Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) (9 page)

Bennett couldn’t speak. His eyes moist, he bent down and kissed his son’s head.

He was happy because they had Audrey. The best day of his life, following Beth’s passing, was the day he drove to the library. He swallowed the knot in his throat. “Let’s put that on the refrigerator, so she’ll see it. Then we’ll find the syrup.”

“I know where it is,” Jeff said. Dropping the pen, once more, he hopped down from the stool.

Audrey climbed over Bennett’s legs to a seat at his side on the bed, conscious of his gaze on her breasts. The thin fabric of her t-shirt didn’t hide anything, but, she’d figured, what was the point? He’d seen most of her already. Besides, being truthful, she liked the heightened interest on his face.

Unlike Cale, who’d only shown his attraction at the start and not been very adept at giving compliments.

“My face is up here,” she said.

Bennett grinned and tilted his chin upward. “They are marvelous.”

Audrey’s smile expanded. “So I’m told, but I’m asking you to concentrate.”

“I am …” he replied, “on those.”

Laughter spread between them, and she fell down at his side, tucking herself beneath his arm, her cheek to his chest. “Jeff knows you’re in here,” she said.

Bennett exhaled. “Yeah, he does.”

“It bothers you?”

He didn’t respond for a minute. “
Yes
and
no
, but neither one has anything to do with you.”

That was like him, to relieve her of any guilt. Or to try. Though they hadn’t talked about it, his moving into her bedroom she understood entirely. His was too full of Beth, and he wanted what she and he had to be free of his memories. They crept in anyhow. Like tonight.

“I should talk to him about it.”

“And say what?” She twisted her face to glimpse his. “If he has questions, he’ll ask them. Besides, he’s full of talk about school.”

School was going really well. He’d blossomed under Mrs. Werthe’s care, was always a chatterbox when he came home. He’d made several friends, but one boy in particular had become close.

“He wants to invite Bobby over,” she said. “I told him he had to ask you.”

“He asked. I said it was all right, maybe this weekend. I’m sure the kid’s parents will want to meet us and talk first.”

Us. They’d become an
us
. She and Bennett a pair, the kids,
their
children.

He was the best dad. He included August in everything. What he did for Jeff and June, he never left her son out. In fact, in August’s eyes, he was “dad”. She worried about that only a little because of Cale, who, almost six months into living here, hadn’t paid a dime of his child support.

“Hopefully, they won’t have a problem with …” She silenced, unwilling to finish her thought.

But Bennett appeared to know what she’d almost said. “Our living situation is for us to deal with. I would hope people would be fair-minded. My
girlfriend
deserves an award, not judgment.”

The word spiked sharp in her mind, and Audrey rose over him. “Did you just call me that?”

He smiled. “I did, and I have a mind to prove it.”

He snatched at her top, but she scooted backwards out-of-reach. He chased after her, catching hold before she could fully escape. His hands around her waist, he rolled her over and pinned her to the mattress, one hand on either side. Breaths heaving, laughter in her throat, Audrey gazed upward.

“You’re going to torment me again, aren’t you?” she asked.

He didn’t respond, but his eyes became miles deep, the tip of his lips forming a hard line. She couldn’t find her thoughts when he looked at her like that, couldn’t believe she held any attraction at all. Yet, his mouth pressed between her breasts, his tongue massaging her tender flesh, she fell into the moment one more time.

He was an expert lover, knew exactly how to excite her, where to place his hands, his lips. He was tender and avid and zealous, and she was pliable beneath him.

“You are glorious,” he said, shifting left.

His breath heated, his body firm, he thrust against her, and she wished for completion, yet knew he wouldn’t. His girlfriend in name, his ardor meaningful, but always held back by that one level of restraint.

She understood it, that something he’d dedicated to his wife he couldn’t quite let go of. Yet, she craved the fulfilment for herself, to belong to Bennett Adams, mind, body, and soul.

CHAPTER 9

“Bennett Adams.”

“Robert Harris.”

Bennett and the boy, Bobby’s, father shook hands, leaving Audrey to face his wife. Thin, sporting a boyish hairdo, Mrs. Harris dressed as if she’d just returned from a jog:  elastic-waist shorts, a stretchy tank top, and expensive running sneakers. She appeared friendly however, if way too tanned from time outdoors.

“Audrey Ferguson,” Audrey offered. She adjusted her hold on June, turning her small face outward. “This is June.” She nodded toward her son. “That’s August.”

The names raised the woman’s brows. “You have your hands full. They look close in age.”

Which couldn’t comfortably be explained. Audrey tried not to act like it, however, smiling until she thought her face might crack. “We’re a combined family,” she replied.

Her comment drew Robert Harris’s gaze. He was the sporting type as well: baseball jersey and a ball cap, his arms thick from exercise. Between the pair of them, she felt “momish” and out-of-place.

