Page 65 of Like You Love Me

Bianca turned to Passion and said, “How would you like to trade cars for a few days?”

After dropping off Sierra’s overnight bag, they headed in the direction of Baytown without a glitch. Once they reached the edge of Sheraton Beach, Bianca checked to make sure no one was following them and was able to relax against the leather seat and close her eyes.

“You good?” London asked. He reached over and took her hand into his.

Bianca tilted her head and stared at him before she nodded and replied, “Yes, how about you?”

London glanced briefly away from the road. “I am now.”

Bianca pushed her worries away and forced a wide smile. “I ordered groceries, so they should arrive shortly after we get there.”

He squeezed her hand. “Excellent We’re going to forget about everything for the next few days and just enjoy spending time together. Deal?”

“Deal.” She was yawning.

“Take a nap,” he told her.

“Okay, just a short one,” she said softly.

“Rest, you’re going to need your strength,” he murmured. London brought her hand to his lips and kissed her. With a smile, Bianca drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 16

They reached Baytown with a big welcome sign that always warmed her heart before passing through the charming downtown with its unique restaurants and quaint boutiques that reminded her so much of Main Street, only much quieter. London traveled along a narrow road in the direction of the Chesapeake Bay until they reached a fork in the road where he hung a left that took them to Baytown Landing. As he drove, Bianca felt much of the tension from her body cease. She and her husband would spend time together, relaxing and reconnecting. Couples needed that, and she and London were long overdue. A smile tipped her lips as London pulled up the long driveway towards the waterfront property that included a large white colonial-style house with large windows and views of the Chesapeake Bay from all the bedrooms. The home sat on a lake with a private boat dock. London pulled Passion’s RAV4 alongside the rustic white house, which included a wraparound porch and stopped in front of a detached three-car garage. Bianca waited for him to come around and open the door and assist her up from the seat. She followed the path to the front, where there was still a Christmas wreath hanging from the door and decorative candles in each of the eight windows in front.

“I guess your sister hasn’t been out here in a while,” she said and chuckled.

London met her eyes with an amused looked. “It appears so. Her schedule has been so busy, she probably forgot.”

Bianca swung her purse strap over her shoulder. “No worries. I don’t mind putting the holiday decorations away. It will give me something to do.” Her gaze shifted left and right as she walked toward the door. The property sat on three acres and allowed just enough privacy from neighbors. While she waited for London to unlock the front door, Bianca glanced over at the porch swing and remembered their visit last summer when she spent time reading a book while rocking on the seat.

London pushed open the door and then stepped aside for his wife to enter first. Bianca walked in from the cold air into the foyer with gleaming white walls and an A-frame ceiling.

“Let me go turn the heat up,” London said and headed toward the thermostat at the end of the hallway.

Bianca walked across an elegant flatweave area rug covering bleached pine plank flooring into the main living space. As she glanced around, she slipped off her coat and hat and dropped onto a bench in the hall.

Last spring, the house was completely remodeled with a new kitchen and bathrooms, and then Camille came in and put her creative design on the décor. Bianca looked appreciatively at the room decorated with warm colors, textures, clean lines and an off-white sofa and armchair, creating a soothing retreat. The added mixture of pillows with pops of orange and blue took years off the once dated style. She walked over to the wood-burning fireplace and yanked down the decorative silver garland from the two-sided tape. Tomorrow, she would pack up all the decorations and store them back in the attic for the next holiday season. Bianca walked through each room, and from the windows, she could see the gorgeous landscaping out back, maintained by a gardener for many years, and looked beautiful covered in a blanket of snow. Camille had used paprika tones in the family room to accessorize the room with artwork and pillows, and a large abstract painting anchored the seating area well. A glass coffee table provided space for magazines, and unique accents offered the room neutral grace.

“Little Sis did good,” London said as he returned to the room.

“She did better than good,” Bianca said, and her smile widened as she continued to glance around the room and then followed London into the kitchen. The kitchen was elegant and super functional, including a professional-grade gas range with high-end gray cabinets and white subway tiles. There was a large island with white veining, Quartz countertops and seating for six with pendant lighting overhead.

“This house looks so fresh and inviting; I think it might be time for us to do a little renovating of our own.”

“Oh no,” London’s brown eyes met hers before he turned to look inside the refrigerator. “I don’t know if I can go through weeks with women and renovations.”

“Ha-ha! You love us.” Laughing, she wrapped her arms around him and then tilted her head to receive his kiss.

His feature softened into a smile. “I love all of the women in my life, but I can only take y’all in small doses,” he joked as he kissed her again. “I’m going to go out and get our bags.”

As he departed, Bianca’s cell phone rang, and she reached into the back pocket of her jeans. It was Sheyna. “Hi, Sheyna.”

“I’m just checking to make sure you made it.”

She smiled and placed a slender hand on the counter. “We just arrived. London went to get the bags from the car.”

“Good for you. Enjoy your time away. Sierra just got in from play practice and is upstairs watching television.”

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