Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
A fter the amount of blood Theo had drawn, you’d think she’d be wiped out for the day. But when it came to shopping, she somehow found a second wind.
This morning, I’d seen her at her most vulnerable—upset, angry, and detached. The heartbreak in her eyes was palpable, and all I wanted was to put a smile back on her face.
Taking a look at her car had made sense to me. Why wait for Gus to come back, only to have him sit on it for who knows how long? I had enough knowledge from tinkering with ranch vehicles alongside Boone to make an educated guess. Once I had the part, I could fix it today without Gus’ help.
Theo didn’t realize it yet, but she’d have to accept my help, whether she liked it or not.
Now, I followed her through aisle after aisle as she navigated the store. We’d come for paint, but the cart was steadily filling with other items.
Theo stood in front of the wall of paint swatches, her hand resting on her belly. The array of colors before her looked like a rainbow, each hue blending into the next.
Earlier, while we waited in the exam room at the doctor’s office, she’d shown me her Pinterest board for the nursery. She wanted neutrals, a dark accent wall, and Western-inspired decor. She’d mentioned she didn’t want to go overboard since living with me wasn’t “permanent.”
I wasn’t thinking of temporary solutions. My goal was to give her exactly what she envisioned because who knew what the future might hold?
“What about this one?” I asked, stepping away from the cart to tap on a light brown swatch that reminded me of milky hot chocolate. It was moody yet beautiful—just like her.
Theo grabbed the swatch, adding it to the growing pile in her hand. She looked like she was hoarding rare Pokémon cards, ready to trade at any moment. The colorful cards fanned out in her palm, each one carefully selected.
“That pairs really well with the accent color,” she said, pointing to a soft emerald green.
Sure. What did I know?
She reached into the cart and pulled out a blanket she’d found on a random shelf. Holding it up to compare the two colors, she nodded to herself, her bottom lip caught between her teeth in thought.
That small, familiar motion set my blood humming. My mind betrayed me, flashing back to the morning when she’d bitten her lip just like that—naked and aching beneath me. Heat surged through my body, and I shifted uncomfortably, desperate to redirect my thoughts.
Theo had become the best part of my life. She fit so effortlessly into my home and my routine that I hardly remembered what it was like before she was here. Free time was now spent with her, whether watching TV, playing Scrabble, or just talking.
Thursday nights used to be solo grocery runs after work. Now, I swung by the house to pick her up first. Dinner had gone from frozen pizza to shared meals, more work but worth every second.
Theo wasn’t just a part of my life—she completed it in ways I hadn’t even realized were missing. She accepted me for who I was, never asking me to change.
I loved that about her.
Loved.
“What do you think?” Theo’s voice broke through my thoughts. Her hazel eyes were locked on mine, and she laughed softly, shaking her head.
“I think the baby, who shall remain unnamed, will love it,” I teased, trying to recover from my wandering thoughts.
“Oh, come on,” she groaned, turning to face me.
We were close now, nearly chest to chest—if it weren’t for the bump—in the middle of the aisle. Her eyes widened slightly, and her smile faded as the air between us shifted.
I couldn’t look away. The apples of her cheeks, the freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose, and the warm intensity of her gaze had me rooted in place.
Something came over me—maybe it was all the baby stuff, or the way she’d slowly let her walls down for me. Maybe it was the memory of her coming undone in my arms or the quiet intimacy we’d built over time.
I lifted my hand, cupping the side of her face, my fingers brushing behind her ear. Without hesitation, Theo tilted her head up, her lips just inches from mine.
“Whatever you want, Honey. I’m happy with it,” I murmured.
Was this a mistake? The last time we’d been this close, it was her choice—driven by desire. This time, it was mine—driven by something much deeper.
“Can I kiss you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Theo hesitated for a moment, then licked her lips and nodded.
I leaned in, pressing my lips to hers in a gentle kiss. Theo kissed me back, and we both closed our eyes, savoring the moment. Her soft, pouty lips moved against mine in a controlled rhythm—not frantic or needy like the other day, but slow and tender.
