Chapter 19
BONNIE
The next morning, I woke up to a delicious coffee smell wafting through the air.
I blinked open my eyes, pushing myself up on both elbows. I’d slept soundly and just noticed it was broad daylight outside. I typically woke up at the crack of dawn whenever I forgot to close the blinds, but we'd gone to bed late last night, and this mattress was comfy.
I got out of bed, heading to the toilet quickly.
I held my breath while I checked my underwear.
Thank God, no more spotting. Afterward, I cleaned up quickly in the shower, brushed my teeth, and dried my hair before rummaging in my luggage, blushing when I grabbed the lacy lingerie.
I couldn’t believe Ashley packed it. I pushed it into one corner of the bag before retrieving my fluffy robe, putting it on.
I had to have a word with my good friend. She was sabotaging me, plain and simple, and it wouldn't do. I didn't need her to push me toward Travis; I was having dangerous thoughts all on my own.
I opened the door to the bedroom and stepped outside. Travis was at the kitchen counter, maneuvering a pan and putting something on a plate.
"Good morning," I greeted loudly.
He whipped his head over his shoulder. "Go back to bed."
I rolled my eyes. "Travis, the doctor said I could move.”
"Yeah, but not all the time. Come on, you're getting breakfast in bed today."
"Oh, you're taking care of me," I said.
"Told you I would."
"I know, but I didn't think you'd take it so seriously."
"Bed. Now." He emphasized each word.
"Okay." I hurried back, making the bed and fluffing up the pillows before sitting down. I was so excited, I kept fiddling my feet against each other. I had a strange energy coursing through me, and I was pretty sure it was because a handsome man was cooking me breakfast.
A couple minutes later, I heard footsteps. He came in with a tray, putting it on my lap. There was orange juice, plus a smoothie bowl with granola.
"This looks delicious," I murmured. "Did you get up early?"
"Yeah, I always do."
I grinned at him. "So do I, usually. I'm not sure what got into me today."
"We went to bed late. You had to rest, so it's good that you slept in," he said.
I ate a spoonful of the smoothie and hummed. "This is delicious."
"You sound surprised."
I opened my eyes, smiling sheepishly.
"I made you breakfast in Oceanwell," he said, "and I can also follow instructions to make smoothies."
"Wait, what? You needed a recipe for this?"
He nodded. "I called Reese. She always raves about smoothies and was happy to help out."
I had a strange feeling that I was completely melting into the bed. He called Reese to ask her how to prepare a smoothie. I couldn't believe it.
“Did you already eat?” I asked.
“Yes, while prepping your breakfast.”
“Okay.”
While I downed the food, he watched me intently with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
"I want to talk to you about something," he said after a few moments.
"Okay," I said, suddenly feeling apprehensive. Nothing good ever began with those words.
"I would like very much for you to move in."
My eyes widened. "Wait, what? Are you serious?"
"Yes. Listen, I don't need an answer now. I want you to think really hard about it. What if something like this happens again? What if the issue with the blood pressure gets worse? If you live here, I can take care of you."
I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn't give him an answer now, even if I wanted to. I just couldn't process it.
He was doing all this for the baby, of course, but I wasn’t sure I could keep that perspective. After just one night, I was falling for him all over again.
"You can have cupcakes whenever you want, your favorite food, and, of course, Netflix series marathons. And I have a few more aces up my sleeve."
I smiled at him. "So, you mean you're not using the big guns on me yet, huh?"
"No. It's all about the layers. You build it up and only bring the defining arguments in the end when you're going in for the kill."
I burst out laughing. This was how we were in Oceanwell Bay. What I had missed when Travis left and hoped we’d rekindle back in Chicago, but we never got the chance because of the pregnancy.
Could it still happen?
"You sound like I’m a business opponent and you're trying to win me over.”
He nodded once. “The strategy is similar, but the arguments differ.”
"Not really helping your case here."
"That's because you haven't heard the defining arguments."
"Am I about to?" I teased.
"No, you're not. As I said, it's all about the layers. For now, I'm only laying the groundwork, giving you something to think about."
"I see. So, when am I to hear the rest?" I inquired.
"When you least expect it. Also, when you're vulnerable.”
"My God, I'm impressed." I took another spoonful of smoothie, mulling this over. After swallowing, I said, "You've got this down to a science."
"I do. Though I have to admit, I've only used it in my business life until now."
I didn't admit it out loud, but his technique was working.
He'd planted the idea in my mind. And while I ate my breakfast, it was all I could think about.
Could I move in here with him? I wasn't even sure I could make it through this weekend and come out on the other side without jumping him.
How could I possibly live here for months?
And what if I got used to it? And then, once I was on my own with the baby, could I handle it?
"I'm so full. I can't eat anymore.” I still had some granola left.
"You can eat it later if you want."
"I will."
He took the tray away, then came back a few moments later.
“Want to move to the couch?” he asked me.
"Oh, you're allowing me to?" I said with sass in my voice.
"I can carry you."
I burst out laughing. As much as I wanted to feel his muscles up close, that was very dangerous.
“I can walk by myself. It feels good to stretch my legs a bit.”
As we moved to the living room, I took in everything, soaking in the details I hadn't had time to see yesterday.
It was honestly the most spacious living room I had ever been in.
I was pretty sure my entire apartment could fit inside it.
I sat on the huge couch, putting my feet up and leaning against an armrest. It was high enough to support my back.
Travis went to the kitchen island, coming back with a cup of tea and a jar of honey. “I made you this and forgot all about it.”
“That’s okay. I like lukewarm tea. So is Reese your accomplice in the kitchen?" I asked.
