Roxie hugged her. “I’m not asking you to move on.” She gazed into her daughter’s eyes and smiled. “I’m merely telling you what your customers think. I, on the other hand, would just like you to eat some doughnuts so you don’t wither away. Gardening is healthy, honey, but don’t count that man out just yet. He wore his heart on his sleeve.” She glanced at Louie, busy playing with his walkie-talkie. “I don’t think he’s done with either of you.”
“He’s not coming back, Mom. It would be easier for me if you’d accept it, too.”
“What do you mean, ‘too’?” Roxie patted Bridgette’s cheek. “A mother always knows.” She planted a kiss on Willow’s cheek. “Wedding plans, sweet pea. We need to start making them.”
“I know. Soon, I promise,” Willow said.
“Come on, Louie.” Roxie waved him over to the door. “Let’s go freak everyone out. It’s been years since a Dalton was early for school.”
As soon as she was out the door, Willow grabbed Bridgette’s hand. “What did you mean you’re putting everything into perspective?”
She lifted one shoulder. “I’ve been texting Bodhi, and he hasn’t responded once. I told him I made a mistake and that I want to get together and talk and see if we can figure out how to make things work. But he’s gone into radio silence. I even caved and let Louie leave him a good night message the other night.”
“How did Louie handle it when he didn’t call him back?”
“The boy puts me to shame.” She grabbed a doughnut from the tray, but she had no appetite and set it beside her on the counter. “He said Bodhi would call him back when he could.”
“That’s good, Bridge. You don’t want him to be sad.”
“I know. It’s wonderful how resilient kids are. Every night he snuggles in with the stuffed dog Bodhi gave him and whispers good night to Bodhi and Dahlia. But he never gets sad.” She ran her finger over her bracelet. “I envy him, Willow. I don’t want to be sad, either.”
Blinking against damp eyes, she said, “I’m trying. I’m really trying to move on, but I see him everywhere. I feel him with me. It’s like he’s right there, but he’s invisible, and I know that’s crazy and unhealthy. I made my choice, but I regret it. I regret it so badly I can barely breathe sometimes. Every morning I expect to hear him knock on the door to borrow sugar. I actually hope for it. And every morning I get this huge letdown, even though I know it’s ridiculous. Stupid, I know.”
“That’s not stupid, Bridge. You miss him.”
Tears slid down Bridgette’s cheeks, and she swiped angrily at them. “The other night I heard a dog bark and I bolted out the front door, thinking it might be him and Dahlia.”
Willow embraced her. “I’m sorry.”
“What am I going to do? I feel like I did when I lost Jerry, only this time I have no idea if he’s alive or . . .” She pushed back and wiped her eyes. “I’m doing exactly what I said I would not do. I can’t cry over him every day. It’s been almost four weeks. That’s enough. Please tell me that’s enough.”
“I can’t do that. Only you can know when it’s enough.”
Bridgette groaned. “I hate you a little right now. I need tough love. I need someone to slap me across the face and tell me to grow up. I’m going to figure this out. I swear I will.” She inhaled deeply and blew it out fast. “And until then, I’m going to make as many blue flower arrangements as I damn well please.”
BRIDGETTE LOCKED UP the flower shop half an hour early and leaned against the glass doors thinking about Louie. He’d started kindergarten without a hitch. No crying about being away from Bridgette or his grandmother, no exhaustion from the full day of school. Nothing but excitement. Tonight she would pick him up on time and make him a real dinner. Maybe even lasagna. Memories of the night Bodhi had made him lasagna came crashing in, bringing waves of sadness. Okay, so she wasn’t ready to go that far yet. Spaghetti. Louie loved spaghetti. She was determined to take control of her emotions, and that started with baby steps. Dinner felt more like a giant leap, but she could handle it. It felt good to have a plan, no matter how small that plan was.
