Secrets Of The Heart (Book 1, The Heart Series) (18 page)

Sydney needed a father figure, a challenge he welcomed, longed for, in fact.

Being useful, being of service was so ingrained in his make up that he took it in stride and for granted. His work afforded him those rewards. But, in his personal life, he’d missed it terribly.

Once, a long time ago, Bree had allowed him to help. But after Sydney’s birth, Bree had withdrawn. Now, after discovering some disturbing information, he figured that had had a lot to do with Vinnie’s vile words and accusations.

And Nana, strong and independent, had taken care of him more than he of her until a few months ago when she had fallen and broken her hip. Then she’d gotten pneumonia. She rapidly deteriorated, withering away, leaving him alone, his world empty.

Now, he stared at the picture perfect image, his wife and his granddaughter.

Mother and child.

A mixture of awe and stunned wonder swept through him.

By marrying him, Bree had gifted his life with a sweet richness like none he’d ever experienced before.

An invisible hand squeezed his heart, wringing out the incredible amount of affection he held hidden there.

What have I ever done without them? What would I ever do if I lost them?

A fear, like no other, gripped him hard, stealing away his breath
. No! Never!
He sat up straight. The chair creaked at the shift in weight.

Perspiration dotted his brow and he swiped at it, hoping to erase the horrible thoughts careening like a speeding freight train through his brain.

Suddenly, as if a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky and struck him, Nick made an earth shattering discovery:
I’m in love with Bree!

Panic ballooned in his middle. His heartbeat thundered wildly. He felt like he’d just taken a giant step off a very high cliff and he was now free falling in air.

Nick leaned forward. Propping his elbows on his thighs, he dragged his hands through his hair, and then rubbed the back of his neck.

Dear God, help me! What am I going to do?

***

“I’m tired of playing games,” Sydney said, shoving aside the board game on the kitchen table. She looked up at Bree with pleading eyes. “Can’t we have a party or somethin’? It’s our last night here. We could always dance.”

Bree’s heart turned over. How could she deny that soulful gaze? For a week now she and Nick had had to keep her little girl occupied and off her injured foot. Weariness settled on Bree’s shoulders at the constant feat of entertaining one very active child. She didn’t know what she would have done without Nick here to help her.

Standing near Sydney, Bree reached out and stroked back the silky soft bangs, and then bent to press a kiss on Sydney’s forehead.

Her little girl smelled of strawberry bubble bath she’d insisted on filling the tub with for her bath a half-hour earlier. With her foot wrapped in plastic and sticking out of the tub, Sydney had loved finally being able to take a bubble bath again.

Nick entered from the living room as Bree straightened. His presence seemed to light up the room for her. Ever since she realized she loved him last week, a bubbling sensation erupted in her middle every time he drew near.

She’d cherished every second with him, storing away the precious moments and keeping her feelings hidden.

Now she had two very important, very fragile secrets to protect.

“What’s this I hear? Princess, you know even though you’re healing you still need to be careful.”

“I know, but I can watch you two. And mommy can put on her red dress and I can coree-o-graft it.”

“Choreograph, sweetpea,” Bree corrected automatically, holding back a chuckle.

“Well…” He appeared to mull it over. A smile tugged one corner of his mouth upward and Bree had to grab ahold of the chair to steady her weak knees. “Red
is
my favorite color. And I am partial to that dress of yours…” He sent Bree a wicked wink, causing delicious heat to chase along her nerve endings. “Sure, why not?”

Sydney clapped loudly. “Oh, Poppa, you’re the best. Can I help pick out the music, too?”

He rounded the other side of the table and scooped up Sydney. Seeing her daughter in his big, strong arms strummed the tender spot inside Bree. “It needs an expert’s touch, right? So, you’re the perfect one for the job. Come on we’ll get it all set up while your mom changes, okay?”

“Oh, goodie. I know just what I want.” Sydney whispered in his ear. His eyebrows arched.

“What are you two up to?” Bree asked, growing curious.

“You’ll see,” Nick said mysteriously. But, he did give her another wink.

Fifteen minutes later, Bree presented herself to her family. She twirled around, the flared edges of the dress lifting and fanning out. “How’s this?”

