Whisper (11 page)

No amount of preparation would make living through rough patches any more bearable, and he refused to dwell on potential problems. Life wasn’t a dress rehearsal. You enjoyed what you could, full tilt.

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Keith glanced around at those who’d gathered for Thanksgiving dinner. All the kids and a bunch of their friends filled the house. Laughter accompanied the scrape of forks against plates. He enjoyed seeing kids he hadn’t seen in a while, catching up on their lives while listening to accomplishments and mistakes. Maybe the accident forced him to do what he should’ve done sooner. In the future, he wouldn’t forget that spending time at home was more important than making money. He wouldn’t ever give up more vacation time to earn double wages.

The meal surpassed anything in his memory.

Turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, salad, sweet potatoes—the list continued.

Desserts sat on the buffet, reminding them not to eat too much. Pumpkin pies, apple pies, strawberry pies, cheesecake and chocolate frosted brownies covered the entire surface. The meal took hours as everyone leisurely ate, picked at morsels and enjoyed sweets.

After eight in the evening, some of the kids left to go to the movies. Those closer to the family, stayed to help clean up.

With all the dishes done and Heather wanting to go down to the crypt with the guys for rehearsal, Whisper finally took a break and sat on the couch.

Within minutes, she dropped off to sleep. She’d come over at dawn after working until two in the morning.

No wonder she passed out.

The recliner didn’t look nearly as comfortable as the couch so he hobbled over and sat next to her. He 87

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placed a pillow in his lap and carefully eased her head and shoulders onto it. She sighed contentedly, squirmed around and settled down. Stroking hair away from her forehead and face, lassitude and peace washed over him. With a throbbing leg, he remedied the situation by placing his cast on the coffee table.

Mark came into the living room and stopped in his tracks. The kid probably questioned what the hell he was looking at. Keith wondered himself why it felt right having her in his lap, stroking her hair.

Maybe it stemmed from the kids viewing him more like a father than a brother, and treating Whisper like a mother. Why shouldn’t
mom
and
dad
get cozy once in a while?

Whisper started grousing and fidgeting. A nightmare of some nature caused the scared sounds coming from her throat. He placed his arm over her, laying his palm along her check and ear, letting his fingers gently rub her scalp. “Shh, you’re so tired you can’t relax. Go back to sleep, Whisper.”

“Where am I?” she asked in a drowsy voice full of concern.

“You’re with me.”

“Heather?”

“Downstairs with the others.”

Her eyes closed and she cuddled closer.

“Protected.” The single word confirmed more about her past than a week of talking.

Mark walked near, navigated around the coffee table and sat on the glass top. “Is she okay?” Keith nodded. “Just tired.”

Mark reached up, pulled the blanket off the back of the couch, shook it out, and spread it over her. She sighed contentedly. Mark touched her hair without disturbing her. “She looks like a kid.” His voice was quiet.

“Most people do when they sleep,” Keith replied.

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“No calculation, no defense.”

His brother smiled and replaced the hair.

“Innocent looking.”

Keith silently agreed. She looked like an angel, sleeping peacefully. Even the thumping from below seemed far away as he relaxed and let his head fall back. Each time she squirmed, he stroked her cheek and hair until she quieted.

Mark said, “I’m sorry about the accident but I’m glad you’re home.”

“Me too, Mark.”

“Hey, and about Whisper…”

Keith raised his head.

“Well, when she heard you were coming home, she said she’d stay away. She said she’d
step out
and give you back your house.” Mark shrugged his shoulders. “She’s still here. I guess I’m trying to say thanks for—”

“Needing her?”

Mark smiled. “No, for accepting her. You know, letting her help.”

“Mark,” he said quietly, “we’d get along fine on our own, you know that. We’d muddle through whatever mess we found ourselves in. I’m not blind, and see having her and Heather around, make things a whole hell of a lot nicer. I’ll make it up to her somehow.”

Mark stood. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Being needed and appreciated seems to go a long way with her.”

