The Bachelor's Little Bonus (Proposals & Promises 3)

Chapter Five

The pale winter sunlight just seeped around the edges of the window curtains when Stevie woke Sunday morning. She turned her head to find Cole still sleeping beside her. Had he lain awake awhile after she’d fallen asleep? She certainly hadn’t intended to cut their second night short that way. She was just relieved she’d made it through to the end of the show.

She slid carefully from the bed and padded into the bathroom, silently closing the door behind her. Fortunately there was no nausea this morning, so she felt much more herself when she emerged a few minutes later. She tiptoed back into the room, but it turned out not to be necessary. Cole was awake, propped against the pillows with his hands behind his head, watching her as she stepped into the room.

Smoothing her palms down the front of her red-flowered purple gown, she smiled at him. “Hey.”

“Hey. Feeling better?” His voice was a deep, sleep-roughened rumble in the quiet room. Her throat closed in response.

He’d been so sweet last night when she’d been ill, taking care of her without hesitation. He had a lot of experience as a caregiver, of course—but she wasn’t accustomed to being the one on the receiving end. She felt a sudden need to assure him that she really was fully recovered.

“I feel great this morning,” she said as she approached the bed.

“The color’s back in your cheeks and your eyes are bright again.” He nodded in satisfaction as he studied her face. “You looked wrung out last night.”

“Here’s a hint, Cole.” She sat on the bed beside him and leaned over him, her hands on his chest. “Don’t mention that your new bride looked sickly on her honeymoon.”

He chuckled and ran his hands up her arms. “Sorry. If it makes any difference, I still had trouble keeping my hands to myself when I helped you into this nightgown.”

“Yes, that’s much better,” she assured him, giving in to an impulse to run a hand through his thick tousled hair. “Did I mention I’m perfectly fine now?”

With a grin, he tugged her into his arms. “I’m happy to hear that. For several reasons.”

Her laughter was smothered by his hungry kiss.

* * *

Holding a bag in one hand, Stevie looked around the hotel room as they prepared to depart later that morning, her gaze lingering for a moment on the big bed. She found herself suddenly reluctant to leave this private retreat. Reality waited outside this door—the tasks of informing all their friends and families of their marriage and dealing with the reaction, figuring out how to combine their households, learning to live together, coordinating schedules in preparation for the baby’s arrival...

She took a deep breath and stopped listing the tasks before she became completely overwhelmed. One step at a time, Stevie.

Cole stepped up behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Ready to go?”

“No.”

His fingers tightened reassuringly for a moment. “It will be fine.”

She smiled faintly up at him. “I know. But it’s been nice here.”

He leaned his head down to brush a kiss over her lips. “I’d like to stay longer, too,” he admitted when he stepped back. “Unfortunately...”

“The honeymoon is over,” she finished, turning toward the door.

Cole gave a little grimace. “Maybe I wouldn’t have phrased it quite that way,” he murmured as he opened the door to the hallway.

Giving him a look of wry apology, she preceded him out of the room.

“Is there anything

else you want to do before we head out of town?” he asked after a leisurely breakfast.

“Yes.”

“More shopping? Another show?”

She smiled. “Let’s just say it will involve a wager.”

She noted that he looked both intrigued and a little wary in response, which made her laugh.