Whisper of Love (The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor, Book Five)

by Melissa Foster

  “Mommy!” the little brunette girl who had befriended Phillip exclaimed.

  All around them mothers were picking up their children. How long would it be until Phillip asked about his mother? Jesus, he’d thought he had this dad thing pretty well under control. Would he ever?

  Phillip pulled him by the hand toward the wall where the teacher was hanging up the finger paintings and pointed to one. “This is mine. It’s still wet.”

  “I love it.”

  “Know what it is?” Phillip asked.

  Nash looked at the brownish-blue-purple blob and tried to come up with a clever answer. Luckily, Phillip was too excited to wait.

  “It’s a mermaid. She lives in the ocean, and she hooks fishes.”

  Thank you, Ace.

  “I think it’s one of our most clever paintings,” Juliana said. “You have such a vivid imagination.” She touched Phillip’s head and smiled at Nash. “He told us all about Papa Ace promising to take him out on his boat to look for mermaids.”

  Nash’s heart expanded. Papa Ace? When did that come about?

  “We have an opening in the Monday, Wednesday, Friday class,” she offered.

  “Thank you. I think we’d like to take that spot.”

  As the parents gathered their children’s things from their cubbies, Juliana said, “Remember, Moms and Dads, we’re starting our ‘family unit’ in November. We’ll be sharing pictures of our families and pets, so please mark it on your calendar and send in family photographs for the children to share. Feel free to send in extended family, too. The more the merrier.”

  Grandparents, aunts, uncles. A familiar viselike grip clutched at his chest at the thought of Phillip being the only kid with no pictures of extended family. Not that he had much of an extended family anyway, but goddamn it, Phillip had a grandmother. So what if she had a busy life? So what if seeing Phillip made her sad? Wasn’t it worth a little discomfort as an adult to be part of her grandchild’s life? Maybe it was time to bridge that gap once and for all and stop hiding behind their ghosts.

  They stopped at Emmaline’s on the way home to celebrate Phillip’s first morning at preschool, and Emmaline made a special peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the shape of a heart for Phillip. He nodded off on the way home.

  Nash found Tempest sitting on the front stoop. Her eyes were puffy and red, her nose was pink, and she clutched a wad of tissues in her hand. He carried Phillip up the steps and sat beside her.

  “Angel, what’s wrong?”

  She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “The little boy in the coma hasn’t woken up, and the little girl’s chemo is working, but she had some sort of reaction to something, and she’s having a hard time.”

  “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.” He shifted Phillip and put his arm around her. “These things take time.”

  “I know they do. It’s so sad, and it makes me so angry. Life is too precarious, and they’re so young. I hate that they have to deal with this. Sometimes it knocks the wind out of me.” She drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Wiping her eyes again, she said, “The hospital offered me a full-time job.” Fresh tears tumbled down her cheeks. “Darn it.” She swiped at them again.

  “That’s good, right?”

  She shook her head. “I have all these new clients for the music classes, and I thought about what you said about hope and love. I have hope that I can make a go of it, and I love what I do, so when they offered me the job, I turned it down.”

  “Tempe, you’re confusing me. You didn’t take a job you didn’t want. You have more students for your classes. I know I’m thickheaded sometimes, but shouldn’t that make you happy?”

  “Yes,” she said sharply. “But I went to see two office spaces today and the rent in town is crazy high. The community center can’t give me any more days, and—” She wiped her eyes and her hand flew to her mouth. “Ohmygosh. I’m sorry. I’m blubbering like a selfish fool, and you had your observation day today. How was it?”

  “You’re not a blubbering, selfish fool.” He kissed her, tasting her salty tears on her lips. “I’m sorry you had a hard day, but I’m sure we can figure something out for your classes.”

  She drew in another deep breath and squared her shoulders, nodding as she regained control of her emotions. “I’m sorry. I feel better now. What a mess. Sorry. I know something will come through. It was just an emotional day. The spaces I looked at were real eye-openers. I had dreams of holding kids’ classes full-time, and it’s going to take a miracle to make those dreams come true. But you’re right. I’m not giving up. I’ll figure something out. Tell me about Phillip. The class wore him out, huh?”

