Only for You

by Melissa Foster

  She tipped her sweet smile up, and he kissed her. “Thank you.”

  He looked at pictures of the three of them, each with handwritten notes above or below. There were pictures of Bodhi looking at Louie—I love you for never seeing Louie as an impediment—and Bodhi and Louie walking Dahlia in the city, taken from behind, Bodhi’s hand covering Louie’s on the leash—I love you for teaching Louie how to be a good, careful person. He could still feel Louie’s little hand clinging to the leash beneath his.

  He tipped Bridgette’s chin up and pressed his lips to hers again. He flipped the page, gazing at the picture a passerby had taken of them that same afternoon—I love you for your laugh, and your strength, and your generosity. He didn’t know how much more he could take without breaking down. He turned the page, and got his answer with the pictures of Louie and Derek Jeter. Louie looked like he was ready to jump out of his skin—I love you for making Louie’s dreams come true. He warmed all over at more pictures of the three of them at the game—I love you for making these last few weeks feel like forever. On the last page was a picture of Bridgette holding the flowers he’d sent her—I love you for caring enough to let us go, when I know in my heart it’s the last thing you want to do. I will always love you, Bridgette.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  THE NEXT MORNING Bodhi and Bridgette woke before the sun to the sounds of leaves rustling. Bridgette curled up against Bodhi as a skunk made its way across the yard. After it disappeared into the brush, Bridgette couldn’t resist knocking “have sex on a hammock” off the bucket list she didn’t have, and Bodhi was all too happy to help her out with the precarious proposition. After nearly tumbling off the hammock and ending up in hysterics—and somehow still producing two incredible orgasms—they went inside and showered.

  Bridgette called Willow, who she knew would be getting ready to start baking, and checked on Louie. He was still fast asleep. After thanking Willow so many times they ended up laughing, she and Bodhi went for the walk they’d missed last night.

  They sat on the rocky ridge overlooking Sweetwater and watched the sunrise. “How is it possible that we’ve only had a little more than two weeks together and it feels like years?”

  “Time is a funny thing,” Bodhi said. “You were all I thought about between the day we first met at the bakery and when I came to Sweetwater. I swear every day in between lasted fifty hours.”

  “Really? You thought about me? I thought I was alone in my lusting.”

  “The baked goods were a gift for my Realtor. After I dropped them off, I was supposed to go straight back to the city, but I took a detour. I went by the bakery, hoping you were still there, but the place was locked up and the lights were out. That’s how much you’d affected me in those few minutes we’d connected. While I was in the city fantasizing about you”—he stole a kiss—“I tried to convince myself I’d never see you again, so it was fine to think about you all the time. And when I found out you were my neighbor, I tried like hell to keep my distance.”

  “Some things are just meant to be.”

  She cuddled against him, thinking about how lucky she was. Some people never experienced love at all, and she’d experienced it twice. She gazed out at the glassy lake anchoring the small town where she’d spent most of her life. She knew every street, practically every pothole. In the two years she’d been away, nothing had changed. It was like she’d never even left. A blip in time, during which she’d lived a lifetime, like her time with Bodhi. But somehow she knew that after Bodhi left, nothing would ever be the same again.

  On the way home, Bridgette decided to take Friday off so they could spend it together.

  “Are you sure you can afford to do that?” Bodhi asked.

  She shrugged, knowing it would cost her, but she didn’t care. She wanted as much time together as possible. “What’s the benefit of owning my own shop if I can’t take a day off now and then? The shop is closed Saturday for the festival, so I’m not taking any orders for the weekend.”

  “If you’re sure, then let’s make a day of it and take Louie peach picking. I make a mean peach pie.”

  “Of course you do,” she teased. “There has to be something you don’t do well.”

  “Let’s focus on my strengths.” He squeezed her thigh.

  “We can donate a pie for the pie-eating contest at the festival. Louie would love that.”

  “Great. Sounds perfect. But if that’s our plan, then I’ll drive you in now and help you out in the shop so you don’t fall behind.”