Nick gulped hard, his Adam’s Apple bobbing up and down. The flash in his dark eyes lent credence to his approval. She suspected he’d glimpsed her lacy red panties. “Perfect,” he murmured huskily.

Sydney, from her perch on the sofa, directed Bree. “Come over here, Mommy, so I can see you, too.” As Bree drew near, her daughter exclaimed, “Oh, you’re the most beau-tee-fullest mommy in the whole wide world, right, Poppa?”

“Absolutely.” Nick’s voice rang with conviction, causing Bree to swivel to face him.

She nearly gasped at the long, lazy perusal he gave her. A warmth stole over her. “Thank you,” she choked out, too overcome to say anything more.

Holding out his hand, he said in a low, seductive voice, “May I have this dance, Mrs. Carletti?”

Bree closed the gap between them as the soft, dreamy music began. Going into his outstretched arms, she tucked her head in the small space between his neck and shoulder.

Inhaling, she detected his sandalwood after-shave. His large, warm hands, splayed on her back, cradled her to his wide chest.

The lyrics caused her to close her eyes for a long moment, wishing she could ask Nick to love her that long.

“Nick.” His name escaped her lips on a breath of pleasure.

“Bree,” he whispered, rubbing his cheek against her hair.

Following his lead, Bree matched her steps to his. The slow waltz brought her whole body in tantalizing contact with him. Her hips grazed his, her thighs brushing his.

Heaven. Pure heaven.
In his comforting embrace, she knew only safety, security, protection. Nothing could harm her here. He kept everything at bay, refusing to allow any of the harsh, cold reality to filter through.

And he filled the emptiness, the loneliness that plagued her mind, body, and soul.
I could get lost in your arms, Nick. Lost in you.

Pressing her lips to his neck, she tasted the slightly salty flesh. She felt the shiver that racked his body, a shiver she’d become accustomed to over the last week of making long, lingering love with him every night.

If only the world would stay away
.

“Yeah, that was great.” Sydney clapped.

Bree came back to reality with a thud as the song ended.

“Play the next one, Poppa.” Her little girl rubbed her hands together. “This one is my favorite.” Breaking away from Nick, Bree blushed. “Do you two have the rest of the night all mapped out?”

He smiled slyly. “Oh, yeah.”

There was no doubt in her mind what he referred to and more heat stole over her neck and face. He chuckled wickedly in her ear as he passed her in route to the stereo system, his one allowance at outside interference in the quiet countryside.

“Get ready for this one, Mommy, you’re gonna love it.”

Turning to her daughter, Bree raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really, and what do you have planned, young lady?

“You’ll see.” Sydney smiled impishly.

She glanced from her little girl to Nick. Both wore Cheshire cat grins. Her heart tripped over itself. And she made a startling discovery: She’d never seen either one happier. No evidence of pain, fear, grief, guilt, or distrust existed. Only infectious joy abounded. She’d pay anything, do anything to make it last forever.

Jubilation tickled somewhere deep inside. “All right, if you want to keep it a surprise, then I’m game.”

“Oh goodie, mommy!”

Suddenly a popular song from the fifties blared out of the speakers.

Nick strode to her side, and then grasped her hand in his warm, large one.

She laughed as he twirled her around, and then tugged her to and fro. Easily following the familiar dance routine she and Sydney often practiced to, Bree threw all her energy into creating a special time for the two people she loved dearly.

“Uh oh, watch out!” Sydney cried.

Bree nicked a chair, the impact stinging her calf. Nick steadied her.

Stopping for a moment, he said, “Here, let me shove this thing out of the way.”

An invisible hand choked the breath from her lungs. An icy sensation whooshed through her body when she realized which chair he shifted.

The muffled scraping ripped through her scrambling brain, obliterating the snappy music. “Wait!”
Too late.

He frowned, and then bent to retrieve the cream colored envelope. “What’s this?” Flipping it over, he read the front. “Why would Gil be sending me a letter and how did it get under here?”

He jerked his head up, capturing her stare. Suspicion clouded his dark gaze.

