Breaking the Silence (Hard Drive Book 2) (4 page)

Chloe rubbed her tired eyes and glanced back to the couch. A little nap wouldn’t hurt. Maybe the numbers would make sense afterward. She stood up and crossed the room, grabbing the blanket from the back of the sofa. She never heard the footsteps behind her.

“Chloe.”

She startled, letting out a high-pitched squeal and spinning at Rico. “Don’t ever scare me like that again!”

“Sorry,” he apologized.

She slumped on the couch and covered her legs. “I thought you were sparring.”

“Water break. Hey, I need a favor.”

“Another one? This will be the third or fourth one you’ll owe me, Rico.”

“Well aware.”

“What do you want?”

Rico sat beside her. She could see the sudden ray of hope in his eyes. “Teach me Sign Language.”

“What?”

“Avery said that if we could talk to each other, she’d go out with me. So, teach me to talk to her.”

“Rico, it’s not an overnight thing. It’s going to take a while to learn. I doubt she’ll just wait around.”

“I have that handled.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“I’ve been sending her flowers at the coffee shop the last couple days. I know how to charm a woman, Chloe. Just help me talk to this one on my own.”

Chloe stared at him for a long moment. Then, she smiled. He really had it bad for Avery. And she cared about him too much to be the hurdle standing in his way. “All right. I’ll teach you. But I get your full attention the entire time. Got it?”

“Absolutely. Got it.”

“Come back up here after lunch, and we’ll have your first lesson. Okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Good.” She shooed him away. “Now, go. You need to train. And I need to nap. Fight camp wears me out.”

Rico laughed. “You aren’t going through camp. Max and I are.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Really? Who’s been holding mitts for him every morning? Oh, yeah—me. So, let me sleep.”

He stood, still laughing. “Sure thing, sis. And thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Chloe waited until he stepped out of the room before she stretched out on the sofa. It took only moments before she dozed off.

It was nearly noon before Chloe woke up. She frowned. She had only been planning to nap for an hour. It had lasted nearly three. She shrugged to herself. The accounting would just have to wait until after her lesson with Rico. She knew there was enough money to buy groceries tonight. That was all that mattered.

Chloe stood then folded the blanket and tossed it over the back of the couch. She reached into the refrigerator for the salads she had made her and Max for lunch. She glanced at the third one sitting there. Knowing Rico, he had forgotten to bring anything to eat. As both men bounded into the room, her suspicions were confirmed. She handed the two salads in her hands to them then retrieved the third one for herself.

After they had finished eating, Max disappeared downstairs to teach a class. Chloe pointed to the sofa in a silent command. Rico sunk into the cushion obediently. She wheeled her office chair over to him and settled into it. “Okay, let’s just start with a simple greeting.” She slowly signed to him. “That means ‘Hello, my name is R-I-C-O.’ Now, do it with me.”

Chloe watched as he butchered the first couple of attempts. As it started to come smoother for him, an alert chirped on his phone. He stopped his hands and dug for the cell in his short’s pocket.

“Rico,” Chloe chided.

“Give me just a sec. It’s Sam,” Rico defended, as he typed.

“You promised you’d give me your undivided attention.”

“Sam’s the promoter. I can’t tell him to wait.”

Chloe stood and crossed the room to her desk. She picked up a magazine. Rolling it in her hand, she returned to him. Then, she whacked him in the shoulder with it using all the strength she had. She scowled at him as he dropped his phone and clenched his arm.

“Hey!” he protested.

Chloe tossed the magazine next to her chair where she could reach it again. “I know Sam. He’ll understand. You promised me.”

Rico glared at her. “I know. All right.” He tucked his cell back in his pocket.

Chloe settled herself back in her chair with a sigh.
This might take more effort than I originally thought.
“Let’s start with the alphabet next.”