  She wanted every minute she could get with him, and gladly accepted. Since Roxie was picking up Louie from Zane’s, she was in no hurry to share Bodhi. She decided to skip her usual breakfast chat with her sisters in the bakery and go into the flower shop through the back door, giving her and Bodhi a little more private time before customers began arriving. Bodhi called Zane to ask if he could pick up Dahlia in a few hours, and Zane said he could leave her all week if he wanted. Apparently they’d had a great time, too. Bodhi made plans to pick up Dahlia after he finished helping Bridgette.

  “Wait a second,” Bridgette said as she unlocked the back door to the flower shop. “Don’t you have to finish your mom’s house?”

  “It’s done.” He followed her inside.

  “But how? You’re at my house until one or two o’clock every morning.” She set her purse and keys beneath the counter.

  A wicked grin formed on his handsome face as he pulled her closer. “Let’s see. When I go home alone after making love to you, my options are climbing into an empty bed, where I’ll lie wishing you were with me, or working off my frustration until I’m too tired to stay awake. Which would you pick?”

  He nibbled on her neck, making her hot and bothered all over again.

  “How are you not completely exhausted?” she asked, craning her neck and giving him better access to devour her. “You’re at our house by seven every morning to borrow sugar.”

  “How can I be exhausted when I have you to look forward to?” He lifted her up on the counter and stood between her legs. “What can I do to help you out this morning, boss?”

  “Um . . .” She hooked her finger in the collar of his shirt, tugging him forward. “You have already helped me out this morning more than once.”

  “I wasn’t aware there was a limit, but I meant workwise. I know you’re overloaded, and I want to help.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I don’t know if I should be thankful or disappointed.”

  He lifted her into his arms. “I’ll never leave you disappointed. Where’s your office?” He spun around so fast she nearly flew out of his arms, both of them laughing.

  “Bodhi!” She clung to him as he traipsed toward the office.

  “If you think I’m going to pass up making love to you on your desk, you’re out of your mind.”

  “Hey!” Piper yelled from the front of the store, where she stood with Willow. “Put the girl down and no one gets hurt.”

  “Now you can be disappointed,” he said to Bridgette, but he didn’t put her down. “Or . . . ?” he challenged Piper.

  “Or . . .” Piper looked at Willow, who shrugged. “We got nothing. You can carry her all day.”

  Bodhi looked pleased with that response.

  “You should put me down,” Bridgette whispered in his ear.

  “I liked Piper’s response better.” He reluctantly set her on her feet.

  “We thought someone had broken in,” Willow said. “I’m glad it was only you guys.”

  “Bodhi’s helping me out today.” It felt strangely natural and exciting to say that. “And guess what?”

  “You’re pregnant?” Piper said.

  Willow elbowed her.

  “Christ,” Bodhi mumbled.

  “Why do you always go for the most shocking thing you can think of?” Bridgette asked.

  “That was not even close to being the most shocking thing I could think of.” Piper grabbed Willow’s arm. “Should w
e leave you alone to get back to your office romp?”

  Yes. “We weren’t going to have an office romp.”

  Bodhi leaned closer and whispered, “Fibber.”

  Bridgette told them she was taking Friday off, and they made plans to meet up at the festival on Saturday. After Piper and Willow left, Bridgette and Bodhi made their way to the office . . . and christened her desk.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  FRIDAY MORNING WHEN they headed over to the Love Family Orchard, located at the edge of town, Bodhi worried it might already be picked clean. They were greeted by several friendly, older dogs and a crowd of people milling around an old-fashioned pole-barn-turned-fruit-stand that reminded Bodhi of the orchards he’d visited as a kid. It was busy from the minute they arrived, but with acres of fruit trees, there were plenty of peaches to go around. They’d been there for almost two hours, and had spent more time playing with the dogs than picking peaches. But they’d picked enough for at least two pies.

  “Bodhi?” Louie asked as Bodhi lifted him up to pick a peach from the top of a tree.

  “Yeah, buddy?” He felt Bridgette’s hand on his back. They’d been sneaking touches all morning, and he almost hated to lower Louie to the ground after he picked a peach, wanting more of Bridgette. They’d gotten good at hiding their relationship, but Bodhi had caught himself reaching for Bridgette so many times, she felt like a natural extension of himself.

