Make You Mine, page 10
part #1 of Fireweed Harbor Series Series
“I hadn’t, but it makes sense.”
“I’m always outsourcing promo materials for any of our public relations events. I know you mostly focus on wedding invitations and family events for what you do online, but we could hire you to be in charge of the artwork for all of the promo for his events and our public relations campaigns. What do you think? Is that in your wheelhouse? Or too far out of your zone?”
I stared at her before a big smile stretched across my face. “That is absolutely in my wheelhouse. My zone has been wedding invitations because that’s how I started, but I’ve always been open to other projects. I love this!” I took a deep breath. “Are you sure? I mean, Fireweed Industries is big.”
McKenna shrugged like it was totally no big deal that her family owned an international corporation. “Maybe so, but this part of our business isn’t huge. I plan promotional campaigns every quarter. Blake will be planning a year in advance, so there will be plenty of lead time.”
“Do I need to do samples for you?”
She shook her head. “I see your work all the time. The chalkboard here is a great sample. I’ve seen your wedding invitations as well.”
“Oh, wow.” I took a slow breath, trying not to seem too excited. “How much work are we talking about?”
McKenna cocked her head to the side as she smiled. “We’ll keep you busy. I don’t think you’ll need to keep the café job. The only thing we need to discuss is sorting out your fees.”
I wanted to come across as casual—like it was no big thing that this could be a significant contract for my business—but I completely failed. I clasped my hands together, squeezing them tightly as I smiled over at her. “I’m so excited! Thank you for asking me.” Just then, the timer on the small oven beeped, and I turned to remove her pastries and put them in a bag.
She beamed back at me. “You’ll take our marketing to the next level. Anyway, I’ve gotta run.” She lifted the coffee cup I’d slid across the counter and reached for the small paper bag with her pastries, handing over a twenty-dollar bill. “Keep the change. I’ll text you.”
Only moments after McKenna left, a cluster of tourists came in, keeping me busy. Hazel had arrived and came out front to refill the display case and help me out at the espresso machine. We had a pretty good rhythm and quickly got through the group.
Once we had a break, I glanced at Hazel. “Mind if I take a bathroom break?”
“As if you need to ask,” she deadpanned, waving me away. “I have it covered.”
While we had a staff bathroom in the back, the one up front was much closer, so I hurried over. After I took care of business, I washed my hands in the sink and splashed cold water on my face before dabbing it with a paper towel. I studied my reflection in the mirror for a moment. As usual, my curls had gotten the best of my ponytail. Several had escaped, one pointing out to the side and another one straight up above my forehead. I rolled my eyes and used the damp paper towel to smooth them back.
Just then, the door opened, and I reflexively glanced over, feeling an uneasy jolt when I saw Cathy walk in. She smiled over at me, everything about her seeming, well, classy and serene.
“Hi,” she said.
Even her voice was smooth and melodic.
“Hi,” I said, my voice coming out a little squeaky. Whenever I was nervous, I sounded squeaky.
You don’t need to be nervous, I told myself. So what if Rhys had a fling with her in college? That was over ten years ago. If he had liked her all that much back then, he would’ve stayed with her. Plus, she lied and hid a child from him, a child she claims she thought was his.
She paused by the counter. “Haven, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So how long have you been seeing Rhys?”
A sense of uneasiness unspooled inside me. I didn’t trust Cathy and her questions, so I opted to be vague. “Oh, for a while.”
She pursed her lips slightly, a knowing glint entering her gaze. “Hm, a while. For Rhys, a month would be a while. He had quite the reputation in college.”
“College was a long time ago,” I said pointedly.
Her eyes narrowed. I wasn’t about to clue her in to my uncertainty and just how insecure I felt around her. She was, simply put, beautiful. Her silky smooth cornflower-blond hair fell halfway down her back. Her blue eyes were wide, and her features were clean and tidy with a straight nose, elegant cheekbones, and manicured brows.
I felt short and frumpy beside her. She had the kind of build where clothes draped elegantly off her shoulders, and she never had to worry about her curves being too much.
I shifted on my feet, annoyed that I had to look up to meet her gaze.
“I suppose so, but you don’t really seem his type.”
“I don’t see how you would even know.” Then I went and said something shitty, something that immediately sent a flush of embarrassment through me. “Although you definitely had a type, seeing as you were involved with both Rhys and his brother.”
Cathy’s eyes went from calculating to icy. Her shoulders stiffened, and two bright red spots appeared on her cheeks. “Wow, I suppose the whole ‘college was a long time ago’ doesn’t apply to me.”
I threw a hand up in the air, letting it fall. “I don’t know you, Cathy. We met once, and you just now pretended as if you weren’t sure what my name was. I’ve known Rhys for as long as I can remember because we both grew up here and he’s best friends with my brother. No matter what you think of him and me, or frankly what I might think of you, choosing to hide a child from his family was hurtful. Don’t be surprised if most people who know them question your motives. Just be decent.” I took a sharp breath. “I apologize for my comment.”
With that, I turned and left the bathroom, lifting my chin as I walked past her. She looked startled. I honestly didn’t want to try to be friends with her. I would be polite, but I didn’t trust her motives until she proved otherwise.
