Page 91 of Bear
“No, I’m fine.” I looked at his strong profile while he was driving and wondered how the hell did fine men flock together the way they did. Titan and Bear being friends was like a lightning strike twice in the same place. They were absolutely gorgeous.
Titan was like another version of Bear only he wasn’t so intense that he scared me. Even though I loved Bear with all my heart, sometimes I caught a chill just staring into his eyes knowing all the secrets he held. I didn’t get that with Titan. With him, I felt the annoying need to pick him apart and find out more about him since he was so quiet.
“So, how did you and Ivy meet?” I asked, finding some way to fill the silence. He chuckled a little and shook his head.
“I don’t think you’re ready for our story, Cecily. No offense. It’s not for everyone. It’s sweet though…at least to me.”
“I want to hear it,” I said, poking my bottom lip out. He tossed me a look then sighed. I knew that sigh. Bear did the same thing right before he gave in to me.
I sat beside Titan on the long drive to Sugar Bayou and listened to him spin me a tale sweeter than honey and sugar about how he fell in love with the one girl he should have stayed away from. By the end of it, I was transfixed. I never wanted the damn story to end but we pulled up in front of his huge house and the time for beautiful fairytales ended.
“So you don’t think I’m twisted?” Titan asked with a chuckle as he got out and stretched his long legs.
“No, I don’t. We can’t help who we fall in love with. Hell, Bear was like my big brother for as long as I can remember and now…” I shrugged my shoulders and tried to ignore the way my body begged for Bear’s touch.
“Now you’re busy calling him daddy?” Titan lifted an eyebrow and I laughed loudly, shoving him forward.
“Shut the hell up.”
We walked up to the huge plantation-style porch and I soaked it all in like I was touring a museum. It was truly beautiful. It felt like we’d slipped away to another world entirely. The smell of cookies and honey hit my nose immediately when we walked in. Next to hit my senses was the sound of a screaming baby.
“Titan, a little help here,” A soft voice called from somewhere else in the house.
“And just like that, I’m right back in the role of daddy and husband.” He didn’t seem to mind. He walked into the kitchen and took Sarah from his wife’s arms and she quieted down momentarily.
“She’s tired and she needs a nap but I really need to go scout this bakery space. I have an appointment. I wanted you to go with me but I know you’re busy. If I take Sarah she’ll fall asleep on the drive but I’ll have to wake her up again and we start all this cranky shit all over again. She’s driving me nuts.” Once she finally took a breath and pushed tendrils of curly brown hair from her forehead, she looked at me. “I’m so sorry. You must be Cecily.” She held out her hand and I shook it.
“Hi, you must be Ivy.”
“Yeah. I’m a little swamped and frustrated.”
“It’s okay. I understand. It’s nice to meet you.” I was nearly star struck after hearing her and Titan’s love story.
“It’s nice to meet you too. You’re so pretty, oh my goodness. I see why Bear is head over heels.” She hugged me then looked at Titan.
“Let me see what I can do. When is your appointment to see the bakery?” He asked as if he could read her mind.
“I have to be there in thirty minutes.” She looked at her watch then at Titan. He reached out a strong hand and rubbed her belly. I didn’t notice she was pregnant until he did that.
“Don’t stress,” he told her. “Let me talk to Cecily for a minute.” He walked with me down the hall while Sarah stared at me like she wanted all my attention. I wanted to give it to her too. She had the most gorgeous olive green eyes that I couldn’t stop staring at and I wanted to munch on her chubby cheeks.
“What’s up, Titan?” I quizzed once we were alone.
“You mind watching Sarah for a few hours while I go with Ivy to scout this location for her new store?”
My throat thickened and the room seemed to close in around me. I toyed with the ends of my hair and tried not to seem like a complete basket case.
“Um…me? Can’t I ride with you guys and make sure she stays asleep in the car or something?”
“It would be easier if you could hang out here while she takes a nap. We’re trying to get her back to a normal sleep schedule and I know Ivy doesn’t want to mess it up.”
My mind went straight to the last night I watched someone else’s child and the horrible way it ended. I wasn’t the right person to watch kids anymore.
“Titan, I’d love to help but I can’t.” I shook my head vehemently and tried not to look at Sarah.
“Bear told me how great you are with kids.”
“Once upon a time but after what happened while I was babysitting Kaiden…” I shook my head thinking about him and my stomach lurched.
