Read November Foxtrot (Rhythm of the Heart Book 2) for Free Online Page A

fuming. When I get my hands on you, Layla Hall!
    Derek started the truck and pulled out onto the interstate. “Wanna stop at Sonic?”
    Zoe's stomach grumbled and she shook her head no. “No thank you,” she muttered stiffly.
    “Oh come on, not even a cherry limeade? No route 44 drink for Zoe? No ice cream? We have to feed my baby.” He reached forward and switched the radio on. Strains of a country song filtered out of the speakers and she cringed.
    “It's not your baby, Derek.”
    “Oh? There's a chance, isn't there?”
    Zoe blew out a breath and nodded. “Unfortunately.” Damn you Calvin Hall! When I get my hands on YOU, too.
    Derek turned into Sonic and pulled into a parking spot. “What do you want to eat, babe?”
    Zoe's dark eyes flashed. “I'm not your babe, and I'm not hungry. I told you I don't want to stop. It's not like this is a date, Derek, because it's not. There is nothing between us. I'm a married woman.”
    “Honey,” he smiled sweetly, running his hand through his hair, “Vows that are spoken are made to be broken.”
    “You are such a dick, Derek. Take me home, or I'm getting out of this damn truck and thumbing it back to Major.” Her hand found the handle and she popped the door open.
    “Hey! All right, damn it, fine. I'll take you to their house. But this isn't the last you'll see of me, Zoe. I have a right to be in my child's life! Shut the damn door and stop being a dumb bitch!” he barked and Zoe jumped.
    “Don't yell at me,” she ground out between clenched teeth. “Don't you dare.”
    Derek blew out a breath and deflated. “Fine. Close the door. Let's get you where you want to go.” His fingers drummed against the steering wheel impatiently as he peeled out of the parking lot.
    “Don't drive like an idiot either.”
    “I've got suspension, just ride and hush. I know what I'm doing, Zoe.”
    She groaned and stared out the window, self-consciously adjusting the seat belt to make sure it was snug across her thighs. Gotta love the backwater “I'm a he-man” mentality!
    Silence stretched between them as the miles the tires traveled took them closer to Major. Finally Derek cleared his throat. “Heard anything from your daddy recently, Zoe?”
    Her stomach clenched and the baby fluttered. “No, why would I? He left me, last I remember.”
    “Don't you think it's time to forgive him too?”
    “What the hell, Derek, forgive him, TOO ? Who says I have forgiven you? Or ever will?”
    “Well, I want you to know that I have full intentions of winning you back, Zoe. I'm going to make you remember everything you ever loved about me.” He shot a quick glance over at her and smiled, his eyes crinkling up at the corners. “Cause I remember everything I ever loved about you. Seeing you there at the counter just solidified everything. You look good, Zoe. You look damn good.”
    “Ugh,” she groaned. “You can forget that mess, Derek. I'm not interested. I'm a married woman.” She couldn't deny a tiny frisson of pleasure that blossomed in her belly at him saying she looked good. It felt good to hear. But she was loyal to Calvin and always would be.
    “Like I said, sweetheart, I'm determined to win you back.”
    “But what if it's Calvin's baby?” Her words made him cringe and he swallowed.
    “What if it is?”
    “You still going to fight for a black man's baby, Derek?”
    “Well, I – I ...” he spluttered, staring hard at the road. “We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, Zoe.”
    “No, Derek, we won't. Because I don't love you, I never did, and I never will. You hold zero appeal for me.”
    He glanced at her again. “I can make you love me, Zoe. I know I can, if you just give us a chance.”
    Zoe sighed and her mouth tipped up on one side. “No, Derek. It's just not going to work. I spent years trying to make you love me. You can't make yourself do something you just don't want to do. It won't work out. If this is your baby, you will be in its life, I promise. I