Page 89 of The Bargain

“No actually, quite the contrary. It was the best kiss; it made me feel loved.”

“That’s because you are loved.”

My stomach flipped. How was I even supposed to protect myself from him? I’ve never stood a chance.

Sighing, I took a step back. “I’ll go get us ready. I’ll see you later.”

“Just a minute.” He walked into the bedroom and retrieved a little square box. I opened it to find a pair of lips.

“This is a charm for our first real kiss, the first one that matters.”

I gave him a small smile, extending my wrist to him. “Help me?”

He took off my bracelet and kissed my wrist before putting the charm on.

“How many of them did you get?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out, Ms. Collins.”

I shook my head with a small smile. “Fine, keep your secret. I will see you in a bit.”

“I can’t wait,” he replied with a cheeky grin that looked amazing on him.

After setting Timmy down in his playpen, I took a quick shower. Once dry, I let my hair flow down my back and got dressed in the white dress covered with cherries that I knew Dean loved.

Then I got Timmy ready for the day, dressing him in the cutest little birthday outfit, a three-piece navy short set with braces and a bow. I tried styling his hair like Dean.

It was strange how he looked just like Dean like this; they could be father and son.

My heart squeezed at the memory of them in the bathroom this morning, as well as all the other times I’ve seen them together. Dean obviously loved Timmy immensely and, despite only being one, it was clear that Timmy already adored Dean too.

We’d planned a brunch in the sunroom today with close friends and family. Dean hadn’t been overly happy when I’d wanted to invite Jeremy. I wouldn’t ever tell him, but I found his jealousy endearing. It showed me how worried he was about losing me, and that made me feel cherished.

“How about we go see if your birthday party is ready? What do you say, sweet boy?”

“Gah!”

I pulled him up from his playpen and settled him on my hip. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The sunroom was beautiful with a sea and duck decor. A wooden high chair had been set at the head of the table with a one-shaped balloon attached to its back.

“Isn’t that beautiful?” I asked, swirling around looking. I stopped, my attention caught by the gift table, which was already piled with gifts.

“What’s all this?”

Mrs. James laughed. “Presents from the staff. We’re just so happy to have you and Timothy here. You are breathing a new life into this house, the two of you.”

I looked down at Timmy and kissed his nose. “He’s one of a kind.”

“And so are you, Miss Collins, so are you,” she added as she arranged the little plastic ducks on the table.

I wasn’t sure if we were supposed to keep on feeding Timmy’s obsession with ducks. But when I’d voiced this concern to Dean, he had waved his hand.

‘Of course, we should! It makes him happy and who knows, our boy might end up as the world’s most famous avian vet. Then he’ll have us to thank,’ he’d replied with a scoff.

Our boy.If only he knew how much I loved it when he called Timmy that.

“Miss? Your guests are coming,” the butler announced.

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