Secrets Of The Heart (Book 1, The Heart Series) (17 page)

“Hey, I never thought about that…”

Unable to contain it any longer, Bree chuckled. “How’s business? Are you two handling it all right?”

“It’s
so
slow. Jewel and I are twiddling our thumbs today. I guess everyone’s on vacation being it’s right before school starts up again. But the week you come back we’re booked solid. Feast or famine, right?”

“It’s like that every August.”

“Well, with all this free time on our hands we’re making arrangements for your party. You wouldn’t believe all the customers that want to join us when we take you to see the male dancers.”

Bree groaned inwardly. “Not that again. I thought I’d convinced the two of you I didn’t need or want a bridal shower, before or after the wedding.”

“Oh, come on now, Bree, we want to do something special for you. It’ll be fun.”

Pressing the heel of her hand against her forehead, Bree didn’t know what she’d do if Nick ever found out about this planned excursion. Vinnie had mentioned how his mother had frequented bars for the sole purpose of picking up men. To Nick this outing would certainly dredge up painful, jealous memories. “We’ll discuss other options when I get back. Can I speak to Jewel for a second?”

“Sure, she’s right here. I guess you want to talk to her about the letter I sent you. I didn’t mean to upset you or anything.”

Bree frowned. “What letter?”

“Ah…here’s Jewel. Bye, have a great honeymoon.”

There was a rustling sound, and then a loud clunk. Bree jerked the receiver away, but it was too late. She switched it back to her other ear. “Lord, that girl is going to make me deaf yet.”

“Bree? Hey, how’s it going?” Jewel’s calm, unshakable voice reassured Bree.

“Fine,” Bree lied, knowing her whole world could explode at any moment. “Tessa said she sent me a letter. We never even thought about picking up the mail at the post office so I guess it’s just been sitting there. How did you get Nick’s address for his cabin anyway?”

“Gil Lambert gave it to Tessa when she told him everything.”

At the sound of his name, Bree grew uneasy. She liked the man, but he
was
Nick’s lawyer. “Everything? That sounds ominous to me.” What had happened now?

“Oh, you know how dramatic our friend is. I’m…sure she’s blowing it all out of proportion.” The hesitancy in Jewel’s normally clear, cool tone put Bree on alert.

A slither of panic snaked its way to her middle. She straightened away from the rough brick exterior. “What’s going on down there?” Alarm rang in her question, betraying her growing concern.

A passing older couple eyed her curiously, obviously having overheard the sharp climb in her voice. She smiled weakly, hoping they’d just continue on into the store. Thankfully, they did.

“Well…there’s been some strange calls,” Jewel hesitated, “Someone’s asking a lot of questions.”

“What kind of questions?”

“About you.”

A wave of fear washed over Bree, her nerveless fingers dropping the receiver. It banged against the cement wall of the store, and then danced on the end of its short wire.

“Bree? Bree? Are you still there?” Jewel’s worried, high- pitched voice came to her, dragging Bree out of her numb state.

Snatching up the dangling black phone, Bree used two hands to steady it while she stammered in a near whisper, “Wh…who?”

“They won’t leave their name. And we’re not giving out any information. Bree, is everything all right?”

“Of course,” she said too brightly. “It’s just a little odd that’s all. Uh, do you happen to know anything else? I mean, if it’s a woman or a man calling.”

“Tessa wrote it all down in the letter. I think she said it was a woman, but it sounded like a man was coaching her in the background. Gil is checking on it.”

A hand squeezed her throat. “Gil?” she squeaked. “Why him?”

“Well, making a phone call and asking questions about someone isn’t a crime. And, with all the connections Gil has, Tessa thought she should get him involved until Nick comes back and can take over. Gil is going to clue Nick in on all that he digs up. You’re not mad at her, are you?”

Mad didn’t describe how she felt. Fear, cold and clammy, breathed down her neck. “Tell Tessa I’m not angry at her.” She didn’t want the sweet, highly excitable girl to be crushed by her reaction. “In fact, tell her I appreciate how much she cares about me. If you guys are doing all right, then I’ve got to get back home to Sydney. She cut her foot and I don’t want to be away from her too long.”

“Is it bad?”

“Just a few stitches, but she’ll be fine. Got to go, bye.” Shaking uncontrollably, Bree hung up quickly.

