Silent Hearts (Hamilton Stables 3)

by Melissa West

  Now he was full-out grinning. “Calm down. It’s simple.”

  “Says the guy who’s been on hundreds of dives.”

  “And I’ll be going on one more.”

  She glanced over at him. “Really?”

  “Of course. There’s no way I’d let you go alone with an amateur like Zac.” At her pointed stare, he relented. “Fine, he’s pretty good. But it’s still a little scary your first time. Why don’t you come over and have dinner with me tonight? At my house. I’ll cook and we’ll practice in my pool.”

  “Seriously? That would be amazing. I was hoping to go on the checkout dive with the group next weekend, but I’m freaking myself out.”

  “Don’t bring all that gear, just a swimsuit and the mask and snorkel.”

  “Swimsuit?” Becca thought of the only bathing suit she had, aside from the damp, chlorine-scented one-piece she wore to dive class—a tiny black bikini that showed way too much skin, and that was years ago, when she didn’t have all these extra curves.

  Heat filled Nick’s eyes as though he realized the same thing as she had—them together, alone, next to no clothes on, in his heated pool. This could get dangerous and fast.

  “New fear?”

  “You have no idea.”

  Twenty minutes later, Nick and Becca were in Triple Run Market and More to grab some food for their dinner, Nick’s thoughts still on Becca in a swimsuit and whether he’d be able to contain himself once he saw her.

  It wasn’t the first time he and Becca had been swimming together, but the last time was when they were teens, and though he’d had issues resisting her then, it wasn’t the same now. Adult Becca was curvy in all the right places, and his brain was having a hard time concentrating and—

  “Nick?”

  His head snapped up and he realized he’d been studying those curvy goods right in the middle of the produce section.

  Becca grabbed a carrot, and suddenly, Nick was picturing a very different long, hard thing between her hands, and good God, he needed a cold, cold shower.

  “Are you all right?” Becca reached out to touch his forehead and he grabbed her hand, threading his fingers through hers, and tugged her toward him. His head tilted toward hers, a smile on his face.

  “You are tempting me into oblivion and you’re not even doing anything. What the hell am I going to do with myself?”

  “Nick, is that you?”

  Nick closed his eyes and took a step back from Becca. So close yet so far away. He turned to face Mayor Phillips. “Yes, Mayor. What can I do for you?”

  “The trustees and I were just curious whether you planned to attend the festival next weekend?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And your brothers?”

  “Likely, yes.”

  “Great.” The mayor rocked back on his heels, his gaze traveling between Nick and Becca. “The Square would be a fine choice, just saying.”

  Nick shook his head. “Just saying what?”

  The mayor eyed Becca, and something on her face must have given him pause because he cleared his throat and waved it off. “Nothing. See you Saturday.”

  “What was that about?” Nick asked as the mayor skirted off, and then his gaze searched around the small grocery story to find every set of eyes on them. “Good God, this is ridiculous.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Nick focused on Becca. “What did they do?”

  “More what they said. Just that I was lucky to find you and I should get you in a nice suit in front of God and all of Triple Run at the Square.”

  “Ah, that was the Square comment.”

  “Yeah. They want a spring wedding.”

  Nick scoffed. “Wedding? Are they insane?”

  “Yeah, clearly. Insane.” But Becca’s voice didn’t quite match her words, and Nick peered over, a hint of fear dripping into his happy mood. Did Becca want this to go that far? Surely not; they were just starting whatever they were starting. They hadn’t even talked about what this was, where it was going, or any one of a thousand other conversations they should have.

  “We’re good, right?” he asked, stopping her before she went on to the meats.

  A smile took over her face. “We’re great.”

  Then, before anyone else bothered him, he leaned in to press a quick kiss to her lips, and instantly, he wanted to do it again, take it further, see if he could drive her as crazy as she was driving him. He tucked her hair behind her ear and trailed his fingers through the long strands. “I like this.”

  “Me too.” She smiled again, and then, town be damned, he took her hand and they continued their shopping that way, sure the whole town was getting a show, but for once, Nick couldn’t care less.

  They decided on steaks, baked potatoes, grilled zucchini, and salad, because Becca could out eat a linebacker. It was one of the things he loved most about her, and though he caught the apprehension on her face at the idea of being in a swimsuit in front of him, he knew at heart she was okay with who she was. Becca was Becca, and he never wanted her to change.

  “Swim first?” Nick asked as he parked in his garage.

  “Sure.” Becca stepped out and went around to help with the groceries, but Nick waved her off.

  “No, ma’am. You go get changed and ready yourself to become the best scuba diver on the planet. I’ll handle this.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  With obvious reluctance, Becca grabbed her tote and disappeared inside his house. He knew it took effort for her to let go, to allow someone else to take care of her, but she deserved it. Becca had spent her whole life taking care of others—her grandmother, her sister, her niece and nephew. It was time someone took care of her, and though Nick had tried to help where he could over the years, they were different now—more—and he was going to take care of her whether she liked it or not.

  Setting down the bags in the kitchen, he went to work putting everything away, until his gaze caught Becca walking around the pool, already changed, the mask and snorkel dangling in her hand, and the tiniest excuse for a bikini he’d ever seen on her body. And suddenly Nick was very, very thankful for whoever designed that bikini, because holy hell.

