Chapter 12
Veronica woke slowly, cocooned in the bed under warm blankets. She wasn’t sure what brought her awake, but she was pleasantly surprised by the strong, heavy arm draped across her waist and an equally strong chest pressed close against her back.
Brayden. AKA the best person in her world and the best night of her life.
She’d kissed him. Showered with him. She’d slept with him—figuratively and literally.
A surge of pure delight shot through her, a fizz of joy that made her want to celebrate.
Somehow, she managed to stay put rather than jump up and dance on the bed.
It would be criminal to break this priceless moment too soon.
She needed to wallow in it all by herself for as long as possible.
And do a quick gut check. Had she just made the biggest mistake of her life?
The resounding consensus between body, mind, and heart was no. Wonderful confirmation that she’d done exactly the right thing.
Finally.
Last night had effectively obliterated the original lines she’d drawn around her longest-standing relationship outside of her family.
She could hardly wait for Brayden to wake up so they could talk about the present.
And the future. Aside from the obvious physical intimacy, how would their relationship change?
He traveled and she was dialed in here with the Hideaway and her physical therapy clients. Of course her business could travel, but was she ready to leave? Did Brayden want her tagging along? Was it even possible? The work he did took him all over.
And then another thought hit her square in the chest. Would leaving the Hideaway operations to Nat and Celeste make her like her dad?
Overhead, a floorboard creaked, interrupting her spiraling thoughts before she completely lost that wonderful feeling. Their unexpected guests were also waking up. She and Brayden had work to do. They’d just have to muddle through until they could deal with their relationship changes head on.
In essence, she’d stated her intentions last night. Stated with her body, at any rate. She still hadn’t given him the actual words. Words she knew he deserved to hear.
For now, she rolled over and gave him a quick kiss and slipped out of the bed. How cool was it that she could do that now? That she could be with the man who’d been her closest friend and have so much more joy, affection, and love between them.
Slipping out of the bed, she grabbed clothes and darted into the bathroom.
After that storm, cleanup would be top priority this morning.
When she opened the door again, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, Brayden was up, the bed was made, and he was staring at the debris scattered across the deck. In his boxers.
Only his boxers.
“Oh. Hi. Good morning.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. “Um, your turn.” She jerked a thumb toward the bathroom.
“Great, thanks.” He smiled and her heart soared. Her eyes devoured him as he crossed the room. If this was any other morning, she’d drag him right back to that bed.
He paused, his hands skimming her waist to settle just above her hips and his slow, thorough kiss melted away that burst of anxiety. Her mind blanked, her heart danced, and her body warmed with anticipation.
This was the piece of her that had never felt quite right. The smallest misalignment. One she couldn’t correct when they’d been just friends.
Now, touching him, she understood what had been off for so long.
Her heart was his. All this time. Holding herself apart from him in the most essential way had been the issue.
This morning, everything felt exactly right.
She was his, in every way now. He was hers too and they would discover the way forward together.
The newness of the moment thrilled her. She simultaneously wanted to tell her sisters everything and keep it all to herself.
“Your sisters are on the way.” He held up his cell phone so she could read the text message. “I suspect we’ll need the help.”
Her stomach dropped. She didn’t want to tell them right this second. “Okay,” she managed. She stroked his chest, because she could, and wondered if they’d have the energy for an encore performance tonight.
“Definitely,” he murmured, nuzzling her ear.
“You’re reading my mind now?”
A low chuckle floated over her skin. “You’re an open book, Roni.”
She jerked back when she heard voices in the kitchen. “I’d better close it for now.”
“That’s a shame.” He pulled her closer. “But all your secrets are safe with me.”
Her cheeks caught fire and images of her body tangled with his filled her mind. She savored the sensations of past and present blending seamlessly together. Just for another minute.
Hearing the squeak of the hinge on the dryer door along with muffled voices, she forced herself to move. “Seriously. I need to get out there before they attempt to cook.”
“Don’t worry. If they break anything, we’ll bill Indigo Reef,” he joked as they parted ways. “I’ll be out in five.”
“Thanks.”
She paused at the door and took a deep breath. She’d never understood how Celeste had enjoyed living in the manager’s suite surrounded by strangers when they’d been running the Hideaway as a standard B&B.
Well, her stint here wasn’t forever. If Bobby and Cav were willing to talk about the ECM situation, they might put this whole mess behind them sooner rather than later. And then she and Brayden could start thinking about themselves and making plans.
In the meantime, she had guests. Scheduled reservations or not, Celeste would have her hide if she skimped on the hospitality.
Walking into the kitchen, she smiled. “Good morning.” Then her jaw dropped.
All three men were in the kitchen. Cav was at the coffee maker. Brian was at the breakfast table, his leg elevated on the bench seat. And Bobby glanced her way from behind the refrigerator door. “You want eggs?”