Her heart jumped to her throat, lodging itself there. She shrugged helplessly, feeling as if the rug had just been yanked from under her feet.

“You’ve gone deathly white.” His lips thinned and tension lines bracketed his mouth. Ripping the missive open, Nick scanned the contents, his eyes shifting back and forth quickly.

She couldn’t wait a moment longer to hear her fate. With her voice a mere squeak, she asked, “Wh…what does it say?”

A sense of disquiet loomed over Nick as he gazed into the guilt ridden features of his wife.

Over the last few days he’d been living in a dream land, a magical place and time where laughter and joy blossomed. He’d fooled himself, thinking it had been an answer to a prayer.

Now, the real world intruded like a dark threatening rain cloud, ready to shower him with cold, stinging reality.

She’d lied
.

That’s what he’d gotten by following his heart and not listening to his head. He’d never make that mistake again.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” he demanded.

She gulped noisily, and then averted her eyes. “About what?”

A thread of alarm laced her question.

Sydney hobbled over to him and tugged on his pant leg. “What’s wrong, Poppa?”

Staring down into the large, distressed cobalt blue eyes, he bit back on a rush of words. He tempered his answer, along with his growing anger.

But the distrust he’d felt burst anew, relighting the flame to burn brighter than ever before. “Your mother
forgot
to tell me that Tessa’s been fielding some interesting phone calls.”

A deep frown carved lines between Sydney’s brows. “What’s fieldin’?”

Bree jumped in, saying, “Tessa’s just been taking my messages, that’s all.”

He gritted his teeth, halting himself from calling her on that oversimplified answer.

“But he’s mad, Mommy. I can tell.” She backed away. Standing between him and Bree, she spread her arms wide as if she were a shield, protecting her mother. “You’re not gonna start yelling really loud, are you, Poppa? Daddy used to scare me and Mommy like that all the time.” Her little chin quivered, tearing Nick apart.

Wincing inwardly, Nick figured she’d seen too much, heard too much in her short lifetime. Yet, here she stood ready to do battle if he so much as raised his voice to Bree.

At times like this, when he discovered Vinnie’s legacy to his wife and daughter, Nick would love to bring his son back just so he could shake him.

Nick squatted. On eye level with Sydney now, he held her unwavering stare. “You’re right, I’m mad at your mom and I did want to say some pretty awful things. But I won’t, because it’s wrong to hurt someone you care about whether it’s with nasty words or any other way.”

Her arms came back to her sides and she took a tentative step toward him. Wariness still clouded her eyes. “Promise you won’t yell and slam the door, Poppa.”

Something wrapped around his chest and squeezed until he hurt. “I promise, Princess. I just want to talk grown up stuff with your mom. Can you give us a few minutes alone to do that?”

She sent him a trembling smile and nodded her agreement. Turning to Bree, she said, “But I’ll be right here if you need me, Mommy.”

Bree bent down and gathered Sydney close. “Thank you, sweetie, but you know that’s my job, taking care of us both.”

He locked gazes with Bree. “It’s mine now.”

***

Nick sighed loudly, watching Bree’s stiff back as he leaned against the kitchen counter. He still couldn’t shake the knowledge of reading surprise and a touch of gratitude in her gaze when he’d declared he’d claimed the family job of caretaker.

“I swear, Nick, the calls are nothing to worry about. It’s probably some old school friend trying to get in touch with me after seeing our wedding announcement in the newspaper.” She waved a hand in dismissal, briefly stopping in her task of picking up the little game pieces littering the table.

“So, if you believe that, why didn’t you tell me this after you called the beauty shop and found all this out?”
And why did you hide Gil’s letter? Explain that one, if you can.

“Tessa makes a big deal out of almost anything. I’m afraid she doesn’t have much of an exciting life taking care of her granny, so she zeros in on any little thing and exaggerates it. Isn’t that what Gil implied in his letter?”

“Since you’ve just read it, you know exactly what it says.” He sensed her underlying tension even from five feet away. “You could have mentioned it to me.” He wished he could yank back the hurt in his words.

She stopped fidgeting with the tiny objects and slowly turned to him. “I guess I was being selfish.”

He frowned. “Selfish? I don’t understand.”