The Brookfield Series Volume One (13 page)

As she breathed in, the scent of vanilla also calmed her mind, and she finally felt one-hundred percent relaxed. As long as the water stayed warm, she wasn’t leaving this little luxury. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed only seeing the blackness from her lids.

The water finally started to get a little too cool, so Julie climbed out and wrapped herself up in a luxurious, white, fluffy towel that was amazingly soft against her skin. In the room, she dropped the towel then rubbed lotion all over her body, especially over her belly. As she rubbed the cream on, she could feel Lila moving slightly. She smiled. She was never alone and, as long as she had Lila, she never would be.

She dressed in her comfiest sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. Then she pulled her hair up into a bun. It was nice to be comfortable. Back in New York, with the hours she’d worked, she never got to just relax like this. It was all hustle and bustle, go, go, go. But not here.

Sprawled out on the bed, she wondered what was taking Claire so long. Surely she was back by now. How long did it take to get pizza? A knock sounded on the door and startled her out of her thoughts. She hollered she would be out in just a minute.

In her suitcase, she dug out her slippers, and then she was all set for an evening of stuffing her face and watching cheesy movies. She opened the door and ran smack-dab into a pizza box.

“Ow,” she yelped.

She looked at the pizza box then let her gaze leisurely move from the firm chest in a navy blue, button-down shirt to the blue eyes that belonged to Mark.

“Mark,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“I was at work getting ready to leave when Claire rushed in and told me you were back and that I needed to bring you this pizza.”

Mental note, kill Claire. “Do you want to come in?” she asked.

Mark stepped past her, and she shut the door softly behind him. “She said you’re home—for good,” Mark said.

“I am.”

He set the pizza box down. “Why did you leave in the first place?”

“I needed to figure things out.”

“You couldn’t do that here? You didn’t even leave a number for me to contact you. You never called me one time, and you knew how to reach me.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

He was silent, and she wondered what was going through his head. She studied him and let her eyes wander a bit. He was even more attractive than she remembered. So badly did she want to reach out and touch him. Feel him against her skin. His breath warm on her. His lips moist against hers.

“How can I believe you’re staying for good?” he finally asked.

“This is mine and Lila’s home.”

Mark’s expression softened. “It’s a girl.”

She couldn’t help it. She smiled. “Yes.” Rubbing her belly, she said, “It’s a girl.”

His eyes drifted and took in her stomach. He looked as though his mind was going a mile a minute. What she would give to know what he was thinking.

“Congratulations,” he said.

“Thanks.” He sat on the bed. “I know I hurt you, Mark, and if I could, I would spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You told me you loved me, and I ran. And for that, I am so sorry. I should have stayed and talked it over like an adult, but I didn’t. I can’t change that now, but I can make up for it.”

He rubbed his hands through his hair.

“Are things serious with Cara?” she asked.

Mark snickered. “Nowhere near where she wants it to be.” His eyes rose to hers. “She knows she isn’t you.”

Julie’s heart fluttered. Maybe there was hope. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You’re who I want, Julie. I don’t want anyone else. I’m in love with you.”

Closing in the space between them now, she said, “I love you.”

Mark grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap so she straddled him. She stared into his eyes for a moment before letting her lips find his. His kiss was as eager as hers and, as his arms wrapped around her, she was at more ease than she had ever been. Mark loved her, and he was going to forgive her.

He was also putting her into a state of arousal, which seemed to be a very common thing at this point in her pregnancy. Her hormones were at full speed, and she was very ready to get this hunk of a man undressed.

“This might be really forward, but I’m seriously horny. Please take me home, and make love to me in our bed,” Julie said.

“I don’t think anything sounds better.” Julie stood and turned to get her things. “Leave them. You don’t need anything in that bag for what I have in store for you tonight.” Taking her hand, he hurried her out the door.

On the way out of Honeycreek, he hollered to Claire he’d be by for Julie’s luggage when they made it out of bed and to enjoy the pizza. Julie laughed the whole way.

Mark sped home, and she knew he was just as ready as she was to get out of these clothes and under some sheets together. As they pulled up to the house, the first thing Julie noticed was the red car was gone. Thank God. As they climbed out, Julie told him to stop. Twisting her fingers around his, she smiled up at him.

“We’re home. Our home.”

Mark kissed her. He then leaned down and picked her up.

“What are you doing?”

“Carrying you over the threshold.”

“I’m too heavy.” She giggled.

“Yeah, a little bit.”

“Hey!” She swatted his across his shoulder. “There are two of us here.”

Lifting her a little more, he kissed her belly. “I’m fully aware.” Once inside, he put her back on her feet and pulled her into an embrace. “Welcome home, Julie.”

Epilogue

Julie’s eyes opened, and the sun was already up. This was new. Lila always had her up at the crack of dawn and, each morning as she took her bottle, they sat in the rocker and watched the sun rise. Yet, this morning, the sun was up, and there was no crying baby. Panic set in then. Julie tossed the sheets off and darted for the baby’s room.

