Anna doubled over at the waist, chest heaving from laughter by the time he climbed back in the boat.
“Guess distracted fishing is a bad idea.” She could barely get the words out through her giggles.
He set the pole down in the boat, his hair sending tiny droplets of water down his face and chest. “You think you’re funny?”
“You needed to cool off anyway, right?”
She continued to laugh as he stalked toward her, a mischievous spark in his eyes. “You think so?”
“Don’t!” she screamed, but he’d already cradled her to his chest and thrown her over the side. The cool water on her hot skin caused a shiver as she sputtered to the surface. Drew cannonballed in after.
He dodged her attempts to push him under, so she settled for splashing. They eventually called a truce, and he pulled her to him. Their arms and legs tangled together after he grabbed a raft from the boat for them to float.
“Luke asked me again last night about partnering with him to buy out Frank’s business,” Anna said.
Spending time together at the bonfire went well, but Anna wasn’t completely sure where Drew stood on the subject anymore.
“You’re finished at Yoakum Ridge next week?” he asked, and she nodded.
His fingers fidgeted with the edge of the raft before taking her hand in his. “Do you want to partner with Luke? Do you want to…move here permanently?”
Being home the last six months had lifted the weight pressing on her chest. Since the day she saw those final divorce papers sitting in her email, she’d needed to get away, get away from that place and all the memories of Mason. But now she wanted to move forward…with Drew.
“I do. He and I talked about it, and I’m excited. Luke is the best contractor I’ve ever worked with, and I know we could make a great team. But I need to know you’re okay with it. That you…”
“I trust you, sweetheart, and I trust that pain in the ass too. If it’s what you want, then I’m on board. But if you want to keep your job, I’m willing to move with you. You…are my home.”
“I love you, Drew. I want…” Anna paused, pulling in a steading breath. She waited for the fear to set in, the doubt, but staring into the golden flecks in his incredible brown eyes, the boy she had loved her entire life, Anna knew she was truly home. “I want you. This. The life we always planned to have together.”
She whispered the last word and looked down at their hands intertwined on the raft.
Drew brushed his thumb across her cheek, down to her chin. “Does that mean you’ll officially move in with me and Roxy?”
She smiled. “If you’ll both have me.”
Her gaze lifted to his, and the devotion there burned straight down to her soul. His lips melted into Anna’s, his ever-present strength mixing with how tender and patient he loved her.
“Have you confirmed our reservation for your friend’s wedding next weekend?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m excited for you to meet them.”
Layla, Ryan, and Anna were all part of the wedding party for their college friends Lisa and Reed.
A wide grin spread across Drew’s face. “Why don’t we add a day to our trip? Change our flight and leave on Wednesday instead of Thursday? We’ll spend the day together on the beach before your girls’ day Friday.”
“You aren't too busy?”
He placed a lingering kiss behind her ear, and her entire body broke out in tingles. “Never too busy for you. Dad will cover for me.”
Anna stared at him, his eyes now closed, arms propped behind his head as he relaxed on the raft. His tan chest glistened with water droplets, a light dusting of hair leading down to his red board shorts. This kind, caring, incredibly sexy man that she loved with every bit of her heart actually loved her as much in return.
Drew was her home, and she wanted nothing more than to build a life with him on their river bank.
Chapter Nineteen
Drew
Drew woke before the sun as usual and slipped quietly out of their hotel room. They’d flown in after eleven the night before, but he’d seen a local bakery across the street, and thankfully they had Anna’s favorite scones.
On his walk back to the hotel, Drew pulled the round diamond from his pocket. His chest squeezed like a vice as he watched it sparkle between his fingers.
He planned to ask her on the beach after the wedding Saturday. Obsessed about it was more accurate. He’d even gotten Ryan and Layla’s advice and help with the set up after asking her father’s permission.
Now he just had to ask her.
Sliding his keycard in the door, Drew slipped back in their room. Anna surprised him with a wide smile when he rounded the corner.
“Look who’s awake early and not even growling at me.” He sat next to her on the bed and brushed her lips with his.
Her eyes drifted to the brown paper bag in one hand and coffee in the other. “Breakfast?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She peeked inside and smiled. “There are blueberry scones in here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She was still chewing the last bite of her pastry when Drew yanked away her covers. “Get up, Sunshine. It’s vacation time.”
She covered her face with the pillow. “We’re already on vacation.”
“But I’ve got plans. Get up.” He bounced on the bed, pillows flying everywhere, as she giggled.
“I’m up, I’m up.”
They filled the morning with kayaks and jet skis, stopped for a picnic on the beach, then hiked to a huge waterfall.
“Do you think we crammed enough fun into one day?” Anna asked, jumping on Drew’s back for the last few steps to their hotel room.
She handed him the key from her backpack, and the little green light signaled their entry. “You didn’t have fun?”
“It was amazing, but I’m exhausted, and we have to pick up Layla and Ryan from the airport in an hour.”
Drew tossed her off on the bed and crawled over her. He leaned down until his lips were at her ear. “Well then, you better get in the shower. You’re sort of gross.”
