Add Romance and Mix Read online

  “I’m trying to think. You can replace everything I had you throw out from the fridge, and Griffin has been eating some snacks I don’t have at the house and I didn’t expect Evan back for a few weeks.”

  Briley pulled up the note app on her phone. “Name off what you want and I’ll pick it up, plus the staples.” Leah was hesitant, then started naming things. Applesauce, peach cups, fruit leather, cheerios, and a few things for Evan. “This might sound stupid, but you don’t need diapers? Stuff like that.”

  Leah laughed. “I have plenty of diapers for now. When I get home, I’ll have to stock up, but we’re good on that front for now. I hope to have her potty-trained in the next six months.”

  Briley traced her fingers over the wood on the bench. “It’ll be like I’m your own personal delivery person. At your service twenty-four-seven.”

  “At my service, huh? I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too. You’ll be back in a few days and I’ll be waiting for you.”

  “It’s not going to be the same. I thought we had a few more weeks of it just being us and then Evan, but now there’s Griffin.”

  “We can make this work. Please don’t give up on us yet. Let’s at least give this a try. I think we owe that to ourselves. I can even take Griffin to work with me if need be. I’m sure I can find a miniature hardhat somewhere.” She’d start looking as soon as she got home.

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Love me,” Briley blurted out, then cringed.

  “Yes, I think I will.”

  It felt like all the air had been sucked out of her chest. Did Leah just say that? “A-awesome.”

  Leah laughed. “I have a few more minutes. Tell me what you and Kat have been up to.”

  Briley went on to recap their day thus far. “I’m really proud of Kat and what she’s building. I think she’s going to do well.”

  “I do as well. She’s got a clear head on her shoulders and with you by her side, how can she fail?”

  “Truer words have never been spoken.”

  “I can’t wait until I get home to ravish you. I got so used to your kisses, I took our time alone for granted. That won’t happen again,” Leah said.

  Briley felt like she was melting. “We all do that. The first opportunity we get, I’m going to rip off all your clothes. Well, maybe not rip off, but slowly remove, and lick you from head to toe.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  “Me too, tiny. Me too.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  The radio blaring out at them filled the ride to Marketplace the following Saturday as Briley pulled into the semi-full parking lot. She held up her fist and Kat bumped it. “Let’s do this.” Thankfully, the service area was empty of other customers.

  “Can I help you?” the man behind the counter, whose nametag read Dave, asked.

  “I need to pick up my order, Dave,” Kat said.

  “I’ll need your ID.” Kat dug in her purse for her wallet and handed over her driver’s license. “Thank you.” Dave handed it back. “If you’ll wait, I’ll go get someone to bring it out to you. The bed is in large boxes.”

  “I have a truck.” Briley flopped down beside Kat on one of the three chairs situated across from the counter.

  “This is exciting. Everything is coming together,” Kat said.

  “I know and it’s a good thing your guest room is finished. That way we can put everything in there. The contractors told me they would be done with the master bath and kitchen by next Friday. So, barring any disasters, you should be able to move in next weekend.”

  “Thanks, Bri, for all your help. You’ve made this whole experience a smooth one.”

  “You’re welcome.” A moment later, her phone rang. “Hello.”

  “Briley, we just got home.”

  Briley glanced at her watch. It was almost eleven-thirty. “You made good time.”

  “They both slept most of the way. I may just take you up on that offer of a nap.”

  “I aim to please.”

  “That you do and you’re good at it.” Briley could hear the smile in Leah’s voice. “It’s good to be home.”

  “I bet. Oh, they’re bringing Kat’s stuff out now, then we’re stopping by the store. I’ll see you in forty minutes or so.”

  “We’ll be here.”

  Briley slipped her phone in her pocket and accepted the clipboard, comparing the items on it to the items on the long cart. Everything checked out. She handed the clipboard to Kat, who signed it and handed it back.

  “We’ll follow you,” one of the workers said.

  It only took a few minutes to load everything. Halfway home, Briley pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. While Kat hunted down the items on her list, Briley headed back to the deli counter. “Good afternoon, Alice.”

