I Hear...Love (A Different Road #2) (27 page)

She pulls away and brings her hand closer to my face.

“I’m pretty sure I know what it says, but I’m dying to know for sure. Do you remember any Braille from your childhood?” she asks.

I take her hand in mine and look at the gorgeous ring. He had Braille written on her ring. That’s so perfect. There are three beautiful, large, flawless diamonds in the center, and raised Braille written on either side, in the platinum band. I smile up at Joss, knowing exactly what it says.

“On one side of the diamonds, it says,
‘I See,’
then the three diamonds, then the word
‘Love’
is on the other.”

Put together, it says, I See . . . Love. The three diamonds are the ellipsis. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s what I hear River say to Joss on a daily basis. Some people say, I love you, but sometimes there are more powerful words between a couple.

Cooper hands me a champagne glass, then I wrap my arm around Joss’s waist and say, “If I could have everyone’s attention. I’d like to make a toast.”

Everyone gathers around, and Josh makes sure everyone has a glass of champagne in their hand. Nina eyes Joss a secret
oh crap,
then raises her glass into the air like everyone else is.

“River, I couldn’t be more proud of the man you’ve become today. Joss, I couldn’t imagine a better woman for my brother, and I’m honored to call you my sister. Separately, you each have amazing qualities that when brought together, make one beautiful couple that complete one soul. Congratulations on your engagement,” I say, and raise my glass in the air.

“Um, before we toast . . .” Joss interrupts before anyone can take a drink.

Everyone stops raising their glasses to their lips and looks at Joss. River gets a worried look on his face, but I spot the look on Joss’s face toward Nina.

“Just one sec, though,” she says, then runs to her purse.

She removes an elegantly wrapped gift, then walks over to Nina and hands it to her.

“Now?” Nina asks, nervously. “This is your special day, honey,” she says, taking the gift.

“I couldn’t think of a better day. It will make my perfect day absolutely perfect to share it with my best friend,” she replies, reaching for Nina’s arm and squeezing. “I’ll take that,” Joss says, then removes the champagne glass from Nina’s other hand.

Nina takes a calming breath, then turns to Josh.

“This is for you,” she says, handing him the gift.

“Me?” he says shocked, taking the gift from Nina.

Nina removes the glass from his other hand and sets it down on an end table.

“Open it,” Nina insists, as her eyes glisten with happy tears.

Josh removes the paper from the eight by ten framed photo and stares at it.

“Nina, this is beautiful,” Josh replies, running his finger down her photo.

“Maddy took it for a school project,” she tells him, then looks at Maddy and smiles.

“I don’t understand,” Josh says, reading the writing written on the glass.

“We love you,” Nina says the words out loud, as tears spill down her cheeks.

“We?” Josh repeats.

“We,” Nina says, placing her hand on her flat stomach.

“Nina,” Josh whispers, then gets down on his knees in front of her.

He places his lips on her stomach and wraps his arms around her. Josh stands up and kisses Nina, then wraps his arms around her, twirling her around in circles.

“God, I love you so much,” he whispers in her ear.

Joss walks over to them and places her hand on Nina’s arm. Nina looks at her, then throws herself into Joss’s arms. River walks up to Josh and extends his hand. Josh places his hand in his, then brings him in for a hug.

“To River and Joss, and, Josh and Nina,” I say raising my glass, then everyone toasts to the happy couples.

“Everyone ready to set sail?” River asks.

A half a second of fear fills my chest at the thought of going out into the open ocean, then Cooper threads his fingers through mine.

“I’ve got you. I’m never letting go,” he says.

Kate peacefully sleeps on my chest, with Sadie at our feet, in her pool house after an eventful day. No mask, no headphones, no guilt, and no regret. Tomorrow is the last day we have off. Monday, Kate is heading into the yoga studio where new flooring is being installed, and I’m back to work as well. As I run my thumb and forefinger down Kate’s side, I slowly drift to sleep.

The next morning, like most, I wake to an empty bed. No Kate and no Sadie. I slip on a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt, then head out to the family room. I immediately look out the glass door, and see Kate and Sadie doing yoga side-by-side. I pour myself a cup of coffee, then set it back down without taking a sip. I walk to the door, then outside into the warm, early morning sun. Kate is sitting in a pose I think I can handle. I sit down next to her and mimic her exact body position. Kate doesn’t open her eyes, but her smile grows on her face. As she begins to move her body, she starts instructing me on how to move each and every muscle in my body, and how to breathe. She’s the perfect teacher.

After thirty minutes, she instructs me how to close the session, then turns to me and says, “Did you like it?”

“I more than liked it,” I tell her, helping her to her feet.

As we walk inside, she says, “I was thinking about taking a drive today.”