She strolled around the shop, trying to see it through the eyes of customers. There definitely were a ridiculous number of arrangements with blue roses. But they helped her get the pain out in a way other flowers couldn’t, or at least, hadn’t. This was just another reason she needed to hire someone as soon as possible. Then she could deal with her sorrow in private. She was surprised by the number of applications she’d gotten from the ads Talia had helped her place in the city and surrounding areas. As she walked through the shop, another plan developed. After Louie went to sleep, she would review the applications, and even if she wasn’t completely sold, she was hiring someone by next week. Period.
She went into the office, remembering when Bodhi had helped her in the shop. He’d fit in seamlessly, making arrangements and handling orders like a professional florist, and best of all, he’d dragged her into the office when there were no customers for some secret kisses and sexy time. She sank down in her chair, memories appearing in her mind one after another. Their first dance, first kiss, first everything.
Our last kiss.
She could still feel Bodhi’s arms around her, his mouth on hers, could still feel the moment the sadness had become too much and he’d sunk down to his knees. A burning ache started in her chest, spreading like wildfire and bringing an onslaught of tears.
How could they end something they’d just started?
He hadn’t returned her texts.
It was really over.
With shaky hands, she fumbled through unhooking the bracelet. She had never taken it off, and it felt like she was tearing off a layer of skin. Her fingers curled around it, and she pressed her fists to her forehead, tears puddling on her desk like memories refusing to be forgotten.
It hurt too much. She couldn’t do this. Her fingers unfurled, and she looked at the silver bracelet, seeing the inscription on the inside for the first time. YOU ARE MY FOREVER. BB
She heard a tortured wail and realized it was coming from her. Fumbling with the bracelet, she desperately tried to hook the clasp, as if it were a salve to an open wound. It clunked to the desk, and she tried again. But it was no use; she was shaking too badly. She needed Willow’s help. She stormed out of her office, smacked into a rock-hard chest—and screamed.
BODHI DROPPED HIS crutch and wrapped his arms around Bridgette as she struggled and punched, trying to wrench free. With a bandage over one eye where he’d taken shrapnel and his left arm and leg casted, he wasn’t exactly a sight for sore eyes. And that was just the damage she could see. He held her too tight, but he didn’t care. He was never letting her go again.
“Bridgette. It’s me, beautiful.”
“What happened?” Willow’s voice preceded her as she flew into the shop, stopping short at the sight of them. “Holy shit.”
Bridgette looked up at Bodhi with a bewildered expression. Her mouth opened, but no words came. She started pummeling his chest again. “I . . . I’ve been texting you.”
He grabbed her hands, tears welling in his eyes. “I got called in to a mission the day I left,” he said quickly. “I was going to come back, but then the call came and I couldn’t do that to you. But I couldn’t leave for good, Bridgette. When I landed in the States, I came directly here. The back door was open. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Her eyes moved over his face, as if she was seeing it clearly for the first time. “You’re hurt. Your eye. Oh my God. You’re really here.”
“I’m here, and I’m not going back to rescuing.”
She reached for his face with both hands and went up on her toes. He lifted her into his arms, and her legs wound around his waist. For the first time in weeks, he felt whole again. He didn’t care that he could barely breathe from his healing broken ribs, or that balancing was a problem. Bridgette was finally in his arms again.
“I thought it was over,” she said between sobs and kis
ses.
“Real love never dies, baby. How could it be over? You’re my here and now, and I’m standing right here, right now. I left you and Louie behind once, and I’ll never do it again. If you let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you both.”
He gazed into her eyes, seeing the woman whose voice brought him home. “I want to build the tree fort for Louie and be there for his first kiss and when he sneaks out and drives you crazy. I want to see your belly round with our babies and teach our children the secret language of flowers before they need it and sleep in sheet forts watching silly movies.”
Holding tight to Bridgette, he tried to sink down to one knee. Willow rushed over and helped him maneuver his cast and find his balance. Her face wet with tears, she stepped away, Bridgette’s silent supporter.
Bridgette gulped for air, her body trembling, still wrapped up tight around him. “I love you, Bodhi.”
“I love you, baby, and I should probably wait for Louie and talk to him about this or something, but I can’t wait.”
She laughed while she cried.