  He lowered Louie to the ground and watched him inspect the peach. He rubbed it on his shirt, the way Bodhi had taught him, and held it up. His face and shirt were stained with sticky juice from the last two peaches he’d eaten. “Can I eat this one?”

  Bodhi looked at Bridgette, wondering how many peaches one little boy could eat.

  “You might get a bellyache,” she said. “How about if you eat half?”

  Louie nodded and handed it to Bodhi. “Can you please break this in half?”

  Bodhi pulled out his pocketknife and cut the peach in half. He took out the pit, tossed it to the ground, and handed half to Louie and half to Bridgette. She held his gaze. The heat between them had changed since he’d confessed his love for her. It burned hotter and deeper, like a lifeline. She looked beyond beautiful in a light-blue tank top that made her eyes look even bluer, a pair of denim shorts, and the sexy boots she’d been wearing the first time they’d met. She hadn’t taken off the bracelet he’d given her, and he was glad. He liked seeing it on her as much as he liked knowing she’d be wearing his T-shirt and sweatshirt after he was gone. She’d packed them in her bag at the cabin, and when he’d noticed, she’d shrugged in that adorable way she had and hugged them to her chest. If it were possible for a person’s insides to melt, his had, right then and there.

  “Thanks.” Louie bit into the fruit, and juice dribbled down his chin and onto his shirt.

  “Don’t you want a bite?” Bridgette asked Bodhi.

  He wiped the blade of his knife on his pants and put it away as he stepped closer, inhaling the scent of jasmine, and lowered his voice so Louie couldn’t hear him. “I want much more than a bite.”

  She flashed her sexy smile. She had so many different smiles—sweet, sassy, mommyish, seductive, and flat-out hot as sin—and he’d memorized every one of them.

  “Bodhi?” Louie squinted up from beneath his Yankees cap. “When you go home, will I be able to call you on the walkie-talkie?”

  Louie had been asking a lot of questions about when Bodhi was leaving, and Bodhi was careful not to make any promises he couldn’t keep. He crouched and looked Louie in the eyes. “You know what, little dude? The walkie-talkies won’t work that far apart.”

  “Can I call you on Mommy’s phone?” He chomped into the peach, like he wasn’t ripping Bodhi’s heart out one question at a time.

  “When I leave here, I’ll be going back to work. This has been a vacation for me. Like summer break from school. But I’m not allowed to bring my phone to work. So, if your mom says you can call, you can try, but I don’t want you wondering why I’m not calling you back. The only reason would be that I’m not able to. Okay?”

  Louie nodded, chewing the last of his peach. “What work do you do?”

  “I’m like an army guy.” He wiped Louie’s mouth with his hand.

  Louie tipped his head up toward Bridgette. “When I grow up, maybe I’ll be an army guy, too.”

  Bodhi was as touched as he was worried. As he prepared to leave the next evening, the repercussions of his not returning had taken root. He loved what he did for a living, but now that he knew what he was missing out on, he wouldn’t wish his life on Louie.

  Bodhi took him by the shoulders and looked into his innocent eyes. “Listen, buddy. You focus on baseball, okay? That way one day your mom can go see you playing for the Yankees. Can you do that for me?”

  Louie nodded. “Bodhi?”

  “Yeah?”

  “My belly hurts.”

  Bodhi lifted him into his arms. “How about we take our peaches home, and you can lie down for a while. When you feel better, we’ll make the pies.”

  Louie nodded and rested his head on Bodhi’s shoulder.

  “Want me to hold him?” Bridgette asked as she picked up the basket of peaches.

  “I’d really like to carry him, if you don’t mind.” He settled his hand on her lower back, wondering how a man prepared himself to leave behind everything he cared about.

  BRIDGETTE’S KITCHEN LOOKED like it had been through a food fight, but she couldn’t have cared less. With her favorite country music playing in the background and her favorite big and little men preparing the dough for the peach pies on the counter, she wouldn’t trade this mess for anything in the world.

