Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
CHELSEA
I roll over and take a little stretch but suddenly jolt as I move straight into a hard, warm body.
Snapping my eyes open with a gasp, I quickly let out a breath when I see Brad asleep next to me.
It’s not like I can forget about last night, but seeing him here in my bed is definitely going to take some getting used to.
The first thoughts in my head are all the rolling around we did last night after we’d finished getting through a load of baking downstairs.
He pulled me on top of him for our second time and I rode him into the wee hours, holding onto the bed frame, glad that no one else lives close by to hear us.
It was as sexy as hell, Brad is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced.
My second thoughts are us both confessing how we felt about each other.
“I love the both of you.”
It’s hard not to let myself get caught up in the Bradley Lucas love bubble, though I feel like I’m already there, but the bigger part of me knows that it’s time.
I’ve been single for the majority of Deaton’s life.
It really is time for me to think about myself and what I want.
And Bradley is it. Despite feeling nervous because it’s been so long since I’ve been in a relationship, or even contemplated one, Brad makes me feel like I’m a million dollars.
Like I’m the only thing that matters to him.
“You okay?” I hear a deep mutter, followed by Brad cracking an eye open.
I pull the covers up close to my chest and press my lips together in anticipation. “I’m good,” I breathe. “Sleep well?” I don’t mean it to sound so sassy, but if it does, then what the heck. He did say he loved me, I think I can afford some liberties.
“You know, I really don’t know if I slept at all. Some hot brunette mama kept me up all night.”
I giggle like a schoolgirl and want to slap myself silly.
I’m a mother, for god’s sake! I think I need to remind myself that before I get carried away again, but boy, it felt good.
Rolling around with my best friend while Deaton is at Leo’s place is a very irrational, and some would say, irresponsible, thing to do.
Do I regret it? No. But that doesn’t stop the heat of what we did last night from rising into my cheeks and my heart pounding in my chest like a jackhammer. “I wonder who that was.”
He rolls over onto his side and gives me a good indication of who it was with a nudge of his hips.
I laugh, lifting the covers up and looking down at his hardness tenting, happy and willing to pick up where we left off, it seems. One thing certainly is true; that Brad Lucas sleeps naked.
Very, very naked. And I’m here for all of it.
“Does that thing of yours ever stop for a pause?” I joke.
He leans into me, his cock pressing against the material of my sleep shorts. Yes, when we finally finished our bedroom antics, we took it to the shower, and when I was so spent I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I threw on my sleep shorts and a tank. “Not around you it doesn’t.”
“You know I have a day this morning, Mister. I have to finish all the orders, get everything ready for the shop, and go pick up Deaton. Plus, Mason’s party is this afternoon.”
“Holy guacamole. I’m exhausted just hearing about it.” It doesn’t stop him nuzzling into me.
“Bradley!” I smack him on the tush as he rolls over the top of me and presses me into the mattress.
“Oh, so now it’s Bradley, huh?”
“It is at the moment.”
“It’s still early, baby. But I promise you I’ll do my best to get you out of this bed as soon as I can.”
“How noble of you,” I laugh. “Though it sounds like a plan I can get behind. Mister Contingency.”
He chuckles into my neck, his warm lips moving over my flesh in soft, sultry kisses. It spikes my temperature up a million degrees and instantly has my sweet spot begging.
There’s no way I can resist this tattooed, sexy hero. “Speaking of getting behind—”
I giggle as he lifts his body up and flips me over onto my belly, pressing that succulent third leg of his into the crevice of my sleep shorts. “Bradley Lucas, you are one bad man!”
“Just call me Mister Contingency, you seem to like it, Mama.”
After a quickie round in bed before another shower, some coffee and bagels, Brad leaves for the day, vowing he’ll see me later at Mason’s party. Mason is going to collect the cupcakes and muffins for the showing and have a peek at Bobby’s cake.
Rose is at the back door nice and early, so we spend the morning baking our little hearts out. She’s been learning the ropes over this past year and taking on more in the shop when she’s not on the counter. It’s a godsend having her here today.
To say I have a spring in my step would be a complete understatement.
I feel like I’m floating on air even though I know today is a crazy one and I have so much to do, it doesn’t seem to matter.
Bradly Lucas loves me. How I tamed the wild beast I’ll never know, but the night we spent together was nothing short of magical.
I know I’m going to combust if I don’t spill my news to Bea before the doors open for the day. So, I quickly shoot her a text from the walk-in-pantry.
Me
You are never going to believe what happened last night
Bea
Hey to you too! What’s cooking Miss Confetti?
Me
Let’s just say Brad came over to help with some of the orders last night and ended up icing my cake if you know what I mean
Bea
OMG hot damn I need to know everything
Me
I’m flat out this morning at work
Bea
Need a hand?
Me
It’s ok. I’ve got Rose here
Bea
There’s just you and Rose on a Saturday morning?
She knows Mom’s away, I guess, but maybe not about Marlene being sick.
Me
Yes I’m short, but it’ll be ok. If I get through the morning we can meet for a coffee before I get Deat and head to Mason’s party
Bea
You’ve never been good at asking for help. I might not be able to bake to save myself. But I can sure take money off people and work the register
Me
You’re amazing
Bea
And I want deets when we get a free moment. All of them
Me
I promise xxx
“My god,” Bea says, flopping down into one of the chairs in the cafe after we’ve locked up and cleaned the small shop floor.
Rose has just left for the day with some muffins and cupcakes to take home.
I’ve also just given Bea a brief, but vivid, rundown on my shenanigans with Brad last night.
“I’ll never look at your kitchen countertop in the same light again. ”
I stifle a laugh as I bring our coffee over to the table she’s sitting at, closest to the kitchen. She just mopped the main floor for me and has finally hung up her apron strings.
This morning was crazy. But thanks to all the prep last night and this morning, we’ve gotten everything done. I just have to put the final touches on Bobby’s cake.
“The man is like nothing else,” I say. “Kinda imperfectly perfect in every way.”
“He’s as hot as balls.”
“That too,” I sigh.
“Seriously, Chels, I’m so happy for you.” She reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “What a catch he is. And you are too, of course.”
I laugh. “And he loves my kid.”
“Such a bonus.”
“And he said he loves me.”
Bea’s eyes snap up from the chocolate eclair she’s about to chomp into. “He— WHAT?”
I press my palm into my forehead and purse my lips. “Yup, he did.”
“Babe!”
“I know. It’s been a long time coming, Bea. But it feels amazing. And he’s trying his best to convince me to let him come on board and try to buy this place.” She knows bits and pieces about the whole shop debacle and that Brad has been very vocal about wanting to buy in.
“I’m sure he can be quite persuasive when he wants to be.” She waggles her eyebrows. “You’re not going to be your stubborn self when it comes to this, are you?”
“I haven’t had a guy take care of me in that way, or look out for me like that,” I confess. “I’m open to the idea. I just don’t want things to ever be awkward if it goes pear-shaped.”
“Not gonna happen babe, he’s a keeper, and so are you.” She grins around her eclair and takes a big bite. “You just need to go for it. The way I’m going for this eclair.”
I laugh heartily. “Go for Brad the way you’re going for the eclair? I think I like the sound of that.”