CHAPTER 16
Brea
After dinner, neither of us were ready for bed. We walked along the beach one more time. I was tired when we made it back to our room. We opened the windows as we watched a movie in bed together, feeling so happy about our conversation.
He wanted us to live together. Not necessarily as a couple, not yet, but we’d be there to parent together. People did that sort of thing all the time. When I woke up in the morning, Ryan told me he had set up a full spa day for me while he ran an errand. I was surprised and told him I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even gone to a hair salon.
He ordered breakfast for us and we ate on the balcony. He told me to enjoy myself today. I sipped the fresh orange juice and ate the lemon crepes and perfect scrambled eggs with my attention focused on the water. It was stunning today, and I hoped for some more time at the beach later. I could never get enough of it.
I tried to ask what Ryan was doing, but he gave me some vague answer about meeting up with a friend. I changed into a sundress after a long shower and slipped my feet into sandals to head down to the hotel spa. Ryan kissed me before I left, telling me to relax and not worry about a thing.
I walked to the elevator and made my way down. I walked slowly through the lobby as I looked around at the beautiful hotel. If I could have stayed here forever, I would have been happy. Everything was gorgeous. When my eyes fell on the spa entrance, I walked over.
They smiled when I told them my name and led me back into a dressing room. They gave me a robe and told me to get ready for a wonderful day of pampering. I closed the door and looked around the big room before taking off my clothes. I rubbed my stomach and then slipped the soft lavender robe over my skin.
I left my clothes as instructed and walked back out. A gorgeous platinum blond woman led me to an area that served as the hair salon. She handed me off to a man who looked me over, smiling at my belly.
“Is there anything you’ve been thinking about doing?” I never did my hair since money was always tight. I played with a brown strand as I looked at him.
“I’ve been looking around a lot at the bright hair colors. Is that safe for the baby?”
“How would you feel about some highlights and maybe some color streaks in your hair? Maybe a trim and some layers? It’s so long and healthy,” he told me as he ran a hand through it.
“That sounds perfect,” I replied excitedly, and he clapped his hands. I already liked this guy, and I beamed at him. He led me to a chair and wrapped me in a cape before having me sit down. My hair was still wet from the shower, and he trimmed it first, working on the ends and then the layers as I watched my hair fall to the floor. Was it really that long?
He finished and dried my hair before he grabbed several mixing bowls. I watched as he poured bleach and asked me what my favorite colors were. I nibbled on my lip and told him. He mixed gorgeous shades together before grabbing a roll of foil.
He slipped pieces under my hair, applying bleach to chunks before handing me a magazine as he ran a fan so the air would circulate around me. I read about the latest celebrity gossip, frowning as I found a distant photo of Ryan with me, clearly pregnant. They didn’t seem to be too interested in the story since we weren’t talking, but there was some talk circulating. Once my hair was done in shades of blond, purple, pink, and even a dark blue, it was styled into wild, healthy curls.
I was taken to a massage room that accommodated my belly and stripped off the robe as I lay down to relax. It was a little embarrassing, but worth it as I was rubbed and turned into jelly by the hands of the friendly masseuse.
After the massage, I had a facial, a manicure, and a pedicure. I kept my natural nails and length but chose colors that would match my new hair. They served me a salad and sparkling cider for lunch as I giggled, knowing Ryan had suggested the cider.
I hoped he like my new look as well. I wiggled my toes and waited for them to dry. I was going to have my makeup done next and wondered what they would do. I only wore it some of the time. I had been busy during school with taking care of my dad, just feeling lucky to sleep most days.
This time was a lot like back then, and I smiled as I looked down at my stomach. This was going to be wonderful. I finished my food and enjoyed a few amazing sugar cookies before I went to a studio for makeup.
Amazingly enough, I’d been here for four hours and counting. It was the most relaxing thing I’d ever done. I watched as they rolled a cart full of products over to me. I was cleaned from the facial and then brushes were everywhere.
I saw that makeup was much more than foundation, and I learned all about contouring and highlighting before they even touched my eyes. They did a dark smoky look that made my eyes pop. My face was already flawless, and they added a hint of deep pink blush and a pretty pink gloss to my lips as I stared in shock.
I looked like a different woman, and I wanted to get back to my room. I couldn’t wait to send Lucy a picture and see Ryan. I was surprised by a large gift bag, which offered everything they had used on me as well as a few surprises. I hugged all of them before I went to change back into my dress.
It seemed like a potato sack with my new look, and I giggled as I looked in the mirror. I heard my name and looked out to see the receptionist carrying another bag over to me.
“This just came. I think you might have a date tonight.” I took the purple bag from her and she winked at me. “Marry this one. I’ve never seen a woman so spoiled before. He’s treating his baby’s mother like a queen.”
I stared at her as she walked away and closed the door. I set the bag down. I opened a small box to find some gorgeous black shoes with a low chunky heel that I immediately loved.
