Page 32 of Beck & Coll
He likes taking care of me. That statement caused butterfly wings to flap inside my stomach.
“Surprisingly enough, I like being taken care of,” I muttered.
“You take care of people all day. You help them relax. You make them feel good about themselves. You deserve the same, mamas. Just because nobody’s ever come through and given it to you, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.” He took a beat. “See, if you move to Jackson Falls, you can take care of the ladies at the salon. When you get home, I’ll take care of you. Bubble baths… dinner delivered… foot massages… big dick…”
The butterflies in my stomach went bananas. And I allowed myself to imagine what it would feel like to let Beckham be my safe space and my man.
“That sounds so good, Beck. I just don’t see how I could live so far away from my mother… my family. That’s the only life I know.”
“But it’s not the only life there is.”
I didn’t respond.
“I’m not gonna push you, Coll. I don’t want you here if I have to talk you into it. It has to be your own decision… your own idea.”
I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief. Relocating 2,000 miles away from everything I knew, even for a man with a heart as pure as Beckham’s, was too much.
“Truth be told, Beck, I haven’t even really seen Jackson Falls. I feel like I’ve only seen a few touristy things. I’ve been to Second Street, The Butterscotch Café, and to the waterfall. I don’t even have a real vision of what life is like here. Where do you buy yourtoothpaste? New shoes? Deodorant? I haven’t seen not one red store with the bull’s eye or even the blue store with the yellow starburst or flower or whatever that thing is supposed to be. Where are the houses and apartments? What do locals do for fun here? I don’t even have enough information about Jackson Falls to decide anything. I’ve seen a lot ofManor at Sienna Sunset Resortbut not much of the town.”
“You have a point. We should do that tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, I have to pick my mom up from the airport, and you have tours, right?”
“You’re right. Early, though. My last tour is at two in the afternoon. I’ll be done in plenty of time to take you and your mother to seeLondynville Steele.” He paused for a moment. “I know you drove here from the airport by yourself when you arrived, but I’d feel more comfortable if you didn’t make the drive to Portland alone. I’mma have Bay go with you to pick up your mom from the airport. Is that cool?”
I smiled to myself. This man was always taking care of me. “Yeah.”
Bayliss Strong was the eldest Strong brother, and he most certainly wasn’t the shy one. He kept up his end of the conversation as we made the trek from Jackson Falls to Portland, Oregon, where we would meet my mother at the airport.
I was thankful for his questions, comments, and observations. They were a great distraction from the fact that my stomach was filled with butterflies. I was excited to see my momafter being away from her just short of two weeks. That lady was my heart.
“There she is!” I said excitedly as we cruised through the arrivals area. I let down the window and practically hung out of it.
“Alisha! Alisha!”
“Where? Is this her in the pink?” Bay questioned.
Alisha Kingsley had her size twelve body poured into what I knew was supposed to be a relaxed-fit lounge outfit, but trust my mama’s shapely body to make it look sexy.
“Yep. Stop the truck.”
“Dayum,” Bay muttered softly. He stopped the truck and jumped out before I could, approaching my mother with a grin on his handsome face that looked so much like Beckham’s. “Hello.”
My mother gave him a shy smile before pushing some of her hair behind her ear. “Hello.”
“Ma.” I pushed past him and dove into her. I wrapped her up in my arms and squeezed tightly. “Ma.”
She hugged me back. “Hey, baby.”
“I missed you.” I kissed her cheek before releasing her.
“I missed you, too.” She eyed Bayliss. “Is this yourfriend?”
“No. This is his brother, Bayliss. Bay?—”
He cut me right off, taking my mother’s hand in his. “Collins said we were meeting her mother, not my future wife. I’m happy to meet you. Are you free to meet me at the justice of the peace this afternoon?” He kissed the back of her hand.
I rolled my eyes, surprised that while I was doing that, Alisha Kingsley was giggling and blushing.