“Hey.” She pushed him off and stood, a playful scowl on her face.
He placed his hands behind his head and winked. “I love you even when you’re all sweaty, maybe more.”
A naughty smirk took over her beautiful face before she turned to the shower. She pulled off her t-shirt and untied the strings of her bikini top. Drew charged up on his elbows and watched as those red strings hit the floor. She returned his wink over her shoulder, disappearing into the bathroom. He gripped the comforter to keep from following her in.
Well played, Sunshine. Well played.
An hour later, they met Ryan and Layla at baggage claim.
Drew took one of their bags from Ryan with a slap on his shoulder. “Hey, man. How was the flight?”
“Fine, but I’m starving. Let’s get out of here.”
“Sounds good.”
At the seaside restaurant, Drew gave them his name for the reservation and rejoined the group, who’d found seats at the bar to wait. The bartender approached, and Drew asked for a beer. Everyone responded with their drink order, except Layla.
Anna’s gaze snapped to her, then twisted to Ryan.
“Are you serious?” Anna squealed, jumping off her chair so quickly Drew had to keep her from falling.
Layla’s eyebrows narrowed. “What? I just don’t want a drink.”
“We both know you’re lying!” Anna shouted. “Are you really?”
Layla grabbed Anna, squeezing her in a hug. “I knew I couldn’t hide it from you. I had this whole plan for telling you, and you ruined it.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears as she turned to hug Ryan. Drew stared in confusion. “Can someone please fill me in?”
“Layla’s pregnant,” Anna said, literally bouncing with happiness.
Layla covered Anna’s mouth with her hand. “Not so loud. We aren’t telling anyone yet.”
“You’ve only been off the pill for…”
“A month.”
Anna squeezed both Layla’s hands in hers. “That’s amazing.”
Drew gave Ryan a hard slap across the back. “Congratulations, dude.”
“I wasn’t expecting it to happen so quickly, but we’re excited.” Ryan’s wide-eyed shock was pretty obvious, so Drew let him process impending fatherhood with his beer while he focused his attention on the girls’ conversation.
“When did you find out?” Anna asked.
Layla’s expression turned to concern. “This morning. Are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I’m ecstatic.”
“You know since…with…I didn’t want to upset you.”
“Oh.” Anna looked down for a brief second. “No, I’m great. I could not be more excited to take you shopping for the peanut.”
“Me too!” Layla said. “But how am I going to get out of drinking all weekend without anyone noticing like you did?”
Anna shrugged. “We’ll help. Order something and one of us will drink it. No one will ever know.”
“Okay, but what about when I get back to the office next week? What if I start puking every morning and I need you to cover for me? You’re not going to be there.” Layla sighed, and Drew cringed. He didn’t want to upset her, but he also didn’t want Layla trying to talk Anna out of moving home when she knew he planned to propose tomorrow. He gave Layla a pleading look, holding up the engagement ring behind Anna’s back.
Her eyes widened, and she nodded in acknowledgment. “But you know I’ll love you even if you leave me. You’re still giving your notice next week, right? Moving in with the yahoo standing behind you begging me with his eyes to stop trying to take you away from him? Even if we both know you love me more.”
Drew scowled playfully and quickly shoved the ring back in his pocket before Anna turned around to face him.
“Yeah, Luke already started the process with Frank to take over the business, and we’ve laid out some tentative plans for expanding. I’ll talk to Carole when I’m back in the office on Monday.” She smiled, and he lost himself in the love radiating from her.
Another puzzle piece slid into place.
Thoroughly exhausted, they dropped Layla and Ryan off at their room after dinner before returning to their own. Within minutes, Anna’s head rested on Drew’s chest in the fluffy white bed. He stroked her soft blonde hair as her breathing began to slow.
“Sunshine?”
She yawned. “Yeah?”
“Why did Layla think you’d be upset about them having a baby? Because you’re moving?”
“No…” she started but went silent. Drew waited patiently for her to continue as she looked away. “It happened quickly for them, and Layla was afraid I might be upset because it never happened for Mason and me. She knows I’m afraid it will never happen.”
He tipped her face to his, begging her to see the sincerity in his gaze. “Sweetheart, it will be okay.”
Her eyes already brimmed with tears, and he wiped the first one away with his fingers. “What if I can’t give you a baby?”
“You don’t even know if there’s a problem,” he said, the agony in her eyes slicing right through him.
She tucked her face into his chest. “Mason and I tried for almost two years, Drew, and it never happened.”
Drew sat up against the headboard, pulling her to straddle him. “Then we adopt.”
He wanted a little girl or a little boy they made together. A baby that was mostly her, but a little bit him. Hell, he wanted a whole baseball team with her. To see the look on her face when she told him she was pregnant and watch her carry their baby in her beautiful round stomach. He wanted to feel the baby kick for the first time and hold her hand while their baby was born.
Her wounded voice broke him from his thoughts. “See? You’re thinking about it right now.”
