Chapter 9
Reagan didn’t used to like mornings. The bed was toasty, but the room was always cold, and she’d wake up with some kind of existential dread clouding her mind, usually in the form of her mom’s negative chatter about various things.
Years of only hearing the bad in life had left her a little jaded in her outlook.
But ever since she’d gone to the park on Saturday and reconnected with Indio, her outlook had changed. Especially Monday morning, when she’d woken up with Indio’s arms around her and her body still humming from the pleasure.
There hadn’t been a rush to the bed; it had happened just right. They’d fallen asleep watching a movie on the couch, and when she woke up, she’d been unable to resist waking him up too. And suggesting they move things to the bedroom.
Just thinking about it made her whole body warm, and it was four days later!
She hadn’t seen him again because they’d both had work, but they talked a lot on the phone and sent texts throughout the day.
Her phone buzzed and she knew it was him before she picked it up to look at the screen.
Morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?
She smiled at his message. He always messaged her first thing in the morning, like he’d woken up thinking about her and couldn’t wait to say hello. She could relate.
I did sleep well. I dreamed you were here with me. Did you sleep well?
Not as good as I slept Sunday night.
She grinned. That was the best night’s sleep of my life.
Same. I can’t wait to see you tonight. It’s been way too long.
Yes! I’ll be ready. What do you have planned? I could cook for us.
I love your cooking, but let me take you somewhere. I have a casual place picked out for us, some friends recommended it.
Sounds good. See you at six.
Can’t wait.
She pressed the phone to her chest as her heart soared. He made her feel precious and cared for with a few texts. It was a wild and incredible feeling.
Rolling out of bed, she went into the kitchen to brew a cup of green tea, then grabbed a shower while she waited. When she was dressed for work and in the kitchen with a plate of cheese and crackers for breakfast with her tea, her phone buzzed and she saw it was Rhomi calling.
“Morning, girl,” Reagan said.
“Hey. I was just thinking about you and wanted to check in. How’s the cravings going?”
“Not crazy today. Cheese and crackers for breakfast. But last night I found dill pickle ice cream at the deli when I went to grab a bean and cheese burrito, and oh my gosh it was amazing.”
“Ugh, girl, tell me you didn’t eat the burrito and the ice cream together.”
“Heck yeah, I did. And it was awesome. Didn’t you get weird cravings?”
“Not weird at all, I would just get cravings where I’d only eat one thing for a week. Like one week I only ate queso and tortilla chips. The heartburn was a nightmare but it tasted so good. And one week I ate a whole bunch of those caramel apple suckers.”
“Queso sounds good. Maybe with pickle ice cream.”
“Ew.” Rhomi started to laugh and Reagan joined in. “Anyway, how’s things going with you and Mr. Right?”
She finished her bite of cracker and cheese and took a drink of tea before answering. “He’s amazing. Better than I deserve.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it feels that way. He’s so sexy, and oh my gosh, he sets my world on fire if you know what I mean. And he’s nice . And so sweet. I feel like he really cares about me.”
“And you think you don’t deserve a guy who’s nice and sweet and cares about you? Not to mention rocks your world? Babe, you definitely deserve that. I think that’s your mom talking.”
“Yeah. It’s hard to turn off her voice in my head sometimes.”
“Well, tell her voice to go to you-know-where, and let yourself be loved. You deserve all the good things.”
“I’ve never had a relationship last very long.”
“You’ve never been with the right guy. Because the right guy wouldn’t leave.
He’d stay for you, fight for you. I’ll say this with all the love in the world—you are a stone-cold fox and you deserve a sexy guy to make you feel like the most beautiful woman on the planet.
Just because your other relationships didn’t work out doesn’t mean that things will go south with Indio.
I’ve talked to him. He’s in it for life with you, that’s just the kind of guy he is.
You’re his soulmate and you’re it for him. ”
“What if he thinks I’m too much trouble? With my mom and everything. She’s a lot.”
“Yeah she is, but she’s not in the relationship with him, you are.
But maybe take him to meet her sometime, and get it out of the way.
Maybe she’ll see that he really cares for you and he’s different than your dad.
You’re not repeating her mistakes, you’re making your own way in the world.
Let yourself be loved, Reagan. You deserve it. ”
She smiled, her eyes stinging. “When did you get so smart?”
“I think it’s the baby. I’m really getting good at pep-talking people. I believe everything I said, though. He’s a great guy and his family is ecstatic for him.”
“Because of the baby?” Rhomi asked.
“No, because of you. His family are big believers in soulmates. Like the one-right-person-on-the-planet sort. Indio would want you no matter what. Don’t you want him?”
“Constantly.”
“That’s how I feel about Mercer. I don’t know how you stayed away from Indio for three weeks. I would have gone bat-crap crazy trying to do that.”
“It wasn’t easy. I thought all the time about going to see him, but I was scared. And then pregnant and scared.”
“Fate brought you together anyway.”
“I’m glad for that.”
“Me too, babe. So anyway, the end of my pep talk is get your head out of your butt and embrace your soulmate. And be sure to name your baby Rhomi.”
“Sorry, my neighbor Darla has dibs.”
“Ah, dang it. Well, Darla Rhomi has a nice ring to it. You better put Darcy’s name in there too.”
With a chuckle, she said goodbye to her bestie and finished her breakfast, then headed to work. Before she put her phone away until lunch, she sent a text to Indio.
