Whispers of You (Lost & Found, #1)

by Catherine Cowles

Holt turned me back to him, brushing the hair out of my face. “I’ll pick you up at the end of your shift.” “Thanks.” “Remember, nowhere alone.” I made a face at him. “I know. And I will be surrounded by cops all day. I think I’ll be safe.”

Holt lowered his head to brush his lips across mine. “Call me if you need me.” I swallowed the ball of emotion gathering in my throat. How often had I wanted to do just that? I would’ve given anything to hear Holt’s voice on the other end of the line countless times. “Okay.”

It didn’t help that I knew I was leaving her in the vicinity of Amber’s venom. I’d seen the way Wren had gone pale at Amber’s words. How her hands had tightened into fists as she struggled to stay in the here and now. And I’d wanted to throttle Amber for it.

“I love Wren. Never stopped. It killed me every single day to be away from her. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. I’ll fight with everything I have for her. And she’s giving me a shot. So, I’m taking it.”

But the truth was, if Wren had been interested in him, they’d be together now. I wasn’t angry that he’d developed feelings for her. She was a living, breathing miracle and impossible not to love. But they weren’t meant to be.

“What makes you think you deserve her now?” “Oh, I don’t. There’s no question. She deserves so much better than me. But I’m going to do everything I can to be that man.” Chris studied me, looking for something. “I guess we’ll see.”

While I was grateful there hadn’t been anything like yesterday, it had left me with far too much time to think. And remember. Holt’s hands on my body. His lips skimming my skin. The way everything had come apart around us.

There was Holt, eyes zeroed in on me with intensity. He wore a Henley that hinted at the muscles beneath—dips and valleys I’d had my hands on just hours ago. He had the sleeves pushed up, exposing tanned forearms.

“Oh, girl. You are so screwed. I just hope it’s in a fun way.” “You and me both,” I grumbled as I started toward the man in question.

As soon as I was within arm’s reach, Holt took the bag from my shoulder. He leaned in to give me a quick kiss.

The normalcy of it all grated, maybe because I’d wanted it for so long. Someone to share my life with. The ups and downs of my day. But it wasn’t just someone I’d wanted. It was Holt. And now that he was here, acting as if he’d...

As soon as we were on the sidewalk, he took my hand in his. The feel of those calluses against my more delicate skin sent a pleasant shiver up my arm. My body was a damn traitor for Holt Hartley.

“Yup. Finished it before I even got home.” My heart jolted at the word home, but I shoved it down.

“You need a garage.” “Please tell me that your next project isn’t to single-handedly build me one.” He grinned. “Not single-handedly. But I thought it might be a good project for me, Jude, and Chris to take on while the weather’s good.”

“I’ve got it.” My steps faltered, and I slowly turned to face Holt. “You’ve got it?” “I’ve got plenty of money, Wren. It’s just sitting there. Why not use it here?”

When we were together, I leaned on you too much.” “I liked you leaning.”

Holt moved into my space. His hand brushed the hair out of my face and then skated down my neck until he massaged my shoulders. “If you think I didn’t lean on you, then you weren’t paying attention. Every time I needed an escape from the craziness of my family. When life hit hard, you were the only person I wanted, the only place I wanted to be. You, more than anything, were home.”

I let my head fall to his chest. “Okay. Just hold off on any major construction, would you? Whatever this is…it’s new. I can’t just go back.” “I get it. Come on. Let’s get inside. I’m making you dinner tonight.”

Making me dinner might not be breaking ground on a new garage, but it was a part of that life I wanted so badly I could taste it. And the more I let myself want it, the worse the fall would be if things didn’t work out. I’d barely survived the f...

“Do you really think you’d be happy sticking around Cedar Ridge after being used to that life for so long? The travel? The excitement?” He opened his beer and rounded the bar, leaning against the counter. “Going a lot of places just makes you realize the value of home more. I’m here, Wren. I’ll figure out a way to make that stick. Work remotely or sell the company. Whatever it takes.” My breaths started coming faster, panic and hope warring inside me. Holt’s gaze tracked over my face. “I want you to know I’m here for good.”

I wanted Holt here with everything I had, but I was terrified to let myself actually say the words out loud. To admit it to anyone.

“It destroyed me when you left. I’m terrified that if you leave again, I won’t recover a second time.” “I’m so sorry. Those words aren’t enough but—”

The moment I tried to get her into a sitting position, Wren threw herself at me. She held on with everything she had, her legs wrapped around my waist, arms gripping me like a vise. A sob tore free from her throat. “Cricket.” I leaned back against the couch, taking her with me. “We’re okay.”

“I dove for you. I will every time.” Her head shook back and forth frantically. “You can’t. Promise me. You can’t.”

