Free Words From The Heart (Spring-Summer Romance Book 2) by Alex Greenville

of crowded streets to a wide parking garage. Inside, he drove to the top level and escorted Audrey into the nearby elevator. They rode to the roof level of the attached building. The exit door in his grip, Bennett extended his hand for hers, and their eyes met.
    “What’s this?” she asked, her fingers falling into his grip.
    He angled her toward the northernmost view. “I came here the first time when I was up-and-coming at the firm. I had business with a minor client. Anyhow, I was flirting with the receptionist … badly … when she said ‘a man with my self-admiration should stand at the top and see how small he is.’”
    Audrey laughed, and Bennett grinned.
    “I was always full of myself,” he continued, “which is good for business, but not so much for relationships.” His tone moderated. “Beth taught me that.”
    “Cale taught me that people can be jerks.” She spoke frank.
    He made a face. “I was the jerk.”
    “You …” She faced him. “… are the world’s best dad, the kindest man …” Her voice faded.
    “And …?” He smiled at her.
    Her hand slid from his and she brushed a strand of hair, blown across her cheeks, back into place. “Are we being completely honest?”
    He nodded. “But we’ll make a trade. I’ll say something equally nice.”
    She wrinkled her nose, light sparkling in her eyes. “Who says it’s nice?”
    His laughter rang out across the rooftop, dying to the hum of traffic far below. “Humor the old man,” he said. “He needs as much build up as he can get.”
    She stepped closer, tilting her face toward his. She raised one hand, taking hold of his lapel. “There’s the thing though. You’re not old, and your wife was a lucky woman.”
    Heat spread from her grip through his clothing to his skin. Compelled, he cupped her chin in his palm. “Your husband was a fool.”
    The ring of her cell phone broke into the moment. Digging it from her pocket, she raised it to her ear. “Mom? Is everything okay?” Worry formed on Audrey’s brow. “We’ll come there. Give us fifteen.”
    She disconnected. “June’s fidgety and Mom’s nervous. It’s probably nothing …”
    Bennett’s mood changed. He reached for her hand again and headed for the elevator. It probably was, but the children came first. He’d learned that from Beth, too, but Audrey had taught him how to handle it.
     

     
    “Hey, Dad, is June …?” Audrey looked past her father toward the interior of the house. A line of shoes extended across the foyer, her father’s larger ones mixed in with Jeff’s small sneakers.
    “She’s been crying a little,” he said, “but it’s probably just that we’re not you.” He flicked a look at her outfit then Bennett’s, before reversing and motioning them in.
    With one glance at Bennett, Audrey passed them both and made her way to the kitchen. Her mom paced around the island, rocking June in her arms. The baby, her eyes squeezed shut, face red, let out a squall.
    Her mom released a long breath. “Oh, thank goodness you’re here. I simply don’t have the knack anymore.”
    “Here, let me …”
    Her mom leaned forward, gingerly transferring June into her grip. Audrey adjusted her hold, tucking the infant face down against her neck, and almost instantly, her crying stopped.
    “You mean, that was it?” Her mom’s eyebrows arched.
    Audrey smiled and swayed. “She’s particular about everything, what to eat, what to wear … believe it or not … how to sleep. She’s going to grow up and be a diva.”
    The rumble of men’s voice came from the foyer, and Audrey turned toward the sound. The conversation sounded serious.
    “Audrey.”
    Jeff’s small voice drew her gaze.
    “Hey, there,” she said.
    He hugged her legs, his face twisted upward.
    “Your dad’s talking to Dale. I’m sure he’ll be here in a … Wait. Where’s August?” She asked this last question to her mom.
    Her mom smiled. “Sound asleep. That boy could sleep through a