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

Stevie kept her house impeccably neat. When he’d first met her, he’d have assumed she lived in cheery chaos. His own housekeeping skills were limited to keeping things mostly in their place and wielding a mop once a week or so, but he made sure not to make a mess here. Not that Stevie would have minded. As tidy as she was, she made her home a comfortable, welcoming place, and she didn’t seem bothered by Dusty’s toys that popped up all over the house, or the occasional scattered kibble or rare, but inevitable, hairballs. She wouldn’t fret about kid’s toys spread across the living room floor, either, he thought, picturing just that as he moved through the living room toward the bedroom.

He was freshly showered and dressed in a T-shirt and pajama pants when she arrived an hour later. She hung up her coat. “Sorry I’m so late. The meeting ran over. How was your evening?”

“Not bad. Sparred a couple of times. Won the second time. Got my butt handed to me in the first bout.”

She laughed and moved to pat his cheek. “Someone beat up my hubby? Should I be incensed?”

Catching her hand, he leaned his head down to kiss her lingeringly. “I’ll recover,” he said when he released her.

Her cheeks looking a little flushed now, she cleared her throat. “Glad to hear it. Do you ever have spectators at monthly sparring things? I’d like to watch you sometime.”

“Occasionally someone tags along, but we’re not really performing for an audience. Just trying to stay in shape.”

“Still. I’d like to see you being all manly and sexy.”

He laughed in response to the teasing phrase she’d used before. “As long as you don’t call me a ‘cutie’ in front of my opponents,” he said, remembering the addition she’d tacked on last time.

Giggling, she moved toward the bedroom, looking over her shoulder. “I’m sure they’re already aware of that.”

He lasted all of a full second before he gave in to that beckoning look and followed her.

Chapter Seven

Along with Jenny and Gavin, Stevie and Cole were invited to a Sunday potluck lunch in the sprawling home Tess shared with her fiancé, Scott Prince. The cozy gathering was a celebration of Stevie and Cole’s new marriage, and a chance for Cole to meet the other men.

It was still too cold to lunch out on the patio, so they ate in the dining room. They lingered a long time over the meal of side dishes they’d all contributed and succulent short ribs Scott had cooked on his beloved fancy grill. There was no lull in the conversation, of course. Stevie and her girlfriends never had trouble filling a silence. The men were a little quieter at first—possibly because they didn’t have much chance to speak—but she was glad that Cole was soon involved in conversations with them.

“They seem to be getting along well,” Tess commented while she and Jenny and Stevie prepared coffee and scooped blackberry cobbler into bowls after lunch.

The men were outside admiring the barbecue kitchen that was Scott’s pride and joy. Stevie could see Cole through the patio doors, and he looked relaxed and comfortable. Despite the cold, none of them seemed in a hurry to come back in. Maybe they were enjoying a few minutes of quiet out there, she thought with an understanding smile. But they came in eagerly after being summoned for dessert.

“Oh, wow, Jen, this is good,” Scott said, attacking his cobbler with enthusiasm.

She beamed. “Thanks. It’s my grandmother’s recipe. We won’t mention calories, since this is a celebration party.”

“Speaking of which...” Tess stood and dashed from the room for a moment, returning shortly afterward with a couple of large, beautifully wrapped gifts that she placed in front of Stevie and Cole.

“This seems like a good time for you to open these,” she said, her smile including both of them. “This one is from Jenny and Gavin and this one is from Scott and me.”

Stevie gasped in pleasure. “Oh, how sweet.”

Cole looked startled by the unexpected gifts. “It was nice, but you didn’t have to—”

Stevie elbowed him teasingly into silence. “Hush, before they decide to take them back,” she chided and reached out to open the nearest package.

Obviously, Jenny and Tess had shopped together because the gifts were coordinated—a gorgeous porcelain tea service and a matching set of dessert plates featuring the sage green that was Stevie’s favorite color.

“I know they’re a little feminine, but we figured you’d enjoy eating sweets and drinking tea from them,” Jenny said to Cole.

“They’re great,” he assured her. “Thanks, everyone.”

Gavin gave a rough laugh and held up his hands. “To be strictly honest, I didn’t even know what we’d gotten. But congratulations, anyway. You’re a lucky man.”

“Yes,” Cole agreed with a glance at Stevie. “I know.”

“And,” Jenny said, her eyes glowing, “our kids can grow up together, just as Stevie and I did. They’ll probably think of themselves as cousins.”

“Makes sense, with you and Stevie as close as sisters,” her doting husband commented. He glanced at Cole then. “How are your diapering skills, Cole? As for me, I’ve got a lot to learn yet.”