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Chapter Twenty
Rhett
“He’s been excitedall morning to ride in your ‘big truck’ you know.” Bella leaned against the door while I finished tightening down Brendan’s car seat. She wore her hair piled on top of her head, and was casually dressed in a tank top and cutoffs.
“Yeah, as soon as I walked in the door, he grabbed my hand and said ‘let’s go.’” I chuckled. “I had to remind him we needed to wait for you. Then he gave me his pouty face.”
A stifled laugh escaped her lips. “I’ll go get our stuff and grab Brendan while you finish that.”
I watched her hips sway as she walked up the sidewalk to the front door, and I rubbed my hand down my face. Last night was rough. When I got home and climbed into bed, all I could smell was Bella on the sheets. And then I missed the heat of her naked body curled against mine. Finally, after tossing and turning for an hour, I got up and took a hot shower, taking care of my stubborn hard-on that kept me thinking about being inside Bella.
“Big fuck,” Brendan squealed from the sidewalk.
“Yeah, buddy, ready for a ride in my bigtruck?” I asked while picking him up and securing him in his car seat. I swallowed over the lump in my throat when his big smile reminded me of Caden’s.
I closed my eyes, willing away memories I didn’t want to deal with. I just wanted to enjoy my girl and her kid, who I adored.
“Rhett?” Bella’s hand on my shoulder snapped me back to the present.
“Yup, all good.” I tickled Brendan’s belly and then shut the back door. Opening the front passenger door for Bella, I leaned forward, placing a quick kiss on her mouth before she climbed up and we headed off to get the flowers.
I didn’t think through bringing a toddler to a nursery. Brendan ran all over the place, knocking over a few plants. And twice, Bella had to crawl under the tables to get him out.
But even though he was being wild and running around, the young girls working thought he was adorable. He found a planter shaped like a pickup truck, and after the third time he tried to pick it up, I asked one of the girls if they could take it up front for us.
“I guess we should get something to put in that too?”
“You don’t have to give in every time he wants something, you know?”
“I know. But I like it.” I shrugged, and she rolled her eyes.
After getting the flowers, some plants, a small tree, and a few bags of mulch loaded into the back of my truck, I wrangled Brendan into his seat so we could head to my house. I was probably more excited than I needed to be, but I was eager to have them at my place.
I had gotten up early and gone grocery shopping to make sure I had everything we needed for lunch and dinner. Plus, I had a nice surprise for Bella and Brendan that I hoped they both loved. I’d bought the porch swing a week before, but between everything that had happened, I hadn’t installed it yet, which was why I’d made sure I got it done today before they arrived.
As soon as Brendan’s little feet hit the porch, he ran and ambled up onto the swing. Bella’s smile was wide as she sat down next to Brendan, pushing them with her feet.
“When did you do this?” she asked.
“This morning. You guys like it?”
“You did this for us?” Her eyes widened.
Walking to stand in front of her, I reached out and pulled her up to me. “I’ll do anything for the two of you.”
“Oh, now you have moves, huh?” The corners of her mouth twitched.
“I’ll show you my moves.” Grabbing her by the waist, I pulled her close enough that she could feel exactly what she did to me.
“Mama, I poopie,” Brendan yelled. I threw my head back and laughed. Bella groaned, and her forehead thumped against my chest.
“Little cock blocker,” I muttered. “I can change him if you want.”
She glanced over at the truck and shook her head. “No, I’ll do it so you can unload the truck.”
I settled my hand on her neck and used my thumb to tilt her chin up. “I meant what I said. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you two happy.” Leaning forward, I pressed my lips to hers.
After wiping my forehead with the sweat-drenched shirt that I had taken off fifteen minutes ago, I unloaded the last bag of mulch from the truck. I placed the pickup truck planter on the porch and went inside in search of Bella and Brendan. I found them in the kitchen, and as I took in the scene, my chest felt suddenly tight. Bella stood at the stove while Brendan sat on the floor, banging on a pot with a spoon.