  Without her awareness to keep him in check, he took her in. Her full breasts, spilling out of the swimsuit top, the dip and curve of her waist, her flat, toned stomach, her wide hips and long, long legs. Suddenly, Nick regretted ever making fun of her for buying that infomercial twenty-five-minute workout set, because while he knew Becca was beautiful, he never knew what she hid under those T-shirts and tank tops she wore.

  With the quickness of a man in need, he shoved the rest of the groceries into the fridge and jogged back to his room, eager to change and get out there, though hell if he’d know what to do once he got there.

  He planned to take this slow, to get to know her in this new way, but already he wanted to take her to his bed, forget all the complications and show her over and over again the way she deserved to be treated. Worship her body until she forgot every man before him.

  But that was his stupid side talking—all right, his horny side. Slow was better, even if it killed him.

  He splashed several rounds of cold water on his face, tugged off his clothes, and put on his swim trunks, giving himself a pep talk throughout the change that he would be good—slow and good.

  Damn, even that sounded sexy as hell to his ears now.

  He was going to die before this night was over.

  Grabbing two bottles of water and a couple of beers, he opened the French doors off his kitchen and padded out onto the patio and to the pool. Becca hadn’t noticed him yet, so he snuck up and pressed one of the bottles of water to her exposed neck. Immediately, she squealed and spun around, causing her breasts to jump in that tiny top, Nick’s gaze to drop, and his restraint to flounder.

  “Easily startled, as always.”

  Becca opened her mouth to pop off at him, but her eyes went to his chest and down his abs,
and he grinned a little at the realization that she was as affected by him as he was her. He said a silent thank you that he’d spent the last few years in the gym every day, working off all the thoughts and emotions he couldn’t speak. It was a lonely endeavor, but he was in good shape because of it.

  “Should we get started?” she asked, swallowing hard and eyeing him.

  “Depends what you want to get started.” Nick took a step toward her, his eyes dropping to her bikini. “I gotta say, at this point, with you in that, I’d do pretty much anything you wanted.”

  Her cheeks reddened and she drew a breath. “I know, it’s too small, but I didn’t know that when I brought it. Seems I haven’t worn a bikini in a while.” She adjusted the top and her breasts bobbed again.

  Nick swallowed hard. “Let’s get in the water before I get myself in trouble.”

  They walked over to the steps, each careful not to touch the other, the whole thing ridiculous, but at this point they were in survival mode.

  The water was warm thanks to the heater, but it was doing little to cool off his raging hormones.

  “Okay, so put on the mask and make sure it’s tight,” he said, refusing to look at her. He needed a minute to settle down or all ideas of slow were going to fly away—along with their swimsuits.

  “Is this good?”

  He turned around to face her, the giant mask covering her face, a smile bigger than all of Triple Run just below it, and that was it. “I have to kiss you. Just once.” He moved in before she could say anything, quickly kissed her lips, and groaned as he pulled away. “All right, twice.”

  Their lips met for a second time, and with a slow, long moan of her own, telling him that she wasn’t eager to remain on the good side if he couldn’t hold back. Just as he started to deepen the kiss, she jerked the mask off and tossed it in the water. And then there was nothing between them, nothing to keep this from going too far.

  “Bec . . .”

  “Kiss me.”

  His hands wrapped around her again, securing her to him, as his mouth found hers and his tongue slid over her lips, then inside her mouth, flicking over the mint on her tongue, and then his hands were on her back, reaching down to grab her ass and pull her to him.

  All control flew up into the night sky, the stars their only cover, and he moved from her lips to her neck to her collarbone, tasting and licking, each sound driving him insane.

  She tilted her head back, her breasts pushing up, and then his head dipped down, his tongue gliding over the swell of her breasts, her sounds destroying him more and more with each touch. He pushed aside one triangle and her full breast popped out, her soft pink nipple calling to him, and suddenly he was there—gone. All restraint absolutely gone.

  He pressed his mouth to her nipple, sucking it into his mouth, and the moan she released was enough to make him want her right there, sure he wouldn’t make it out of the pool without claiming her as his. He wrapped her legs around his waist and moved to the edge of the pool, her body pressed against the wall, as he took his time sucking and tasting, his hand freeing her other breast so they were both exposed, ready for him to pleasure and enjoy. Good God, she was beautiful.

  And all his.

  The thought warmed him in ways the rest never could. This beautiful, amazing woman was his. And he had no intention of letting her go. Fear be damned, and now it was time he gave her what she needed.

  He glided a hand over her hip, inside her thigh, and then he pushed aside her bikini bottoms and stroked her heat. She bucked against him, eager and ready, and he slipped a finger inside her, then a second, driving her closer and closer to her release.

  “Nick, God. I . . .” His kissed her hard, pushing every bit of the emotion he felt into that moment until finally he felt her body quivering as she reached her climax. He brought her back down slowly and she fell slack against him, her breathing heavy. “That was ... I don’t even know what to say.”

  He kissed her temple. “That was just the beginning.” She reached down to his swim trunks and he took her hand, stopping her. “Not today. This was just about you.”

