Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) (6 page)

Her cleavage swelled in his view, hidden by a hint of creamy lace, and past it, the sweet soft plain of her abdomen. He licked his lips, unable to stop his thoughts from going where they did and wondering when she straightened if she’d done that on purpose.

Aware he had to face her dad, however, Bennett did his best to wipe his thoughts clean. Most likely, her parents wanted to see how their daughter lived, her dad especially make his presence known. If Audrey had that thought, she didn’t show it though, instead spending the time packing the children’s things.

The doorbell rang promptly one hour later, and Bennett crossed through the foyer to answer it. Admittedly, he was nervous, his stomach filled with ping pong balls. He released a long breath, dug out a smile, and tugged on the knob. He wasn’t given a chance to greet her parents though for Jeff flying down the stairs.

“Ho, there …” Dale Ferguson swept the boy off his feet. “I love a young man with enthusiasm. It’s good for the future.” He squeezed Jeff to him, then tilted his gaze toward Bennett. “It’s been a while, Ben. I was sorry to hear about your wife.”

Bennett acknowledged his kind words with a sharp nod.

Dale turned slightly, glancing toward his wife. “This is Mrs. Ferguson.”

“Please call me Everly,” she said.

She was very much the grandmotherly type, fluffy white hair and a smile that immediately put him at ease. Whatever Dale’s feelings were about him personally, he knew the children would be well taken care of.

“And you can call me Bennett,” he replied. “Please … come in.” He reversed, waving them inside, and they passed him, halting in the center of the foyer.

Audrey called from the top of the stairs. “Mom? Dad? Be right down.” Her eyes transferred to his face. “Could you come up and get June? She’s ready to go.”

Obedient, he climbed the stairs, squeezing past her at the top. June was decked out in a clean pink onesie, a blanket tucked around her legs. “There’s Daddy’s girl,” he said, lifting the carrier.

She gave a loud coo. How different that was from weeks ago, and he owed it to Audrey’s care. Spinning on his heel, he retraced his steps down the hall and back to the foyer.

“Well, now …” Dale said. “There’s the little one.” He stretched one hand for the car seat’s handle, but gripping it, Bennett’s hand still holding tight, he gazed back, unblinking. “She’s a beautiful child. We’ll take the very best care.”

Bennett’s eyes stung. Beautiful like her mother.

Everly, sensing he couldn’t speak, patted him tenderly on the arm. “It’s okay. We talked about this, and as much as we love August, these two wonderful kids need that love, too. There’s plenty to go around.”

He tried to thank her with a glance, but struggled to hold back tears.

“Thanks, Mom,” Audrey said. “This means a lot to Bennett.”

Her use of his first name was noted with the fire in her father’s eyes, but Dale said nothing, turning his gaze to Jeff and taking hold of June’s carrier, his footsteps aimed toward the car. Everly lifted August from Audrey, settling him on her hip.

“I guess we’re ready to go,” she said. “We’re looking forward to this.”

“Here, I’ll tote the diaper bag,” Audrey offered.

Her mom revolved, and she and Audrey trailed after Dale down the walk. Bennett watched them load up, his mood swinging this way and that. On the one hand, he was glad to have some time without watching the kids, glad, as well, for his son to have someone to look up to. On the other, he’d been with his children so much, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, that he was tempted to run after them and call the whole thing off.

He didn’t, and eventually, the Fergusons started the car and reversed from the drive. Audrey waved goodbye, standing in place until their taillights disappeared. She twirled and returned to the stoop. He couldn’t move for staring at the swing of her hips.

She mashed the flat of her hand in the center of his chest and pushed him backward, once they’d entered the house, shutting the door. “What are we going to do with ourselves?”

He gave a shallow cough. “Dinner? We could go out. We’re here all the time.”

She tilted her head. “Might be a good idea. But first, because you want to know, yes, they wanted to make their presence known to you. I’m sure tonight was my dad’s idea. That said, he loves Jeff.”

“I saw that,” Bennett replied, “but it’s a long ways for him to come from yelling at you for moving here to his accepting it.”

“We’ve talked,” she said. “I told him I’m happy.”

“Happy?” Bennett couldn’t stop the rasp from entering his voice.

Her tone softened. “We’re allowed to be happy, aren’t we? Without feeling like we’re breaking sacrilege.”

He understood the inference – without feeling guilty over Beth. That she felt guilty, too, meant a lot.

“Sounds good,” he said. Then, on impulse, he let his thoughts have free rein. “Wear something to impress me.” No harm in looking at her, right?

She gave a coy smile before vanishing up the stairs. He let her go, not following, at first.

This anticipation was the best thing to happen to him in months. The ramifications of it scared him, what people might say about it being too soon. Then again, they hadn’t walked a day in his shoes and so couldn’t possibly know how hard it’d been.

