Blame it on the Kiss

by Robin Bielman

  “Very.” She scooted closer, took his arm and put it around her. Now she wasn’t just mush. She was mushy mush. He smelled super good.

  “You’re like a homing device whenever I get within a certain range.”

  She laughed. “So long as you don’t start calling me Pigeon, we’re good. Hey,” she picked up his hand. “I see you got your stitches removed. I’m glad you remembered to do that.”

  “The nurse said you did good.”

  She looked up at him. “I’m, uh, also glad you stopped by. Is everything okay?” His clothes were a little more rumpled than normal, his hair not as neat as usual.

  “Yeah. Just some stuff going on with work.”

  “Is that it?” She’d replayed the last words they’d spoken over and over again and kept thinking somehow she’d messed up. You called him Payton’s Bryce.

  “I have to tell you something,” she rushed out before he could answer. She brought her knee up and turned to face him. Even weary and wrinkled he looked sexy. Her stomach fluttered. “Two things actually. First, I’m sorry if I hurt you when I introduced you to Mary. That wasn’t my intention.”

  “I haven’t been Payton’s for a long time, Honor, and honestly, looking back, I never really was.”

  Honor nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. “And second, Payton’s list was meant for me.”

  He sat taller, his eyes twinkled, like she’d just given him a gift. “Go on.”

  She did. She told him everything about her conversation with Mary. He listened, asked a few questions, and said he appreciated her apology.

  “So whatever happens now is what you want to happen.”

  “Yes.” She liked being back in control.

  “How does that feel?” He laid his arm across the top of the couch and played with a strand of hair at her shoulder.

  “Good.”

  “And you and me?” He inched closer, the sparkle in his eyes telling her he knew full well what his nearness did to her.

  “I think there will always be some small pang of guilt over Payton, but I don’t think she’d want us to shy away from each other because of it.”

  “I agree. So we’re still on for Saturday?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Absolutely.” He inched closer still. “Unfortunately, I’ve got to meet with a client in the afternoon, which means I won’t have enough time to come pick you up before the dinner. Would you mind catching a ride with Zane and Sophie and meeting me there?”

  “Not at all.”

  “You could stay at my place after.”

  “I’d like that.” She’d missed him. Plain and simple.

  He leaned over and kissed her. It started too tentative for her liking so she palmed the back of his head and deepened the kiss. His tongue played with hers while he shifted them with an arm around her waist until she was on her back and he was on top of her. She loved the way he kissed her, like she was essential to his well being.

  It was becoming more and more clear that he was essential to hers.

  The very loud and very inconvenient growl of her stomach broke them apart. He gazed down at her. “When was the last time you ate?”

  She scrunched up her nose. “This morning. I’ve been busy.”

  “Come on.” He pulled her to feet and led her to the kitchen. “I’ll make you my famous bowl of cereal. Sit.”

  Honor watched him grab a bowl and spoon and put it down on the table in front of her. He opened the cupboard next and contemplated the selection before picking Cocoa Krispies. Her favorite. He poured the cereal into her bowl then grabbed the milk out of the fridge. “What makes this famous, you ask? The perfect amount of milk—added to give the perfect ratio of cereal to milk so there is nothing but an empty bowl when you’re finished.”

  Honor dug right in as Bryce took the chair next to her. “Friday night Zane and Sophie wanted to know if we’d like to go out to dinner with them,” he said.

  “A double date?” she asked with her mouth full.

  “I think you said double date and not bubble gate so I’m going to say yes.”

  She almost spewed her food at him. He said the best things. “I guess that’s okay,” she said around the next bite.

  Bryce put his chin in his hand and stared at her with a dreamy look.

  “Stop.”

  “Spop?”

  Who knew she could smile and chew at the same time? And several happy bites later she discovered Bryce did indeed have magical cereal powers. She dropped her spoon with a clink into the empty bowl.

  “Can you do it again?” She never ate just one bowl of cereal. Sometimes she even ate three, not that she would tonight in front of Bryce.