The nursery was empty. Right as she was about to holler for help, she heard a familiar giggle and a few clinking noises. Closing her old bedroom door, which was now Lila’s, she crept toward the kitchen. Lila sat in her highchair, fully strapped in and making all kinds of cooing noises. Mark was at the stove cooking.

“Good morning,” Julie said and walked over to kiss Lila.

Mark spun around. “Get back in bed. Lila and I were going to surprise you with your favorite in bed.”

She laughed. “What is my favorite?”

“This funky omelet you made me when you first made breakfast.”

She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “And what do I owe this special occasion to?”

Mark lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”

“No, I’ve been so busy with Lila and my new publishing house that I don’t even know what day it is.”

“It’s your first Mother’s Day.”

Julie walked away, went over to the calendar, and saw he was right. “How did I not know?”

“You’re a busy woman. Now take that hot ass of yours back to bed, so Lila and I can finish our surprise for you.”

She didn’t have to be told twice. She was crawling back in bed and taking full advantage of this. Once in her warm bed again, she fluffed the pillows and waited.

Mark was the most amazing man and did so much for her and Lila each and every day. Coming home to Brookfield had been the best decision she had ever made. There were so many people who already spoiled Lila rotten. Her mother had stayed for a few weeks after Lila was born but was now back to soaking up all the sun she could in Miami. She was even debating staying there this summer. It was nice to finally see her mom so happy and moving past the death of her husband.

Lila’s constant cooing got closer, and then she saw Mark with the baby in the front carrier. How much cuter could the man get? Having a baby strapped to him made him ten times sexier.

In front of them, he carried a small tray with a cup of steaming hot coffee and her omelet. She reached out and took it from him. There was a card on the tray. Julie opened it, and a tear trickled down her cheek. It was her first card from her daughter, and it simply said, “My mom rocks! Happy Mother’s Day.”

Climbing out of the bed, she wrapped her arms around Mark, with Lila in the middle blowing raspberries.

“Thank you.” She kissed Mark. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

She was the luckiest woman or, at least, in her eyes.

The End

Bare Necessities

Lacey Wolfe

BARE NECESSITIES

Copyright © 2012, Lacey Wolfe

Publisher: Southern Girl Press, First Edition

Edited by Megan Fisher

Proofread by Ella Jade

Cover by Designs by Viari

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

www.laceywolfe.com

Chapter One

Ava Miller closed up her soon-to-be shop for the evening. Her day had been full of blueprints, paint swatches, and phone calls. She was ready to head back to the place she called home these days and put her feet up for a relaxing evening.

She headed for her car until she realized she didn’t have her keys or cellphone. Fiddling with the store keys again, she let herself back into the shop and made a mad dash to the back of the hollowed-out store. She spotted the car keys and phone on a small, round table. Sighing, she grabbed them and then ran back across the store.

After she relocked the door, she turned to race down the side road but didn’t make it far. She ran headfirst into something hard and warm. Looking up, she saw a very fine-looking specimen.

“Excuse me…. Sorry.” Wow, this man was hot!

“You’re in a hurry. Is there a fire?” the handsome man asked.

Ava let her gaze drift over his body and noticed the badge. She then batted her lashes and said, “There aren’t any speeding laws on the sidewalk, are there?”

He chuckled. “I like you.”

She grinned. That was good to know. Maybe she could make friends with this hunk.

“I’m Seth Hampton, sheriff of this wonderful town. And you’re new. So tell me, beautiful, what’s your name?”

“I’m Ava Miller.”

“Miller? Any relation to Julie?”

“Cousins.”

He looked her up and down. “I can’t say I see the family resemblance.”

She laughed. Her father had been Italian, and she’d gotten the darker skin from him. Her eyes were emerald green and really stood out from behind her jet-black hair, and having Italian in her, she was full of curves. Something she had to learn to love.

“Since you must be new to town, I think it’s only right I treat you to dinner.”

“Sounds nice. When did you have in mind?”

“Tonight,” he said.

Yikes, he was forward. But, staring at this hot man, the ache in her legs seemed to vanish and her back no longer needed the attention of a hot bath. She’d have to remember to call Julie later and ask her why she hadn’t told Ava Brookfield was full of such attractive men.

“I’d planned on just going home and taking a nice, long soak,” she said sweetly, “but I suppose I could go to dinner, if you ask nicely.”

Seth raked his hands through his brown hair and had the biggest grin. “Ava, would you do me the honor of going to dinner with me tonight?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.”

“You’re something, Ava. I think you’re going to make a wonderful addition to our town.”

Brookfield was starting to feel like it was finally going to be home. A home was what she’d been craving since her latest break-up. Ava had commitment issues, but she also always seemed to choose the wrong guy. The last one was a true loser, and if it weren’t for the wake-up call he’d given her, she might not be here now. But Julie had promised that if Ava came here, she would find happiness and right now, staring at this hot cop, she just might have found it.