Hot Hearts (The Heart Connection #4)

Chapter 1 – Slater

Chapter One

SLATER

T his is probably going to make a bad situation worse, but that still doesn’t stop me from ordering a dirty martini.

I have never had one before, but in the movies the girls order them when they’ve had a shit day, and I’ve had a shit week.

Maybe I should have made it extra dirty even though I don’t know what that means.

The bartender places the drink down in front of me before moving on to the next patron at the bar. It’s not that busy, which is surprising being it’s a hotel bar, but there is a decent crowd. I pull out my phone and take a picture of the cocktail.

It’s a habit, I suppose. Except I typically review food.

There will often be a wine pairing, but I'm not very knowledgeable about wine. No, that is what my now ex specialized in. He’s a sommelier and claims to know everything about wine, but he also thinks he knows everything about freaking everything.

It’s charming at first, but it wears on your nerves after a while.

Once upon a time I would listen to him ramble on or try not to get my feelings hurt when he'd correct what I said. I was so stupid. Na?ve, really. I only have myself to blame. I should have known better when he slid into my DMs only to then slide right into my best friend’s vagina.

I pick up my martini and take a sip. It burns all the way down.

"That bad?" a man asks, taking the seat next to mine at the bar. When I turn my head, my heart drops. Not only because the man is beyond handsome, but I know who he is. I've been trying to get into his restaurant back home for a few months now. The Plate is the hottest reservation these days.

I'm a food critic, but I try my best to go to restaurants without them knowing that I'm coming, which can make it harder to get into places. How the hell did I end up at the same hotel and bar as Brooks Neal? Neither of us lives here.

I shamelessly know way too much about the man, but that still isn't a ton. Believe me, I’ve tried all my usual tactics to learn about the newest top chef, but they haven’t panned out.

While Brooks is a big deal and everyone knows who he is in the foodie world, he is fairly absent on social media.

The only time you can get some details on him is when he does a random article or TV appearance to promote a new restaurant.

Oh, and the occasional gossip you might hear, which I try and pay no mind to. The internet can take a tiny detail and make it bigger than it is. Basically, do anything to create a more compelling narrative and story, and people will eat it up, whether it’s all fiction or not.

Damn, it's going to suck when word gets out about my ex and me.

"It's strong," I admit, while taking in every inch of Brooks.

He's bigger in person. People generally hate to hear that, but it's not a bad thing when it comes to him.

A person should really have no right to be this handsome, and that's not a filter over him either.

Every inch of Brooks is all him, from his sun-kissed brown hair to his dark green eyes and lickable physique.

I wish he was on the menu for me to try. Wow, Slater, get it under control .

"How about I try it?" he offers as he signals for the bartender to come over. The bartender offers Brooks the wine menu, but he turns it down.

That makes him even hotter. He really is the opposite of my ex in every way.

Felipe would have already given you a full rundown about all he knows when it comes to wine and would be in the middle of criticizing the menu to the bartender.

I want to kick my own ass for putting up with him for so long.

That was always so embarrassing. My best friend Sara said it was hot how much he knew.

Maybe that should have been a red flag, but I was new-ish to the whole making friends thing when Sara came into my life.

“I’ll have what the lady is having. Thank you,” he says to the bartender. Hot and polite. I would have never guessed. Usually chefs of his caliber tend to be dismissive and rude once they get a taste of success.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I take another sip of my drink, trying not to make a face as I force it down. Next time I’m going to try to stick to one of those girly pink concoctions instead of this.

“Damn, that is rough,” Brooks agrees. “I should stick to cooking with my vodka.”

“Vodka sauce is one of my favorites.”

“Really?” Brooks turns to fully face me.

“I bet I could drink it faster than this.” I take another sip of the drink. “Though the more you drink it, the easier it gets.”

“Let me test the theory.” Brooks smirks, taking another sip. “I think you’re on to something.” I’m not understanding the rumors of him being cold and robotic. I’m not getting that vibe at all from him. “I’m Brooks.” He holds out his hand.

“I know who you are.” When our hands connect, I suck in a breath at the spark of desire that rushes through me. The way Brooks' brow lifts makes me wonder if he felt it too. “I’m Slater.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Slater.” His thumb drifts back and forth against my wrist, not letting my hand go. My body is reacting to his touch in a way that I can’t explain. “Where are you from?”

“Same place as you.” I wonder why he’s here, but I don’t want to be nosy and ask.

“So it will be easy to see you again.”

“Already shooting for a second date?” I tease. “Not that this is a first date,” I quickly add. Real sly, Slater . This is why I have only had one boyfriend in my whole life, and I’m not sure I can label him that, honestly. He used me, and I see that now. I won’t let that happen again.

“I am,” he says without hesitation. I take another sip of my drink to hide the giant smile that breaks across my face. Brooks takes another drink too.

Before I know it, we’ve ordered a few appetizers and had a few more drinks. I’m disappointed when the bartender says it's the last call. How have we been talking for three hours?

“I don’t usually do this, but?—”

“Yes,” I blurt out before I can think better of it.

“There is a bar in my room.”

“You got a fancy suite?”

“Yeah, they gave it to me.”

“I’d love to see it.” Brooks pays our tab, ignoring my protest to contribute. “Oh, you even have a fancy private elevator?” I tease, stepping in.