“I don’t want to miss another day with you, baby. I want to be the man you and Louie can count on, right beside you for the rest of our lives. My sweet, beautiful Bridgette, will you marry me?”
Sobbing, she nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
He brushed his lips over hers. “I don’t have a ring yet—”
“I hear you, and you’ll need to fix that,” she said with a laugh. “But right now shut up and kiss me.”
EPILOGUE
BRIDGETTE SLITHERED INTO her dress and gathered her hair over one shoulder. “Bodhi, can you please zip me up?” It was Thanksgiving, and they were late for dinner at her parents’ house, where Louie had spent the afternoon helping his grandparents prepare for their first holiday in their new home. Bodhi’s mother had moved in next door, and she, too, was at Bridgette’s parents’ house helping them prepare.
Bodhi slid his hands inside her dress and groped her breasts, feeling her up from behind.
“Hey, Handsy Jack. You just had me.” She turned her face, and he captured her mouth in a sweet, loving kiss.
“Your point?” He brushed his thumbs over her nipples, reigniting the inferno he’d just finished smoldering. His hips pressed against her ass.
“My point”—Lord, that feels good—“is that we’re already late. And your mother and Shira are both waiting for you to arrive.” She’d met Shira shortly after Bodhi had returned, when she’d come to spend the weekend, and they’d hit it off like sisters.
“For us to arrive,” he corrected her.
It had been more than nine weeks since Bodhi had returned, and six weeks since he’d officially accepted his new position strategizing and training rescuers one week per month, with no chance of being sent away. He wasn’t starting that position until after the new year. Apparently Darkbird paid incredible amounts of money for former Marines and Special Forces soldiers to risk their lives and rescue others. Bodhi had been channeling much of his income into his charity and still had enough saved that he didn’t need to work full-time. But Bridgette knew that Bodhi had never been motivated by the money. He worked for the things he believed in, and now he would be helping in a different way.
Dahlia lifted her head from her dog bed beneath the windows.
“Relax, Dahl,” Bridgette said. “We don’t have time to mattress hop right now. You can go back to sleep.” They’d been so loud earlier when they were making love—enjoying the freedom of a child-free house—that Dahlia had bolted from the room.
Bodhi reluctantly zipped her dress, kissing her neck until she was panting again. Her phone rang, and she snagged it from the dresser. Mom flashed on the screen. She wiggled out of his hands and answered the phone as she pushed her feet into her heels.
“Hi, Mom. We’re on our way.”
Bodhi went for her neck again, and she closed her eyes.
“Honey, are you okay? You sound out of breath.”
“What?” She pushed from his arms, and his eyes darkened. He hauled her against him, kissing her neck again and making her laugh. “Yes, Mom. I’m fine.”
She ran her hand over his handsome face with its new battle scars. He’d undergone surgery on his eye before coming home, and another since. His vision had returned, and his other injuries had healed, though his scars were a daily reminder of how close she’d come to losing him. Not a day went by that she didn’t thank the powers that be for bringing him back to her and Louie.
“Bridgette?” her mother said, jolting her back to their conversation.
“We’re on our way, Mom. Sorry we’re late.” She took Bodhi’s hand and dragged him toward the stairs. Dahlia trotted after them. “We got a little hung up.”
She promised they’d be there in a few minutes and ended the call as they descended the stairs. They stopped to love up Dahlia for a few seconds before hurrying out the door. “Bodhi, you can’t kiss me like that when I’m talking to her. It’s like announcing to my mother that we’re late because we were fooling around.”
He grabbed her in the middle of the driveway and brushed his lips over hers. Even after all this time, it still caused a shiver of heat to tickle down her spine.
“Like she doesn’t know?” he said, and kissed her again.
He helped her into the car and leaned in for another kiss, taking her hand in his. He lifted it to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers. The stunning ruby-and-diamond engagement ring he’d had made for her sparkled between them. The band was engraved with roses and bellflowers, signifying eternal and unchanging love.