Ten minutes later, she dashed into the tiny, empty post office foyer and, using Nick’s key, retrieved the pile of mail jammed into the small box.

Bree flipped through the junk mail, searching for Tessa’s letter. She found it nestled between a contest and an advertisement. She grabbed for it, upsetting the handful of papers. The multi-colored pack rained down on the floor.

She groaned, kneeling to collect the runaway mail. The cream colored business envelope, bearing the familiar bold black print in the upper left hand corner and addressed to Nick wedged beneath her knee, drew her undivided attention. Gil Lambert, Attorney at Law.

A ripple of shock shot through her
. This is the beginning of the end.

The envelope felt like a hot iron in Bree’s hands, burning a hole right through her palm as she walked into the cabin a half-hour later.

The muffled voices of Nick and Sydney floated down to her from upstairs. Nick’s unmistakable deep tones created a wealth of heady emotions from tenderness to a sore spot on her troubled soul.

“What am I going to do?”

Glancing down at the hateful reminder that they’d have to face reality soon enough, Bree nearly wept. She felt torn between doing what Nick would want her to do, be honest, truthful, and what every mother’s instinct screamed at her to do, lie, tear Gil’s letter to pieces, and then throw it away.

In a daze, she walked to a nearby chair and dumped all the other mail on the seat. It scattered with some landing on the floor. Stooping automatically to retrieve the wayward missives, she halted as an idea formed, taking shape and bursting in her head.

“It might just work,” she whispered, thinking that she wouldn’t exactly be lying at all, just stalling things, buying some time. “Yeah, then you’ll be living on borrowed time.”

Her fear for what Gil had uncovered, and then presented to Nick in the enclosed letter, prompted her actions. Taking a deep shaky breath, Bree shoved Gil’s envelope under the chair and left all but Tessa’s already read note where they had landed. She folded her friend’s envelope and shoved it in her back pocket.

The words flashed through her mind. To anyone else, Tessa’s flare for drama would be easily tossed aside. But not for Bree; there was always the danger of being found out, of someone from her past storming back into her life and ripping it to shreds.

“Oh, Nick, why did you have to put our wedding announcement in the paper,” she asked softly, knowing as Tessa and Gil suspected that’s what drew this person to Bree.

A chill ran down her spine. It could only be
him.

***

Five minutes later, gathering her self-control, Bree pinned a smile on her face and tip-toed the last few steps to stand in Sydney’s doorway.

Awed at what she saw, Bree stilled in her tracks. Sydney, dressed in her white tulle and pink roses wedding finery, sat opposite Nick at the tiny wooden table and chair set he had built for her.

He was clad in his wedding suit with his knees jammed against the table edge. His large frame overwhelmed the miniature chair and Bree wondered if it would collapse under him.

She nearly laughed out loud when she noticed neither her daughter nor her husband wore any shoes. Sydney’s bandaged foot lay nestled on a pillow under the table.

Unobserved and filling with tenderness, Bree watched their easy exchange as they proceeded with their tea party.

“Don’t drink all the tea, Poppa.” Her daughter reached out, halting Nick’s hand from making it to his mouth. He replaced the thimble-sized porcelain teacup to its matching flowered saucer. “We gotta save some for mommy when she gets home. Here, have a cookie instead.” Sydney handed him a chocolate chip cookie with a huge bite taken out of it.

The smile he sent her little girl lit up his face and stole Bree’s breath away. “Leftovers? You know I hate leftovers.”

“Just for today, Poppa, please.”

“Oh, all right.” He nibbled on the half-eaten treat.

Sydney leaned her elbows on the table, propped her chin in her hands, and then looked up at Nick adoringly. “I love you, Poppa.”

“I love you, too, Princess.” His voice sounded gruff and clogged with emotion. Bree’s heart turned over in her chest.

“Always?” Sydney asked with a little catch.

“Always,” Nick answered without hesitation.

“Pinkie promise, Poppa.” She reached out, her little finger crooked in invitation.

He hooked his with her daughter’s. “Pinkie promise.”

Sydney let out a great big sigh. “Now I feel better.”

And so did Bree. Relief tripped along her jumpy nerves, soothing them. Nick always kept his word.