  “Nick . . .”

  “I know what you’re going to say, but no one takes care of you. Let me take care of you.” He kissed her lips sweetly. “But I think our lesson might be over for today,” he said with a grin. “There’s some warm towels in the bin beside the fire pit. Go get changed and I’ll make dinner.”

  Becca started away, then turned back, a wide grin on her face. “If that was our first lesson, what do you have in store for lesson two?”

  “Prepare yourself, Becca Stark; you’re about to meet a new Nick Hamilton.” He winked at her, and she laughed before disappearing into the house, leaving Nick in the pool to settle down, happy for the first time in a long, long time.

  Chapter Eleven

  “All right, today let’s talk about how easy it is to go on a check-Aout dive.”

  It was Saturday already, and Zac stood outside the pool, the class all inside, half of them, including Becca, shaking like crazy. The temperature of the pool was much colder than it had been during their last session. Or maybe they were just that terrified.

  “To illustrate this point, I have a few assistants here to help me today. Come on out, guys.”

  The set of heavy double doors opened loudly, the sound echoing through the gym. All attention went to the left, and Becca grinned as Charlie and Brady came out, their arms draped around a little girl. The girl was all long blond hair and freckles and adorable smile, and Becca wondered how they knew her, when the guys reached Zac and he bent down to give the girl a hug that lasted a beat too long.

  “Dad,” the girl whined. “I’m an instructor today.”

  The Littletons all laughed, but Becca’s mind stopped at dad. Did she say Dad?

  Becca compared the two, her gaze flicking back and forth, scrutinizing. The similarities weren’t overly obvious, but they were there—her eyes, perhaps. Or maybe it was the smile that never left her face, so much like her father’s. So when Zac said, “Everyone, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Carrie-Anne,” Becca wasn’t shocked as much as curious.

  She’d seen the guys around the diner several times, but never once had Carrie-Anne been with them. Now, in Zac’s defense, they usually stopped by during school hours, so maybe that was part of it. But Becca felt there was more to the story.

  “Carrie-Anne, can you tell the class how old you are?”

  “Thirteen,” she said, grinning. She wore a pink wet suit and a pink mask rested on the top of her head, the snorkel dangling.

  “And how long have you been certified to dive?”

  “Since I was eight.”

  A hush fell over the class as they all stared at the little girl like she was one of those insanely talented kids who became doctors at five or whatever.

  “It’s scary at first, but the more you go, the better it gets. And it’s so cool. You’ll see so many things.”

  Zac patted her head affectionately, and she shot him an I’m-not-a-baby warning. But instead of him giving her a harder time like some fathers might—like Nick would if he were Carrie-Anne’s father—he stepped back and allowed Brady and Charlie to help her into her weight belt, BCD, air tank, and fins. She slid her mask and snorkel into place, and Zac double-checked its fit. “Ready?” Zac asked.

  “Ready,” she said with a giant smile, and then she jumped into the water, and for a moment, Becca fought the urge to go after her. Surely a girl that small shouldn’t stay down for so long, air tank or not. But then she realized she wasn’t coming back up. She had air; she had everything she needed.

  Charlie and Brady followed suit and Becca found herself relaxing for the first time since Nick had called to tell her he couldn’t make it to the session. His voice had been tense as he explained that a random meeting had popped up that he couldn’t miss, and she of course said it was fine. But inside, she wanted to scream, no, come with me, keep me protected.

  But as she took in th
e thirteen-year-old swimming underwater like a fish, she realized it was stupid to be so afraid of diving. Zac’s point was clear—if little Carrie-Anne could do it, anyone could.

  With renewed purpose, Becca went through all the techniques Zac had taught her. Then Zac himself approached, and she lost her nerve under his scrutiny.

  “Missing your partner?”

  “Yeah, he had a meeting this afternoon, and he’s already certified, so.” She shrugged. Then, desperate to change the subject, she added, “Your daughter seems so sweet. And brave.”

  Zac glanced at the water, where Carrie-Anne was working with Brady and Charlie to help some of the others in the class. “Yeah, about that ... I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you.”

  “It crossed my mind,” Becca said with a grin. “But it’s not my business, and in a town full of gossips, I try not to pry.”

  “It’s not prying. Carrie-Anne is the most important thing in the world to me, but her mother left when she was little, and it hurt her badly. So I try to limit interaction between her and women I’m dating, or trying to date. Not so successfully in your case.” He laughed, but his voice was tinged with disappointment.

  Becca cringed, wishing she’d never hinted at more with Zac. Her heart belonged to Nick, and no one else ever would have worked for her. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

  “It’s my own fault. I called it the moment I met you. You just hadn’t realized yet what the rest of us knew from the beginning—Nick worships you.”

  “Oh, no. He’s . . . well, I don’t know. We’ve known each other a long time.”

  “He’s lucky.”

  Becca glanced over at Carrie-Anne. “So is she. And I think it’s wonderful that you try to protect her. That’s what I would do if I were in your shoes.”

  “Really? I’m glad to hear it. It can make dating a challenge, but she’s my priority. I want her life to be as stable as possible, ya know?”