»»•««

Avery frothed the milk in a customer’s cup then slowly poured in the espresso. After squirting in a generous amount of chocolate syrup, she popped on the top and slid on a sleeve. She forced a bright smile on her face as she handed over the Styrofoam container decorated with coffee beans. The woman’s lips were animated as she rambled on to Avery. Not that Avery could hear a word of it.

Some days, it would be easier just to wear a T-shirt that said “I’m deaf.”
Not that I should have to.

She had been deaf for so long that she couldn’t remember what it was like to hear anything. Her memories played in her mind as silent movies. She missed what voices, music, and nature sounded like. Her brain only held on to one sound—the screeching and groaning of the metal body of an armored convoy vehicle being ripped to shreds in a ball of fire.

The explosion was the last thing she had ever heard. From then on, it was smothering silence.

She looked up to read the next drink order. She had learned to live with being deaf. She was a Marine. Adapt and overcome. She had been through boot camp. She had served as a Military Police Officer in Afghanistan. She had almost been killed by a roadside bomb. She had lost her best friend in that attack. She hadn’t even cried when she’d learned the news. She could handle a little disability.

Admittedly, her stubborn pride interfered quite a bit. She refused the simple pleasures she had before she was deaf. Like driving. Or talking. She went through months of therapy to try to get her voice back. She could make some sounds. But every time she tried to form just one word the disappointed gaze of the therapist told her only one thing. It was never coming back. So she quit trying.

Avery’s eyes caught the pale pink bouquet of flowers that sat on the counter behind her. She sighed. She had to admit that there were times being deaf sucked, like when the most incredible guy in the world had walked into her life but couldn’t communicate with her. Telling Rico Choate she couldn’t see him again was the hardest thing she had ever done.

She didn’t really date. She had just never found interest in a man. When she had been enlisted, she was too consumed with her career. The Marines were all she had cared about. When she had rejoined the civilian world, she didn’t have the patience for immature guys who couldn’t handle being with a deaf woman without making it a joke. The only guy she had ever been comfortable around was her brother, Lindsay.

Then, Rico had walked into the cafe. She could lose herself in his deep blue eyes. His tall, strong build made her knees go weak. She wanted to bury her fingers in his thick, dark brown hair. She had thought—
there’s no way a guy that hot would want to ask me out.

Then, through his friend, Chloe, he did just that. After one date, she had ended it. Ever since, he had filled her thoughts and haunted her dreams. Rico didn’t help the situation at all. Nearly every day, a different arrangement was delivered for her, of the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. Each bore a simple message.

Thinking of you.

Rico.

Avery glanced across the small shop. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt her heart race in her chest. Speaking of the devil, Rico stood at the counter placing an order. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath to calm herself. It didn’t slow her stampeding pulse.

This is getting ridiculous
. She would have to set him straight. She just couldn’t torture herself like this.

Once she capped his iced tea, she grabbed a note pad and pen. She sat the drink on the counter as she scrambled to think of what to write. Her thoughts stopped as she noticed his fingers.

His smile was shy as he signed again.
Hello. How are you?

Her eyes flew open wide in surprise.
You sign! But how?

Rico gestured then picked up the pen and paper.

I’m still learning.

He lifted his hands to sign again.
Did you like the flowers?

She giggled.
Yes. Thank you.
She scrawled beneath what he had written.

Why are you learning sign language?

His lips cracked into a wide grin as he took the pen from her again.

So we can talk. So you’ll go out with me again.

Avery’s pulse kicked up a notch as her knees went weak. She leaned against the counter as she followed his words before writing her own.

Get a few more lessons then come back and ask me out. I might just say yes.

She didn’t think his smile could get bigger, but it did. He scribbled at the bottom of the page.

Your wish is my command. I’ll see you soon.

He waved goodbye as he stepped back. She couldn’t pull herself away until he disappeared out the door. He was learning sign language…
for me
? There was no doubt. For the first time in her life, she was falling in love.

