She peeks over her shoulder at me, her dark blue eyes soft with sleep and something sweeter. “Okay,” she whispers.
My eyes drift down to her lips, but I don’t want to move too fast. I press my lips to her forehead instead. “Good. I’d rather have you close in case you need me. I’ve heard things about midnight cravings.”
Laughter bursts from her, bright and full of joy. My lip twitches and I take in the way the morning light streams in and caresses this gorgeous woman. It’s as if it is reaching for her. I can understand the impulse.
She groans and starts to wiggle away from me, but I just hold her tighter. I don’t want to let her go.
“You have to let me get up, Bridger,” she murmurs.
“No,” I pout like a petulant child, “I don’t want to.”
She giggles softly before letting me know, “I need to use the bathroom.”
I release her immediately because I remember how many times Tenley complained about needing to pee all the time. After I sit up, I scoot to her side of the bed as she moves before helping her to her feet. The grateful smile she shoots my way has my heart pounding in my chest and my dick throbbing.
My morning erection was already extra excited at being nestled against her perfect peach shaped ass and didn’t need any help, but here we are. After she closes the door, my phone goes off again and I move to grab it.
Tenley: Wyatt filled me in on what he knew. It sounded like she showed up at the shop with nothing. I went and grabbed a few things for her to wear and some girl stuff to help her feel at home. I left everything on your porch.
Dallas: I was able to reschedule your appointments for the day. Let us know how things are going with Avery. And, hopefully, I’m the first to say congratulations!
Wyatt: We’ll be bringing dinner for you and Avery tonight. Let us know if we can help you with anything before then. Dallas has already rescheduledyour appointments. Don’t worry about the shop, worry about your baby and Avery.
I have to swallow hard past the lump in my throat. I’ve watched our shop family step up for each other, but I’ve never needed them to do so for me. Now that I do, they didn’t hesitate. And they thought of things I didn’t.
I’m up and rushing toward the front door because I want to give the clothes to Avery right away. I should have thought about her comfort and needing something to wear today, but I was distracted by how damn good she looks in my clothes.
If she only wanted to wear my stuff, I’d be more than okay with it.
When I saw her last night, fresh from the shower with my shirt stretching across her baby bump, some primal part of my brain I didn’t realize I had was unlocked. It took everything for me not to beat my chest and roar out my satisfaction.
I settled for feeding her. Which felt damn good as well.
The basket sitting on the porch is perfect and I scoop it up before heading back to the room I now consider ours instead of just mine. I want that.
For this space to be ours.
To be able to wake up with Avery in my arms every morning.
Being able to claim this gorgeous, smart, sweet woman as mine.
Maybe we can get there.
Avery walks out of the bathroom as I stride into the room and place the basket on the bed. Her eyes widen as she looks at it.
“What is that?”
“Wyatt filled Tenley in on you coming by the shop yesterday and figured you wouldn’t have anything with you. She went out and grabbed you some clothes and other things you might need.”
“What?” She blinks a few times as she looks at the basket. Her voice is barely above a whisper, “She brought me a basket with some clothes and things I might need?”
“Yes?” It comes out as more of a question than a statement because I’m not sure if she’s offended or touched.
The moment she looks up at me with tears in her eyes, I know which it is. And she’s not just touched, but this has hit her deeply. Her steps are slow and measured as she approaches the basket.
The moment she starts pulling things out, including some lotion for baby bellies and stretch marks, a candle, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, some dry shampoo, and prenatal vitamins, her face lights up.
Then she pulls out some panties and she blushes so prettily before holding up some fabric and letting it unfurl. The long dress is a navy blue with bright flowers along the bottom hem which look like they’ve been painted on.