  “You bet I can.”

  Once again, Honor ate and finished with equal parts cereal and milk. Her guy had talent. Twenty minutes later tangled in the sheets on her bed she finished with Bryce deep inside her and his name on her lips.

  Really excellent talent.

  “Have I told you how fantastic you look?” Bryce whispered, his mouth taking a little tour behind her earlobe as they sat at a table waiting for Zane and Sophie on Friday night. Sophie had chosen the Italian restaurant just outside White Strand claiming a craving for pasta with scallops.

  Honor craved privacy, so it was perfect. The White Strand rumor mill had her practically engaged to Bryce and the less they were seen together in public, the better. Not only was the deceptively sweet sixty-something club texting updates to each other, but Mrs. Jamison had not so secretly taken a photo of her and Bryce as they’d left her house tonight.

  Then she’d smiled like she’d just snapped the cover shot for People magazine. Seriously, these ladies needed something better to do.

  “Yes, you have.” Honor lifted her shoulder and dipped her head to nudge him away, a ticklish giggle escaping her lips. “Now stop.”

  “Mommy, what is that man doing?”

  Bryce must have suspected ‘that man’ meant him because he pulled back. Sure enough at the table next to them a little girl sat swallowed in the big wooden chair with her eyes on him. He mouthed ‘sorry’ to the mom. She gave a tiny smile before turning her attention back to the infant in a car seat. Her husband had his attention on another infant in a car seat. And holy family of six, a little boy stood on his big wooden chair, about to tip the seat over until Dad shot his arm out and settled the boy back down.

  Bryce waved to the little girl. She waved back.

  “Twins. Twice,” the mom said.

  “It’s our anniversary and we thought we’d give this a try,” the dad said.

  “Happy anniversary,” she and Bryce said in unison. “Oh my Lord,” Honor whispered. “Could you even imagine?”

  Bryce didn’t answer. He was smiling at the little girl now and she was smiling back. Adorable with a capital A.

  “Hi guys!” Sophie said with Zane in tow.

  “Glad you could join us,” Zane added as the newlyweds sat down across the table.

  A second later a spitball nailed Zane in the cheek. He swiped his hand across the side of his face and turned to the culprit. “Good shot, bud.”

  The little boy grinned.

  “Oh my god. I’m so sorry,” the mom said. “Nicholas, you apologize right now.”

  “Sowwy.”

  “No problem,” Zane said. Then he put his arm around Sophie and brought her close. “You ready for that?”

  Sophie glowed when she looked up at him. “So ready.”

  Honor’s eyes widened. “Is there something you need to tell us?”

  Sophie and Zane broke out huge smiles. “We’re having a baby,” Sophie gushed.

  “Congratulations,” Bryce said. He reached across the table to shake Zane’s hand.

  “Thanks, man.” A hint of worry flashed in Zane’s eyes and Honor guessed it was because of the relationship Zane had had with his own father. A father who had verbally abused his son until he’d passed away. But the way Zane loved Sophie and the way he interacted with kids—
who were his biggest fans—left no doubt in Honor’s mind he’d be an awesome father.

  “Soph!” Honor jumped up and went around to hug her friend. Zane got one, too. “Huge congratulations. I’m so excited for you.”

  Bryce leaned across the table and kissed Sophie on the cheek. “Congratulations.”

  “How are you feeling?” Honor asked, settling back in her chair.

  “Some days good. Some days not so good.”

  “Well, you look amazing.”

  “More gorgeous every day,” Zane said, putting his hand on Sophie’s flat stomach. “I can’t wait to watch you grow.”

  Wow. Sophie a mom. The waiter stopped to take their drink orders and conversation turned to other things until a loud crash stopped them. Broken plates and glasses scattered across the floor. “I’m so sorry. Is everyone okay?” A waitress asked the family of six.

  The babies started bawling.

  The little girl started crying and crawled into her mom’s lap.

  The little boy was about to climb down from his chair to investigate the mess. “Stay put,” the dad said.

