Chapter Seventeen
We took off for our getaway after breakfast the next day. Cole had shared that his family owned a small cabin near the Nevada-California border in the mountains. It sounded private and beautiful, just what I wanted.
Pete had yet again given me time off. I was probably close to losing my job, but I couldn’t bring myself to care with everything else that was going on. Chief seemed to sense that we were embarking on some sort of adventure and happily panted his way through the drive. We both would have loved to take the bike, but we had the dog and too much stuff. I might have slightly over packed. But Cole had just chuckled as he hauled my huge suitcase into the back of the truck.
It was a beautiful fall day and I hoped it would be warm enough to lay out in the sunshine. I smiled blissfully as we headed up into the mountains, Cole’s hand on my thigh.
It took us just over two hours to get into town, where we stopped at a local grocery store to load up on supplies before we headed to the cabin.
It was late afternoon as the truck left the paved road and began to kick up gravel as we headed down the private lane to the cabin on the outskirts of town. My curiosity peaked as we traveled down the pine-filled lane and stopped at a rustic looking cabin. The scenery was breathtaking with its lush pine surroundings and turquoise blue water beyond. I was shocked that the cabin was on the lake. I hadn’t expected that.
We grabbed our groceries as Chief bounded off into the wilderness to explore. Cole unlocked the door, which opened into the living room. It was a cozy space with hardwood floors and pale blue painted walls. The sliding glass door directly in front of us led to the lake and what looked like its own private pier.
“Wow, this place is amazing,” I breathed. The cabin was small but obviously well maintained. And having private access to the lake was unusual.
Cole shrugged. “It needs a lot of updating, but the scenery makes up for it. I haven’t been here in years,” he told me as we walked through to the white tiled kitchen. I put the bag I held on the counter and looked around. The appliances were old but looked to be in decent condition. The whole place smelled a bit musty and I started opening the windows to let the fresh air in. There were two bedrooms off the living room, one a bit larger than the other, and Cole put our suitcases in there. The bedrooms had a thick blue rug that made me smile.
“Like I said, needs a bit of updating,” he said as he chuckled.
“It’s charming.” I grinned sincerely, placed my arms around his waist, and kissed his neck.
“It was my ma’s family’s place,” he added while looking down at me.
“Oh?” I asked with a raised brow. He’d never talked about that side of his family and I was curious.
“Yah. My grandma left it to my pop in her will,” he explained, letting me go but taking my hand as he led me out to the back patio.
“Was she close to your dad?” I asked, leaning on the rail next to him as we looked out to the gorgeous blue water.
“Yeah, I was little when she died. But she spent a lot of time with me. I remember bits and pieces…wish I remembered more,” he said with regret. “And she stayed close with my pop when Mom left us.”
“Do you ever wonder about her?” I asked, referring to his mother. I’d always wanted to ask him this question since I’d learned that she’d walked out.
He sighed and looked thoughtfully out at the landscape. “I’d be lying if I said I never thought about it. Of course I have. But I try not to spend too much energy on it. She left us,” he said casually, though I could sense an undercurrent of pain in his words. “Her loss.”
“Absolutely,” I agreed readily. “Thanks for bringing me here,” I said quietly, sensing he didn’t want to talk about it further. “It’s beautiful. I’d never expected it to be so private.”
He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “It was a good idea to get away for a few days.”
“Yeah,” I sighed.
The next few days were utter bliss. We slept in late every morning and had coffee out on the patio, watching the water. We’d wander down to the lake and I even got a few chances to don my bikini, though it was too cold to swim. Cole seemed to appreciate the view, judging from how he pounced on me the first time he saw the skimpy red suit. I figured I better wear it while I still could.
In the evenings I cooked, and we again sat on the patio bundled in sweatshirts against the fall chill. We made love every chance we got, which was a lot. And we talked. We talked about our childhoods and about our families. We talked about our friends, both past and present. And we talked about the baby.
“I think it’s a boy,” Cole asserted confidently as we sat out on the patio watching the sun go down.
I laughed. “There’s no way you can know that!”
He shrugged. “It’s a hunch.”
“Well, then I think it’s a girl,” I replied just to be contrary.
He groaned. “Christ, the last thing I need is a little girl, especially if she looks like you. I already have my hands full,” he grumbled.
“You’ll be a wonderful father,” I said seriously, ignoring his teasing. I knew he’d be happy with either sex.
“And you’ll be a wonderful mother,” he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“I hope so,” I whispered, feeling a small knot begin to grow in my throat. “I wish my mom was still here to show me the ropes. I have no idea what I’m doing,” I admitted thickly.
He squeezed me close and kissed my head. “We’ll figure it out together, darlin’, just like we do everything else.”
That made me feel better and I nodded.
“I think we’ll need a bigger place,” he noted, surprising me. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“Really?”
He nodded. “More bedrooms, bigger backyard.”
My brows knitted with confusion. “But we have two bedrooms already.”
He squeezed me firmly. “I grew up an only child, babe. We’re having at least two.”
“At least?” I gulped. I was just now getting used to having one. “Why don’t we see how this one works out before we start planning on a fleet,” I quipped.
“At least two.” He grinned, kissing me.
“We’ll see,” I grumbled.
“Gonna put a ring on your finger, baby,” he added seriously. “You won’t know when or where, but just know it’s happening.”
I stiffened in his arms and pulled back to look at him. “Just because we’re having a baby together doesn’t mean that we have to get married,” I replied, watching as his blue eyes narrowed. I rushed to continue, wanting to get this out. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to…propose,” I explained as my eyes scanned the horizon, unable to face him. “We could just see how it goes for a while…” my voice drifted. This had been my biggest fear, that he’d feel forced to marry me. It was the last thing I wanted.
“You’re afraid I feel obligated,” he surmised correctly.
“Yes,” I answered simply.
“Already have the ring, babe,” he replied quietly, putting his finger underneath my chin to turn my face to his. “And I’ve had it for a while,” he admitted.
I let out a small laugh in surprise. “Really?”
“Really,” he replied seriously as he stared intently into my eyes.
“You’re crazy,” I teased him, though I was beyond relieved at this news even if it meant he was moving a million miles per hour as usual. I was tempted to ask just how long he’d had it but I decided against it.
“Maybe so, but you’re stuck with me,” he said with a grin, his mood lightening.
“Yeah, I am.” I grinned back, leaning in to kiss him.
I felt far from ready when we packed up and headed home. After three full days of nothing but Cole and relaxation, I wanted nothing to do with going home. But duty called for both of us and I reluctantly piled into the truck with Chief.
“Ready?” Cole said as he grinned and started up the truck.
“No,” I grumbled.
He reached over and gave my leg a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll come back darlin’,” he promised when he sensed my disappointment.
“Good,” I replied with a small smile.