When I got to the register, Hazel was handing some change over to a couple. They thanked her as they lifted their coffees off the counter and walked to the only empty table over in the corner. She glanced at me before turning to wipe down the espresso machine. “Are you okay? If we hadn’t had any customers, I would’ve followed Cathy into the bathroom.”
“I’m fine. I don’t trust her,” I said under my breath as I picked up a clean towel from the stack on the shelving underneath the counter.
“I don’t trust her either.”
A moment later, Cathy came out of the bathroom. For a second, I thought she was going to leave the café entirely, but she didn’t. She smoothed her hands down her slacks and approached the counter. The only way to describe how she looked was chastened. She wore a tight smile when she stopped in front of the register.
“What can I get for you?” I asked courteously.
Although I still felt uncertain around her, and my old insecurities clamored loudly inside me, I was relieved I had been honest with her. That truth wasn’t just for me. It was for Rhys, for all of his family.
“I’ll have a chai tea,” Cathy said.
“Coming right up,” Hazel said brightly beside me.
I tapped on the register’s computer screen. “That’ll be three fifty.”
Cathy paid, and I gave her the change. She stuffed the change in the tip jar as Hazel passed over her drink and left without another word.
“What the hell did you say to her?” Hazel murmured under her breath.
“The truth. She commented on the way Rhys was in college after asking how long we’d been together.” I shook my head. “I told her that she needed to understand people might not trust her because she hid a child from the whole family. Of course, then I made a shitty comment and had to apologize.” My cheeks burned.
Hazel’s brows flew up. “What did you say?”
“When she said I wasn’t Rhys’s type, I pointed out that she obviously had a type since she was involved with Jake and Rhys in college.”
Hazel’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, my word,” she breathed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Haven
Rhys had texted me that he had a board meeting that evening, so he’d be working late. These meetings occurred monthly, and I knew he would usually be at work late.
For me, that meant an evening working on my other job. I needed to look at rates for the kind of work McKenna wanted. I sent a message to a friend of mine back in Boston. She also did invitations for weddings, baby showers, and so on, but her business had expanded.
After that, I typed up some pricing to review with McKenna. Meanwhile, something I’d been trying to ignore had to be dealt with. I was two weeks late for my period, which made no sense.
I reread the text message from my doctor. The only suggestion I can make is for you to do a pregnancy test. Because that’s what we would do here at the office. It’s more expensive to come here and have us do it than it is for you to pick one up at the pharmacy.
I stared at my purse where it sat innocuously on the coffee table. With a sigh, I slid my laptop off my lap, setting it on the coffee table, and trading it for my purse. I took two pregnancy test boxes out and stood there staring at one in my hand.
“Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I breathed. “It’s a fluke. It has to be.”
I walked into the kitchen as I opened the slender box. Removing the small handheld plastic test, I read the instructions quickly.
“If it turns blue, I’m pregnant,” I said aloud.
Anxiety twisted in my belly, and I felt nervous and antsy.
I’d been waiting because I kept thinking I would get my period. I was on birth control. I had exactly zero plans to get pregnant. What would Rhys think? If I was pregnant, should I have the baby? Did I want to have a baby?
“Oh my God, I’m freaking out,” I said to no one.
I talked to myself often when I was nervous. It was convenient Rhys had a board meeting tonight. If I were pregnant, I’d have several hours to get my shit together.
Of course, my doctor had also pointed out via text that the test may not show as positive just yet, and I may need to try again in another two weeks.
I managed the awkward task of holding the plastic stick underneath me while I peed. I placed the test on the counter by the sink as I washed my hands. It said to wait for five minutes, so I set a timer on my watch. After darting out of the bathroom, I crossed my arms and paced in a small circle in the living room.
As soon as the timer went off, I stopped pacing, unfolded my arms, and shook them as if I could discharge the nervous adrenaline racing through me. I walked into the bathroom, my gaze trained on the tiled floor. Almost as if I didn’t look, whatever the results showed couldn’t be true.
On the heels of a shaky deep breath, I lifted my gaze to the pregnancy test waiting on the counter. I felt the blood drain from my face. I sat down abruptly on the closed toilet, my hand gripping the edge of the counter. After several deep breaths, I uncurled my hand and reached for the pregnancy test, staring at the bright blue plus sign.
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.
I told myself it was ridiculous at the time, but I’d bought two tests, just to be double sure of the results.
My legs felt wobbly as I walked back into the living room and fetched the other test off the coffee table. Ripping the packaging open, I returned to the bathroom. Moments later, I walked back out into the living room, crossing my arms and pacing in a tight circle once again until the timer went off.
This time, I was calmer when I walked back into the bathroom and almost resigned when I saw the blue plus sign staring back at me. I sat down on the side of the tub. Resting my elbows on my knees, I dropped my face into my hands and let out a shaky sigh.
I ran my hands through my hair before lifting my head.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Haven
I was so wound up inside and discombobulated by this startling development that I couldn’t calm down. I must’ve paced around my small house for a good fifteen minutes. I circled from the corner of the kitchen counter to the front windows and back again.