Not like he’d been looking for someone either. Audrey had simply appeared in his life, and for a few hours tonight, he simply wanted to enjoy himself, taking each moment as it happened. That wasn’t asking too much.

CHAPTER 6

She didn’t have anything too impressive to wear, in spite of Bennett’s request, and so debated on her choice of clothing. She finally opted for form-fitting slacks and a filmy red blouse. She paired them with black heels and a set of pendant earrings, pinning her hair at the nape of her neck.

Audrey eyed herself in the dresser mirror for the longest time, gathering her nerve to go downstairs, and for the millionth time ran through what might happen tonight.

They played a cat and mouse game, him and her, chasing each other around the house, yet never really making any significant contact. Thoughts of the children and his wife held them in check. Yet, she didn’t necessarily hold herself in comparison to Beth, nor did she think Bennett did either, or not much. Just the same, these thoughts never really left for too long.

Which made having so much time alone tonight a kind of a test. For him, could he get past his memories and enjoy himself? For her, could she be the woman she was before Cale ruined things?

Not having answers, Audrey exited the bedroom and headed downstairs. She halted four steps from the bottom, the sight of Bennett in a suit taking her breath. “You look … fabulous.” Gray suit, red tie. Her ex couldn’t hold a candle to him.

He smiled. “I can dress up.”

“I see that, and now, I feel in the shade.”

He stepped forward, offering his arm, and she slipped her fingers in the crook of his elbow. He smelled fabulous as well.

“Not possible. You’re beautiful,” he replied. “You make it hard to look away.”

She basked in his compliment. It was nice to hear. Nursing all the time tended to make her feel less than glamorous.

He led her outside, locking the door, and helped her into his SUV. Unlike the house, it was pristine, oiled leather, polished chrome. She inhaled the scent of leather protectant, buckling her seat belt.

Bennett poked his keys into the ignition. “What day is it?” he asked.

Audrey giggled, the back of her fingers pressed to her lips, and hearing it, Bennett reciprocated, his shoulders shaking with silent mirth.

“I think it’s Saturday,” she replied, calming herself.

He cranked and straightened. “Which would make tomorrow Sunday, unless the children have stolen that memory, too.”

Audrey smiled. “No, I believe you’re right. Sunday still comes after Saturday.”

He chuckled again and shifted into reverse. “In that case, I know where we can go, a little place Beth liked ….” He caught himself and paused.

On impulse, Audrey stretched out one hand and laid it atop his. His grip on the gear shift tightened.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’d love to see where Beth liked to go.”

His palm opened the slightest bit, and she curved her fingers around it.

Though the specter of his wife was definitely between them, their individual battles were what made their budding relationship work. Not only their love for the children, but that what he fought in his mind, similarly, she fought in hers.

He wanted to live again, and so did she. To live without her ex’s actions always dictating her behavior. To feel loved, desired, wanted. To have that heady rush a lover gave. She had no idea if they’d end up that way, but it seemed like tonight was the first huge step in that direction.

It moved them past their thoughts into reality. Thinking of that made Audrey’s heart beat harder.

He probably shouldn’t have brought Audrey to a place that reminded him so much of Beth. Why was he always doing that? Beth was gone. He’d stood over her grave. He’d boxed up her clothes. Yet, she reappeared in his mind at the most inopportune moments, causing him to reexamine everything he did.

He reexamined his growing relationship with Audrey. He wanted to be fair to her and, given that, should say he wasn’t looking for another wife. He should say he was months, years, from falling in love. He and Audrey had incredible body heat. He even thought he could feel something for her if given enough time. But what he wanted, right now, was to feel whole again.

She looked at him as a desirable man, not intimidated by their age difference, and he was flattered that after all he’d been through, with all the strings that extended from his life, a young, voluptuous woman like her considered him worth looking at.

She
was worth looking at. He couldn’t quit staring or, tonight, stop his erotic thoughts. But being honest, he felt washed up. Her admiration of his suit had helped his ego. Her laughter in the car had been a welcome change from his introspective mood. Yet, here he was in a place filled with Beth. No woman wanted to constantly compete with a man’s dead wife.

“I know I’m being nosy,” she said, her fork poised over her plate. “But why did you wait so late in life to have children?”

It was a fair question, and he was surprised she hadn’t asked him that already. But still, he considered his answer. “I was too caught up in my career, too self-centered, I guess. My parents had passed away, and life became all about
me
.”

“Until you met Beth.” Audrey took a bite, chewing slowly, then wiped her lips. “My mom told me what happened, and I remember Peter Massey … not to bring up a sore subject.”

Bennett waved one hand outward. “It’s not sore. Being truthful, I’ve thought very little about him. What Beth and I had, you can’t duplicate …” He heard his words and regretted them. “I didn’t mean …”

Audrey, as usual, smoothed things over. But then, she was good at doing that. “It’s okay.” She shrugged. “It can’t, and I’m not trying.”