I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m still a little scared about the future, but I feel so much better with you in my life. I feel like I can do anything .
As she was about to put her phone on do not disturb, he responded.
You’re the best thing that ever happened to me too. You don’t have to be afraid of the future, because I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right by your side through whatever comes.
She sent him a heart emoji and he sent her two back.
She put her phone on do not disturb and tucked it into her bag, then headed out to start the day. Six o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.
By six, she was a bundle of excitement, and when she opened the door after he knocked, she nearly tackled him. Kissing him, she said, “Four days was too long without seeing you.”
He kissed her back with a chuckle. “Very much too long, let’s not go that long without seeing each other again.”
He smelled amazing and her stomach flipped, her thoughts immediately traipsing to the bedroom for another round or three of sheet-tumbling.
“Ah, ah,” he said, giving her waist a squeeze with his big hands. “Keep those sexy thoughts to yourself and let’s go get dinner. I can hear your stomach rumbling.”
“How did you know I was thinking sexy thoughts?” She peered up at him.
“When you do, your eyes get darker. Plus, you’re blushing.”
“I am?” She touched her neck, aware her skin felt hot.
“Yep, but it’s gorgeous, just like you. Now, how about dinner and then we’ll see if we can do something about those sexy thoughts? I’m having them myself, you know.”
“Oh yeah? I can’t wait to hear about them.”
“Later,” he said, his voice dropping low and sending a shiver down her spine.
He drove them to the Three Pines Diner, which she’d never been to.
One of those old-fashioned sort of diners with the pie case and the waitresses wearing aprons and comfortable shoes.
They slid into a vinyl booth while a waitress set large plastic-covered menus in front of them and offered them drinks.
Reagan ordered ginger ale and Indio got iced tea, and then they ordered their meals: turkey club and fries for her, and meatloaf and mashed potatoes for him.
As they waited for the food to arrive, they talked about their days, and then she told him about her chat with Rhomi that morning.
“You do deserve to be happy,” Indio said earnestly. “And I hope that I’m worthy of being the guy to make you happy and take care of you.”
“Rhomi mentioned soulmates, and you’ve said the word too.”
“I believe we’re soulmates. I think there’s one person on the planet for us, and you’re my one person. What do you think?”
“I think that kind of scares me.”
“Why?”
Their food arrived and she picked up her sandwich, thinking about how she felt.
“I don’t know. I guess because admitting there’s only one guy for me—and knowing that it’s you—means I’d be pretty dang devastated if you took off.”
He let out a grumble that sounded like a growl. “I’m not taking off. You’re my forever girl, and forever doesn’t mean leaving when things get hard. I plan to spend the rest of my life making you happy and building a life with you. Whenever you’re ready to do that.”
What if I’m ready now?
Dang, she wanted that—all of it. With him.
“I want you to meet my family,” he said.
Her eyes went wide. “What? You do?”
“Yes. You mentioned you might get laid off in a few weeks anyway with winter-staffing at the gardens, so maybe you’d like to take a few days off with me and go visit my family.
They’re in South Carolina for a holiday festival and would love to meet you.
” He smiled and finished the last bite of his meatloaf, then put the fork on the empty plate.
“I have to warn you that my mom is a food-is-love kind of gal and she will feed you. I mean really feed you.”
The thought that there were people out there—his family and friends—who wanted to get to know her made her chest go tight. Her mom hadn’t wanted to meet him. Even now, almost a week later, she hadn’t asked to meet the father of her baby. It was a wild difference between their families.
“I’d like that. When?”
“Tomorrow? We could leave early. I could get you back home Tuesday.”
She’d have to call off a few days, but she never took off work and they weren’t busy right now anyway. Here she was, taking another leap. “Okay.”
“Yeah?” he asked, eyes brightening.
“Yes. Let’s do it.”
“There’s just one thing we need to do first.”
She leaned forward, her body coming online with lots of sexy thoughts. “Tumble in the sheets?”
He chuckled in a low way that made her belly clench. Was she ever going to get over how he made her feel? She sure hoped not.
“Yes. But first, I want to meet your mom. I was thinking we could stop by after we’re done here.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
But she quickly leaned into the idea. He wanted to know her family, the way he wanted her to know his. And even though her mom was a wild card and might say something that really offended him, or hurt Reagan, she wasn’t going to hide her away under a rock.
“She might say something awful.”
“As long as it’s about me, I don’t care.
” He leaned forward a little and his eyes did that weird amber flash when he got serious.
“If she says something mean about you, I will step in, though. No one, not even your mom, is allowed to be mean to you. All the orgasms I happily give you come at the price of making sure you’re protected and happy. ”
The waitress cleared her throat, snapping her gum with a grin. “Pie, anyone?”
Reagan’s cheeks flamed hot while Indio laughed.
“We’re good, just the check, please,” he said.
“I bet you are,” the waitress said with an exaggerated wink. “Take care of it at the counter. Have a fun night, y’all.”
“Now you owe me an extra one,” she said as she scooted from the booth.
He took her coat and helped her put it on. “Extra what?”
“Orgasm. Since you just mortified me in public.”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “How about two for good measure? So I’m sure to learn my lesson not to talk about orgasms in public.”
She loved his teasing tone. Looking up at him, she shivered at the heat in his gaze. “Make it three.”
“You got it, love.”