  The babies grew louder, crying at decibels to break the sound barrier.

  “Nicholas, I said—” The dad nabbed him just before his little—bare—feet hit the floor. Spiderman sandals sat under his seat.

  “Here, let us help,” Sophie said, elbowing Zane before standing and hurrying over to the mom. “I can hold the baby if you want, since your arms are full.”

  “Thank you,” the mom said appreciatively. Sophie lifted the baby out of the car seat.

  Zane got up and went to the other car seat. “I can get this one.” He studied the carrier for a moment. “I think.”

  “That’d be great,” the dad said with relief. He reached to grab his son’s sandals while trying to keep the squirming toddler in his lap.

  The wait staff got busy cleaning up and the manager came over to check on everyone and give further apology.

  “Oh no,” Sophie said, turning white as a ghost and bringing one hand to her mouth with a still crying baby in her arm. Honor jumped to her feet to help, but Bryce beat her to it.

  “Here,” he said, taking the baby. The careful transfer did funny things to Honor’s stomach. “I got it.”

  “Thank you.” And then she took off toward the restroom Honor guessed.

  Watching Bryce and Zane bounce and sway from side to side to try and quiet down unhappy babies was quite a sight. “Is there a secret to getting her to stop?” Bryce asked.

  “Walk around the table,” the mom suggested, trying to pry her daughter’s body off of her. “It’s okay, sweetie. Let’s get you back in your seat so I can hold your sister.”

  Bryce started to walk, bumped into Zane, and Honor had to stifle a laugh at the terror on their faces, like the slight jolt might hurt the babies.

  The baby stopped crying the moment Bryce finished a lap around the table. The other baby had quieted, too, but Honor couldn’t take her eyes off the tiny little bundle cradled in Bryce’s strong arms. His sleeves were pushed up as usual, and Honor stood there mesmerized by this new human being secure and protected in his hold.

  Yellow footed jammies fit over the baby’s body. Dark hair covered her perfectly rounded head. Something so small held by something so… good.

  A shiver slid down her back.

  She looked up to find Bryce’s eyes on her. The way those incredible chocolate mocha pools sparkled confirmed what she suspected. He was made to settle down and have a family. Have the white picket fence just like Payton had wanted.

  That childhood kissing song, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage,” started playing on repeat in her head and she couldn’t turn it off. Her heart pounded in her ears for extra effect.

  But as things calmed down and the babies went back to their parents and Sophie returned from the restroom, Honor tried to keep herself in the present. She tried not to think ahead and not to think back.

  And failed.

  “Hey,” Bryce whispered. “You okay? You’re awfully quiet.”

  “Just tired,” she lied. She wasn’t okay at all.

  …

  Bryce worked the ballroom at the Loews Hotel, shaking hands and talking with the guests gathered for the Bishop Foundation’s annual dinner to recognize the charity’s contributions and the people who had helped make a difference. Tonight he was one of those people, but he really could do without the acknowledgment.

  His grandmother had started the foundation when his grandfather passed away. And no one let Ruth Bishop down, least of all her grandchildren. She spotted him at the same time he did her, and walked toward him with her arms already outstretched. She palmed his cheeks and looked straight into his eyes. No one had a warmer heart than her, but damn her hands were cold.

  “You are so handsome,” she said. “But you look a little thin. Are you eating enough?”

  Bryce took her hands and warmed them with his. “Hello, grandma. You look lovely as ever.”

  “Thank you.” She looked around briefly. “Now where’s this girl you won’t admit you’re smitten with?”

  “She should be here any minute.”

  “When she arrives, you bring her right over to me for an introduction, you hear?”

  “Got it.”

  “Good.” She nodded to someone over his shoulder. “Duty calls. I’ll see you later.” With a quick peck on his cheek, she dashed away like a woman half her age.

  “Hey, dude,” Danny said, handing him one of the beers in his hand. “To the man of the hour.” They clinked bottles.

  “Thanks.” He took a swig before turning his attention to Olivia. “Hi, Liv. Thanks for coming tonight.”