I put them down and pulled out a larger box that likely had some clothing in it. I opened it with a gasp. It was a dark pink dress made of something that would be both loose and clingy all at once. I pulled my clothes off and slipped into the new dress, admiring the way it hugged my stomach and flowed down to my knees.
Oddly enough, it matched one of the shades in my hair. I spun around with a giddy smile. I finally looked good pregnant. I slipped my feet into the shoes before putting the boxes and other clothes into the bag.
I took a deep breath and walked out of the dressing room. I made my way through the long hallway to the lobby of the salon, smiling when I saw Ryan leaning against the glass in shorts and a dark green T-shirt.
His eyes widened as he looked at me, eying me slowly and making me blush. I approached him, and he pulled his phone from his pocket before glancing outside.
“You look fucking beautiful, Brea. I need to take some pictures of you before we go to dinner, and we are in the perfect place.” He took the clothing gift bag from me before reaching for my hand.
We made our way to a more remote part of the beach, and I removed my shoes as we started to walk on the sand. I felt beautiful as Ryan shot photos with both his phone and a camera that was around his neck.
He placed me in front of flowers, structures, and the water. He kept snapping. I think the last one was my favorite though.
It was a selfie of us, and for the first time, I almost matched his good looks.
After we were done with that, he drove me to a local park where we enjoyed a picnic of fried chicken, strawberries, and coleslaw. There was a purple blanket spread out as we approached a spot on the grass under some shade trees. He helped me sit down. The food was delicious, and I was starving after my light lunch earlier. I was glad he had bought a lot of chicken. I grabbed another piece with a laugh.
Lucy was sent a few of the pictures and sent a text telling me what a hot mama I was, making me blush and giggle all at once. Ryan told me he agreed as he reached for a strawberry. I sipped the water he had brought and watched as he bit into the strawberry, feeling my familiar arousal.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked. I nodded enthusiastically.
“I thought it would be a massage and maybe a pedicure. They did so much!” I looked at the car and shook my head. “I don’t think I’ll ever know how to use any of that stuff, but I’ll have a blast trying. I’ve never been so spoiled before. Thank you.”
“Lucy will help you. She loves that shit. I think you look gorgeous like this, but you’re beautiful natural as well. I don’t want you to ever think that you’re not.” He played with a strand of my new hair with a soft smile. “It’s nice to see you having fun though. You deserve it.”
“I liked it, but I don’t need that all the time. I’m not that girl. Well, maybe a massage now and then. I feel amazing!” I smiled, and he assured me that it wasn’t a problem. Once Elle was here, he would make sure I stayed relaxed.
We finished the food and he packed the basket back into the car so we could take a walk along the beach. The sun was setting, and I watched it while Ryan took more pictures of me against the backdrop of the colors. We went for some ice cream before returning to the hotel. He carried my stuff for me as we took the elevator to our room.
It was dark now, and I slipped my shoes off in the bedroom, deciding to leave the dress on for a bit. I joined Ryan on the balcony and looked at the moonlight reflected in the water. I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Today was amazing.” The wind blew my hair around, but I noticed how much lighter it felt. I loved it.
“I’m glad you had fun.” He covered my hands with his, and I smiled at the heat between us. “You’ve looked tired lately. How much longer do you think you’ll work?”
“I don’t know. I was planning to work until she was born and then going back after if things didn’t work out as planned,” I replied. Ryan turned to face me.
“Even with the money?” he asked as I looked at him with wide eyes. “That will come through. This is still a grandchild and an heir. He was just being an asshole. I think he’s chilled out a little bit since then.” He leaned in to kiss me, and I shivered, needing his mouth on mine. I had missed him all day.
As our tongues met, I felt a twinge of insecurity, but he cupped my head and kissed me sweetly. Warmth flooded my thighs as he stroked my hair, prolonging the kiss. He pulled away and kissed my jaw as I tried not to think about all the makeup on my skin.
“I hope Elle looks like you,” he murmured, and I let out a long breath.
“I want her to look like you,” I argued lightly as he sucked on my neck, silencing me. We got lost in each other before he led me around to the bedroom door, pushing it open as I stepped with him. We both removed my dress, and he slipped his shorts down as I took off my bra and underwear. Without the dress, I still felt beautiful as he worshiped my body and pleasured me with all my favorite things. I had asked for a Brazilian wax at the spa, knowing I’d been neglecting myself.
When he spread my legs and found me smooth, Ryan growled against me. It was worth the pain as he teased me with his tongue, then fingers. I was begging for him once I turned to my knees and waited for his entry.
Being with Ryan would never get old. I closed my eyes as he slipped inside me. I knew our feelings were deepening, and the emotion between us filled the air as he made love to me. I didn’t mention it as I rocked with him, waiting for the perfect time.