  “It wore both of us out.” He told her about the class and what it was like watching Phillip try to acclimate. “There are so many things I need to start doing with him. Singing the ABCs, teaching him about firemen and policemen, and, basically, start explaining everything in the world to him.”

  “I’m so proud of you for taking him. I know that must have been hard, and I wish I could have been there with you.”

  He leaned in and kissed her. Phillip sighed in his sleep, and they kissed again.

  “Let me put him down for his nap. I’ll be right back.”

  He came downstairs and found Tempest sitting on the couch.

  She patted the seat beside her. “I thought you’d want to be able to hear him if he woke up.”

  “Thanks. He’s zonked. We have an hour or so.” He ran his hand up her thigh and kissed her neck. “We could fool around.”

  She lay back, allowing him to move over her. “First tell me what else happened at preschool. It sounds like it was a pretty good morning.”

  “It was a great morning.” He lifted her sweater and kissed her belly. “I think I’m going to sign him up for three days a week starting in two weeks.” He lifted her sweater higher, teasing her nipple through her sexy black lace bra.

  “That feels good. I mean, sounds good.”

  She slid lower on the couch, and he pulled the lace material down.

  “Finish telling me, because in a few minutes I won’t be able to think.”

  He chuckled. “They’re starting a family unit in November, which means it’s time for me to start talking to him about his mother.”

  She lifted her head with a serious expression. “Oh, Nash. That’s a biggie. Have you said anything to him about her yet?”

  “No. He’s never asked. But he will. There were a dozen moms picking up their kids today. It’s only a matter of time. I won’t make a big deal of it, but I have to say something.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “Do you want to talk about your work? We can talk about Phillip later.”

  “No. This is important. If you want to hash it out, I’m happy to try to help, or get some advice from my mom maybe?”

  “I might take you up on that. I want to go back to Oak Rivers. You were right. I need closure.” He pushed his hand beneath her skirt and up her inner thigh. They’d made love every night this week, but he could have her ten times a day and it would never be enough.

  She pushed up on her elbows. “I’ll go with you.”

  “You would do that for me?”

  “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  “I WAS HOPING you’d say that.” Nash lifted her skirt and tore off her panties.

  Tempest giggled, secretly loving how much he desired her. “I’m going to need all new lingerie.”

  “I’m not sure why you wear them at all. Shit. Condom.” He pushed to his feet and lifted her into his arms, heading for the stairs.

  “I can walk!”

  “This is faster.” He took the steps two at a time and carried her into her bedroom, closing the door behind them. “Wait a sec.”

  He disappeared and came back a minute later with the baby monitor. She loved that even in the heat of passion he watched out for Phillip. They stripped down fast, and he lowered her to the bed.

  “Baby, you are gorgeous. I like naptime.” He wrapped his fingers around
his shaft, giving it one slow stroke.

  She couldn’t hide the widening of her eyes.

  “You like seeing that?”

  “Maybe,” she said shyly, though she didn’t feel shy. He made her feel sexy and wanted. She’d never been particularly confident in the bedroom, but with Nash she’d never been anything but confident. Another sign.

  “Do you like seeing this?” She moved her hand between her legs.

  “Holy shit. I hope Phillip has a long nap, because, baby, I want to do so many dirty things to you.” He kneeled between her legs, stroking his hard length. When she stopped, he grabbed her wrist and sucked her fingers clean, his eyes locked on her.

  “Ohmygod,” she said breathlessly. “You’re so naughty.”

  “You haven’t seen naughty yet.” He lowered her fingers to her sex again, and then his mouth followed.

  Her hand stilled at the sheer pleasure he was bringing her.

  “Don’t stop, baby. I want to watch you come.”