  Bodhi stood behind Louie, with his hands over Louie’s on the rolling pin as they pressed the dough flat. Bodhi was not a skimper when it came to baking, any more than he was in any other part of his life. Where Bridgette would have sliced the peaches and left the skin on, Bodhi showed them his trick of putting the peaches in boiling water for sixty seconds, then immediately setting them in ice water. The skins had slipped right off.

  “Look, Mom! We made the crust!” Louie grinned, a toothy bundle of pride.

  She took out her phone and snapped a picture, wishing Bodhi had come with a warning sign or wearing big red flags. A man this irresistible shouldn’t be allowed to roam the streets.

  “How about we give Mama a chance to learn?” Bodhi suggested.

  Louie scooted off the chair and pressed his flour-drenched hands on Bridgette’s butt, pushing her in front of Bodhi. He picked up her phone and climbed onto the chair next to them.

  “Honey, you’ll get—” She swallowed her words. She didn’t care if her phone got gunky and sticky. She wanted those pictures.

  Bodhi hammed it up, pressing his cheek to hers, then giving her bunny ears, and making a flour handprint on her stomach. Louie giggled up a storm as he took pictures that probably cut their heads off. Bodhi’s deep laugher filled the air, and she hoped her house might soak up their love the same way her parents’ home did. When Bodhi scooped Louie into his arms and tickled him silly, Bridgette thought she might liquefy.

  “Okay, little dude, now I get to take a picture.” He touched Louie’s nose, leaving a dab of flour, and pulled Bridgette against his stomach. He took out his own phone and snapped a picture of the three of them. Louie pressed a kiss to Bodhi’s cheek as he took another.

  Knowing Louie would think it was a game, Bridgette touched her lips to Bodhi’s cheek, and felt his entire body sigh as he took another picture.

  “Can we enter a pie in the contest tomorrow?” Louie asked.

  “How about if we donate one pie to the pie-eating contest instead?” Bridgette suggested. “Auntie Willow is tough competition in the baking contest.”

  “Yeah!” Louie wiggled free. “I’m gonna go play!”

  He headed for the playroom, and Bodhi lifted him off his feet. “I think you’d better wash up first.”

  He tucked him
under his arm like a football, earning another round of laughter from Louie, who put his arms out to his sides, his legs sticking straight out behind him. “Look, Mom! I’m flying!”

  “How about you fly right up to the bathtub?”

  Bodhi carried him up and left Bridgette bathing Louie while he finished making the pies. Half an hour later, while Louie played, Bridgette went to help Bodhi clean the kitchen. She found him gazing down at his phone. He shoved it in his back pocket and reached for her.

  “Is the little guy all clean?” He backed her up against the counter.

  “Yes. He’s in the playroom.”

  “Perfect.”

  He kissed her deeply, his hands moving along her sides in a mesmerizing pattern, brushing against her breasts, then squeezing her hips. He kissed his way to her ear, slicking his tongue over the shell, and pressed his body against hers, holding her tight as he took her in another toe-curling kiss. He lifted her onto the counter, sliding her forward and kissing her so tenderly it made her ache for more.

  “I’m going to miss you, baby,” he said softly. “Every second of every day.”

  She closed her eyes against the sting of already missing him. He kissed her lids, and she felt his prickly whiskers against her cheek again.

  “Was it worth letting me in?”

  She nodded, unable to speak, and clung to him. He cradled her face in his hands, the lump in her throat expanding to a painful throb as she met his gaze.

  “No regrets?” he asked.

  She shook her head, afraid to try to speak.

  “I never knew I could care about two people so much.” He brushed his thumb over her lips, a smile lifting his. “Don’t be sad, Bridge. Real love never dies, remember?”

  Louie’s fast footsteps sounded in the hall, and she pushed from the counter, working hard to contain her emotions.

  “I made you a present.” Louie thrust a piece of yellow construction paper toward Bodhi.

  “Thanks, buddy.” Bodhi knelt beside him, and Bridgette peered over his shoulder.