  “Of course. These are the moments friends don’t miss, right?”

  Danny put his arm around her shoulders. “And don’t worry, we won’t play up the fan thing too much.”

  “Yeah, how about you keep all fanning to yourselves please.”

  “Your grandmother told me I’m allowed one catcall,” Danny said.

  “You kissed her hand, didn’t you?”

  “Yep.” Danny grinned.

  A flash of color caught the corner of Bryce’s eye and he turned his head. His heart stopped. Honor stood beside Sophie and Zane dressed in an elegant short-sleeved floor length blue dress covered in sequins. Her dark blond hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders. Her lips showed off a glossy sheen.

  From across the room their eyes met.

  The sound of voices died. The tables, chairs, wait staff, guests, all ceased to exist. One singular thing—one beautiful human being—held his attention.

  “My date’s here,” he said to Danny and Liv. “I’ll be back.” He put his beer down on an empty tray table and strode toward her.

  The closer he got, the sexier her smile grew. Light from the hanging chandeliers seemed to catch each tiny bead on her gown and she shimmered more breathtaking than the ocean under a full moon.

  “Hi,” he said, kissing her cheek in greeting.

  “Hi.”

  “You look incredible.”

  “Thank you. You do, too.”

  “Congratulations, bro,” Zane said, patting him on the back and breaking his connection with Honor.

  “Congratulations,” Sophie echoed, wrapping him in a hug.

  “Thanks. I need to steal this beautiful woman away for a few,” Bryce said. “We’ll catch up with you guys at the table.” He tucked Honor’s arm in his, and while he really wanted to whisk her away somewhere private, he searched out his grandmother instead.

  “Where are we going?” she whispered.

  “Worried?”

  “Yes.”

  He paused. She’d gotten quiet last night at dinner and she seemed a little off now. He’d half expected her to cancel on him at the last minute. But here she was and he didn’t want her worrying her bottom lip. Or pulling away from him.

  “There’s no reason to be nervous,” he said, fighting
the impulse to run the pad of his thumb over that full lip of hers. “You’re my guest tonight. That’s it.”

  The nonchalant words did the trick and eased the tension creasing her forehead. She nodded. His muscles, however, suddenly tensed. With the truth about Payton’s list, they’d taken a big step forward. But it seemed two steps back always followed.

  “But my grandmother did request a private introduction.” He resumed walking toward the sound of a very distinct laugh.

  Honor brought him to a stop. “Now? I just got here and that seems…” She pulled in a deep breath. “Really quick.”

  Bryce squeezed her arm. “She likes to know everyone at her table before she butters her bread, that’s all.” Truth. Mostly.

  “So this isn’t anything significant?”

  “No,” he lied.

  “Oh. Okay.” Honor gave a confident nod of her head. “Let’s go meet her then. She sounds like my kind of grandma.”

  “She’s everyone’s kind,” he said proudly, resuming their stride. “And there she is.” With a few more steps they reached her.

  “Grandma, this is Honor Mitchell. Honor, my grandmother, Ruth Bishop.”

  “Honor.” She took Honor’s hands in both of hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “You, too.”

  “Your gown is resplendent.” She held onto one of Honor’s hands and lifted it up and out to the side.

  “Thank you. I bought it in a small boutique. The owner designs and makes dresses and this is one of them. Your dress is also stunning.”

  His grandmother lowered their arms and gave a little wink. “We both like a little sparkle.”

  The smile Honor gave his grandmother did a number on his insides. “We do.”

  “And what is this?” Grandmother turned Honor’s wrist over and narrowed her eyes at the tattoo. “Faith. I like that. Does it have special meaning?”

  Honor’s eyes flicked to his for a charged moment. “It does. It was my best friend’s middle name.”

  “Was?”

  “Grandma.”

  “It’s okay,” Honor said. “She passed away almost a year ago.”

  Bryce put his hand on the small of Honor’s back even though from the strength of her voice, she didn’t need any comforting.