Free Secrets Of The Heart (Book 1, The Heart Series) by Laurie LeClair Page B

shoulder against the arched entryway. Sydney, dressed in a pink T-shirt and denim overalls, stood on a chair and lent her voice to the song. Her little girl assisted Nick in cooking breakfast. Bree’s heart swelled at the touching scene.
    He wore faded jeans that hugged his bottom and a form-fitting black T-shirt. She halted the impulse to walk to him, wrap her arms around his middle, and then press her face against his solid back.
    When the last note drifted away, Bree clapped, gaining their attention. “You guys are great together. Just as good as Dino, in fact. Maybe you should go on the road with your act.”
    Sydney giggled. “And I can dance and put on a great big show. You can come, too, Mommy.” She jumped down and ran to Bree, hugging her, and then scooted to the table to pull a chair out for her mother.
    Nick’s long, lingering perusal caused heat to enter her cheeks. Unmistakable male appreciation produced a zing tingling through her blood.
    “The Singing Carlettis. How does that sound?” Nick asked, trying, with difficulty, to drag his thoughts back to the conversation. He could barely form the two sentences after seeing Bree standing there in nothing but his sweatshirt.
    With her short hair tousled, no trace of makeup on her beautiful face, and his sweatshirt skimming her mid-thigh, revealing her shapely legs, Nick had never seen a sexier woman in his entire life.
    He bet she wore nothing under his favorite shirt, he figured as he watched, mesmerized at the gentle sway of her full, unbound breasts as she walked to the breakfast table. His middle twisted in a tangle of knots, a myriad of desire.
    “Can we really?” Sydney asked, her voice filled with hope.
    He turned back to the frying pan, flipped the blueberry pancakes, and then chanced a glimpse over his shoulder.
    No, Carletti, you weren’t delusional, she’s still one hot woman. Just like when she was lying beside you in bed last night, sleeping soundly as you memorized every nuance of her features, heard every soft breath, and slowly drove yourself insane .
    Bree’s chuckle sent a flare of heat shooting through his veins. “Sorry, sweetie,” she said. “I’m not half as good as you and Nick when I sing. You certainly don’t take after me in that regard.”
    “It must be in the Carletti family,” Sydney said.
    “Ah…yeah, that must be it.”
    Nick heard the hesitation, his years of training easily detecting the brief, uncomfortable pause. What could have caused it? Did Bree want her daughter to have nothing from his side? Or was it his direct link to her child that irked her so?
    Irritated at the thought, Nick spoke a little more harshly than he intended. “You owe your mother an apology.” He glanced at Sydney, urging her on after his discussion with her minutes before Bree arrived. His chest clenched as Sydney’s smile vanished, her lower lip trembling.
    “I’m sorry, Mommy, for being a brat last night.”
    Bree scooped up her little girl, wrapping Sydney in a big hug and placing a kiss on her temple. “You weren’t a brat, just a tad crabby after a very long day. You’re forgiven.”
    Nick’s heart contracted, wishing she’d forgive him as quickly, wishing he could follow Bree’s lead and do the same to her. But he couldn’t. For Vinnie’s sake, he needed to press onward, uncover the secrets, and shed some light on this woman, on his doubts. Maybe then Nick could cut some slack on his tortured soul.
    “Anyone hungry?” He broke the awkwardness.
    Fifteen minutes later, sitting opposite Bree, Nick smiled inwardly at the woman’s ferocious appetite.
    “Mmmmm. This is so good.” She closed her eyes as she savored a morsel. Nick conjured up erotic images of her.
    With a great deal of difficulty, he swallowed his last bite of blueberry pancake.
    “See, I told you she makes noises when she likes something,” Sydney said, and then popped a fork full of pancakes into her tiny mouth.
    “Yeah,” he murmured, recalling