. But thanks for asking. Was there something you needed?

Just wanted to make sure the bulletins for Sunday were on schedule this week. With all the VBS hype, I'd imagine that could be overlooked.

Not a problem. I made the changes this morning, and I plan to run them off before leaving today.

Wonderful! I'm so impressed with your work, Elizabeth. Having you as church secretary makes my job so much easier.

Elizabeth couldn't imagine how. Visiting sick or dying members, counseling people with real problems, and preparing to speak three times a week sounded pretty challenging to her. She would gladly stay where she was in the outer office.

After Pastor Hesselgrave left, she met with her siblings to see what was left to do, and gave instructions before making copies of the bulletin. Twenty minutes later, as she folded the last one in half, she ducked to avoid something thrown at her head.

Hey! Those are valuable flowers! She stooped to pick up the artificial daisy bouquet before racing to the office door and lobbing it at her fleeing brother. She forced herself to walk through the hallways, calling for an update on their progress.

With a final look over the church rooms, she locked up, and they piled into the black car used by the Mackey children still at home and old enough to drive.

They stopped at Joe's Diner for their reward. Elizabeth added an order of deep-fried cheese curds to their treat. They were about halfway through their food when Ben interrupted the sisters' chatter about summer plans.

Hey, check out the cool Jeep. Ben jabbed a finger toward the window. It looks like it's been changed to look like an old army Jeep, but you can tell it's been modified. I'll bet it's got a lot of horsepower.

Yeah, you're right! I was just about to say that. Hannah's nose was suddenly bumped into her ice cream cone for her insolence. A yelp and a flurry of napkins later, Hannah had totally missed seeing the amazing vehicle.

But Elizabeth hadn't. Nor had she missed who was driving it. With his blonde hair whipping in the summer breeze, the new guy had pulled into the diner parking lot and was getting out.

We need to get home. She was on her feet, pulling at her sister's arm despite the complaining. Just take it with you! Let's go.

What's the hurry?

No time to talk. Elizabeth threw a couple bills on the counter with a hurried, Keep the change, Joe! They went out the back door before the front door jingled. That had been close.

Hannah's face was twisted into a frown. You'd better explain that. I almost lost my ice cream in the mad rush out of there. What's going on?

Ben eyed Elizabeth for a moment before speaking. She wanted to get away from the guy driving the Jeep.

Why, oh why, couldn't she have any secrets in her life? Not that this was a secret. She simply had no interest in running into this guy again. Especially after the last time. True, her fake freckles and farm getup were long gone. Besides, she hadn't thought about why she was running. She had just reacted. Big deal.

Seriously? Hannah leaned closer to inspect her face.

I don't know. Can we just go home and forget about it?

You are so juvenile.

No. Obviously they couldn't. They grilled her the short way back, and she did her best to get them off her back.

Siblings! You can't live with them, and you can't feed 'em to the wolves. Sometimes she wished she had just a little space and privacy.

***

He had just planned to order a meal and eat it at home, but the diner owner surprised him by being a regular guy. The place wasn't too busy today, and as Zander sat at the counter waiting for his burger and fries, Joe had struck up a conversation with him.

Welcome to town. You must be new here. I'm Joe.

They traded nods. Small towns. Gotta love 'em.

You bet. Joe wiped his hands on his apron, his grin growing as he said, Heard you bought the old Johnson place.

Zander grinned, too, wondering what else the town was saying about him. It's perfect for me. Got plenty of space from nosy neighbors.

Joe