Chapter 28
Bridger
I had meant it when I said me and Juliette couldn’t talk to each other, but my eyes were burning a hole into my phone.
I wanted to hear her voice. Hear her laugh.
That soft, pretty sound. I went five years without that sound.
It wasn’t fair that I got to hear it again only to have it torn away from me, even if it was just for a little while.
I was desperate to know if she was okay.
The only glimpses I had of her lately were shots of her on TV: her with her big, wet eyes, begging for anyone who knew anything to come forward about the man who had killed her husband.
And I hadn’t been able to hold back my grin whenever I saw her let out fake cries.
Who knew Juliette was such a good actress?
She had been doing good, making everyone believe she was the sad, heartbroken wife.
The day was almost over and done with. The slowly darkening sky confirmed that as I looked through the big windows of the front of the store. It had been a slow day with mostly boring tasks to do, and I couldn’t wait to just get upstairs already.
The second I put my head back down to look over the booking folder for tomorrow, I heard a bell ringing. And when I looked up, I felt my heart race. There she stood. My girl.
“Hi,” Juliette said quietly, voice a barely there whisper. “You’re still the manager here, right?”
I smiled. “Yeah, I am.”
“I have a complaint. Again.”
My grin widened. “Do you now?”
“I need to speak to you in private,” she said. Eyes rolling at me playfully, she stormed down the hall towards the office.
And I was right there behind her after I locked up, my steps fast as we moved into the room.
I kicked the door closed and grunted when I felt her throw her arms around me, my hands quickly finding her waist. My grunts got louder as I squeezed at her, desperate and eager and hungry for even a tiny bit of her.
My lips crashed to hers, tongue pushing into her mouth as I kissed her hard and fast and deep.
God, I wanted her. Just a taste. Just a feel.
Fucking anything. She tasted so good, felt so good, smelled so good.
I wanted every fucking part of her as I hoisted her up on to the desk, her legs spreading for me instantly.
Tongue pushed deep into her mouth, I gripped her waist tight, taking in every pretty little noise she made for me.
“Fuck, I missed you,” I said when I pulled away from her. “Missed you so fucking bad.”
“I missed…” She panted. “I missed you too.”
“I guess that’s why you showed up here earlier than we agreed to, huh?” I mumbled, my forehead pressing to hers. “You couldn’t stay away from me, baby?”
Her head shook. “It’s too hard.”
“What have you been up to?”
“Just dealing with phone calls from Gordon’s friends and family,” she said, eyes rolling. “Boring stuff. I’m so sorry for your loss, your husband was such a great man. Yawn. I’m tired of it. I had to see his lawyer last week about the will. Guess what my loving husband left me?”
“What?”
She smiled, pulling something out of her purse. Money. A single note. She waved it in front of my face. “A whole dollar.”
I whistled. “Damn, look at you.”
“So, what can I get for a dollar, hm?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. “Maybe you can give me a deal since we know each other so well.”
“I do know you pretty well. I also know how to make a dollar go far.” My hand found her ankle, pushing up that stupid, too long dress she had on until I could see her thighs. I hissed at the sight of her bare skin. “You want me to tattoo you, huh? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Well, actually…” She bit at her bottom lip, lashes fluttering. “I was kinda messing with you. I don’t think I’m allowed to get tattoos. Not for a little while, at least…”
Hand still on her thighs, I frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t really know the rules around this sort of thing, but I don’t think you’re allowed to tattoo people who are pregnant.”
My heart stopped as I locked eyes with Juliette. For a long moment, I looked down at her stomach, then back up to meet her gaze. I could see what seemed like worry in her eyes as I connected the dots.
“I found out the other week,” she said. “I wanted to tell you straight away, but I knew I couldn’t risk it. It was too early to see you.”
It took me a minute, but I finally asked the question. “You’re pregnant?”
“I am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, I haven’t had the chance to go to the doctor yet, but I’ve taken at least ten tests just to make sure. And I’m kind of an expert at them now.”
“You’re pregnant.”
“I am.”
“With a baby.”
“I hope so.”
“My baby.”
“Definitely yours. And you’re…?”
“Fuckin’ ecstatic.” My hands landed on the sides of her face, kissing at her again.
I could imagine her swollen belly with my hand gently resting on top.
I could imagine so much more. A late afternoon with the sunset right there on the water, the fresh ocean breeze rolling in, Juliette sitting by the window with our baby.
Her eyes. My smile. Her nose. My hair. Both of us.
I had something to live for, something to come home to.
I couldn’t risk that. Love was so much better, so much stronger, so much more.
“Fuck, princess, that’s such great news.
You’ve made me the happiest fucking man. ”
“You’re okay with this?” she asked. “I know this is all so rushed.”
“I know, but it’s okay. It’s fine, because I’ve got you.
You’ve got me and I’ve got you, and we’re gonna be so happy living that life they tried to take away from us,” I whispered against her lips.
“Just you and me. And… And the baby. Our baby. Fuck, we’re having a baby.
A goddamn baby. God, this is the best thing you could have ever given me. ”
“I was so nervous to tell you,” she said. “Things are moving so fast. It’s like we’re trying to catch up on all those days we missed together.”
“I know, baby, but I’ve got you. We’ll be good, ‘cause I’m gonna take care of you and our new life and…
And our baby. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.
Things are gonna be so good.” I kissed her forehead, keeping my lips there as I closed my eyes.
I still couldn’t believe that she was there, in front of me, with me.
All mine. “Things are gonna be perfect, sweetheart. I’m gonna take care of you for the rest of my life. ”
“This still doesn’t feel real. I can’t believe I’m out of there. I can’t believe I finally get to leave it all behind.”
“It’s real and you’re here with me and I’m never letting you go again. Nothing’s getting in the way this time. Not like before. It’s different now. You and me are different.”
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” she said with a steady whisper. “It felt like I was waiting forever for this, Bridger. For you.”
“And we’ve got it now, baby. We’ve got it.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re not staying in that damn hotel, by the way. Not anymore. You’re moving in with me.”
“Is that okay?” she asked, voice a little hesitant. “Have we waited long enough?”
“Been almost a month now.” I shrugged. “I’m not sending you back there to stay one more night. Not when you’re pregnant. Not when I can’t keep an eye on you. You’re checking out tonight. No more of that fucking place. You’re staying with me now.”
She smiled, all soft and sweet before she rested her face in the crook of my neck and sighed.
It sounded content, calm, and collected.
She had been waiting so long. To get out of the restraints of her piece of shit dead husband and her equally shitty parents.
To escape the life of forced smiles and a house she never felt safe in.
And I would give her that safety and warmth and a roof over her head that didn’t weigh her down.
I would give her everything I could.