I finally jumped in the shower, hoping the shock of some cold water followed by hot would snap my mind out of its spinning uncertainty and near panic. As I stood under the water, my mind volleyed thoughts back and forth.
How could this happen? I’m on birth control.
Things happen. It’s not 100 percent.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. What am I going to tell Rhys?
Whenever I wondered how Rhys might react, the uncertainty wound tighter and tighter inside me. I wasn’t even ready to talk about this. I needed to know what I wanted to do first.
I felt like Rhys and I were just getting back to a good place. In all honesty, I had some regret over how strongly I’d reacted to the potential news that Rhys had a child somewhere in the world and hadn’t told me about it. Ever since that turned out not to be the case, twinges of guilt stung inside. Yet I felt like the break had been necessary for us.
Maybe he didn’t understand, but we had tumbled into our fling rapidly. While I had plenty of doubts about relationships, and frankly about Rhys genuinely wanting to be serious with anyone, including me, I also felt there had been—I didn’t know how to put words to it—almost a thin veil between us.
I didn’t doubt the chemistry burning like a bonfire between us. But Rhys had plenty of emotional baggage. Because of my brother’s friendship with him, I didn’t have any illusions that his family was perfect. Even before Jake died in college, I knew things weren’t great.
He and his siblings were good people and cared deeply for each other. Their mother was wonderful, but their grandfather had been horrible. On a few occasions, I’d seen how verbally harsh he could be. What happened to Jake was tragic. That had revealed the whole truth about just what a toxic and abusive man their grandfather had been.
Rhys was honest about that history. I sensed the wounds of it cut deeply—for him as well as for the whole family. He held a part of himself back, and I hadn’t wanted to think about it. The start of our relationship had been like opening a bottle of champagne—fizzy and showy, it had felt soooo good. Because I knew him, there was a comfort, a trust there. I’d overlooked some of what I knew might be in the way for both of us.
After I showered, I changed into comfortable clothes. I turned on the television and settled in to watch a few episodes of Schitt’s Creek, my favorite comfort distraction. I put the news of my unexpected pregnancy into a little closet in my brain. I wasn’t ready to talk with Rhys about it, and I experienced a twinge of guilt about that. I just needed some time.
I was startled by the emotion tied up inside me. I was surprised to discover a part of me wanted this baby. The thought of having children hadn’t even been on my radar yet. The idea of family and children and commitment were distant concepts. I’d thought maybe someday I’d have kids. That was as far as my thinking had gone.
The reality of those pregnancy tests tossed in the trash can felt like choppy waves slapping at me, reminding me what was very real.
Despite the jumbled thoughts bouncing around in my brain, I still felt that familiar sense of anticipation when Rhys texted that he was on his way home from his board meeting. When he got there, I was the one who sought to lose myself in our connection.
After he shrugged off his jacket and kicked off his shoes, I caught one of his hands in mine and peered up at him. His hair was mussed as if he had run his hand through it a few too many times. His gaze was alert yet a bit subdued.
“How are you?” I asked.
“Glad to be here. Long day.”
He was standing by the couch and gave my hand a little tug, reeling me closer to him. He lifted a hand and brushed a few wayward curls away from my forehead.
I smiled at him, leaning up to press a kiss just under the edge of his jaw. His hand slid into my hair, sifting through my curls before his palm rested softly on the back of my neck. I could feel where each fingertip landed, the subtle warmth of his touch drifting through me, throwing sparks into an already hot fire.
This was precisely why it had been so easy for me to tumble into this unexpected relationship with Rhys. Our chemistry was like banked coals. Nothing more than a subtle touch or a look sent the flames leaping.
“Haven,” he murmured.
I pressed another kiss underneath his jaw. I could feel his arousal cradled against my low belly. I needed this connection with him. I needed to lose myself in us and get singed by this fire.
Reaching between us, I molded my palm over the hard length of his arousal before swiftly unbuttoning his jeans. When I slid my palm into his boxers, curling around the hot, silky length of him, he rasped, “Haven, I need you.”
I stepped back, just slightly, pushing his hips into the back of the couch. “I’m all yours, but first, this.” I teased my thumb over the tip of his cock, sliding it over the drop of pre-cum rolling out.
He let out something between a moan and a growl when I shoved his jeans and boxers down just far enough for his cock to spring free. I swirled my tongue around the thick crown, savoring the way his fingers tightened in my hair. When I peered up at him as I angled my head to the side and dragged my tongue along the underside of his cock, the dark, intent look in his eyes sent heat pooling in my belly. I could feel my arousal slick between my thighs.
I teased the tip of his cock with my tongue before sucking him in, need cracking like a whip through my body at the earthy, salty flavor of him. I cupped his balls lightly as I licked and sucked before shifting my palm up to curl around his thick, swollen shaft.
“Haven,” he bit out, his tone almost a warning.
I leaned back, releasing him with a slippery pop as I looked up at him, just before swirling my tongue around his crown again. “Just a sec,” I whispered.
When I sucked him in deeply again, his fingers laced more tightly in my hair, creating a subtle sting on my scalp as he came in spurts into my mouth. I waited until his fingers loosened before I drew back, biting my lip as I straightened.