“Sure, that sounds great,” I say, drinking my now room temperature coffee.

I pour Kate a hot cup of coffee, while she removes the coffee cream from the refrigerator.

“Anywhere in particular, or do you just want to drive?” I ask.

“I have somewhere in mind,” she says, pouring coffee cream into her cup.

She returns the coffee cream to the refrigerator, then picks up her coffee and heads toward the bedroom. I follow her, then walk up behind her as she takes a sip of coffee. I press my chest to her back, then remove the coffee cup from her hand. I lean to the side and set it on the dresser, then return to Kate.

She’s wearing a tight sports bra that reveals the divot in her back muscles at her spine. I place a kiss on the back of her shoulder, then run my tongue down her slightly salty skin. I place my thumbs inside her yoga shorts, then peel them down her legs. I walk her forward to the bed, and she climbs up on all fours just at the edge of the bed. I remove my shirt, shorts, and boxers, then press my bare chest to her ass. I pull her hips into my thighs several times, then run my hand down the crack of her ass to her core and find her wet. She lets out a moan that tells me she more than likes it.

I place one knee on the bed, then the other, as she walks forward on her hands and knees one step. Kate reaches for the nightstand drawer, but can’t reach. I reach over her and open the drawer, then remove a condom. On the way back over, I lean slightly back, then low underneath her and lick from her clit up, earning another loud moan. I place the condom on my tip, then roll it on. I rub the head on her entrance several times in small circles, before I slowly sink inside her. I grab her hips and pull her to me, as I bury myself to the root.

Kate leans her chest to the mattress and places her hands in front of her. She fists the sheets in her hands, as I slowly move in and out. On every inward thrust, she pushes her ass firmly against me. I place my palm low on the center of her back and firmly press it upward, as I continue moving in and out. Kate’s moan increases and she starts slamming into me, making my balls hit her hot clit. I rub my hand gently over her left ass cheek, give it a firm smack, then rub it softly.

The pressure inside builds every time her ass smacks against my thighs.

“Kate,” I grit between my teeth.

“Cooper,” she breathes, then lets out a loud, erotic moan that sends me over the edge as she comes.

I pump in and out a few more times, then remove myself from her. I bend over and place a soft kiss on the hand print on her ass, then on the center of her back. Kate presses her cheek to the mattress and I smooth her hair out of her face.

I get off the bed, then extend my hand to help her up. We both shower, then get dressed for our ride.

“Is Sadie coming, or should I take her home?” I ask, grabbing my car keys.

“She’s coming and I’m driving,” she says, holding out her hands for the keys.

“You’re driving?” I tease.

“Yep. I’m driving,” she answers.

“Do you even know how to drive?” I tease again.

“Yes, smarty pants, I know how to drive. Come on. Let’s go, Sadie,” she calls, patting her legs.

Sadie excitedly gets up wagging her tail, then follows Kate to the front door. Kate slips on a pair of sunglasses with a killer smile, then closes the door behind me.

Outside, we take the short walk over the deck to River’s back door. Nina and Joss are sitting on the couch pouring over bridal magazines, and River and Josh are nowhere to be seen. Last night, Kate told me that Josh had proposed to Nina months ago and now the four of them are planning a double wedding, which is a long time childhood dream of both Nina and Joss.

“See you guys later,” Kate calls to Joss and Nina.

“See you,” they both reply at the same time, not looking up from their magazine.

We walk out the front door to the driveway, where my car has been parked all week. Kate opens the driver side door, let’s Sadie in the back seat, then gets in. She hits the button for the convertible top and the roof folds open. I slip into the passenger seat, she starts her up, then she heads downtown.

“I have to make one quick stop before we head to where we’re going,” she says, then pulls the car into an empty parking space outside a flower shop.

She grabs her purse, then exits the vehicle and goes inside. Sadie immediately climbs over the console and jumps in her seat, anxiously waiting for her to return.

Kate exits the flower shop a few moments later holding an arrangement of flowers wrapped in paper, resting on her arm. Sadie’s tail starts swishing excitedly in the seat as Kate gets closer. She opens the door and Sadie immediately jumps in the back seat. Kate places the arrangement on the floor behind her seat, then starts the car and drives out of town. She gets on the CA1 freeway and relaxes in her seat. Her left hand is on the center of the steering wheel while her other hand rests on the console between us. I place my hand over hers and give it a little squeeze.

After a little while, Kate exits onto a different freeway, then immediately pulls over to the left and stops. She turns off the car, lowers her sunglasses, then stares at the ground in front of the car. She grabs her wrist and starts rubbing her semicolon tattoo. I don’t even have to ask why we stopped here. My heart knows.