“Are you sure we need to go have turkey?” Bodhi asked with the wolfish grin she loved. “I’m hungry for something much sweeter.”
“Oh, shoot! I forgot the pie.”
Bodhi ran inside and grabbed the pie, and they hurried over to her parents’ house. Her father was carrying the platter of turkey to the table when they arrived.
“There’s my girl and future son-in-law.” He set down the platter and hugged her. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m sorry we’re late.” Bridgette caught a smirk from Piper.
“Finally,” Louie exclaimed as he climbed into his chair. “I’m starving, and Grandma said we had to wait. What took you so long?”
Bodhi ruffled Louie’s hair. “We forgot the pie and had to go back for it.”
Louie went into a long explanation about how they’d made the pie together as everyone came into the dining room.
“You have hand marks on your butt,” Willow whispered to Bridgette.
Bridgette turned to check out her ass, and Willow laughed.
“Really?” Willow whispered. “You did it in the kitchen?”
“No,” Bridgette snapped. “Yes. At first. Shh.” They’d christened the kitchen table and worked their way upstairs. Christening the stairs along the way, and the bed, the shower . . .
“Funny, Bodhi never used to be late for anything,” Shira said with a conspiratorial glimmer in her eyes. “You are the absolute best thing that has ever happened to him. Thank you for getting my bestie to stop risking his life.”
Bridgette glanced at Bodhi, who was talking with Zane, and a rush of heat flowed through her. “Thank you for not sleeping with him,” she teased.
“That’s an easy ‘you’re welcome.’ No offense, but ew. He’s like my brother.” Shira laughed. Bridgette had told her how she’d thought they’d slept together when Shira had visited, and—after she laughed hysterically—Shira had assured her that sleeping with Bodhi had never been on her to-do list.
“Your brother, however . . .” Shira eyed Ben, who was talking with Aurelia. “What’s his deal? Are he and Aurelia a couple?”
Bridgette caught Ben stealing a glance at Bodhi’s tall, blonde, and beyond gorgeous friend. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Roxie and Alisha were discussing Roxie’s new fragrances. They had gotten along fabulou
sly from the moment they’d met. Roxie had been showing Alisha around town, and in the process, Alisha had begun helping Roxie with her business, and getting close to Louie in the afternoons when they babysat. They both looked at Bridgette, and she had a feeling they were talking about her and Bodhi. Their warm smiles told her more than words ever could. She and Louie were truly blessed to have Bodhi and his mother in their lives.
They took their seats. Shira and Alisha sat across the table from Bodhi and Bridgette.
Talia sat beside Bridgette. “You look really happy, Bridge.”
“I am.” Bridgette took in her sister’s perfectly done makeup and thick, shiny hair hanging loose over her shoulders. “And you look gorgeous. Do you have a date later?”
Talia smiled, but she shook her head and shifted her eyes away, making Bridgette curious about her plans for the evening.
“I want to sit with Uncle Benny,” Louie announced, and climbed onto a seat beside Ben, who was sitting next to Aurelia.
“Benny?” Ben said.
“That’s what your girlfriend calls you,” Louie said, looking at Aurelia, who looked as shocked as the rest of them.
Aurelia had been joining them for holiday dinners since her grandfather had suffered a stroke and moved into a rehab facility on Long Island. Willow and Zane were also seated across from Bridgette and Bodhi, and as Bodhi leaned in for a kiss, she remembered how hard it had been to hold back her affections the first time Bodhi had joined her family for dinner.
“Buddy, Aurelia’s not my girlfriend,” Ben said. “We’re just friends.”
“But she’s a girl, and she’s your friend. My teacher said you can have girlfriends or boyfriends,” Louie explained.
“He’s got us all figured out.” Aurelia tapped Ben’s chest and winked at Louie. “You call him Benny all you want, buddy.” Her hand flattened on Ben’s chest, and Bridgette glanced at Piper and Willow, who were exchanging curious looks.
“Oh yeah,” Piper said under her breath. “That boy has got a nose for hookups, all right.”
Only for You (Sugar Lake Book 2) Page 24
