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

“Is that okay with you?”

She didn’t know whether to sigh or wince in response to his hesitation. “Of course it’s okay with me. I think it’s adorable.”

“Then I’ll get it. A souvenir of our honeymoon for the kid.”

She chewed her lower lip as she watched him pay for the toy. Had she overreacted about the bassinet yesterday? Or had she merely shown that her independence hadn’t changed simply because she now wore Cole’s ring on her left hand?

Transaction complete, Cole turned to her. “Ready to head home?”

Forcing a smile, she nodded. “I guess it’s time.”

They shared a long look before moving in unison toward the exit. Stevie wondered if Cole had been able to read the emotions in her eyes better than she’d been able to decipher his. Probably. She seemed to be an open book to him, while she saw only what he chose to reveal to her.

She figured she had years ahead of her to figure him out. It might just take that long.

* * *

They were halfway back to Little Rock when Cole cleared his throat to catch Stevie’s attention. She’d been gazing out the side window at the winter-bleak scenery, but barely paying attention to the landmarks. She knew she’d been uncharacteristically quiet, her thoughts focused on the busy and complicated days ahead of them.

“Stevie?”

She glanced around at him when he spoke. “Yes?”

“We’ll be passing my dad’s place in another twenty minutes or so. Would you mind if we stop and say hello? Might as well get this introduction over with. We won’t stay long.”

She noted that he didn’t look particularly enthusiastic about the prospect. “You want me to meet your father? Now?”

He shrugged. “Now’s as good a time as any, since we’ll be passing by, anyway.”

“Should you call and make sure he’s home?”

“He’s home.”

“Should you at least let him know we’re coming?”

“No need. He and I don’t stand on formalities.”

She almost sighed at how little information he was offering, even though he was the one who’d made this suggestion. “Is there anything more I should know before I meet him?”

Cole shrugged. “I don’t expect you to like him very much. Though I guess if anyone could charm Jim McKellar, it would be you.”

It didn’t reassure her that he sounded less than optimistic.

The house was a modest buff brick bi-level half a mile off the highway outside of Conway. A chain-link fence surrounded the closely cropped, but sparsely landscaped yard. Outside the fence was a large graveled lot filled almost to capacity with vehicles of many makes, models and vintages waiting to be serviced in one of the three metal garages, each with three service bays, lining the lot. Only one of the bay doors was open. A sign over a regular-sized door at one end of the nearest building read McKellar Auto

Service and beneath that, in smaller letters, Office.

Stevie saw no activity around the business, which was no surprise at almost five p.m. on a Sunday. She expected Cole to park close to the house. Instead, he pulled into an empty parking space in front of the office.

“That door’s up,” he explained when he saw her looking at him in question. “That means he’s working. He’s out here seven days a week unless something unusual comes up. Precisely at five thirty he goes in the house to wash up for dinner, which he eats while he watches the six o’clock newscasts.”

“A man of habit,” she commented.

“Very much so.”

“It looks as though he’s quite successful with his business.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s damned good at what he does. There’s not an engine he can’t tear down and rebuild given the right equipment, and he’s invested wisely in that.”