Keith closed his eyes and thought about Mark’s statement. For the first time since he limped in the door, he actually contemplated what motivated her and couldn’t come up with an answer. Some people helped out while calculating repayment. Whisper sure as hell wasn’t one of them. As Mark said, being needed and helping seemed to give her something she looked for or wanted. Did she desire approval?

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Or could she simply be one of those people who had a heart of gold?

Sometime later, his eyes opened and the room slowly came into focus. He’d been covered with a blanket while slumped in the corner of the couch. A pillow remained in his lap and Whisper’s head and shoulder rested there. They were alone.

He groaned because something felt really good.

Jesus! Curled on her side facing him, Whisper held his wrist. She had his index finger in her mouth, lightly sucking it. She appeared to be asleep. God, the woman had a talented mouth and loved using it.

Having just enough sense to refrain from acting on certain urges, he managed to pull his finger away.

With none of the kids around, he touched his fingertip to her lips and she opened before her tongue came forward to lick. If she kept it up, he’d come right where he sat. Using the moisture on his finger, he traced her soft lips. A simple gesture had never been more arousing.

The thumping in the crypt stopped, and he heard kids walking up the basement stairs. The kitchen door opened, and something crashed on the floor. Whisper sat bolt upright, shoving his hand away.

“Jesus, Jade, do you walk much?” Corey asked before kids started laughing.

Keith touched her arm to offer some reassurance. She flinched like he’d clobbered her; she tried to scream. The sound coming from her throat made him freeze. What the hell!

Heather rounded the corner. “Whisper!” Whisper gazed at her. Breathing heavily, she said, “Go to your room, right now. Quickly. Hurry, Heather, go now!”

Heather stood there, mouth agape, before taking a few steps. Whisper blinked, like she tried making sense of the situation. She turned and placed her 90

Whisper

feet on the floor. With her elbows on her knees, her face fell into her hands. “Oh, God. Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

The other kids filed in and stood behind Heather. No one moved but Billy. Keith wouldn’t move either until he knew for a fact she was completely awake. Billy walked right over to her and knelt down. Rubbing her arm, he asked, “Are you okay, Whisper? You have a bad dream?” She raised her face and opened her arms. Billy went willingly for the hug. “Jade tripped and fell in the kitchen.”

“Is that what woke me?”

“Yep. Just Jade. He has awfully big feet.” Everyone laughed except Heather. She kept staring at her sister, looking very scared. Whisper twisted and gazed at the pillow in Keith’s lap. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how I wound up here.”

“We were watching the television and we both fell asleep,” he replied. The statement was somewhat true. The TV still played across the room. “Someone covered us up and propped my leg.”

“It was me,” Billy said. “Whisper worked really hard and you needed a nap too.” The youngest in the house deciding when the adults needed to sleep, had all of them laughing.

Whisper kissed Billy’s cheek and stood. “What time is it?”

“Only ten,” Corey answered.

“We need to get home.”

“Can Heather stay for a while? No school tomorrow.”

Whisper crossed her arms and looked at Keith.

“No problem by me. I’m up for a while,” he replied.

“Cool. We’re going to my room,” Corey said. He must’ve thought about his comment because he immediately clarified it. “We’re all going to my room 91

Kathleen Lash

to surf the computer. You okay with that, Keith?” What harm could there be in five of them hanging out in Corey’s room? He glanced at Whisper to see if she had any objections. She shrugged her shoulders and said to Heather, “You be home by midnight.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Heather replied.

The troops amassed and made their way upstairs, while Whisper walked to the front door and started pulling on her coat. He managed to get off the couch and grab his crutches before limping to the door. Alone again, he wished like hell both legs worked. What he wanted to do wouldn’t be easy with his armpits stuffed full of crutch pads.

“Kiss me,” he said.

She glanced toward the staircase.

“We’re alone. Kiss me.”

“Why?”

After her sucking his finger and moaning, he figured her dreams probably coincided with something she might want. Regardless, there were things he suddenly wanted. Balanced on one leg, he leaned a crutch against the wall and wrapped an arm around her before bringing her close. “Because it’s damn hard for me to kiss you. But I’ll manage.” He leaned down and took a good taste of her incredible mouth. Heat swept over him and he worked to keep things simple. They could get complex really fast if he wasn’t careful.

