Chapter 31
On the drive home, Blake thought about what his grandfather had said. On top of that, Ross had seen Vi with another guy.
Already testing out someone new? That really fried him.
He stewed about it for the rest of the day and into the night until James distracted him with a good news phone call. Whitney was in labor. Blake spent several hours at the hospital, staying until he welcomed his niece and nephew into the world. Tiny, funny-looking little humans who stared straight into his eyes with utter trust and melted his heart.
Instant love.
He slept a few hours, then woke up thinking about the babies, the miracle of birth and new life.
And understood that he wanted kids of his own.
With Vi.
As Grandpop had wisely pointed out, he loved her. Hadn’t realized. He gave himself a mental smack in the head. How had he been so dense? His grandfather was right again—for a guy who was supposed to be smart, he was a real idiot.
Around dawn, he sent Vi a photo of James and Whitney each cradling a swaddled infant. Meet Alexis and Emmett. Born at 1:22 this morning. I’m an uncle!
He figured she’d be asleep, and her silence verified it. He’d brewed a pot of coffee, showered, dressed, and was contemplating breakfast when she replied.
So cute. Congrats to everyone!
That was it.
He’d expected more, wondered if she’d already moved on. Better go see her right away before it was too late. She didn’t like when he dropped in unannounced, but if she didn’t know he was on his way she couldn’t tell him not to come.
He reached the complex in record time. At this early hour, the guest parking area was mostly empty. After he punched the doorbell several times, she finally answered. In her bathrobe.
“Blake. It’s Sunday and barely eight a.m. What are you doing here so early?”
“When you texted back, I knew you were awake. You said to get in touch when I made up my mind, and here I am.”
She gave him a wary look. “I suppose you want to come in.”
“Please.” He wiped his feet and stepped into the entry.
“There’s coffee in the pot,” she said and raked her hand through her hair. “I’ll be back.”
Despite the cup he’d already had at home, he needed another. After pouring himself a mug, he sat down at the eating counter.
Mr. T padded across the kitchen, let out a plaintive meow and butted his head against Blake’s foot. Probably hungry. “I’m not sure where she went, but she’ll feed you soon.” He hopped off the bar stool and hunkered down to pet the cat. Loud purrs filled the air. “Like that, do you? You’d never guess I’m nervous, but I am.” Busy enjoying the attention, Mr. T ignored the comment. “Easy for you to be your usual self. You’re not about to change your life forever. Wish me luck.”
Vi returned to the kitchen. She’d combed her hair and changed into jeans and a shirt. “Are you talking to Mr. T?”
“He’s a good listener. I think he’s hungry.” Blake returned to the stool.
After feeding the animal, she refilled her mug and joined him at the eating bar. “Congrats on being an uncle. As soon as I got your text, I ordered a few gifts for the twins and their parents.”
“Whitney will be pleased.” He grinned. “Those babies are pretty special.”
The conversation ended, the silence putting him on the spot. She wasn’t making this easy. He cleared his throat. “How’ve you been?”
“Surviving, but I don’t think that’s why you’re here. You said something about making up your mind?”
“Right. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. The past few weeks without you have been rough. You’re the only woman I want, Vi, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“I was beginning to wonder. It’s been a few weeks since I heard from you.”
He waited for her to say more, but she simply stared at him. Nothing like emotional guilt to make him confess. “Want a big shock? As it turns outs, I’m in love with you.”
“You don’t fall in love, remember? You start a relationship and things are good for a while. Then they aren’t, and you move on.”
Not the reaction he expected. “This is one of the many reasons why you fascinate me, Vi. You say unpredictable things that keep me on my toes.” The furrows he’d grown used to and had missed appeared between her eyebrows, and he went on. “Like now. I figured you’d throw your arms around me and say you love me, too. Instead, you reminded me of something I said that isn’t true anymore. When I originally said it, I was clueless about love. But you changed everything.”
“Oh, really,” she said as if she doubted that. “You thought you loved Sammi, then realized you’d confused love with lust. How do you know for sure you’re not doing the same thing with me?”
This time, he didn’t have to think about what to say. “For starters, the past few weeks without you drained my life of color. I hadn’t understood how much you enriched everything. My feelings for you are different from anything in the past. I don’t know how to describe it except there’s a deep knowing in my chest and gut. Do I visualize a future with you? One hundred percent, a long and bright one. Without you beside me, everything is dull. To be honest though, I’m not ready to talk marriage yet. But I probably will be soon.”
“Neither am I, although my biological clock is ticking and I don’t want to wait too long. I agree that, yes, we do need more time together.” She crossed her arms over her waist. “What are you ready for?”
“Uh-uh, it’s your turn to answer my question,” he countered. “Tell me about the man you had coffee with the other day.”
“Where did you hear—Ross. When I saw him at Hastings, he gave me such a dark look.”
“Who’s this guy who asked you out?”
“You have it all wrong. The place was packed and he happened to have an empty chair at his table. He offered it to me.”
“Did he hit on you?”
“No, and would it matter if he had? I wasn’t interested. FYI, I’m in love with someone else.”
Blake tipped up her chin. “Would that someone be me?”
She nodded. “You own my heart.”
The tension roiling through his gut since she’d walked away faded. Not counting meeting the babies, he grinned for the first time in weeks. “I’ll take good care of it. Come here, you.”
“It’s about time. I brushed my teeth and everything.”
Chuckling, he pulled her into his arms. Then sobered, kissed her and held on tight. Home. “We have a lot to talk about, but first, I’m desperate to make love with you.”
“Then follow me to the bedroom.”
Sometime later,curled up beside Blake after fabulous sex, Vi was at last able to voice the words she’d once fought to silence. “I love you, Blake Wanamaker. You don’t know how good it feels to say the words out loud to you.”
“I get that. I love you, too,” he said, smiling into her eyes.
“You don’t understand. The last time we made love, I wanted to tell you, but I held back. I was afraid if you knew, you’d disappear so fast.”
“If I had, I wouldn’t have been able to stay away long.”
“You couldn’t have known that. Now I can think straight again. You haven’t said what you’re ready for next in our relationship.”
“For starters, I want us to be exclusive. You good with that?”
“Absolutely. Let’s seal it with a kiss.”
A long, sweet kiss later, he nuzzled her nose. “God above, I love you. Caroline and Grandpop will freak when we tell them.”
“I doubt that. They’ve known from the start we’d end up together. Remember how they bragged to each other about us and embarrassed us at that first dinner? They did it because they wanted us to be impressed with each other and end up together. That’s what Gran said.”
Blake shook his head. “What a pair of schemers.” He cocked an ear. “Is that your stomach I hear rumbling?”
“You have to ask?” she teased. “I’m running on empty. I’ll bet you are, too.”
“Let’s shower and get dressed, then go out to breakfast.”
Later, as they ate and laughed and discussed the future, everything fell into place and all was right with the world.
The End