  She closed her eyes, forcing her fingers to move over her clit as he devoured her. He pushed his fingers inside her, and she moaned. She slapped a hand over her mouth, arching off the bed as he adeptly found the magical spot that sent her spiraling over the edge. Her inner muscles convulsed, and he stayed with her, loving her through the very last shudder.

  He grabbed a condom and sheathed himself, then laced their fingers together, aligning their bodies.

  “Don’t cry out, sweet girl,” he said.

  She’d never been a noisy lover, but like everything else with Nash, who she’d been and who she was were two different things. She didn’t have a chance in hell of not crying out every time they made love. He entered her in one hard thrust. Each time he withdrew, her body rose, wanting him back.

  He kissed her as he drove in hard, swallowing her cries and moving in a vigorous rhythm. Holding her hands firmly beside her head, he brought their lovemaking to a new, even more thrilling level. She wrapped her legs around his waist, allowing him to go deeper. With the next thrust, electricity arced through her, and he grunted out her name as they found their mutual release.

  Nash collapsed on top of her, kissing her tenderly.

  “Shower with me,” he said as he sat up on the edge of the bed. “I’d suggest a bath, but I think it’d take too much time.”

  “What about Phillip?”

  “We’ll bring our clothes and the baby monitor, and we’ll shower quick.” He grabbed the monitor and said, “That is, if you can behave yourself.”

  She gathered her clothes and followed him down the hall, watching his naked butt the whole way.

  She didn’t behave herself. Who could with a six-four, kindhearted, sexy-as-hell beefcake like Nash naked and wet standing before her? Not to mention that the minute their bodies glided against each other he got hard again. She happily sank to the edge of the tub and loved him with her mouth. But that wasn’t enough for her hungry man. He lifted her to her feet, lowered her onto his cock, and ravaged her mouth. Good Lord, he felt even better without a condom. Oh shit.

  “Condom,” she said between urgent kisses.

  He stopped, a low groan rumbling up from his chest.

  “Nash, the pill is ninety-nine percent effective. I think we’re okay.” Please don’t stop. Please don’t stop.

  Fear and hunger coalesced in his eyes, and in the next breath, love pushed that fear to the side. He kissed her again. Her back met the cold tiles, and she arched away from them.

  “Oh, baby, do that again.”

  She arched forward as he slid her up and down along his shaft. “Damn, that makes you tight.”

  “You’re embarrassing me. Now you have to make it up to me by making me come.”

  And he did. Twice.

  Chapter Nineteen

  OVER THE NEXT week they fell even more into sync. The three of them fed the animals, took walks, and picked wildflowers, which Tempest and Phillip had started putting in vases around the house. It was amazing how little touches could make a house feel even more like a home. Although Nash wasn’t fooling himself. He knew that had little to do with the pretty flowers and everything to do with Tempest and his son making their house a home together. Phillip was as captivated by her as Nash was. After they put Phillip to bed each night, they fell into each other’s arms. Most nights they made love, remaining together until four o’clock in the morning, when Nash reluctantly returned to his own room. To ensure his early-bird son didn’t stumble upon his empty bed, they’d begun setting an alarm, as they’d both slept so hard one morning, they’d barely woken up in time for him to race down the hall before Phillip got out of his bed. Luckily, his needs-her-sleep girl had gotten adept at sleeping through the four o’clock alarm. And on the nights they didn’t fool around, Nash loved singing to her as she caught up on her sleep within the safety of his arms. It was getting increasingly difficult to force himself out of her bed.

  Parting this morning had been the hardest yet, because today was Friday, and they were on their way to Oak Rivers. Tempest’s parents were watching Phillip so he and Tempest could make the trip in one day. It was a huge leap of faith for Nash to leave Phillip with them, but it was time he added trust to his repertoire of hope and love.

  Tempest reached for his hand. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Just nervous. I can’t believe it’s been fifteen years since we left.” He put his hand back on the wheel, his anxiety increasing with each mile they covered. “Thanks for coming with me.”

