His matter-of-fact tone increased her exasperation. Bella glared at Blake, barely registering the chill of Drew’s damp fingers against her bare legs as he pushed himself to his feet.
“It’s too much. How am I supposed to repay you?”
“I don’t expect you to.”
Why was he helping her like this? She was an employee. He was paying her to watch his son.
But they were also sleeping together. And even though her heart wanted more, she’d never expected their relationship to be anything other than a casual summer fling. Now he was helping her in a huge way. What was she supposed to think?
Blake got up and came around his desk. His expression warned her that he intended to kiss away her concerns. She backed up two steps and lifted her hand to ward him off. His attention shifted to the space she’d just vacated.
“Look,” Blake exclaimed, breaking into a broad grin.
Bella followed his gaze in time to see Drew toddle three steps to reach his father. Her annoyance vanished as Drew clutched his father’s pant leg and gave a triumphant cry. His first steps and she’d been there to share the moment with Blake. At the same instant the momentous occasion registered, Blake’s gaze shifted to her and she realized that he recognized the significance, as well.
“Marry me.”
The proposal wasn’t at all what she’d expected Blake to say. Her mouth dropped open, but she had no words. Blake scooped Drew into his arms, seeming not to notice that his son wore a wet bathing suit, and caught Bella about the waist.
“Marry me,” he repeated, his eyes burning fiercely. “I want us to be a family.”
This same longing had been growing in her ever since coming to the Hamptons, but Bella shook her head. “That’s what I want, too—”
But before she could go on to explain the improbability of that happening, Blake gave her a kiss that was impulsive yet tender. Her body came to life as it always did when he touched her, but it was her heart that escaped the protective walls she’d built and soared free.
Blake loved her. The knowledge gave her the confidence she needed to trust her own heart. To accept that the right path for her was not to be free of responsibilities and obligations, but to embrace them the way Blake was embracing her. No wonder her mother had wanted a whole bunch of kids. They were a tangible reflection of her great love for Bella’s father and for the life they had together.
As soon as Blake let her come up for air, she answered his proposal with all the joy in her. “Yes. Oh, yes.” She set her head on Blake’s shoulder and stared down at her son. “I want us to be a family.”
Drew babbled at her, adding his own opinion to the mix.
Blake laughed. “I think we have a unanimous vote.”
“It sounds that way.” Bella rose on tiptoe and gave Blake a quick kiss. “And now I think we should get out of these wet clothes.”
“While I love the way your mind works—” his hand slid downward from the small of her back, fingers trailing along the edge of her bikini bottoms “—I still have a couple calls to make before I’m free for the afternoon.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said, plucking Drew from his grasp. “We came straight from the pool…” Bella suddenly remembered why she’d charged up here in the first place. “You bought my brother a truck. Why?”
“I want to take care of you. Helping out your family is one way I can do that.”
Relief made her knees wobble. She’d been the strong one for so long. “No one has ever taken care of me before.”
“That’s about to change. I don’t ever want you to feel anxious or worried again.”
The relief that washed through her was like a tsunami. It mowed down all her feelings of obligation, resentment and guilt and left behind a clean slate that she could use to build her new life upon.
“Thank you.” The words were inadequate. She’d been transformed by his commitment to her. A tear escaped her eye. Not wanting to spoil the moment by losing control and sobbing in front of him, Bella dashed away the moisture with the back of her hand and set her cheek against the top of Drew’s head. “I’d better get him changed.”
Blake accompanied them upstairs and headed into his room for dry clothes. Bella carried Drew into her bathroom and stripped them both out of their swimming suits. She’d found that the easiest way to keep an eye on Drew and at the same time get them both cleaned up after visiting the beach or the pool was to bring him into the shower with her. There was plenty of space for Drew to sit at one end, out of the range of the spray, and play in the water while she rinsed off sand or chlorine.