Here I was, standing in the middle of a store, kissing Theo. The world around us faded away. All it had taken was one look, and every hesitation disappeared, replaced by the simple need to follow through on what I’d been craving since that first taste.
Theo’s hands slid lazily around my waist, pulling me closer. I could’ve stayed like that forever, her warmth grounding me, her lips sending sparks through my veins. Time seemed to stand still, and I clung to the pure bliss of the moment.
As much as I wanted to keep going, I knew I couldn’t. If I did, I might not be able to stop.
Reluctantly, I pulled back, letting my hand linger on her cheek, my thumb brushing her skin in a soft, reassuring gesture.
“What was that for?” Theo asked, tilting her head, her hazel eyes searching mine.
“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. The moment had taken over, and I’d simply acted.
Theo smiled, rising onto her tiptoes to plant another quick, lazy kiss on my lips. It was sweet and fleeting, but it left me wanting more.
“What was that one for?” I teased, a grin tugging at my mouth.
“I don’t know,” she replied, her smile widening as she took a small step back.
I could get used to this, get used to Theo kissing me simply because she wanted to.
After leaving the first store, we stopped at another, this one filled with decorative items. Trinkets and random nonsense covered the shelves, but Theo seemed completely in her element. She picked up objects, studied them briefly, then set them back down. I followed quietly as she searched for the pieces to bring her vision to life.
“Okay, which one?” Theo asked, spinning around with a teddy bear in each hand.
In her right hand was a dark brown bear with a cute red bowtie. In her left was a lighter brown bear, less fuzzy, with bright blue eyes and a soft pink bowtie.
I studied both, genuinely trying to picture them in the nursery.
“That one,” I said, pointing to the light brown bear.
“That was my favorite!” Theo said, tossing it toward the cart. She must’ve put a little too much enthusiasm behind the throw because the bear came flying straight for my face.
Quickly, I reached out and caught it just before it hit me, laughing as I dropped it into the cart. “Careful, you’ve got quite an arm.”
Theo lifted her arm and flexed dramatically. “I know you want a ticket.” She kissed her bicep with a playful smirk.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Only if it’s front row.”
“Front row and VIP, baby,” she shot back, winking before turning to continue down the aisle.
“What else is on your list?” I asked, leaning on the cart’s handle as I pushed it.
“I want some floating shelves for her books, but I don’t know where they are.”
We wandered through the aisles, Theo adding far more to the cart than just shelves. Clothes, blankets, pillows—even a rug somehow found their way in. By the time we grabbed the shelves, the cart was so full it was becoming a chore to push.
Theo finally stopped and stretched, hands on her hips, arching her back like she’d just finished a marathon.
“I’m beat!” she declared, doubling over dramatically.
“Oh, wait—I forgot to grab?—”
“ No way! ” Theo cut me off, raising a finger to silence me. “You forgot nothing. My ankles can’t take another step. You might actually have to carry me to the car.”
I’d do it, too.
I laughed, raising an eyebrow.
Her lips twitched in amusement, but she shook her head, scoffing as she realized I was joking. “Bastard.”
A ding caught my attention, and I noticed a red six flashing on a register.
The items in the cart were on the surface, scanned in, and placed into our bags. When the man behind the counter said our total, I pulled out my wallet and inserted my credit card before Theo could protest.
“Rhodes,” her voice was low and testing as she turned to glare at me.
“Theo,” I replied, feigning nonchalance while typing in my pin.
The cashier stayed oblivious to the silent war raging between us. Theo’s narrowed eyes burned into me, but I kept my expression calm and casual.
When the receipt was handed over, I grabbed the bags and headed for the truck, still ignoring the daggers she was throwing my way.
We walked in silence. I loaded the bags into the back and helped her into the passenger seat without saying a word.
Once we were on the road, she finally let loose.
“I don’t need your money.”
“I know.”
“I don’t need your pity.”
“I know.”
“I can do it on my own.”
“I know.”
Theo let out an exasperated groan, throwing her head back against the seat.
“Then why do you insist on helping me? Doing things for me without asking?”
I glanced at her, my voice steady. “Is it really that hard to see, Honey?”