“Thank you.” He stayed close, resisting the urge to feel more, take more. “For everything.”

“No problem. I had a wonderful time.” She didn’t need to minimize the work and effort she put into a perfect meal. God knew, he’d never had anyone do half as much to make a holiday special for them.

“I bet.”

“Really.” The stroke of her fingers against his face felt like another kiss. He craved her touch as 92

Whisper

much as her lips. The leather coat squeaked and crinkled when she crossed her arms. “It gets lonely.

The holidays. We always celebrate but never…” Her tongue passed over her lips. “Today was special.

With the kids. You’ve done a wonderful job raising them, you know. All of them. Even those not related.”

“I’m never here.”

“Someone taught Mark. Someone influenced the rest of them, too. The way they all look after each other isn’t common.”

“Necessity. They either stick together and we all make it, or they act up, cause trouble and nothing works out. They’re smart.” He had a question for her. It suddenly mattered a great deal. “How long, baby? How long have you been on your own?”

“Forever.” Her eyes glistened with moisture. “At least long enough. I really am tired. A little sleep and I’ll be as good as new, not all sentimental.”

“I kind of like you sentimental. Makes me believe you might kiss me this time.” She pursed her lips and chewed on the inside of her cheek. “You’d like that?”

He openly stared at her mouth. He’d do a hell of a lot more than like it. He wanted her to do the kissing, and anticipated it as his heart picked up beats. A palm on the side of his face, a quick, nervous swipe from her tongue across her bottom lip before—heaven. For the sweet caress of her lips, she deserved a lot more than him growling into her perfect mouth. He couldn’t help the sound though. A simple taste had his blood pumping and his body hard and hungry for more than an appetizer.

When she stepped back, she appeared shaken and surprised.

“Whisper?”

“What is it about you that makes me like this?” He grinned, liking confirmation he wasn’t the 93

Kathleen Lash

only one affected. “The cast.”

“You think so?” Her smile could be so sexy yet innocent.

“Sure. You have a soft spot a blind man could see. You love helping and fixing things.” Every aspect of her changed—her expression, her stance.

He’d hurt her somehow. “Whisper? What’s wrong?”

“I’d just never heard that before. I’m surprised.”

“You also think I just lied to you. Is that it?” She took a small step back. He wouldn’t let her go too far, not with the upset look on her face. He grasped her arm and his thumb rubbed. “Whisper?”

“I’m sorry.” Her voice became impossibly soft. “I never meant to give the impression I could fix anything.” She gently pulled away and backed toward the door. Her accent became more distinct.

“Nothing’s broken, except your leg, and that’s way beyond me to fix. Thanks for having us over. Please send Heather on home if she gets underfoot.” The door opened, she slipped through before it quietly closed. Keith stood there dumbfounded as he watched her walk down the snow-covered drive to the sidewalk.

What hadn’t she said in all those words? That she’d broken something and couldn’t put it back together? That she didn’t have the ability to fix something that went wrong? She’d thanked him for the company on a holiday, when she’d rallied everyone together and done all the cooking and cleaning afterward. Maybe she’d simply been tired, having worked like a dog without a reprieve.

When she woke, she’d been terrified. She ordered Heather away while she didn’t move.

Wouldn’t a natural instinct be for her to get away from the danger too? Why hadn’t she?

It couldn’t be more obvious she’d suffered in some manner. He’d initially thought perhaps a man did the damage because of how she’d acted in bed.

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He wondered then, if a parent hadn’t inflicted some hard lessons on both her and Heather.

He needed to seriously consider how close he got to Whisper. She should have someone permanent in her life. He couldn’t have anyone permanent in his.

His brothers came first. He wouldn’t take chances on risky ventures, regardless of how pretty, soft spoken or caring they appeared.

No one questioned the kids being with him. Not once, even when the police got involved when Mark acted up a few years before. They’d been damned lucky, and Keith sweated out the court appearances one at a time, fearing the kids would be taken away.