Liv nodded in understanding. “Sure. We’ll do the reno, and you can complete it when you’re ready.”
She and Van left, and I walked around again. The condo had simple furnishings in it already since they’d used it as a guest suite, but we’d take those out right away. Maddox told me I could keep anything I wanted, but the idea of picking out my own furniture suddenly appealed. It would be my first real home.
Becca stood beside me, sliding her arm around my waist. “Happy?”
I dropped a kiss on her head. “Yeah, I am.”
“You deserve this, Reid.”
I sighed. “Everyone keeps saying that. I’m trying to come to terms with it.”
She squeezed my hip. “You do. You deserve all good things.”
I gazed down at her. Her blue eyes held me captive and I smiled. “Do I deserve you?”
“Yes. And you have me, Reid.”
I pulled her close, my mouth hovering over hers. “That’s all I need.”
Becca grinned at me across the desk. “Are you excited?”
I shook my head. “I think so.”
She laughed. “Liv is amazing!”
I perused the conceptual drawings of the condo Liv had left me. When she’d arrived earlier, she’d pulled cupboard, counter, paint chip, even floor samples from her large bag. She had limited the choices, though, so it wasn’t as overwhelming as I feared. She’d explained her ideas, and with Becca’s help, guided me toward the items I preferred. All her designs were as she promised. Clean, simple, and modern. She’d even created a built-in set of shelves in the small room where my desk would be to hold my collections. She explained she could reconfigure my steel shelves to fit underneath the new ones for the equipment I kept on hand.
“Form and function, Reid,” she said, showing me a picture. “I have a great desk in storage that would work well. If you want it, it’s yours.”
I liked it. Thick and solid, the metal would suit the room and be sturdy enough I could leave the makeshift one of cinder blocks and wood behind. In fact, I was leaving it all behind me, except my personal things and the one set of shelves I had built. I had given notice, and looked forward to being out of that place as soon as possible.
I grinned at Becca. “I noticed she added furniture to her drawings. Do you think that’s her subtle way of telling me what to look for?”
Becca chuckled. “Maybe. I think it’s simply how she works, but the style does suit you.”
“It does.”
“We’ll go shopping when we return from BC.”
I leaned back in my chair. “You booked some flights?”
“I have dates. I wanted to make sure they’re okay for you.”
I studied her. “Did you talk to your father?”
She met my gaze. “Yes.”
“Did you tell him about me?”
“Yes, Reid, I did.”
“What did you tell him exactly?”
“That you were wonderful and kind. Thoughtful and sweet.” She lowered her voice. “That I loved you and I wanted him to meet you.”
“What else?”
She sighed and pushed away her sandwich. “I told him what you did for a living and how we met. And yes, I told him about your past.”
“And?”
She rubbed her forehead. “He wasn’t pleased, Reid. I didn’t expect him to be. I told you he’s black and white with his views. He said what he thought, I told him why he was wrong, and we agreed to disagree.”
“In other words, he doesn’t approve.”
“In other words,” she countered, “he needs to meet you and make up his mind after that happens. I want you to spend some time with him. Let him get to know you. I’m sure he’ll realize the kind of person you are once he does.”
I contemplated her words. “What if he doesn’t, Becca?”
She shook her head. “That won’t happen. Once he sees how happy you make me, and he talks to you, it will be fine. I know it.”
She desperately wanted to believe her words. I had a feeling it was going to take more than a few days and some conversations to get him to like me. But for her, I was willing to try.
“I’ve never been on a plane before,” I told her, wanting to stop her worry and make her smile. “Another first with you, BB.”
“The list keeps growing.”
I held up my hand and counted. “Yep. My first real crush, first meaningful kiss.” I winked. “You got my virginity, my first trip in a plane, or even staying in a hotel. All of them—yours.”
“Anything else?” She looked into my eyes.
“My love. You are my first and only love, Becca.”
Her smile appeared. The gentle one only I saw. Shy, tremulous, and sweet. She leaned over my desk. “You still say the best things, Reid Matthews.”
I met her halfway with a long kiss.
“All for you, BB. All for you.”
I found the airport fascinating. I wandered around, looking at the monitors and systems, marveling at the scope of it all. The flight was long and uneventful—though the take-off was unlike anything I had ever experienced before now. Becca napped while I did some work on my computer, and we watched a movie together to pass the time.
After we landed, I turned to her. “I preferred the take-off to landing.”
She smirked. It was sexy and cute on her.
“I know.”
“You too?”
“Yes, but the death grip on my hand was sort of the indicator.”
Looking down I realized how tight I was holding her palm, and I released it with a quick kiss to her knuckles.
I had arranged a rental car for us. I didn’t know how to drive, but Becca did, and it would make it easier to get around. Luckily, the hotel was quiet and our room was ready. I made sure to book a nice suite with a sitting area and a big tub in the bathroom for her. She enjoyed soaking in the tub and I hoped she would be able to relax while we were there.
I stored away my clothes and stood on the small balcony of our suite, looking at the pretty city. The air was warm and filled with the scent of the many flowering trees around the hotel. I inhaled deeply as my nerves began to tighten. Becca wanted to go see her father this afternoon, and I was beginning to get anxious about meeting him. Richard had called and told me to make sure to stand up to him and not to take any of his bullshit.
“He’s a hard man until he accepts you,” he cautioned me. “Very protective of Becca. We certainly had a rough start, even though we get along fine now. I’m sure you’ll be okay, but if you need backup, give me a call.”
Becca’s arms wrapped around my waist, and she hugged me tightly. “Did you want to stay here while I go see my dad?”
I reached behind me and pulled her to my side. “No. I came to meet him, so I will.”
She smiled, although I saw the tension in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, BB. You said he was a big sports fan. We can talk football or baseball. We’ll find our common ground.”
“He’s blunt.”
Thinking of Rodney, I smiled. “I’m okay with blunt.”
She sighed. “I warned him to be nice. I told him how much you meant to me. Sometimes, he, well, he says rude things.”