“You have a lovely home,” Mrs. Harris said. “I have a friend who lives a block over.”

There really was nothing to say to that, so awkward silence followed, the swish of their breaths loud in the room.

“You’re a CPA,” Robert Harris practically shouted. “Never was into numbers myself … unless it involves sports.”

“Him and his sports.” His wife rolled her eyes.

They shared a laugh, which ended abruptly with the stinging scent of August’s dirty diaper. Her face flaming, Audrey glanced at Bennett. “Could you take June?”

He obeyed, shifting his daughter into his arms, and she grasped August, slinging him onto one hip. “My apologies. I’ve got to … go.” Her head ducked, she dashed up the stairs.

When she descended, the Harrises were at the door.

“We’ll pick him up at four,” Robert Harris said.

“Perfect. Thanks for bringing him by. Sounds like they’re already having a good time.” Bennett glanced upstairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris followed his gaze, then turned and headed down the walk.

Audrey sagged, releasing a wriggling August to the floor. “Well, that went badly. We have nothing in common … nothing … and I saw their faces. ‘She’s so much younger than him.’ Why didn’t the woman just come out and say it?”

Bennett threw his voice low. “‘Look at that old guy, robbing the cradle …”

“Stop.” She frowned and spun in place.

His hand on her arm stopped her from moving. “Lighten up. No one said any of that.”

“They were thinking it.” Pulling free, Audrey trailed into the living room. August had crawled to the coffee table and seated himself on the low, bottom shelf. “Did you see how relieved she was to get out of here?”

“I was relieved to see them leave,” Bennett replied. “All he wanted to talk about was baseball, and the most I know about the game is it uses a bat and a ball.”

Audrey sighed.

“Let it go,” he said. “They’ll go home. He’ll turn on the sports channel, and she’ll gnaw on celery sticks.”

“I’ll change another diaper,” Audrey added.

Taking the TV remote from August’s grasp, she set it out of his reach, and took a seat at one end of the couch. Bennett’s commanding voice came from the foyer entrance.

“Hello. This is Bennett Adams. I’d like two dozen red roses sent to my address.”

Roses? Audrey perked. “Bennett? What are you doing?”

“Include a card,” he said. “On it, write, ‘to the sexiest mother I know.’”

“Bennett!”

He ignored her. “Thanks, and send me the bill.”

His voice fell silent, but a second later, rose again.

“Dale? Do you think you and Everly could watch the kids tonight? I think Audrey’s going stir crazy.”

“You’re driving me crazy,” she replied loudly.

“Great. We’ll bring them by around six.” He disconnected and leaned one shoulder on the wall trim. “Find your dancing shoes, Mom. You and I are going to go cut the rug.”

Audrey frowned. “Now I know we’re out of date. No one says that anymore.”

Yet, the hours passing, the Harris boy returned to his parents, she found herself looking forward to whatever Bennett had planned. She’d been buried in diapers and toys too much lately. Having adult-time was extremely welcome.

How to dress for it presented a problem. Her pre-pregnancy clothes no longer fit, and her post-pregnancy clothes consisted mostly of things with access for nursing. She located a creamy blouse with a scoop neck at the back of the closet and paired it with tight blue jeans. Her one pair of heels would have to do.

Adding makeup and earrings, she decided the effect wasn’t too bad.

She exited her bedroom to the excited babble of the three kids floating up the stairs. Grasping the rail, she took careful steps to the bottom and turned left, following the sounds. She stepped into the living room amidst sudden silence.

“Is it that bad?” she asked. “I’m afraid I don’t have many more options.”

“Bad?” Bennett cat-whistled. “You’re hot, babe.”

Embarrassed he’d said so in front of the children, she back-stepped, but he leapt forward, grasping her arm. “Don’t. Don’t be insecure,” he said. “I think the children seeing I care for you is a good thing.”

Was it? Had they reached that point? Part of her was glad. Yet, her embarrassment remained.

A tug at her other arm, turned Audrey’s gaze.

“Are you going to be my mom?” Jeff asked.

The question smacked her in the chest, and once more, Audrey reversed. Bennett halted her movement, taking a place behind her.

Gazing over her shoulder, he spoke to his son. “Why do you ask?”

“Bobby said so.”

Audrey, regaining her poise, knelt in front of him. She should have known this question would come. Just the same, she considered her answer. It was one thing for Bennett to care for her, another for her to usurp Beth’s place.

“You can call me whatever you like,” she finally said, “but I will never replace your mom. She loved you very much. You know that?”

He nodded.

“I’ll make you a promise. Cross my heart …” She drew an
x
over her chest. “As long as I’m breathing, I’ll never leave you.” She opened her arms. “Give me a hug?” Embracing him, she inhaled.

This made all the dirty diapers, the sleepless nights … looking foolish in front of the Harrises … worth it. She’d been naïve and unprepared when she came, but richly rewarded with a family that had so much love to give.

