Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

haven’t been through what you have, and I still have some growing to do …”
    Bennett wrinkled his brow, unsure what she meant.
    “But it seems to me when your wife died, you got lost, and it’ll take time to regain your confidence again. Not to forget her, you will never forget. The pain though, that’ll get easier to handle.” She paused, uncertainty forming in her voice. “If … if you can believe someone who won’t turn thirty until September.”
    “My wife was thirty-one,” he said.
    That revelation seemed to shake her, and she clutched the baby tighter.
    Asqueal from her son took her from the room. But her scent lingered, and he inhaled deep, his mind spinning back the years to that morning when Jeff was small, the one where he’d made love to Beth, simply because he could.
     

     
    She hadn’t had time to prepare for this change in her life, hadn’t gone to the library planning to move in with a man she’d barely met, care for his children, and adapt her habits to fit his. Though she was qualified to be a mother … she could care for June, guide Jeff … she wasn’t qualified to “fix” Bennett Adams. He was a man teetering on the edge of collapse, mourning his wife, mentally exhausted from the care of his children, a man who saw ghosts at every turn.
    What he’d seen in the kitchen was a mystery, except he’d not been in the room. His eyes blank, his mouth agape, his coffee mug slipped from his grasp to shatter at his feet. One step in his office had furthered her concern. It looked extremely neglected, like he’d walked out one day with no intention of going back.
    Turning things over that afternoon, finally alone with June, Audrey decided her best bet was to act as normal as possible, to provide structure so he could let go of the worry that dogged him. That was part of it. He worried about his children without their mother; he worried about himself coping. She was sure he worried if her being there was good or not. But left much longer on his own, and he might’ve finally given into his pain and done something … drastic.
    What would have happened to Jeff and June then?
    This job was her taking care of the children, but it was also giving him back his sanity. No, she wasn’t qualified, but she was the person elected to do it, and she had no choice. As rash as moving in here was, moving out and leaving him to pick up the pieces was wrong.
    The issue settled in her thinking, Audrey made a list of things she wanted to do, questions she had about his likes and dislikes, and tasks like buying food or doing the laundry. She was only one woman, but perhaps if she wrote them down and assigned herself certain days and times to accomplish each one, gradually she’d get ahead.
    “Today, I’m going to unpack my clothing,” she stated aloud.
    She was mostly done when Bennett returned. Hearing him call out, she dropped her underthings in a dresser drawer and headed for the stairs. Before she could get there, however, he was halfway up, August perched on one arm, looking much brighter than he had that morning. Jeff tagged along on his heels. Another concern, the boy’s constant attachment to his daddy.
    Bennett’s gaze strayed toward June’s room, and Audrey glanced behind. “She’s asleep, though I expect her to catch up with what she’s missed and participate in life more.” She faced forward. “Did you have a good time?” She aimed the question at both him and the boy.
    “It was good and August was, as you said, completely content. Although …” Bennett seemed to make a decision and, squeezing past her, turned into Jeff’s room and took a seat on the bed. He stood August facing him, taking hold of either hand, and her son, on wobbly legs, gave an excited squeak. “He isn’t as inept as he appears. He just makes no effort.”
    One hand at her mouth, Audrey muffled her pride.
    “With a little work, he’ll get the hang of it,” Bennett said. His gaze lifted to hers. “Boys I