Lahat ng Kabanata ng Whispers of the Heart: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

“Owen, how do you not get lost in a house this big?”“I guess I have just gotten used to it but I know, it’s a bit much. This is the biggest estate in the community. It belonged to my dad’s parents so this is actually where my dad grew up. After my grandparents passed away, he didn’t want to sell it so we just moved here. He has already asked me if I will keep it in the family and not sell it. I promised him that I wouldn’t. So, I guess I will be raising my family here one day, too.”I suddenly felt like a gold digger, having had thoughts just moments ago about it now being my dream to live in Urban Crest. I tried to shake those thoughts, that connection out of my head. Owen living here and my dreams to better myself were two totally different things. Weren’t they? Why did I always associate something good with it somehow not being something that I deserved? I wanted to love Owen for himself and not for what he owned or how much money was in his bank account. I knew I wasn’t that kind

I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped before I tried my best to keep a straight face.“No, you don’t need to jump on the bed. Why do you want to jump on the bed?”He looked at me like it should have been obvious. “Rory, that’s a good jumping bed!”“And exactly how do you know that?”Once again, this time with an eye roll. “I’m a kid! I can just tell!”“Still! We are guests here, Little Man! We can’t just go jumping on other peoples’ beds.”I ignored the pout, purposefully turning away from him as I walked toward the two doors that were closed. I opened the first one to reveal a small walk-in closet. I say small but it was still almost the size of my former bedroom at Phil’s house. There was space on both the left and right sides to hang clothes. The one on the left had double hanging space while the one on the right was designed for longer garments. Each had dozens of empty hangers just waiting to be used.The back wall had floor to ceiling shelves of various heights for storage of s

Owen waved his hand in front of my face with a devilish glint in his gaze, letting me know how much he was enjoying this. I hadn’t heard a word he said to me. Not one word. Not only that, I had been caught brazenly staring at his naked delectably muscled chest and become so lost in the appreciation of the view in front of me that I had totally zoned out.I tried to comprehend what was happening and what I had missed as I looked at his outstretched hand, holding several books out to me but that made me even more confused. What had he said? I looked up into his eyes and must have had a ‘deer in the headlights’ look. Just as the roaring rush of my heart beat calmed, he flashed me another brilliant smile and the room was suddenly way too hot and he was standing way too close.“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” He asked me, calling me out.I admitted it completely with a shake of my head. “Afraid not. Whatever it was, you’re gonna have to repeat it.” I answered as I closed my ey

I freeze, every muscle paralyzed, as I feel Owen’s lips brush a light kiss on my cheek, just a hairbreadth from his lips touching mine. So close that if I were to just move, our lips would touch. By the time the thought registers, he has moved away. My eyes flutter as he leans to the other side, brushing the same light stroke against the other cheek before he pulls back again. As my eyes meet his, I see a fire burning deep within them but I am confused and torn.“You didn’t kiss me.” It wasn’t a question.“I did.” He answered as he rubbed his thumb across my lower lip again with that same look of what I can only describe as longing. “Just not the way you may have expected.”“You don’t want to kiss me?” I now ask as my voice cracks, feeling I have misread him entirely. I am fighting this onslaught of emotions from doubt to betrayal, from longing to rejection. I blink hard to control the flood of feelings that has burst forth suddenly, threatening to pull me under and drown me in my mise

“I won’t lie to you, Aurora. He might. But that will be a true measurement of his character, not yours. He knows how much Nate loves you so hopefully, he will not be that spiteful to try to keep him from you. He was the one that screwed up. He became belligerently drunk and attacked you. When he was supposed to be the responsible father and pick his son up from school, too. You were innocent in all of this. So, if push comes to shove, you may have to remind him of that and how easily you could have called the cops on him and didn’t. I still want you to but I understand why you didn’t and why you can’t right now. I don’t like it but I understand.”“Hopefully, the hangover and the damage to his body will be enough of a reminder to not only force him to get some help with whatever he is going through but also to solidify that I can take care of myself and that I kicked his drunk ass all over the place. I know you technically did but he will never know that. When I confront him, I’m gonna