Keep My Heart (Top Shelf Romance Book 7)

by Lex Martin

  I shake my head with a sly smirk on my face. I’m so glad I left when I did. Blake and Alyssa deserve each other after that stunt, and they’ll be together forever—behind bars.

  Drew slowly walks down the hall in just his pajama bottoms, his wild hair in a bun, and bags under his eyes.

  “Rough night?” I ask, nodding my head to the coffee maker. “There’s some left.”

  “You could say that,” he mumbles, grabbing himself a cup. “No offense, man, but when the hell are you two moving out? I can’t take another night of her snoring.”

  “Soon, I promise.”

  “I don’t know how you sleep next to that.” He shakes his head, walking back over to the table and sitting down next to me. “It’s like a train’s coming right through the house.”

  “I don’t.” I sigh. “God, I hope it stops after the baby comes. Otherwise, none of us will ever get to sleep again.”

  Drew laughs in agreement.

  “What are you two laughing about?” Viola asks, waddling into the dining room.

  “Oh, nothing,” I say, reaching a hand out and bringing her to my lap. Drew brings his cup up to his lips and hides a smile behind it.

  “How’d you sleep?” I ask her.

  “As good as one can with an extra fifty pounds on top of them.”

  “Well, hopefully, you’ll lose it all after the baby is here, and we can all sleep again,” Drew comments, and I wince, knowing immediately that Viola is going to chew his ass out.

  “I meant the dog, asshole! Gryff kept nudging his way between us.”

  “Oh, sorry!” He puts his hands up in an apologetic surrender, and I laugh at his expense.

  “And I have not gained fifty pounds, thank you very much,” she says with a scowl. “I’ve gained twenty-one, and the doctor said that was in the perfect range.”

  “You’re beautiful no matter how many pounds you put on,” I tell her, but she doesn’t smile.

  “You two suck.” She gets up and walks into the kitchen. She’s only two months away from her due date now, and I can tell she’s getting anxious. “Come on, Gryff. Let’s go stuff our faces in private where we won’t be judged.”

  Drew and I sit in silence for a moment, and when I’m sure Viola is out of hearing distance, I lean toward him. “I have something to show you.”

  I reach into my pocket, and Drew speaks up, “Dude if you whip your dick out, I’m punching you in the throat.”

  “Hey, I did that one time! And I was drunk,” I say in my defense.

  Once I’m done showing off Viola’s surprise, I stuff it back into my pocket before she and Gryff walk back in. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  “Want some help?” I grin, knowing she’ll probably smack me for that one.

  “I could use some help shaving. I haven’t seen my vagina in a couple of weeks.”

  Drew makes a gagging noise, and Viola laughs at his expense.

  “You did that on purpose,” Drew complains.

  “That’s what you get for the weight comment!” she fires back. Gryff follows her down the hallway as I stand and set my cup inside the sink.

  “I hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into,” Drew says behind me. “She’s feisty as hell on a good day. I don’t even want to imagine when she gives birth.”

  “I plan to wear a cup that day. And maybe even a helmet.”

  “I heard that, Travis King!” she shouts from the bathroom.

  “Oh yeah, forgot to mention her super-enhanced hearing. Some weird pregnancy hormone thing,” Drew explains. “Our mom had it too when she was in her third trimester.”

  “Any chance she had an overactive sex drive after birth, too?” I chuckle as he rolls his eyes at me, looking horrified. “Hey, you go six months without sex and see what’s on your mind twenty-four seven!”

  “Six months, huh?” he asks with an impressed tone. “And your hand hasn’t gone numb yet?”

  “Surprisingly not.”

  He pats me on the shoulder. “Hang in there, man. You’ll have sex again in eighteen years or so.”

  “Comforting. Thank you.”

  “I always save my best advice for you.”

  Once Viola and I are both ready for the day, we take Gryff for a walk in the park, where families are all set up to enjoy the fireworks when the clock strikes midnight. It’s one of the dog parks around here, and even though it can sometimes be overwhelming, Gryff loves the interaction.

  “Are you getting excited about the reveal?” I ask her. We’re walking side by side, holding hands, and I can’t help thinking about how this night is going to change everything.

  “I am!” She smiles. “You?”

  “Oh, yeah. I’m already thinking of names for the little man.”

  She rolls her eyes at me, once again, for commenting about it being a boy. “I hope you aren’t going to be disappointed if it’s a girl.”

  “Of course not. I’m not sure I could handle another princess in my life, but I’m sure I could make room.” I smirk, bringing her hand up and kissing her knuckles. “Have you thought of any names?”

  “Yes, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to veto them all.”

  “Do they have anything in common with a certain book series?” I arch a brow, knowing damn well she’s thought of names based on her favorite books.

  “Possibly,” she says with a glare. “No movie characters, though.”

  “So, I guess Bridget Jones is off the table?”

  She snorts and shakes her head at me. “Definitely.”

  “Damn. I was hoping one day to be able to tell that story as the night we christened the living room floor.”

  “Travis!” she scolds, slapping my arm. “I’m starting to think you get no votes now.”

  “Aw, you don’t mean that.” I push out my lower lip, and she lets out a dreamy sigh.