  “Briley, how are you?”

  “Good. Can I get five chocolate chip cookies and,” she clicked her tongue, “five peanut butter cookies.” She hadn’t baked in the last few days and she wanted a few treats to take with her.

  “Sure.”

  After Briley had her cookies in hand, she went in search of Kat. She had just passed an aisle when she did a double take. Garriety was home to an excellent minor league baseball team, The Meerkats. The team was aptly named after the world-renowned meerkat exhibit that the Garriety Zoo housed. A few of the players had set up a large table at the front of the store, selling jerseys and other odds and ends. How had she missed that when they first came in?

  Briley gnawed her lip in thought, then headed toward the table. A smile ghosted her face when she took in the small jerseys. Surely, Leah wouldn’t get mad.

  “Briley, I know you have a couple of jerseys, but I will not be opposed to you buying another one,” Kevin said. He was the Meerkats’ shortstop.

  “Not for me, no. I may need help though. I need four. An adult small, two larges, and I need one for an average sized two-year-old.” Kevin handed over the adult sizes and his wife, Brenda, held up the other one. Briley almost swooned at the small size. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” Brenda said.

  “They are gifts. I’m confident the adult sizes are correct but if the small one is wrong, I can exchange it, right?”

  Kevin nodded. “If you have your receipt. Oh,” he said, and grabbed something under the table. “We have new hats and new stuffed mascots.” He grinned and held up the hat and a stuffed meerkat with a jersey on.

  The black hat sported a smiling meerkat logo and bright red piping along the edge. But the stuffed animal was the cutest thing she’d ever seen. “I’ll take two mascots as long as they’re safe for kids and I’ll buy four hats if the players that are here sign one of the hats.”

  “You got it. We’re doing a signing next Saturday.” He passed the hat to the next player. “You’ll be able to get the rest of our signatures then.”

  “Will do.”

  “There you are,” Kat said, stopping the cart beside Briley. She glanced at the jerseys and chuckled. “Getting them started young.”

  “Of course. Us Meerkats have to stick together.”

  “Damn straight,” Kevin said, and high fived her. “Brenda, throw a few of those posters and some coupons in the bag for Briley.”

  “Already done.”

  Briley signed the receipt and accepted her credit card back and her bag. “Thanks, guys.”

  “Briley, have a good day.”

  “You, too.” Briley handed the bag and her keys to Kat, then took possession of the cart. “I’ll pay for this and you can head to the truck.”

  For once, Kat didn’t argue. “All right.”

  Briley breezed through the line and was out the door faster than she expected. After depositing her bags in the truck, she handed off her cart to an older gentleman. Briley sighed when she sat down and slipped her seat belt on.

  “Don’t get tired now. We’re just getting started,” Kat said. “Are one of these jerseys mine?”

 
Briley kept her eyes on the road. “Yes.”

  “Really?”

  “Why do you act so surprised? You’re one of us now.”

  At the stoplight, Briley turned to Kat and voiced what had been on her mind for the past few days. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Kat.”

  “Nobody does, and if they say they do, they’re lying. Ashley has a kid.”

  “She didn’t adopt her until she was six.”

  “Close enough.”

  It wasn’t but she would roll with it. Twenty minutes later, she pulled into her driveway, turned the truck off, then stared at the house. When Kat tapped her on the shoulder, she looked towards Leah’s house, where Leah stood with her arms crossed, staring at them.

  “Briley.”

  She turned to Kat and swallowed. “I don’t…” She shook her head.

  “It’s okay. She’s waiting for you. You want this, don’t you?”

  Briley took a deep breath. “Yes. More than anything.” She knew she told Leah she was ready for this, and she was, but it was still scary.

  “Let’s go.” They both stepped out of the truck at the same time. Briley grabbed the jersey bag and a few of the grocery bags and Kat grabbed the rest. Kat was the first one on the porch, with Briley not far behind. Leah held the door open for them. As soon as she walked through the door, the change was evident. Griffin was asleep on a blanket on the floor and Evan was standing in the kitchen. They both set their bags on the kitchen table.