Bennett leaned toward her. Sitting so close, her fragrance scattered his thoughts. “I have to be honest …” He didn’t know why he wanted to admit this, except given everything that was happening, she deserved to know. “It’s been a while. We didn’t … much. Then the doctors thought her treatments had worked, so we tried for June.”

The cancer had returned almost immediately, but by then, it was too late. Bennett refused to go back there in his mind, deliberately blocking those awful moments.

“For me, too,” Audrey replied. “A year and a half. Cale was done when I told him I was pregnant. He actually accused me of tricking him, as if he wasn’t involved at all … and now, he skips out on paying child support.”

Bennett’s brows drew together. “He doesn’t pay?”

She shook her head. “He’s missed two months already, and I’m betting he’ll miss even more.”

“You should report him.”

“Probably.” She shrugged. “But I … I don’t want to go there. At least, not tonight.”

Not tonight, nor, he’d bet, tomorrow either. Bennett let the subject die. “We should eat,” he said. He straightened and reached for his plate. His fork in his hand, a shadow fell over their table.

“Bennett … fancy meeting you here … and I see you have a friend. Is this your new nanny?”

Julia. Bennett’s stomach curled into a knot, what he’d already eaten, churning uncomfortably. It was one thing to face her by himself, but to drag Audrey into it …

“Audrey Ferguson …” Audrey spoke, surprisingly sharp. “It was so nice of my parents to take the kids for the evening. You have no idea how tiring it is to keep up with three children under five.”

“I … I’m sure.” Julia wavered.

“And, of course, we asked ourselves, what are two adults supposed to do with so much free time? I feel like I should be in baby-stained clothing, a toddler on one knee, an infant on the other. It’s nice to get out. Bennett said this place was a favorite of his wife’s.”

At the mention of Beth, Julia stepped in reverse. Bennett wanted to laugh at her expression, but didn’t.

“I’ll let you get back to your meal,” Julia replied. “It was nice meeting you … and nice seeing you again, Bennett.” With a nervous wave, she grabbed hold of her skirt and marched off.

“I know her,” Audrey said.

He started. “You know Julia?”

“Through my dad, probably from a work function. Anyhow, what a piranha!”

He chuckled. “She’s no match for you, princess.”

Audrey’s eyes gleamed. “I admit that felt incredibly good.” She grasped her fork and stabbed it into a chunk of her meat. The bite poised at her lips, she paused. “I’m hungry now.” She slid it on her tongue, rolling the morsel between her lips.

Bennett made a small cough. “I see that.”

Holding the passenger side door for Audrey to take a seat, Bennett checked his watch. “If it’s okay with you, there’s somewhere I’d like to go.” Somewhere that was his preference, this time, and not Beth’s.

“Sounds good,” Audrey replied. Angling her legs, she ducked her arms away from the door opening.

Bennett shut it, in response, and made his way around, a new spring in his step.

Her standing up to Julia had been intensely attractive … and different from Beth. Beth’s reaction to everything was always
nice.
She’d look before she leaped. Except when it came to sleeping with him and breaking her engagement. But she’d felt guilty over that. More than once, he’d had to talk her into letting it go.

I didn’t love him,
she’d said.
But I should have tried to explain …

Why? As if a jilted bridegroom would accept any sort of explanation for picking another man, no matter how sweetly you phrased it.

Flipping his blinker, Bennett made a left onto the boulevard.

Peter hadn’t been so sweet. He hadn’t told her of the nasty phone call he’d gotten afterward, and though she knew of his demotion, he’d smoothed the horribleness of that over, too. In fact, he’d protected her from a lot of life: people’s opinions of their relationship, the descent of his career, and a dozen other small things.

He hadn’t been able to protect her from cancer or radiation or chemo or the horrible agony she’d been in before she died. Part of grieving was missing her; the other part was how inept the whole thing had made him feel.

Audrey gave him his confidence back. The spark in her, that was so much
not
like Beth, reignited his will to survive, to feel
good
again.

They drove downtown. Multi-storied high rise buildings crowded together on narrow city blocks. He weaved their way through the mesh of crowded streets to a wide parking garage. Inside, he drove to the top level and escorted Audrey into the nearby elevator. They rode to the roof level of the attached building. The exit door in his grip, Bennett extended his hand for hers, and their eyes met.

“What’s this?” she asked, her fingers falling into his grip.

He angled her toward the northernmost view. “I came here the first time when I was up-and-coming at the firm. I had business with a minor client. Anyhow, I was flirting with the receptionist … badly … when she said ‘a man with my self-admiration should stand at the top and see how small he is.’”

Audrey laughed, and Bennett grinned.

“I was always full of myself,” he continued, “which is good for business, but not so much for relationships.” His tone moderated. “Beth taught me that.”

“Cale taught me that people can be jerks.” She spoke frank.

He made a face. “I was the jerk.”

“You …” She faced him. “… are the world’s best dad, the kindest man …” Her voice faded.