Sound of a Voice That is Still
PG Forte
Oberon Series: Book Three
Some wounds take a long time to heal, others never do. Four months after being wounded in the line of duty, Ryan Henderson is beginning to fear that his is of the latter variety. He's a patient man, but a poor patient. As winter drags interminably on, he's growing desperate for distraction--anything that might take his mind off his injury, before he goes insane.
Siobhan Quinn could give the injured officer a lesson or two in living with pain. It's been ten years since her life was changed and her heart critically wounded as a result of the tragic accident that robbed her of her family. She knows firsthand how grief can cripple a soul and drive a sane mind over the edge.
Sometimes it seems like Spring will never come again. Sometimes, the only alternative to living in inner darkness, is death. Your own, or someone else's. In the depths of winter, Ryan and Siobhan will have to make a choice: to help each other heal, or die trying.
Friends to Lovers, Hurt-Comfort, Age Gap, Betrayal, Suspense.
Excerpt:
Tuesday morning dawned foggy and cold. Siobhan stood on her porch and surveyed what she could see of the world. It wasn’t much. A dozen variations on the same gray theme, from pearl to pewter; and a damp that sank right into her bones.
Her eyes tracked the mist as it poured off the roof to pool in the air around her. It may have been a mistake to have waited for this morning’s low tide to collect the rocks she needed for today’s class. The beach would not be a fun place in this weather.
The rolling motion of the fog drew her eyes downward until a hint of bright color at her feet caught her attention. She focused on it and froze. Her breath seemed to thicken in her lungs as she stared at the pink and yellow plastic pails carelessly piled at the top of the porch steps, still crusted with sand. As though they’d only recently been left there by a couple of children after a day spent playing on the beach.
The slow, gray vapor swirled around her as she stood there, trying to stem the flood of images that formed in her mind. Trying to tear her eyes from the abandoned toys. Willing herself not to cry. Perhaps, the children would have made sand castles. And dug moats. And offered to bury their mother’s feet.
Beside her, Selke whined with sudden impatience, wriggling his rump excitedly. A moment later, Siobhan heard it, too. Footsteps along the path. Coming toward her. Coming closer--
“Who’s there?” she called out, nearly jumping out of her skin when Ryan materialized out of the mist in front of her.
“Hey, relax. It’s just me. Here.” He thrust one of the two paper cups he was carrying towards her. “I brought you some tea.” He was dressed in a loden-green parka and he looked so solid, so dependable and substantial and safe, she could have cried from relief.
“Thank you,” she mumbled as she took the tea, grateful for its warmth. She hadn’t realized how cold she was. Her teeth chattered against the plastic lid as she tried to drink it.
He regarded her curiously above the rim of his own cup. “What’s the matter with you this morning? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Tea splashed over her hands and down the front of her jacket. “Shit. Don’t say things like that!” she ordered, tightening her grasp on the cup.
His gaze flicked over her, resting for just an instant on the pile of beach toys, and then returning to her face. “Oh. I bet your daughters used to play with stuff like that, huh?”
She shrugged and looked away, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes. She cleared her throat. “It was just a surprise, that’s all. Finding them here like that. I wasn’t expecting it, you know?” But her voice wavered a little at the end and he was up the stairs in an instant.
“Ah, Siobhan, I’m sorry.” His voice was rough with sympathy as he wrapped one warm arm around her shoulders. “But, you know, someone probably just found them on the beach last night, and didn’t know where else to leave them. Do you want me to put them away somewhere so you don’t have to look at them?”
“No, it’s okay.” She shook her head. Pulling herself together, she stepped away from his warmth. “What are you doing here so early?”
He chuckled softly. “I snuck a look at your tide schedule yesterday before I left. I figured you’d wait for this morning’s low tide to collect rocks.” He gazed meaningfully at the boots she was wearing. “Looks like I guessed right, huh?”
She returned his smile. “Yes. About that you did. But not if you were also guessing I’d turn down your help. In weather like this, four eyes are definitely going to be more use than two.”
“Well, okay then,” he said as he unsnapped his dog’s leash. He pulled a paper bag out of one of his coat’s pockets. “Let me just put this stuff inside, and we’ll go.”
He stepped inside the center, the two dogs following along behind him. A minute later he was back. He closed the door behind him, and reached for one of the buckets. Siobhan felt like one of them should be saying something, but she could not find a single topic to break the silence.
“Thanks again for the tea.” she said, finally, as they headed off the porch.
He smiled at her warmly. “You’re welcome.”
He was walking easily at her side today, with only the slightest hitch in his gait. He’d gone for acupuncture yesterday and it looked like it was finally beginning to do him some good. But she had to smile, thinking about the expression on his face last evening, as he’d gotten ready to leave for his treatment session. For a tough guy he’d seemed awfully squeamish about the prospect of getting stuck with a few little needles.
Her smile faded a bit when she considered that it probably wouldn’t be too much longer before his leg was healed enough for him to return to work. She’d had her doubts about him at first, but she had to admit that it had been nice having his help these last few days. He was just about the best assistant she’d ever had--as long as he followed orders and kept his opinions to himself. He’d also turned out to be smart and funny. And a real treat to watch.
Whoa! Down, girl, she admonished herself, when she realized where her thoughts were heading. The man might qualify as eye candy, but he wasn’t much more than a kid. She was not going to turn into a cradle robber at this late date.
“So, this dinner that’s coming up, it’s this weekend, isn’t it?” His voice broke into her thoughts.
She looked at him in surprise. “Yes, that’s right. It’s this Saturday night. Why?”
“Well, Nick says you’re the one to ask about tickets.”
“You want tickets?” she asked, hoping she’d misunderstood. “Why? You’re not thinking of going, are you?”
“Well, yeah, I am. Frankly, Nick looked relieved at the idea of having a little back-up and besides, it sounds like fun. Good food, good wine...good company.” He glanced at her and smiled. “You are going to be there, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but...well, you know, there’ll be dancing, Ryan. I mean, it is a dinner dance, after all, and...”
He looked faintly amused. “Are you asking me if I’ll dance with you?”
“No, I was worried about your leg,” she blurted out, and could have bitten her tongue when his amusement was replaced by stark coldness.
“Well, don’t worry about it,” he said as he retreated into silence. “My leg is fine.”
PG Forte
Omnibus One: Books 1 – 3
https://books2read.com/Welcome-to-Oberon
Ever wish you could find a small-town love story with magic, mystery, a huge cast of characters and a happy ending? How about an entire series like that? Welcome to Oberon, California. Where murder and mysticism combine. Where the focus is always on friends, families and feelings. And where love will save the day…eventually.
Three connected tales of love, murder, mystery...all set in a mystical small town where anything might happen.
This volume contains the first three books in the Oberon series:
Scent of the Roses
A Sight to Dream Of
Sound of a Voice That is Still.
Second Chances, Friends to Lovers, Opposites Attract, Hurt-Comfort, Age Gap, Betrayal, Suspense.
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