  “I’m Kat.” Kat held her hand out to Evan. “Briley’s sister.”

  Evan accepted her hand. “Good to meet you.”

  “You, too. I bought the house across the street and need to unload the truck. Why don’t you help me and we can give them some time alone?”

  “Kat,” Briley said. “That’s not necessary.”

  “It’s all right, Briley.” Evan drew her into a hug that was so quick, she didn’t even have time to be shocked. “I’ll help Kat.”

  “Oh, okay.” Briley ran her fingers through her hair.

  Briley watched them until the front door closed behind them, then took her first look at Leah. There lay a heaviness that wasn’t there before and she looked dead on her feet. Briley tucked a stray piece of hair behind Leah’s ear. “Hello, tiny.”

  Leah clung to her and rested her head on Briley’s shoulder. After a few minutes, Leah kissed Briley on the neck, then raised her eyes to meet hers. “You are a sight for sore eyes. I look a mess.”

  “You don’t.” Briley rested her clasped hands at the small of Leah’s back. She looked like she’d lost some weight. Weight that she didn’t need to lose. She was already so skinny. “You will always be beautiful to me.” Briley kissed Leah’s forehead then held her tighter.

  “It’s been a long couple of weeks,” Leah whispered.

  “You’re home now, and you have me.”

  Leah nuzzled her nose in Briley’s neck. “I hope you know how much I appreciate you.”

  “Well, you might change your mind when you see what I bought,” Briley said, trying to lighten the mood.

  Leah pulled back enough to look Briley in the eyes. “What did you do?” She arched her brow.

  “Nothing bad, I assure you. I know you and Evan have been here for over a year, but I never saw you wear a jersey and I had to take care of that.”

  “Jersey?”

  Briley squeezed Leah, then leaned forward, drawing Leah into a kiss. “What you do to me.” Leah closed her eyes and smiled as Briley ran her fingers along her jaw, snapping her eyes open when Briley stepped away from her, and watched as Briley grabbed ahold of the bag on the table. “Are you aware that Garriety has a minor-league baseball team?”

  “I was not.”

  “I figured. While we were at the grocery store, the team had a table set up, selling merchandise. I picked up something for you and your kids. Because, frankly, if we’re going to continue dating, I have to know you’re a supporter. I probably should have mentioned that before now.”

  Leah crossed her arms and tilted her head. “You expect me to wear the jersey?”

  “Yes.” Briley looked offended. “We have to support our team. Now,” she clutched the bag in her hands. “We are sometimes made fun of because of our mascot, but the team is damn good.”

  “Oh, God.” Leah planted her hands on her hips, but a smile played on her lips. “How bad is it?”

  Briley looked properly offended. “Not bad at all. I find the mascot adorable. Seriously.” She whipped a hat out and slipped it on her head. “Who doesn’t like meerkats?” She grinned at Leah, who had a blank look on her face.

  “A meerkat?” A smile blossomed on Leah’s face.

  “Not a meerkat. The Meerkats.” Briley pointed at the hat and winked at her. “Now.” She pulled out a poster. “They gave me a few posters for buying so much. I don’t know if Evan likes baseball, but they are having a signing next Saturday. I’m going and if he wants to get his poster or something else signed, he can come with me. The whole team will be there. It’s like a mini festival.” She fumbled in the bag. “Of course, Griffin and you and Kat can also come.” She handed Leah a poster, then set the bag on the table and pulled out the two adult jerseys.

  As soon as Briley faced Leah, she felt a pair of warm lips settle on hers. Surprise quickly turned into desire. Briley clutched the jerseys in one hand and slipped her other arm around Leah, who deepened the kiss. “Wow.” Briley licked her lips as Leah took a step backward. “What was that for?”

  “For being you.” She pecked her lips again. “Now what else do you have?”

