Page 94 of Bailey

A nervous chuckle fell from his mouth. “Oh, right,” he said. “I am.”

“So, no French toast tomorrow?” she asked.

“What do you think I planned for breakfast in the morning?” He leaned down and took a slow breath of the soft, feminine scent of her skin. “You’ve seen enough of my videos to know.” He pressed his lips right underneath her jaw, glad when she leaned into him further.

“I’m sure you have some steaks packed away,” she whispered.

A smile filled Reeves’s whole soul, because he loved having this open door into his private life just for Bailey.

“I’m going to make steak and eggs,” he murmured as he kissed his way along her collarbone and then finally claimed her mouth as his.

Reeves could honestly stand in his driveway and kiss Bailey for the rest of his life. She grounded him in a way no one else ever had, but he minded his manners and pulled away before tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m sure you have to get back to work, wildflower.”

“Yes, eventually,” she murmured.

“I’ll be home just after lunch tomorrow,” he said.

Bailey fiddled with the collar on his jacket. “Are we’re still planning on church on Sunday?”

Reeves heard the trepidation in her voice, and he knew if he said he didn’t want to go, Bailey would immediately back out as well. He hadn’t been to church in quite a while, though he believed in God and felt His presence in his life on a daily basis. He wanted Bailey to be nothing but comfortable and happy, and the more he’d gotten to know her, the more he’d wanted to protect and care for her.

So a large, loud part of him told him to cancel church and claim that he might be too tired after camping with four teenagers and a man he barely knew. At the same time, Reeves felt like it was time for him to get out of his comfort zone, and Bailey probably should too, though that wasn’t his decision to make.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m planning on church on Sunday. I’ve already ironed my shirt, if you can believe that.”

Bailey smiled, but she didn’t giggle the way she had in the past.

“Okay,” she said. “I think I’m going to go shopping with my momma in the morning.”

Reeves had seen her wear dresses all summer long, though she seemed most comfortable in jeans and boots and tank tops. He’d seen her wear plenty of those too as she cultivated her garden, loved on his dogs, and laid in the hammock with him.

She’d decided to adopt Hydrangea, and Reeves had gone with her to the pet store to buy the little Maltese mix a crate, her own personalized food and water bowls, a brand new collar, and a couple of doggy dresses to boot.

Reeves didn’t much care what he did with Bailey, as long as he could be with her, and the shopping trip had been fun. “All right.” He stepped back completely. “I better get going, or Luke’s going to think I stood him up.”

“OJ’s texted me about forty times this morning,” Bailey said as she walked with Reeves to the driver’s side door of his truck.

“Oh, yeah? What’s he saying?”

“He’s giving me a blow-by-blow of packing his bag, and loading up in the car with his mom, and getting dropped off at Luke’s.”

Reeves turned back toward her and smiled. “We’re going to be fine.”

“I know,” Bailey said, but Reeves wasn’t sure if he believed her.

“I’ve checked the weather, and there’s only a twenty percent chance of rain.” He indicated the bed of his truck, though all of his gear sat out of sight. “I brought the canopy and all my rain gear for my camera equipment, so even if it does rain, we’re going to be fine.”

“I’m not worried about the elements,” Bailey said.

Reeves hooked one arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him. “Are you worried about me, wildflower, or the teenagers, or Luke?” He grinned down at her, hoping it came off in a flirty way.

“Well, I’m not worried about you,” she said, pushing against his chest.

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her chastely. “That’s too bad,” he said. “A man likes to be worried about every now and then.”

“All right, go on,” Bailey said, and she put one hand against his chest and pressed gently. “I don’t want OJ mad at me for holding you up.”

Reeves would never throw Bailey under the bus like that, but he tipped his hat at her and got behind the wheel of his truck. She retreated to her SUV, pulled around him, and drove as if she’d enter his garage, then she backed up again and headed down his long driveway. Reeves did the same thing, making a three-point turn and heading out.