  “Of course. Thank you for letting me take Phillip to music class this week.”

  Phillip continued to come out of his shell, counting everything in sight and stumbling through singing the ABCs. Nash had been surprised when Phillip had asked if he could go with Tempest to music class, though maybe he shouldn’t have been. He was constantly holding her hand and sitting on her lap. He couldn’t deny that he was elated with the time it allowed for his sculpture work. This week he’d even begun working with metal again, and he’d made a point of checking his cell phone often, ensuring that they were never far from his mind.

  “He loves you.” He reached for her hand, needing the contact more than the security of the steering wheel.

  “I love him, too, Nash.”

  He knew that. He also knew she loved him. They’d skirted around the words, and he wanted to say them, but he needed to be free from his ghosts before he could begin saying all the things he wanted to.

  “Think we should call your parents and ask how he is?” he asked.

  Her lips tipped up in a clever smile. “I already texted my mom. She said he and my dad are fishing off the dock at the marina. I have a feeling your boy’s going to be just fine.”

  “Thanks to you.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. He’d asked her parents for advice on how to talk to Phillip about his mother, and they seemed to think Nash had the right idea. Keep it simple and let him know he’s loved. He’d enrolled Phillip in preschool, and he promised himself he’d talk to Phillip before they covered their family unit. One thing at a time.

  “I got another lead on office space from Jilly.” She’d picked up two more families for her classes from the flyers they’d hung up at Emmaline’s Café, and this week she’d checked out more retail spaces. Unfortunately, they were either too expensive or too small. She’d been disappointed, but she’d said the universe would give her a sign and guide her to the right space when it was time.

  “That’s great. Do you still feel like you made the right decision?” The little boy who was in a coma had woken up last week, and Tempest had been elated. She was going to continue to work with him, as he’d suffered a few deficits, and she’d continue working with her other clients, as well, until their programs ran their course.

  “Yes,” she said with a sigh of relief. “I’m ready for this change. Now all I need is for the stars to align.”

  “They will, angel.” She deserved to make her dreams come true more than anyone he’d ever known.

&n
bsp; As the highway gave way to rural farms and two-lane roads, Nash had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. His hands began to sweat, and he tried to pull away, but Tempest held on tight.

  “It’s okay, Nash. If it’s too much, we’ll turn around and go home. You don’t have to do this today.”

  Yes, he did. He saw Phillip’s starting preschool as the next chapter of their lives, and he didn’t want to start it with his past hanging around his neck like a noose.

  They drove past a host of unfamiliar shops. “We used to go to a restaurant on that corner on the weekends. A lot has changed.” When he turned a corner, the library came into view. It was the most elaborate building in Oak Rivers, elegant and stately with wide steps and tall marble columns, on its perch at the top of a hill.

  “My dad used to take us there on Saturdays when we were kids so my mom could paint in peace. He was always studying something, and we’d play around on the Internet, or PJ would drag me outside to toss a ball around. He always carried a baseball.”

  “You must miss them both so much. It’s too bad those last years with your father were so tumultuous.”

  “Yeah.” He clenched his jaw. Another skeleton about to be revealed. “I’ve wondered if he knew he was sick when we went away. We lost him so quickly afterward. I just can’t believe it would have hit so suddenly. I asked him when he first told me he was sick, but he always skirted the answer.” His father’s even, calm voice whispered through his mind. If life offers one guarantee, it’s that death is inevitable. All you can do is move forward.

  “He was probably protecting you. As you know better than anyone, that’s what parents do.” She pointed to a sign for the high school. “Is that where you went to school?”

  “Yeah.” He turned down the road and drove to the school. The redbrick building looked smaller than he remembered. He parked out front. “I guess this is a good place to start. I haven’t been inside the school since the day of his accident.”

  She watched him intently as he stepped from the car.

  “I’m okay, baby. Really.” He pulled her closer. “If it’s too much, we’ll leave. But the worst part was just getting through those first few minutes. I think I’m okay.”