  We walk out of the park and head back home. She’s been doing pretty well, taking regular walks to keep up her momentum and strength. I know as the days get closer, she’s going to feel worn down and tired, but she’s been doing great so far. I’m super impressed with how well she’s adjusted to everything.

  “I can’t wait until we can take the baby on our walks with us in the stroller,” she says as we make our way inside the house.

  “Well, when I’m at work, you guys will have plenty of time to go for walks. As long as you take Gryff, though. He’s your bodyguard when I’m away.”

  “Well, until the baby is old enough to go to a sitter.”

  “Wait, what?” I ask, unhooking Gryff’s leash. “Why would the baby need a sitter?”

  “For when I go to work,” she states, leaving me speechless. “I don’t want to waste my degree.”

  “It’s not wasting your degree, Viola. You’ll always have it, but don’t you want to be the one to raise the baby? I just figured—”

  “That I’d be one of those stay-at-home moms who live in yoga pants, dirty T-shirts, and unwashed hair?”

  “Well, I wasn’t necessarily talking about the uniform…”

  “Whatever. I don’t want to be left alone all day long while you’re at work.”

  “But I want to be the one to provide for you, for us. I left my corporate job with you in mind, Viola. I wanted to make sure our future was planned out.”

  “So we’re just going to make a dozen babies, and I’ll stay home and cook and clean and then we’ll be the next TLC spotlight family?”

  I swallow, watching her steam into overdrive, and wondering how the hell I’m supposed to handle this situation when her hormones get the best of her. We probably should’ve discussed this before I made assumptions, but now I don’t know how to get myself out of it without pissing her off even more.

  “Okay, we can do whatever makes you happy.” I take a step toward her, watching her chest rise and fall as she takes deep breaths. “Calm down, princess. We’ll make this work; I promise you. We don’t have to make any definite plans right now. Nothing is set in stone.” />
  “Except for the fact that I have to pop this baby out of my vag.”

  “Well, yeah. Unfortunately, I can’t fix that little detail.” I watch as she fidgets. “Deep breaths, princess. Everything is going to be fine.”

  “I don’t know why I get like this. One second I’m fine, and the next, I’m freaking out, overthinking everything and questioning if we’re ready for this, and what if something goes wrong or what if I’m not strong enough to go through labor or—”

  “Viola,” I say firmly, grabbing her attention. “You are going to drive yourself insane, overanalyzing every little thing that might or might not go wrong. I’m here for you, okay? I’m not going anywhere, and whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. Got it?”

  “Okay,” she says softly. I bring her lips to mine and kiss her, reminding her exactly how much I love her. “Are you sure you still love this train wreck?”

  “More and more every single day.”

  After Viola takes a shower, she ends up falling asleep on the couch with Gryff. I don’t dare disturb her because I know how tired she gets. My parents are driving down to meet us for dinner tonight, which will be Viola’s first time seeing them in years. I told my mom over the phone that Viola was pregnant, and she’s ecstatic over the news.

  My father is sicker than before, and my mom is still doing everything she can to keep him alive. I know she loves him, and I admire her strength. I don’t openly talk about it unless she gives me the impression she wants to, but tonight will be about new beginnings and the next chapter in our lives. As much as I look forward to this next year of our lives, I’m also enjoying every step of the journey along the way.

  I peek at Viola once more before I step outside, needing to make sure she’s still asleep. I dial Courtney and make sure to keep my voice low just in case her enhanced hearing takes effect again.

  “What’s up, boss?” She answers on the first ring.

  “Viola’s asleep, so I wanted to go through the events for tonight one more time,” I say, pacing on the driveway.

  “We’ve been over it five times!”

  “Just humor me, Courtney!”

  She laughs and lets out a loud sigh. “Fine. If that’s what will get me a raise…”

  “A raise? We haven’t even opened the doors yet!”

  “What can I say? My daddy taught me how to play hardball at a young age.”

  I brush a nervous hand through my hair and mutter a few curse words. “Fine,” I agree through gritted teeth. “I’ll have Drew come twice a week to deliver lunch. Happy now?”

  I can tell she’s smiling on the other end just by the high-pitched tone in her voice. “Yes, very. Now was that so hard?”

  “I knew I’d regret calling you that day,” I mutter, knowing damn well she’ll hear me.

  “And now you’re stuck with me forever. Get used to it, King.”

  “Can we please just go through the plan one more time now?” I’m losing my patience, and she knows it, too.

  “Of course. Whatever you say, boss.”

  Chapter 19

  Viola

  I wake up to Gryff licking my face. He’s pressing on my bladder, and I’m two seconds away from peeing myself.

  “Get down, buddy.” I push him slightly, and he jumps down, giving me the opportunity to roll off the couch. “Where’s Daddy?” I ask him as we walk down the too quiet hallway. “Travis?” I call out, but no one answers. “Hmm, weird.”

  I use the bathroom and get myself something to drink. We should be leaving within the hour to meet up with his family, so I know he can’t be too far away. I dig into the fridge and grab an apple to hold me over until dinner. I glance around and see the newspaper lying on top of the kitchen table. I shuffle through it until the words Crawford Marketing grab my attention.