"Reese is my accomplice in all things, period, though I think she pointed out that this was the first time I've ever asked her for cooking instructions. She concluded that I must want to really impress you."
That meant he’d never asked for anyone else. He might have mentioned it jokingly, but I was feeling impressed and cared for.
"How about your brothers and your other cousin?"
"They're my partners in crime too. Except Declan. He's the one who tries to keep us all in check and fails most of the time. That doesn't deter him from trying. Sam was my closest ally when he was here."
"Where is he now?"
"In Honduras. He's with Doctors Without Borders."
"Oh, right. You told me that, but I forgot. How come all of you went into business and he became a doctor?"
"Tyler is a hockey player, so not everyone went into business.”
“That’s cool. I don’t know much about hockey, but I’ll look him up.”
He laughed. “Damn, you don’t know who he is? That’s good for my ego.”
I smiled sheepishly. “As I said, I’ll look him up. Okay, so where were we? Sam!”
“He's always had a knack for fixing things and an interest in medicine. My parents and my grandmother insisted we follow our passions."
"You always mention your grandmother but never your grandfather. Is she divorced?"
He shook his head. "No, she's a widow. He passed away many years ago. I don't even remember him."
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that. That must be very hard for her."
"She still misses him. Every year, around his anniversary, she feels down, and we all try to cheer her up. Usually Paisley is the one who manages to pull her out of it. The rest of us try, but that kid does it effortlessly."
I was counting on my fingers. He looked at me in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out if you’ve told me about everyone. No, wait. Luke. He's the one you haven't told me anything about."
"You remember his name?"
I nodded. "Yes. It's very exciting to have so many siblings. I always wanted a brother or sister when I was a kid, but it never happened."
“Remember how I told you we pulled all sorts of shit?”
“Yes.”
"Luke was the one with the ideas."
"Got it," I said, already getting a feeling for the family dynamics.
I was thrilled that my baby was going to be surrounded by this huge bunch.
I had a feeling his or her childhood would be much different from mine, which was all I ever wanted.
Of course, the situation wasn't ideal and not how I'd imagined it, but at this point, I was rolling with the punches.
“Anything else I should know?”
“I also have two cousins, Reese and Kimberly. From my Dad’s brother.”
“Are you close?”
“Yes, very. They’re almost like sisters to me. Their father wasn’t very present when we were growing up, so they spent a lot of time with us.”
My heart was hurting for them.
“Oh, that’s sad. Is their relationship better now?”
“It is, actually. Even though Uncle Harvey pulled a surprise on us. He’d been a widower for years, and recently got married and had a baby girl, without telling anyone. He lives in London, but even so, no clue how he kept it from us.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah. It’s been a shock to everyone. Especially to Gran. But she’s happy about a new granddaughter. Uses the excuse to fly to London now and again. We worry sick every time.”
“Awww, that’s cute.”
“And that’s about it. I think you’ve got all the intel on my family.”
“Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“I want you to feel like you know me, Bonnie.”
He came next to me, sitting at the edge of the couch so his thigh was pressing against mine.
The contact took me by surprise. Warmth coursed through me with an intensity that shocked me.
I gasped, and Travis caught my reaction, his eyes fixated on my lips.
Oh God, he was so close. So, so close. I could feel his breath on my lips…
And then he kissed me. The second our mouths touched, I was electrified. Heat concentrated between my legs and around my nipples. My entire body was alive.
I kissed him back, hot and relentless. God, I'd missed his lips.
I'd missed him. I felt one of his hands at the side of my waist and then sliding toward my back.
My breasts were pressing against his chest. I wrapped my arms around his neck, playing with his hair, tugging and then pushing him to deepen the kiss.
He took my cue. His tongue clashed against mine with relentless passion, and it was so damn sexy. It instantly turned me on.
I was so hot that I was sure I was about to break into a sweat any second now. I could feel the beat of his heart, and I loved it.
He groaned, pulling back and cupping my cheek.
“I've wanted to do this since we went out to dinner. And then last night… Fuck, I wanted to do so many things to you last night.”
I shuddered. But then reality slapped me, and I suddenly felt cold.
"Travis," I murmured. "This is exactly why staying here wasn’t a good idea. We can't do this. You know that."
"Do I? Right now, this seems like the best idea in the world. I want us to be more than friends, Bonnie.”
“You’re only saying that because of the baby.” My voice was a shaky whisper. It was a big fear of mine.
“No, I’m saying that because you’re amazing.
Ever since we got back in touch, all I wanted was to be around you.
You know I would’ve called, babe, but I lost your number.
” He had no reason to lie, and I believed him.
“I’m an idiot for not working harder to get a hold of you, but we’re together now.
I know you said we’re better off as friends, and it would be safer, perhaps.
But I want more than that. And we deserve it. ”
“I’ve been afraid this would happen, that the lines would blur."
"Bonnie, we have a connection." He grabbed my face with both hands, looking at me straight in the eyes. "Tell me you don't feel it. Before we made the baby, you felt it, right?"
"I feel it," I murmured. "I felt it in Oceanwell Bay, too, but we both agreed it was casual."
"But things change. Feelings change," he replied.
"And now we’re here, and I'm not letting you go, not today or any day after this one.
We're here, Bonnie, and you're mine. The way I feel about you has nothing to do with the baby.
It's a completely separate thing." He dragged his thumb over my lower lip and down my jaw.
"I like making you smile. I like seeing you happy.
I'm so damn grateful that you're back in my life.
And right now, I don't want to stop kissing you. I don't want to stop touching you."
"But you have to," I murmured. "Please." I was pleading because I needed him to be the one who stepped away. I had zero self-control right now. All I wanted was to keep kissing him back.
So I did.