“I am thinking about it, and of course I want to have a baby with you. But…”
“But what if I can’t give you that?” His heart broke from the sadness in her eyes. “What if I can’t give you a family?”
Did she actually think for one second he would leave her if they couldn’t have a child? Did she think that’s why Mason cheated? Why he left?
He searched her face, and the answer was clear.
“Anna, I want to raise a family with you, in whatever way God has meant for us to raise a family. That’s what I want. You are my future, whether it has children in it or doesn’t. I need it to have you.”
“I don’t want you to regret…”
“There is nothing that could ever make me regret being with you.” He put both hands on her face, forcing her to hear his words. “I know what it’s like to live my life without you, and I never want to do it again. I will always want only you and the life we are meant to live together.”
She nodded, and he kissed her forehead. “Get some rest. You’ve got a big day bright and early.”
A small smile played on her lips. “It should be fun.”
She snuggled back into his chest, and he squeezed her closer. “I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you. More than you know.”
***
The next morning, Drew woke a grumpy Anna with a kiss before slipping out for an early round of golf with Ryan.
“You doing okay, man?” Drew asked on the third hole. Ryan hadn’t said a word since they’d teed off.
“Yeah, I’m great. Sorry. Just thinking, I guess.” Ryan shook his head to clear it and smacked the ball off the tee. He scrubbed a hand down his face and placed his club back in the bag. “What are the odds of it happening the first month? Dude, I was completely unprepared for the word pregnant to appear on that test yesterday morning.”
Drew grabbed his driver out of the bag and smiled up at him. “I’m not gonna lie. The shocked look you’re still wearing is damn funny.”
Ryan shoved him as he lined up to the ball. “Enough about me. What about you? We still on for that proposal tomorrow night?”
“Yeah, I think so, but I’m nervous as hell.”
“Give me the go sign and we’re on it. Layla is dying to help set up for you. She freaked out when I told her you were planning to ask. I had to threaten her not to tell Anna.”
Drew nodded, but the possibility of her saying no still had his palms sweating as he tried to grip the club.
Ryan smiled. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Anna loves you, and she deserves happiness more than anyone I know. We’re glad you two made your way back to each other.”
“Really?” Drew asked. Mason was still one of Ryan’s oldest and closest friends. Part of him always wondered if Ryan wished they were still together.
“Yeah, really. She’s like a sister to me, and I’m glad she has you.”
Ryan and Layla’s blessing felt like the last piece of the puzzle falling into place. “Thanks.”
Ryan gave Drew’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he drove the golf cart down the fairway. “So are we doing this? Are you popping the question?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
Chapter Twenty
Anna
Nausea rolled through Anna’s stomach as the party bus stopped in front of their hotel. Layla squeezed her hand, a thankful cringe on her face as Anna stumbled down the bus steps.
The day had been filled with manicures, pedicures, massages, girl talk, and drinks.
So many drinks.
But since Layla couldn’t have alcohol and didn’t want anyone to know why, Anna secretly drank her fruity cocktails all day.
The bridal party walked across the shiny marble floors of their hotel lobby and out to the beach. The fresh ocean air felt like heaven on Anna’s face, and she breathed it in slowly.
Deep breath in through the nose…drunken spinning nausea out through the mouth. Deep breath in…
The sunset came into view as her toes hit the sand. Pinks and reds filled the sky above the endless ocean waves. A bit blu
rry, but still stunning.
Layla and Anna ambled over to their dates seated in the beach chairs set up for non-wedding party plus ones.
“Hey there.” Drew stood to greet Anna, but she fell into his chair, catching herself when she almost slid off the side.
Concern washed over his face as he crouched in front of her. His hands rubbed along her bare thighs as he went into doctor mode. “Are you okay?”
Anna leaned her head back, but that made the spinning so much worse. She covered her mouth, pulling in another deep breath.
“She very graciously has been drinking both mine and her drinks all day so no one would notice and ask me about it,” Layla explained from somewhere nearby.
Anna kept her eyes closed and threw a thumbs up in their general direction.
“Seriously?” Drew burst into laughter. “You’ve been drinking for two all day? Sweetheart, you are the ultimate lightweight. How are you still awake right now?”
Drew lifted her to sit on his lap, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
“You gonna be okay?” he whispered, a smile still in his voice.
She blew out another deep breath and pulled one in. “Just need a minute.”
Through squinted lids, she saw the wedding party gathering behind them, where Lisa spoke to the wedding planner.
Drew tickled her ribs. “Look alive, Sunshine. I think it’s time to get in the game.”
Ryan stood to join the other groomsmen, and Layla pulled Anna up with them.
“Sorry you have to sit all alone.” Anna leaned forward to kiss Drew but stood when the spinning returned.
He pulled out his phone with a smile. “I’m fine. Go have fun.”
When they reached the group, Anna stood with her back to everyone. She continued her deep breathing while pretending to talk with Layla.
Lisa appeared in front of her so quickly she blurred at the edges. “I’m so, so sorry,” she pled, eyes wide with panic. What could possibly have happened in the last fifteen minutes?
When It Was Us Page 20