“Do you need me to do anything before I leave?” Alec asked.
“I think lending me your housekeeper to cook meals for us and to keep me company is enough,” Scarlet said.
He shifted out from under her legs and leaned over to kiss her. As always when he touched her, he felt the tingling of desire burning through him. “If you need me, text me.”
“I will,” she promised, touching his jaw with her finger. “I’llbe fine.”
“Good.”
“Bye, Siobahn,” he said, as he straightened and walked out of the room.
She waved in his direction but didn’t take her eyes off the notepad on her lap. Scarlet had explained that her friend was busy writing lyrics for a new album. Scarlet thought it was an improvement over partying every night so Siobahn could forget her ex.
“See you later,” Scarlet said.
He nodded, not sure he could trust his voice. Because for the first time he had someone he wanted to come home to. It should have been nothing, really. This was a normal, everyday thing for people everywhere but for him it was different.
He drove to the clubhouse thinking about the future and realizing that he was starting to see himself with Scarlet. That the idea of having a family was no longer something foreign that made him feel like an impostor. And he wasn’t sure what that meant.
Scarlet stoodin the doorway of the family room watching Siobahn laugh with Helena and it made her smile. Of course she hadn’t intended to get pregnant but it had led her to something that she never knew existed. It wasn’t just this Texas town. It was a lifestyle she’d never realized she’d actually like. As good as it had been for her, she could see Cole’s Hill working its magic on Siobahn, too. Her friend was recovering from her heartbreak in a healthy way and Scarlet had to wonder if it would have helped Tara to be in a place like this, too.
For once her sister’s voice was quiet in the back of her mind and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. One of the hardest parts about losing someone she loved was trying to hold on to that person. Trying not to let the memories fade. Her therapist had said she should just acceptwhatever felt right, but a part of her didn’t want to ever let go of Tara.
“Hey, you okay?” Bianca said, coming up next to her.
“Yes. How about you? Your due date is getting close, isn’t it?” Scarlet asked.
Bianca’s stomach was large on her small frame and though she smiled easily, there were moments when Scarlet thought she noticed fatigue in her new friend. “Not soon enough.”
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get to that stage,” Scarlet admitted.
“I don’t want to alarm you but I haven’t seen my feet in weeks and they are constantly swollen. Last night Derek had to help me get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I’m just so big now,” Bianca said. “I don’t remember being this big with Benito.”
Scarlet felt panic rising in the back of her throat as Bianca talked about her late-stage pregnancy. She felt a little queasy and started to see spots dancing in front of her eyes. Damn. She was going to pass out if she wasn’t careful.
“I have to sit down.”
Bianca’s eyes widened, and she put her arm around Scarlet, leading her to one of the armchairs. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said any of that.”
Bianca used her foot to push a small footstool over toward Scarlet. “Prop your feet on here. I’m going to get you a damp towel for your neck. Put your head back and breath. I’m so sorry.”
“You okay?” Hadley asked, coming over to Scarlet.
“Yes. Just not adjusting to the Texas heat as well as I’d hoped,” Scarlet said, seizing on the weather as an excuse.
“I was going to get her a damp towel,” Bianca said.
“I’ll get it, Bia. You stay here.”
Scarlet closed her eyes and put her head back. She had been so busy thinking about what she should do once thebaby was born she hadn’t even considered the actual birth. Damn. She wasn’t sure she could do it. Frankly, what Bianca had described wasn’t something she wanted to experience...ever.
“I really shouldn’t have said anything. I’m so miserable that I didn’t even think... God, someone gag me. I just can’t stop talking,” Bianca said.
Scarlet had to laugh at that. She reached over to squeeze Bianca’s hand. “It’s okay. I mean I’d rather hear the truth than think it’s going to be some dreamy perfect feeling.”
“Me, too. The first time... Well, Jose wasn’t around, and it was much harder on my own,” Bianca said. She sat down in the chair next to Scarlet.
“I hope you don’t mind but Alec did tell me the reason why,” Scarlet said.