Page 2 of The Mood Board

I was halfway through the bagel when my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I was surprised to see Bailey’s number on the screen.

“Hey, what are you doing up?” I said, holding the phone up to see the video on the other end.

“I wanted to catch you before your flight left” was the sleepy reply, and she yawned as if to prove the point. Bailey’s voice was still rough with sleep, her hair mussed, and pillow lines pressed into one cheek. It was adorable and sexy and warmed my heart.

“You didn’t have to do that. It’s way too early for you,” I replied, but I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face at the sight. She was even sleeping in one of my old T-shirts, which was gigantic on her.

“I didn’t want you to get on the plane without saying good morning.” Bailey shook her head as though shaking off the cobwebs of sleep and brushed her hair away from her face. Her engagement ring glittered in the dim light from the bedside lamp. “I’ve missed you so much, and I can’t wait for you to get back.”

Bailey yawned through the entire sentence, stretching again, but it didn’t matter—the sentiment still made that spot in the center of my chest glow, butterflies dancing and fluttering along with it.

My fiancée looked like she was halfway to falling asleep again, trying to stay awake and talk to me, and I wasn’t sure she had ever been this beautiful before. I had thought the exact thing many times since we had been together, and it was always true.

Bailey was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, from her thick dark hair to her dark eyes and a body I could stare at for hours. But more than that, I had fallen deeply for the woman she was. I loved every part of her, from how she ran her business to her odd sense of humor and the snort that would occasionally escape when she was in the throes of laughter. I loved the way she held my hand and held me. I loved how she got along with my family, employees, and Tom. I loved how hard she worked and how hard her heart loved.

I loved the way she loved me.

But instead of putting all that into words, I simply smiled and asked, “You know how much I love you, right?”

She nodded, and I hoped it was true—I tried every day to show her, not just tell her, how she filled my entire heart. The way I was so incredibly grateful she was in my life, especially after my idiot mistake had almost driven her away.

“You know how much I love you, too, right?” she asked.

“I do,” I replied solemnly. But I couldn’t stay solemn for long—it wasn’t me. Bailey’s grin grew at the sight of mine, and she giggled.

“I wish you were home right now,” she sighed with a huff.

“Me, too, sweetheart.” I would never tire of hearing her say “home” because she meant our home.

Our home together.

“I’ll be there before you know it.” I took a sip of my coffee. “My flight gets in before you get home. Do you want me to pick something up for dinner on the way back from the airport?”

“Whatever you want” was the yawned response.

I chuckled, wishing so badly to be beside her in that bed it was painful. “Go back to sleep, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

Bailey grinned. “Whatever gets you here faster. I’d sleep the whole day if I could.”

“Getting home to find you in bed would be the best homecoming.” I bit my lip, trying not to picture what would come next—that would make the ride home possibly more excruciating. Bailey didn’t have that problem, though, and the way her grin grew into something mischievous made that apparent.

“I’ll see what I can do” was all she said, and I bit back a groan.

“Don’t tease me,” I begged, but all I got in reply was laughter.

“By the way,” I added, dragging my thoughts forcibly away from Bailey in bed and all the things I wanted to do to her. “Have you been getting the mail?”

“I’ve been getting it from the mailbox.” Her answer was too careful, and I knew that was code for “it’s all piled up by the door.” She was among the neatest and most organized people I had ever met. Her one bad habit I had found out about after she had moved in with me was that she left the mail to itself until it was a gigantic pile.

I shook my head, chuckling again. “Okay, well, if you get a chance, please look through it. I’m expecting a letter. If not, I’ll look for it when I get home.”

“Sure.”

A glance at my watch told me it was time to head to the gate. “I have to go, sweetheart. I’ll be home soon, okay?”

“You better” was Bailey’s reply, and I longed to kiss the mouth curved into a sweet smile. “I can’t wait.”

“Me, either,” I said. “I love you.”

“Love you, too. Bye.”

“Bye.”

The call ended, and my screen went dark as I stuffed it into my pocket and stood. And that was one more thing to be excited about, as if seeing Bailey wasn’t enough. That letter held the trip itinerary for a surprise I had planned for the two of us, a drive up Highway 1, staying at the best places along the coast. I knew Bailey would be ecstatic.

I couldn’t wait to get home.