Her gaze flew to the clock. It wasn’t yet seven. After a wild, chaotic, and stressful night. “Your clothes.” All three wore clean shirts branded with the Indigo Reef logo. Cav and Bobby wore their freshly laundered pants, and Brian had his pants too, minus the cut off leg.
“Your man up too?” Brian asked, voice low. At her nod, he added in a normal voice, “We were trying to be quiet.”
She mentally struggled to get over the idea that these strangers recognized Brayden as “her man”. It was true and yet too new and too weird. Especially under these circumstances.
“I appreciate that.” She propelled herself toward the stove. “I’m happy to handle the cooking.”
“Afraid he’ll mess it up?” Cav winked. “I get it. But he won’t.” He filled a mug with coffee for her. “We’re fueling up to get out there.”
“Out there?” she echoed.
“Storm did a number on the place,” Bobby announced as he cracked eggs into a mixing bowl. “I took a few pictures on my way across and back again.”
“How?” She looked at the security system panel near the door. “When?”
“An hour ago,” he shrugged. “I unlocked the door, the camera came on, and the panel beeped a couple times before it went quiet.”
Brayden must’ve handled it while she slept.
“The office is flooded, naturally,” Bobby continued. “I had the extra shirts in my truck, so…” His voice trailed off while he opened and closed drawers, in search of utensils.
Roni found the whisk and handed it over.
“Thanks.” He beat the eggs, then set a skillet on the burner to heat, dropped in butter to melt. Returning to the eggs, he added milk, salt, and pepper.
She gulped down some coffee and went to the freezer for sausage patties. Impromptu or not, this was a work party and she’d do it the Hargrave way. Before Celeste arrived and took over the entire show.
Cav nodded his approval as she lined a sheet pan and set it to cook in the convection oven. “That’ll be a welcome addition,” he said. Once the oven started, he came closer, showing her the pictures Bobby had taken.
As expected, the photos showed the beach was littered with palms and small branches.
Even without a picture, she knew the tide would be higher too.
They certainly had their work cut out for them if they hoped to host the dance club in approximately twelve hours.
She sucked in a breath as Cav scrolled to the images from the trailer.
“Yeah.” He patted her arm in a friendly way. “Thanks for saving our butts.”
“Seconding that.” Brian gave her a mock salute. “Morning to you, Leggett,” he added, looking past her.
“Morning.” Brayden paused at the coffee maker and for a moment Roni got lost in the admiration of his biceps highlighted by the closefitting t-shirt he wore over faded cargo pants. “She’s letting you cook?” he asked Bobby.
“I insisted,” Bobby admitted. “Least I could do after, well, everything.”
“Brace yourself for an argument,” he warned. “Her sisters are here and they aren’t entirely caught up.”
Roni rolled her eyes. “Celeste is the oldest and hospitality might as well be her new religion.”
Cav and Brian laughed, but Bobby shook his head. “She can do whatever she wants as long as I finish the eggs.”
“Isn’t the customer always right?” Brayden queried.
“I guess we’ll find out.” Roni was smiling as her sisters rushed in on a wave of concern. Concern that quickly shifted to curiosity as they took in the full kitchen.
Roni made introductions, and to her complete shock, Celeste scowled at Bobby. “You.” She stepped forward. “You have been a jerk for weeks.”
Bobby moved the skillet so the eggs wouldn’t burn. “My apologies. For every inconvenience.”
Celeste opened her mouth. Snapped it closed. “You’re cooking in my kitchen.” Her gaze locked on Roni. “Why?”
“It’s really early, Celeste.” Roni found herself on the receiving end of what she and Nat called the oldest-sister stare of judgement. She sighed and shrugged. “He got to the eggs first. Cav made coffee. I put the sausage in.”
Natalie’s cheery laughter drew everyone’s attention. She’d sat down with Brian and the two of them were chatting. Their conversation went quiet as they realized they’d become the center of attention.
That was her baby sister through and through. Always quick to make a friend in any situation. She and Celeste had relied on those strengths through the years. Probably too much, if she were honest about it.
“What?” Nat queried, taking in the room. “Ignore them.” She patted Brian’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back with your plate.”
Roni stifled a giggle. The situation was too ridiculous.
Too many things to get wound up about. Her night with Brayden.
Storm damage here. Storm damage at the construction site.
Along with an unexpected-guest list that included the man who’d been deliberately mean and working against them, cooking eggs for everyone in the house.
This was the perfect morning to follow Nat’s example.
So that’s exactly what she did.
She went with the flow of the awkwardness. She ate a hearty breakfast with her sisters, the man she loved, and three strangers who weren’t exactly villains after all.