She stood to her feet and took his hand. “You ready to go see Grandpa Dale?”

He nodded and pointed at August. “Uh huh, but August’s eating crayons.”

He’d never really been to the jazz restaurant and didn’t really like jazz, but the noise and lights of a dance club were too juvenile for a forty-two year old man and big band music at the swanky country club too old. The low lights and low murmur of voices did set a romantic feel though, and the tiny round table they’d been seated at gave a measure of privacy.

Bennett ate, doing his best to provide conversation that didn’t involve the children, yet couldn’t quite get his son’s question out of his mind. Here, it’d been six months, and he couldn’t picture his life without Audrey, couldn’t sleep at night without feeling her there. He relied on her wisdom and laughter to survive.

In spite of that, he held part of himself back. Not simply in their sex life, or partial lack of it, but in his heart and mind as well. It was as if by committing to her, he’d turn his back on Beth. She hadn’t asked him to turn his back on Beth. She’d asked instead for her own consideration, and he agreed with her one hundred percent. Still …

“Why are those people staring at me?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

She nodded across the room, and Bennett swiveled, staring through the semi-darkness at an older couple angled in their direction. He started. First, it’d been Julie, and extricating themselves from her had been bad enough. But this was far worse. This was one of only a handful of things they hadn’t talked about. He hadn’t hidden it necessarily, but she hadn’t asked, so it’d never come up.

Rubbing two fingers down the center of his throat, he tried to answer.

“Bennett? You know them?”

He coughed. “They’re Beth’s parents.”

Her skin paled. Her fingers trembling, she curled them in her lap. “But I thought … I just assumed.” Her color returned in an instant flash. “They don’t see their grandchildren?”

Her tone made him uncomfortable. Bennett squirmed. “It’s complicated.”

“How ‘complicated’?”

She was angry. He softened his voice and hoped she’d follow suit. “They wanted her to marry Peter Massey, not run off with her new boss. The kids remind them of me, I guess …”

She snorted. “That’s no excuse. They should remind them of her.” Instead of calming, she grew more irate.

Desperate to hush her, he released his fork and took her hand. He tugged her from the table toward the dance floor. But hugged together, swaying side-to-side, it was extremely awkward, her spine rigid, her steps reluctant.

She pulled her head back. “They think you’re doing it again. You’ve run off with someone much younger than you and don’t care about her.”

“Audrey, please …” He turned her away from a nearby couple, whose heads had swiveled. “It’s not any big deal. I don’t care how old you are.”

But the Harrises had reminded her of this very issue earlier today and now, his in-laws did. He knew she wouldn’t let it go.

“I don’t care that you don’t care or that they do care …” she replied. “But to not see their grandchildren over some childish tantrum …” She gave an angry grunt.

“Back down, Mama Bear,” he said.

This halted her in place.

He recognized the look in her eye and didn’t like it. Because, once more, Audrey was
not
Beth. Beth, who’d ignored any and all negativity around their relationship. Audrey, after what she’d suffered with her ex, was forever guarding the figurative line in the sand with a battle axe raised if you crossed it.

“Introduce me,” she said.

Bennett moved them even further away from others on the dance floor. “That’s not a good idea.” In fact, a very bad one.

Her gaze hardened. “It’s a very good idea.” In her next breath, she gave a piercing gasp. “Don’t tell me they didn’t come to her funeral.”

“They came … or rather, we avoided each other,” Bennett hastened to explain. “But there’s no point in reopening those wounds again.”

Audrey halted cold. “They’ve never closed. Don’t you see that? As long as you avoid them and they avoid you, Jeff and June are the ones to suffer. Where were they when I found you? Because I know you had no help.”

He hadn’t, and it’d never occurred to him to call and speak to them. Beth had been barely able to do so when she was living. The last person they wanted to hear from was her incapable spouse.

It replayed to Bennett again that part of Audrey’s anger was directed at Cale for his betrayal. He ignored his son, so the thought of them ignoring their grandchildren was especially painful.

“Introduce me,” she snapped. “I won’t have them gossip about us behind our backs. I’d rather set the record straight up front.”

The set of her jaw said,
or are you ashamed of me?
He wasn’t, but inaction would make her think he was.

“Bennett.”

Bennett blew out a frustrated breath. She heard it and stood taller.

Couples moved around them like water in a stream, and stationary, for those few minutes, they eyed one another. He capitulated, at last, tired of arguing, and grasping her hand, directed their footsteps toward his in-laws’ table. His gut curled into a ball, nervousness sweeping down his frame. What little he’d eaten tossed into his throat.

Their eyes sharpened, the weight of their stare adding to his discomfort. Halting in front of them, however, he tried to act calm. “Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis,” he said. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I … we …” He fumbled his words and glanced at Audrey. “This is Audrey.”