Over the last few hours she’d tried to harden her heart where Nick was concerned. Now she realized how badly she failed that mission.

Witnessing his playful interaction with Sydney, watching his gentle care of her little girl, and hearing his undying love for her daughter, Bree faced the undeniable truth: She was hopelessly in love with Nick Carletti.

Tears smarted her eyes and wonder flooded her middle. She’d always loved him. But only now could she face the revelation.

So many years lost, so much heartache, and there was more to come before the end.

Her heart hitched. She must have made a noise; Nick twisted to look at her, capturing her gaze. “Hey, you’re back.” He smiled, slowly and sensually.

Bree sucked in a breath, dazzled by the welcoming. Turning away from his hypnotic stare, she looked to her beaming child, blinking back the stinging in her eyes. “I see you two have been busy. You must be feeling better this morning, sweetpea.”

“Lots better. Oh, Mommy, I’m so happy you’re here. Now we can have our party.”

“Hey,” Nick said, “aren’t you forgetting something?” He waved his hand to her attire, and then at his. “It’s formal wear.”

Sydney slapped a hand to her forehead, and then shook her head. “I forgot.”

“Give me a minute and I’ll join you two.” Chuckling, Bree began to leave, but twisted back instead. “But first let me have a good morning kiss.” Going to her daughter, Bree bent low and dropped a noisy kiss on Sydney’s cheek. “I missed you so much.”

“How ‘bout Poppa, don’t he get one, too?”

Bree arched her brows at him. “If he wants one.”

“He wants, all right,” Nick said in a husky whisper, his eyelids heavy with unspoken desire.

Warmth flooded her. She took two steps, and then stood in front of him. Cupping his face between her palms, Bree searched his endearing features, memorizing each and every one.

I’m going to love you ’til the day I die, Nicholas Carletti
.

Leaning close, she pressed her lips against his firm, masculine ones, imprinting the soft feel and chocolate taste of them on her mind forever. “Mmmm, very sweet,” she said as she pulled away, and then winked at Sydney.

Giggles erupted. “Oh, Mommy, you’re so funny. Of course he is; he just had a cookie.”

“Of course, how silly of me,” Bree joked. “Now, I must go and make myself beautiful for my family.” Her voice cracked on the last word, painfully aware she might not have one for very long.

Nick grasped her hand, halting her. The slightly rough texture of his flesh had her yearning for more contact. “You already are beautiful, sweetness.”

Heat crawled up her neck at the male appreciation shining in his dark eyes. Images of being in his big, comforting arms flashed through her mind. The constant ache in her soul strummed to life, making its presence known once again.

Take what he was to offer, if only for the short time remaining of your honeymoon, if only for today, if only for an hour. Grab the little piece of happiness granted to you, a tiny slice of heaven
.

Making up her mind to seize the joy right in front of her, Bree leaned down and kissed Nick again. She clung to his lips for a moment, savoring the unrestricted access. Reluctantly parting from him, she whispered, “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

His statement held a world of promise. A tiny thrill raced down her spine.

***

Hours later, Nick stretched out in the Adirondack chair on the back porch. The sweet scent of grass floated to him and the sharp cry of a blue jay pierced the tranquil air. Crossing his bare feet at the ankles, he propped his elbow on the wooden arm. He rubbed a finger over his lips as he contemplated the touching scene before him.

Nearby, Bree cuddled with Sydney in the net hammock with their two blonde heads close and matching contented smiles on their radiant faces.

The slight afternoon breeze stirred wisps of their hair and rocked them to sleep. His granddaughter’s favorite Dr. Suess book lay half-read on Bree’s stomach. They’d both changed into large T-shirts he’d scavenged for in his closet.

Scanning the long expanse of Bree’s bare legs, Nick sucked in a heated breath. A swirling sensation began in his abdomen, growing in intensity and sweeping the ache to unbearable degrees.

A craving throbbed inside him, bigger and stronger than any he’d ever had to fight. He easily dismissed it as just sexual. This was far deeper than anything a mere physical union could appease. No matter how spectacular making love to Bree had been, he sensed this desperate hunger coincided with how starved he was for a family to care for, to protect.

Probing the corners of his mind, he uncovered the essence of who he was, a man he thought he’d lost, but who Bree directed him to after a long denial. He
needed
to be needed.