His hands danced along my hip, shooting heat between my thighs.
“How do you want to address all of this with Audrey?” I asked.
“I think she’s been hit with enough for now,” Cameron said. “We’ll take it a piece at a time until everything is slowly revealed.”
“I think we should start with your name,” I said. “I think her name is going to be too confusing.”
“And I think that’s a great idea, though I hope you’ll be here for those conversations.”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
> “Because you have a bakery to run and an apartment that still has your name on it.”
“That doesn’t mean I won’t be here with you guys,” I said as I looked up into his eyes.
“What if I offered you the chance to be here with us permanently?”
I sat up from his body and placed my hand on his chest. “What are you asking, Cameron?”
“I love you, Heather. More than words will ever be able to communicate. The idea of you going back and living in that crackerjack box studio apartment of yours doesn’t sit well with me. Audrey’s used to having you around. I’m used to having you around. So why don’t you move in?”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Move in with us, Heather. We’re going to be having a child together. You’ll be here eventually so we can raise Luke together.”
“Or Mackenzie,” I said with a grin. “And that’s a wonderful offer, but I need to be close to my bakery so I can get it up and running again.”
“You can do that from here. I know you don’t have transportation now, but I’ll get you a car.”
“You can’t just buy me a car, Cameron.”
“Yes, I can, and I will.”
“Look, I haven't been completely honest with you about my bakery,” I said.
His eyes locked onto mine as I drew in a deep breath.
“My bakery isn’t in the best financial position,” I said. “And closing it down for this long? It’ll take me months to get it back up and running. It’ll take me weeks just to get the regular foot traffic I used to have in there in the first place, and I’ve still got to find funding to help me expand so I can compete with the bakery up the road from me. It’s why I looked into the surrogacy in the first place. I needed money to help my business.”
“Why haven't you told me any of this?” Cameron asked.
“Because we’ve sort of been dealing with other things,” I said with a giggle.
“But this is important to you. Why didn’t you tell me your bakery was financially struggling?”
“I was embarrassed. I still am. I’ve poured everything I have into it. My savings. All the money I do get from my sales. I’ve gotten three loans from three separate banks to try and make it work.”
“Then, I’ll pay off your loans.”
“No, you won’t. That’s my bakery, Cameron.”
“And you’re the woman I love. The mother of my child. I want to support you in any way I can. If paying off your loans and giving you the ability to expand and be better so your business thrives is what you need, that’s what I’m giving you.”
“I can’t take you up on that offer. I’m sorry.”
“If your bakery was in fine financial standing, would you move in with me?” he asked.
“It would help things, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to take your offer free of charge.”