“It’s convenient. I can avoid people that way.”

“Avoiding people and entering the hotel bar usually don’t go together.”

“I hadn’t planned to.” He inserts his key into the panel inside the elevator, hitting his floor. “Then I saw you.” Not to be cliché, but a million and one butterflies explode inside of me.

"I don't normally do this either," I admit. This is definitely not my style, but why the hell not? I've been saving myself for the right guy, and that may be Brooks, or it may not be. I do know it wasn't my ex. I wanted my first time to be memorable, and I think this could be that.

"Go to a man’s room for a drink?"

"Go to a man's room at all." It must be the alcohol pushing my shyness away, making me bolder. I shift over in front of him. "But we're not really going for a drink, are we?"

"We can do anything you like or nothing at all."

"I'd like you to kiss me." There’s something about this man that is bringing out a completely different side of me. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

Brooks wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me in to him. I suck in a breath when I feel the outline of his hard cock press into my stomach. His other hand comes to cup my cheek, brushing his fingers across it.

“Are you sure about this? If I kiss you?—”

“Yes.” I grip the front of his shirt and tug. Brooks doesn’t fight it. He lets me pull him down, but his mouth claims mine first.

The second our mouths connect, everything breaks loose. Brooks lifts me off my feet. My legs wrap around his waist as his tongue explores my mouth. His cock grinds against my sex, making my clit throb with a need that I never knew was possible. A steady ache forms between my thighs.

“You taste so damn sweet.” Brooks groans when his mouth leaves mine.

I feel him moving, but I don’t care. I keep kissing him, down his jaw and to his neck.

I graze my teeth against him and smile when his steps falter.

I kiss and lick the spot before latching on to suck, knowing it will leave a mark on him. “Fuck.”

My back hits a bed, and we’re both pulling at each other’s clothes. They’ve barely hit the floor before Brooks' mouth is on me again, only this time it’s between my thighs. I moan at the sensation.

There is no real finesse; it’s just pure, unadulterated need for each other that’s driving us. It’s wild and untamed as he licks and sucks me, burying his face as deep into my sex as he can get. My orgasm hits me hard and fast. I cry out his name.

“Tell me to slow down.” Brooks comes down over me, his cock brushing against my thigh.

“Don’t slow down.” I yank him down for another kiss, tasting myself on his lips. Brooks glides his cock to my opening, the head slipping in. “Yes,” I whimper, lifting my hips, wanting him inside of me. I ache with an emptiness I know only he can fill.

He sinks inside me. The sharp pain takes me by surprise. I knew it would happen, but I was so lost in everything else I didn’t care. I grip his shoulders, my nails sinking in.

“Slater.” Brooks stares down at me with a shocked expression.

“Don’t stop.” I wrap my legs around him.

“I can’t tell you no.” He takes my mouth again, kissing me slowly this time, making my body relax before he starts to move, thrusting in and out of me. “You’re so damn perfect.” The way his eyes watch me, I want to believe him. There is such sincerity there.

Fire sears through me, and this time when I come, Brooks is right there with me as we both crash into mindless oblivion.

I feel his warm release spill inside of me.

I find I’m rather enjoying the thought of him leaving his mark on me.

My eyes flutter closed, my body humming with bliss.

The one thing I know without a doubt is that it was absolutely worth the wait.

I’m not sure how long I was asleep or if I’d even fallen fully asleep when Brooks is reaching for me again, his cock thrusting into me. He flips me so that I’m on top this time, his cock sinking deeper. I sit up, but he keeps a hold on my hips, controlling my movement.

Brooks works me up and down his cock, thrusting up into me. I brace my hands on his chest, letting him take me to paradise once again before I’m collapsing on top of him.

Both our breathing is heavy. He wraps his arms around me, his cock still inside as I once again let sleep take me.

When I wake up again, I see the light peeking in through the curtains. I smile, not only feeling the tenderness between my legs but also because Brooks is spooning me from behind, his arms wrapped around me, our legs tangled together.

I could lie here forever, but my bladder says otherwise. I slowly work my way out of his arms so as to not wake him up, sleepwalk into the bathroom, and quickly come back to bed. I pause when I see a stack of papers and a folder on a desk next to a laptop.

I shouldn't, but curiosity gets the best of me, and I flip the folder open to see something about a cooking show. My eyes almost pop out of my head when I see what they are offering him. I go to the next page that talks about the show idea and then promotions.

My name with my social media tag is at the top of the list. My stomach drops. He knows who I am. He’s known this entire time. I close my eyes as a barrage of emotions overwhelms me.

I did it again. I picked a man who only wanted to use me, but why does this time hurt a million times more than my ex? I hadn’t even cried over my ex. No, the only tears I shed were because my friend betrayed me. That’s what I had been so upset about.

I can’t even bring myself to wake Brooks up and give him a piece of my mind. I’m ashamed of myself. I’m so na?ve. Of course Brooks Neal doesn’t truly want me.

I quickly get dressed before slipping from his suite and back to my room, where I shower and pack my things, telling myself I will never see this man again.

I’ll ghost him, make him wonder where he’d gone wrong. I hope it eats at him if he even really cares, but I’m guessing if he was willing to use me and knew he could easily bed me, he has an ego that will take a hit.

Fate has other plans, though…ones that show up as two pink lines on a stick.