Read Whisper Through The Pain (A Novella) for Free Online Page A

for us, the hotel stocks a bottle or two in their cellar.”
    “Nice.”
    “I’m glad you like it.”
    He took her hand and led her to the sofa. They sat beside each other—almost touching. It was very intimate. Between the music and wine, she felt warm and giddy.
    She cleared her throat. “Do you live in Chicago now?”
    “For the past two years. But I also lived in Hong Kong for a year and then another year in Spain.”
    “Why?”
    “The family company has expanded all over the globe. I have spearheaded those new ventures.”
    “Ah, I see. You have become a vagabond.”
    He shifted in his seat. “I wouldn’t say that. I was needed, so I went.”
    She stared at him for a moment. “You were running away. Why won’t you go home to Dallas?”
    “It’s complicated.”
    She set the glass on the end table beside her, and took a deep breath. “You’re still in love with Nicole.”
    He gulped the last of his wine. “Why do you say that?”
    “Because I know how much you love your family. Nothing would keep you away unless it was too painful to be with them.”
    “You know what happened between Ashton and me. It’s easier if I keep my distance.”
    “But—”
    “Stop.” Brent put his glass on the table, inched closer to her on the sofa. Their knees touched and his hand cupped her cheek. “I didn’t invite you here tonight to talk about my family. This is a second chance for us. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Some I can’t correct but I would like to try.”
    “You can begin with your brother. Ashton would forgive you for anything, you know that.”
    He laughed harshly. “I don’t think any man could forget or forgive another man for trying to steal his wife.”
    “Have you tried to mend your relationship?”
    He nodded. “We consciously co-exist.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “I travel a lot. Ashton is based in the Dallas office. We gather at the parents’ house for Thanksgiving and Christmas but other than that, we stay out each other’s way. I can pretend for two days out of the year that my brother and I don’t hate each other’s guts.”
    “You can’t mean that. Ashton isn’t the sort of man to hold grudges. He loves you.”
    “You sound like Nicole.”
    Surprised, she stopped speaking for a moment.
    “You still talk to Nicole?”
    “Only in Ashton’s presence,” he said sarcastically.
    “I see.”
    “I don’t think you do. Nicole is a peacemaker. She wants to bring Ashton and me together.” He sighed. “Maybe one day we’ll be able to sit and talk together without animosity.”
    “That’s ridiculous. Ashton didn’t steal Nicole from you.”
    “I know. But it’s still hard to swallow that he has her love.”
    Old hurts rose to the forefront again but she pushed through them.
    “She’s not yours, Brent. Never will be. It’s time you let her go,” she said stressed.
    “You’re right.” He ran a hand through his blonde locks, causing them to spike. “Forgive me. I’m being insensitive.”
    “I’ve recovered from the stumbling blocks in my past. Although there was a time I didn’t think I would. I had such low self-esteem. I made you my world.”
    “I realize that now.” He stared hard at her. “I had forgotten how beautiful you are.”
    His words caught her by surprise. Immediately she was uncomfortable, her breath caught in her throat.
    Brent’s hands went to her hair pulling it from the neat ponytail she’d constructed.
    “So beautiful,” he murmured again.
    His lips grazed hers and then his tongue parted her slightly opened lips. She felt hers slide against his. He deepened the kiss, she gasped at the warm sensation cruising through her body, but her mind rebelled.
    She pushed at his shoulders. “Stop.”
    His beautiful blue eyes penetrated through her.
    “This is wrong, Brent.”
    He rested his forehead on hers. “Damn, Melissa.” A sigh resignation escaped. “I’m sorry. Sex has always been easy for us…and good.”
    “But it’s only brought