“Because I love you too damn much.” Wren only cried harder. “I-I can’t lose you, Holt. Don’t make me lose you.” I held her tighter, rocking back and forth. “You’re not going to lose me. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“We’re gonna stay safe. I promise.” Because we had no other option. I wouldn’t lose Wren now. Not when I’d held her in my arms again. Not when I knew now what it meant to lose myself in her—with her. Not when I was finally home.

“We need to let them in, Cricket.” Wren simply clung to me. So, I got up with her still in my arms. She held on tight, her face burrowed in the crook of my neck.

Concern creased Nash’s face as he took in the scene, noticing Wren, who still held on to me for dear life. “Is she okay?” I gave my head a small shake. “She’s not injured.” But Wren was far from okay.

The words were barely audible, but she sat up. Wren started to slide off my lap, but I kept her close, my arm wrapped around her. Instead of fighting me, she snuggled against my side.

Wren let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Is it going to launch rockets in a counterattack, too?” Lawson couldn’t contain his chuckle. “If Holt has anything to say about it, I’m sure there will be an entire missile defense system.” “You know it’s rude to gang up on someone,” I huffed.

She leaned into me, her mouth curving as she pressed it against my arm. “You might be a tad overzealous.” If my girl was giving me a hard time, she was coming back to herself. My breaths came a little easier. “You say overzealous. I say prepared.”

“I think so. You know Holt. He’ll try to come at this like a problem he can fix. Assessing every possible angle.” But this wasn’t something Holt could fix. “He loves you. It would kill him if anything happened to you,” Jude said. “I can’t let anything happen to him either.”

“I don’t want him taking my welfare on his shoulders either. I don’t want him blaming himself for every little thing that does or doesn’t happen to me.” Because that hadn’t worked out for us very well before. Jude was quiet for a moment. “I’m not sure that’s something you can control. When you care about someone, you don’t want anything to happen to them. If it does, it feels like it’s your fault—even if that isn’t true.”

After switching on the water, he turned back to me, going for the hem of my blouse and pulling it over my head. “What are you doing?” Holt let the garment flutter to the floor, then leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “Let me take care of you.”

There went that skip in my heartbeat again, the one I used to feel every day thanks to Holt Hartley—the one I’d longed for since the day he left.

It only took Holt a matter of seconds to shed his, and I couldn’t help but take him in. “You’re staring, Cricket.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “You’re nice to look at.” Holt chuckled as he opened the shower door. “I’m glad you think so.”

It turned out Holt didn’t need direction. He grabbed the shampoo from the shelf in the wall and set to work on my hair. His tenderness made my eyes sting, the way he massaged my scalp and made sure every strand was thoroughly washed. When Holt moved on to conditioner, he combed the substance through my strands with his fingers, doing a far better job than I ever did.

Now I knew what it was to have Holt’s hands on my skin. To have them everywhere.

“Holt.” His name was a barely audible whisper. His lips skimmed my neck. “Love you, Wren.”

I turned in Holt’s arms, my mouth seeking his. I might not be able to give him the words, but I could give him my actions. I could give him me. Holt let out a low growl and deepened the kiss as he hardened against my belly.

My hand slid between us, stroking his length, up and down, relishing the feel of him hardening further. “Wren…” “Take me.” I needed Holt. Needed the fire we created between us that was ours alone.

“You’re all I want. Feel that.”

His reaction showed how much Holt wanted me. It gave me just enough courage to move.

Holt traced my bottom lip with his thumb. “Nothing but beauty.”

Holt joined me in the dance, his hips lifting to meet mine. We lost ourselves in the rhythm, the pulse that was only ours. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted Holt to let go. To make me his in a way that meant he’d be with me always.

Holt’s hand slid between my legs and circled that bundle of nerves. The sound that escaped me wasn’t anything I’d ever heard fall from my lips.

Holt flicked my clit, and my world tunneled. If it weren’t for his quick reflexes, I would’ve hit the floor. But Holt’s arm encircled my waist, and he held me up as he thrust one last time, my name on his lips.

“Too much?” he asked softly. “No. Perfect.” Because Holt had done just what my soul had cried out for. He’d marked me in a way that I would never forget, no matter what came our way.

“You look way too glowy for being shot at last night. Almost like someone got herself some.” My hand stilled as I reached out to hand her a mug of coffee. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I sent up a million tiny thank-yous that Holt currently wasn’t on the premises.

Grae only grinned wider, oblivious to my spiraling thoughts. “It’s not like I want details. That’s my brother. Ick! But I do want to know that you’re happy.” I tugged on the corner of my lip with my teeth. The amusement fled Grae’s expression. “You’re not happy.” “I’m happy,” I whispered.