  “Okay,” Briley said, still a tad dazed, and handed over one jersey to Leah, setting the other one by Evan’s poster. Leah held the jersey up to her chest. “You are going to look awesome.” Leah laughed and pulled the jersey on over her t-shirt and Briley felt herself falling just a little more. This woman amazed her. Briley snapped a quick picture. “Yep. Awesome.” She clapped her hands and pulled a hat out of the bag. “I got Evan a jersey and a hat. I hope the jersey is the right size. Oh, you get a hat also.”

  Leah lifted Evan’s jersey up. “It is. Briley, you didn’t have to do this.”

  Briley nibbled on her bottom lip. “Well, there’s more.”

  “More?”

  Briley nodded and reached into the bag with both her hands. “Are you ready? I’m not sure you’re ready for this, because I wasn’t. Ready?” Leah nodded and Briley pulled the small jersey out and held it against her chest. Leah reached out and ran her fingers along the logo. “Cool, huh? If it doesn’t fit, they’re still going to be at the store tomorrow, I can exchange it.”

  “It’s perfect.”

  Briley smiled and handed it over, then reached into the bag one last time. “I was assured this was safe for kids. If you thought the jersey was cute, wait until you see this.” She pulled out the stuffed meerkat in a flourish. “Have you seen anything cuter? I haven’t. If Griffin likes it, the zoo has an amazing meerkat exhibit. We could take her, and Evan, of course.”

  “You’re amazing, darling.” Leah took the toy and jersey out of Briley’s hands, laid them on the table, then slipped her arms around Briley’s neck, playing with her hair. “We haven’t been together that long. Most people would have cut and run. I’m glad you’re not. I want you to stay. I like what we have, and I want to explore it more. Us. Explore us. Before, I had a grown daughter and an almost grown son; now I have Griffin. This isn’t what you signed up for.”

  Briley tugged her closer. “I signed up for you and everything that comes with that. You’re not giving yourself enough credit. Put simply, you’re amazing and anyone would be lucky to have you. I know I am and I don’t plan on taking that for granted. Will it be easy? No, but I don’t expect it to. I didn’t buy any of this to get in your good graces.” Leah placed her finger over Briley’s lips.

  “I know, and that’s what makes it so special.” She sighed and played with the hair at the nape of Briley’s neck.

  “Okay then
.” Briley glanced to where Griffin lay asleep, then at the door, before whispering in Leah’s ear. “We don’t have enough time to fool around, do we?”

  Leah shook her head. “That’s a dangerous thing to say, darling.”

  “I can be quick.”

  “Not that quick. We should be able to carve out some time just the two of us this week.”

  “Since Evan knows about us, I’m not opposed to sleepovers.”

  “That is also noted.” Leah rested her forehead on Briley’s chest. “You make it sound so simple.”

  Briley tightened her arms around Leah. “No, it’s not, but what is, is our plan going forward. I just know what I feel for you and I don’t want to run or hide from it. But, I will follow your lead. You sell yourself short. You make me feel, Leah. So much.”

  “You make me feel, too. Don’t doubt that.”

  “I won’t and if we don’t get a lot of alone time in the next few weeks, well, I am a champion cuddler.” She rested Leah’s forehead. “I am not opposed to more strenuous activities either. I’m quite creative.”

  “Briley, I hope your wooing doesn’t include having sex with me in your truck.” She looked appalled.

  “It’s a nice truck. I could throw some blankets in the back, drive you out to some rural road, and we could look up at the stars. Plenty of pillows and snacks. Just you, me, and the night sky.”

  “That actually sounds romantic.”

  “Right. We’ve got this. We do.”

  “Are you scared?”

  “Yes, and that’s okay.”

  Leah leaned up and kissed her again. “We should probably check on Kat and Evan. He’s been quiet all day.”

  Briley didn’t mind the change in subject. In fact, she was grateful for it. She ran her hands down Leah’s arms when she took a step back and picked up one of Leah’s hands and kissed the palm. “It’s not a bad thing if they’re talking.” She pulled Leah by the hand into the living room and stopped beside Griffin, who was dressed in a pair of pajamas that had bear cubs all over them. She was a gorgeous baby. “How long has she been asleep?”

  “About ten minutes before you got here. You don’t have to whisper. I found out she’s a heavy sleeper.”