Finding Heart by
Tiffani Lynn
Marina Rossi is a tornado of personal chaos, always stumbling into trouble no matter how hard she tries not to. After being scarred by her family and placed into foster care as a teenager, she finds solace with Jasen until he’s moved to a new home. Because of all she’s endured, her biggest fear is being alone and her only goal in life is to create a loving family.
Jasen “Dex” Dexter aged out of the foster care system and dove straight into a career as a sniper in the Army. After nine years of service his platoon was ambushed, forever changing the course of his life. Now a police officer, Dex is known for being patient, calculated and methodical. He enjoys the solitude his life provides and wants to keep it that way.
Dex’s perfectly arranged life is turned on its head when he encounters Marina in a compromising situation. Even after twelve years apart it only takes them seconds to recognize one another. As Marina faces more trouble than one woman should, Dex feels his orderly life slipping away. While he tries to sort out his conflicted feelings, Marina becomes the target of a crazed stalker. If Dex doesn’t make a decision, it might be too late for both of them.
When I slip into the driver’s seat of my car, I turn to her and ask, “Where are we going?”
She glances back from looking out the window and says, “I’d just like a pizza. There’s a place at the mall that serves it by the slice. Angling her head to look back out the window, she returns to her quiet state and I sit, confused.
“Why the hell would we eat pizza by the slice at the mall?”
“I’m obviously not dressed to go out anywhere else. I’m okay with that. If it’s not what you want, I can order a pizza there and you can go grab something else.”
My chest squeezes tight as I register the quiet, dead tone of her voice. It’s so unlike her.
“Mari. We aren’t going to the damn mall.”
“Dex…never mind. I’ll see you when you come home.” Before I can respond, her door is open and she’s out of the car, closing the door quicker than I can even yell her name. What the hell!
Jumping out of the car I follow her. It only takes me a few steps to reach her since she still isn’t moving comfortably yet and my legs are so much longer than hers. I grip her shoulder to get her attention, knowing I can’t grab her and pin her against a wall like I want to.
“What?” she yells as she spins back around, and as soon as I see her eyes, I understand the hurt she’s feeling and I’m gutted because I know it’s my fault.
“Mari, why are you going back inside?” I’m finally thankful she can’t keep quiet or keep a thought to herself.
“I feel like driving somewhere for dinner with you is like walking to the executioner willingly. The way you looked at me when you saw me tonight tells me all I need to know. I don’t need to go to dinner to have you tell me you know it’s not going to work. I knew that already, though I’m dumb enough to keep coming back for more. But damn it, Dex! Stop putting me in a position to make the wrong choice. It’s not fair to me. I’ll always fall for the sweet that comes in the dead of night when you don’t have to see who you’re screwing. I’ll always be wild and unconventional and you’ll always be straight-laced and controlled.”
“Mari, that’s not what’s going on.”
“Yeah, it is. You don’t want to admit it because you know I need saving, which is your forte. You’re also lonely for some female attention and I’m right under your nose, but it’s not me you want. Not even close. I never want my man to look at me like I’m the dirt on his shoe when I spent time tricking myself out to spend an evening with him. If you don’t look at me like I’m the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen and feel it deep in your bones then I’m not the one for you.”
“Mari—”
Holding up a hand to stop me, she continues, “Different choices. That’s what everyone keeps saying to me. I’m listening but it’s more than that for me. I want so much more for you. I want you to have everything you deserve. I know where you came from, what and whom you came from and I want a better life for you. I want you to have the whole package. You deserve to have the most beautiful woman in the room, the one you don’t have to re-dress before you leave the house. Just leave it alone, Dex. Get something to eat without me and leave it alone.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to talk, she turns on her heel to walk away and anger explodes like fireworks in my head. “Mari!” I yell and the echo is so loud as it bounces off the apartment buildings that surround us, that she pauses and turns to me with wide eyes.
Finding Heart (#2)
Finding Purpose (#1)
Tiffani currently resides in Florida with her husband, three daughters and chunky yellow lab. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in social science and spent five years working for Hospice. When she's not writing or taxiing her children around she enjoys reading and attending concerts. Tiffani is also a crazed fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays, and the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs.