  Well, well, well. Wouldn’t ya know? Little Miss Blondie got herself into a little bit of legal trouble. I can’t even feel sorry for someone like that. Karma’s a bitch, after all.

  “Viola?” I hear Travis’s voice call out. I look behind me and see him all dressed up in a black suit and tie. I swallow, needing to control my breathing. He’s always looked amazing in suits, but tonight, something is different. He looks incredible. And happy.

  “Where’d you go?” I ask.

  “I had to run a couple of errands. What are you doing?”

  “I just woke up, and the baby was hungry, so we found a snack,” I say as he wraps his arms around me, the baby bump putting more space between us than usual.

  “I see that.” He dips his head and takes a bite of the apple. “We have to leave soon,” he reminds me.

  “I know. I was just looking at a very interesting article in the paper.” I purse my lips.

  “Yeah, nothing like bad press for one of the largest firms in the state.”

  “Maybe that means Royalty Marketing will be the next best thing.” I grin, knowing he’s about to scold me.

  “It’s King Marketing, stop trying to make Royalty Marketing happen!”

  I burst out laughing at his Mean Girls reference. “Oh my God! Don’t make me laugh! I might pee!”

  “So then I shouldn’t do this?” He brings his hands down and tickles my sides. He laughs harder the more I squirm and as much as I try to back out of his trap, he doesn’t let up.

  “I see those chick flicks have really benefited you.”

  He finally stops torturing me and pulls me in close. “It was the only way to feel close to you for those six months. But after Drew caught me crying alone in my room to The Notebook, he basically stripped me of my man card.”

  “So, then is this the part where you ask me to slow dance in the rain and gaze into my eyes and say sweet nothings in my ear all night long?”

  He chuckles, presses his lips to the shell of my ear, and whispers, “I told you I’m not like those guys in your romance books. I’ll say exactly what I want, and what I want is to bend you over this kitchen table and fuck you until you count to ten. Or until the table breaks, whichever happens first.” I feel his cocky smirk against my neck, but I know he’s dead serious.

  “If our baby comes out swearing filthy words, I know who’s to blame.”

  “I’ll plead the fifth.” He leans down and kisses my mouth.

  I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer. “How did this happen?” I ask, breaking the kiss but staying pressed against him. “How could I leave you for six months? Why did you wait for me?”

  The emotions I feel for Travis are becoming too much for me to handle. They’re overflowing, and I have been feeling more and more guilty for what I’ve put him through. Everything that happened between us, from being kids to teenagers, to where we are now. Some days I wake up and can’t understand how we made it here.

  “Why are you crying, princess?” He rubs his thumb over my cheek and catches the tears.

  I shrug because I know the words won’t come out right.

  “Everything that happened needed to happen so we could make it to where we are right now. Happy, in love, about to have a baby…” He smiles so wide that it makes me start tearing up all over again. “I can’t even be mad how it went down because look how things ended up, princess. You, me, our baby. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

  “You truly are perfect, Travis King. Do you know that?” I wipe away the rest of my tears and smile up at him, admiring how good he looks tonight.

  “Only when I have my other half does it feel like my life is perfect, and that’s only thanks to you.” He tilts up my chin and presses his lips to mine once again. Damn him. I could stay here with him all day, and never tire of the way he kisses me.

  “I have to finish getting ready,” I groan against his lips. “I don’t want to show up looking like a bloated, fat whale.” I make a face as I step away, and he pats me on the ass to hurry it up.

  Once I’m dressed, my hair is curled, and my makeup is done, I’m nearly out of breath. That took more energy than I
anticipated, and now I’m ready for another nap.

  “This baby is sucking every ounce of life out of me, and it’s not even born yet,” I whine, grabbing my purse off the table and slipping into my flats. No heels for me.

  “He’s just preparing you for when he’s here, and you’ll need to function on only a couple of hours of sleep a night.”

  “I’m telling you...it’s a girl,” I say as he opens the door and he follows me out.

  “I guess we’ll find out soon.”

  It’s been years since I’ve seen Travis’s mom and dad. I was expecting it to be awkward as hell, but surprisingly it felt like old times. Just like everything with Travis, it felt as if no time had passed at all.

  His mother is ecstatic about the baby, and I know she’s going to make every effort to come and visit us once he or she is born. His father has lost weight, and he’s pale and noticeably weaker. I feel for Travis, and although their relationship has been anything but a solid one, I hope they can mend it enough for the sake of our baby. I’d love for his father to form some kind of relationship with our child since his days are going to be numbered.

  Once we finish dinner, we order dessert and start talking about baby names. His mom gives us a list of family names, in case we needed any inspiration. I wish I could say that we plan to take the list into consideration, but I can’t fathom naming our baby after Travis’s great uncle, Seaman Gaylord King.

  After dinner, we part ways. It’s almost 9:00 p.m., and I’m not sure I’ll even be able to make it to midnight to open the gender reveal envelope together. Drew is working, and Courtney is partying with a few other friends, so we have the house to ourselves, but I just want to lounge on the couch and read until I fall asleep. However, Travis, as usual, has other plans.