It was getting harder and harder to concentrate on training. Rico would rather spend his time learning sign language with Chloe than sparring with Max. A couple fists connecting with his chin brought him back to the task at hand.

At least fight camp was going better than expected. He would easily make weight in time. And, much to Mark and Dan’s agony as their sparring partners, he and Max were performing well.

But the moment training stopped, Rico leapt up the staircase to the office two steps at a time to have his lesson with Chloe. He kept her for hours. She was right. The whole process was slow. At least she was extremely patient. He was giving himself migraines trying to remember each word, phrase and syntax. He spent all his time at home practicing in the mirror, when he wasn’t shadowboxing.

It was all worth it when he would stop in at the coffee shop to talk to Avery. Her eyes glowed with excitement as she watched him sign to her. It was even better when he understood her response. She graciously helped him when there was something he didn’t comprehend. He started to sign more than he wrote on their pad.

Finally, Rico worked up the courage to ask her out again. He camped out in a plush, blue checked chair to wait for her shift to finish.

He grinned at her as she plopped exhaustedly onto the couch tucked next to the chair.
You were waiting for me?

Of course. Had a question.

That is?

Will you go out on a date with me again? You and me only?

She blushed.
When? And please just talk.

“Tomorrow is Saturday. Maybe one o’clock for lunch? How about then?”

Her face fell.
I am volunteering with Operation First Response. I am sorry.

He frowned as he spoke. “I didn’t get that.”

Avery tugged her phone out of her pocket then opened the notepad app. She typed what she said and handed it to him.

Rico took it and read the message. He grinned. “Could I come with you
?”

Her face brightened as she smiled.
Yes. That would be great.
Suddenly, her expression darkened instead.
Maybe we shouldn’t. It’s too much to ask.

“Nothing is too much to ask.”

She laughed. It was fuller and louder than the giggle he had heard before. The sound struck Rico like a bolt of lightning. He fell in love with it. Her sound was simply lovely, more beautiful than music. She typed another message on her phone.
An eight-hour round trip might be too much to ask, especially with my brother.

“What if I drove you? Give your brother the day off.”

She glanced over his shoulder to his Jeep.
Gas is expensive for that.

“Don’t worry about it. When should I pick you up?”

Give me your phone.

Rico slipped his cell from the back pocket of his jeans and handed it to her. Avery typed on it furiously. Rico’s heart seized in his chest. Not another note, he thought, even if it is electronic.

She handed the cell back to him.
Meet me at that address at ten in the morning. I also programmed my phone number in there. I can text you instead of handing the phone back and forth to each other. I need to get to class.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

He caught her hand in his to keep her from escaping, and then let go and signed,
Let me drive you there.

She gazed at him for a long, quiet moment before she smiled, pulled free her hand, and nodded.
That would be nice. Thank you.

Rico stood then crossed the room to hold the door for her. As he let it slip from his hand to follow her, his other was taken captive. Avery laced her fingers between his as she grinned impishly at him. With a laugh, he led her to his Jeep and helped her in the passenger’s seat.

Rico was tempted to drive miles out of the way just to keep Avery in his car. To watch her hair fly in the breeze. To see the sun radiating on her face, making her glow. His heart thundered in his chest. She was so beautiful.

They arrived too soon. She pecked him on the cheek before she climbed from the Jeep and dashed up the cement steps to her classroom.

Rico pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.

“What’s up, Rico?” Max answered.

“Got a favor to ask.”

“Another one?”

“You’re starting to sound like your wife.”

“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing. My wife is unbelievably gorgeous, brilliant, talented, and the best thing that has ever stepped into my life. I could only hope to be like her.”

“And she nags.”

“Only you, Rico. What do you want from me?”

“I’ve had something come up tomorrow. Can we meet earlier to roll?”

“How early?”

Rico took a deep breath before he spoke. “Six?”

“You want to meet at six in the morning?” Max asked incredulously. “Mark won’t even be off work by then.”