My eyebrows hit my forehead. “Really?”
“Sure.” He shrugs causally. “Why not?”
“And what will we do with this place?”
“What do you want to do with this place?”
I grin, biting my bottom lip. He knows what I want. “How about we stick to the original plan. Open it up to guests. We have our own home separate from the resort, and I can help out here when needed.”
“As in, you can work at the club? No. Not a good idea. There’d be too many bodies to get rid of, and I just don’t have the time for that.”
I can’t help but laugh. I know he thinks I’ll get hit on left and right, and he’d have to take guys out, but I also think he’s letting his mind wander to the worst-case scenarios.
“I don’t want to work at the club. I want to manage the waitstaff and help the girls. I’ve actually been thinking about it and I have a plan.”
Cal walks into the nursery and takes a seat in the rocking chair. For a brief moment, I see it. Him holding a baby and being a daddy. It’s a beautiful picture painted in my mind that will someday be a reality.
Cal blows out an exaggerated exhale. “All right, tell me this plan of yours.”
I walk over and take a seat on the floor in front of him with my legs crossed. “First, I want to give them raises. Not much, but something to show they’re appreciated. Second, we place a waitstaff manager at each location and they work with the staff on what hours they are able to work. No more eighty-hour work weeks. New work attire that they are comfortable wearing. The managers can check in with me weekly, and we can reevaluate things as needed.”
“That’s it?”
“I think so. For now, anyways.”
“Done,” Cal deadpans.
“Really?”
He leans forward in the chair, forearms resting on his legs. “Yeah. Welcome to the Blake Hotels and Resorts team.”
I laugh. “You’re serious? You’re okay with me taking the lead with the waitstaff, without even knowing my credentials?”
“I’m serious. Whatever makes you happy, babe. I’m here to please.” Cal pulls my hand until I’m on his lap in the chair. “Now, enough about work. Let’s discuss our new home. If we open the resort, our private property will be gated. I’m thinking four or five bedrooms, three baths. And I happen to know an interior designer who will do a stellar job with the inside.” He smirks, referring to me.
My eyes light up with excitement. “I get to design the inside?”
“Well, yeah. It’s your house.”
Part of me still feels guilty for changing all the plans we made. “You’re sure this is okay? We can sit on it for a while before jumping in.”
“I don’t sit on things. It’s settled. We’re building a house and opening the Cori Cove resort to the public.” He bops my nose before kissing me softly.
My arms envelop his neck in a hug. “How did I get so lucky?”
“Luck has nothing to do with it. It was always fate.”
Cal ended up bringing breakfast to bed. An entire tray of carbs—bagels, muffins, croissants, donuts. He’s currently in the shower while I go over an employee list for all the clubs at each resort. I don’t see Cherry’s name anywhere on the list, and I assume it’s because that's not her real name. After a bit of research, I find out that her legal name is Sara Hopkins.
I’m excited to start making the changes necessary to keep the waitstaff happy. I’m even more excited to start looking at designs and layouts for our new house. Cal insists that it will be move-in ready by summer, but unless he has round-the-clock workers, I don’t see how that will happen. I’m leaving all the construction to him while I stick to countertops and paint colors.
On top of a new house and managing staff, I’ve also got a wedding to plan. Life is going to be busy as hell, but in the best way possible.
I take another bite of my blueberry muffin, dropping crumbs on the open folder on my lap. I sweep them away and chew my food, but my stomach begins to unsettle. Suddenly, blueberries don't taste so good. In a knee-jerk reaction, I shove the folder off me, the papers scattering on the bed. I jump up and haul ass to the bathroom. Cal is in the shower and steam fills the room. Ignoring him peeking out the side of the shower curtain, I drop to my knees in front of the toilet.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks, right before I throw up.
All of my breakfast comes out in one hurl.
“Shit, babe. You okay?”
I didn't even notice when he got out of the shower. He’s standing behind me, dripping wet and rubbing my back while the shower still runs. “Maybe we should’ve stuck to omelets.”
I smile through the nausea. “Maybe.” Grabbing a hand towel off the vanity beside me, I wipe my mouth and clench it in my hand, still feeling like my stomach needs to be emptied even more.
I sit down on the bathroom floor, feeling the water from Cal’s wet body soak through my pajama pants. “I’m okay,” I finally say to him.
“I’ll get you some water.” He goes to leave, but I grab his ankle. “It’s okay. I’m good. Promise.”
I flush the toilet and get off the floor.
“All right. Why don’t you get in the shower with me? It might make you feel better.”
I nod. That sounds nice. “Let me brush my teeth real quick and I’ll join you.”
Sliding the curtain back open, Cal gets in the shower as I grab my toothbrush and slop on some toothpaste.
It’s so strange. I felt awful, and now it’s like I was never sick. It had to have been the muffin.
Peeling my clothes off, layer by layer drops to the floor. I poke my head in the opening of the shower curtain, watching Cal as he suds up his body. God, he’s so sexy, and he’s all mine.
Just watching him sends my body into a frenzy of need. Tingles shoot down my chest, going straight to my sex.
I went from vomiting to wanting to fuck in less than five minutes. My hormones must really be out of whack.
Hormones. That’s what Cal said I was taking in place of birth control a couple months ago. I didn’t even think of that. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling so strange lately.
I jerk the curtain closed when the possibility of being pregnant hits me full force.
No. I can’t be.
Sure, Cal and I spent an entire week at a hotel doing nothing but reacquainting ourselves with each other's bodies, but we’ve only just reunited. It’s too soon.
Cal pops his head out, the black tips of his hair glistening from the water. He’s got a little scruff on his face from not shaving for a few days and he looks hot as hell. “Are you coming or what?”
I pull open the curtain the rest of the way and get inside. Cal wastes no time pulling my body against his. “Feeling better?”
I look up at him, blinking away the drops of water coating my lashes. “Oddly, yes.”
“Hmm. Hopefully it’s not a stomach bug.”
I could tell him that there’s a possibility I’m pregnant, or, I can waive suspicion and take a test before I even mention anything. I’m sure I’m just overthinking this. I threw up one time and my period isn’t even that late. I’m not even exactly sure what day I should have started, but I’m almost positive it was only a couple days.