Bad Boy's Baby Girl

A Ton of Bricks

*Monroe's POV*

I wake up earlier than a sane person would on their vacation and decide to go for a run on the beach. I don't wander too far because I feel like Cade would worry if I wasn't back when he woke up, even though I left him a note. When I get back to the room and find him still asleep, I crumple the note and get into the shower. He joins me halfway through.

"You went for a run," he states.

"Yeah, I did."

"What, my workout yesterday morning wasn't good enough?" He says, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Well, I mean, both are good."

After our shower (which we take our time with), we both get ready for the day and head down for breakfast.

Later, while the girls are in the water, I ask Sue, "So what exactly do the girls think is happening with Santa tomorrow? Because I assume you didn't bring gifts with you?"

"We brought one for each of them and told them that Santa would deliver the rest to our house because he knew we wouldn't have space for them on the airplane and that they could open them when they got home."

"And they were cool with that?"

"They said they were, but who knows. It's possible there'll be a meltdown tomorrow."

I just nod. The rest of the day passes in much the same way as yesterday; drinks, swimming and sunbathing. In the evening we hang out on the beach to watch the sunset and when Ben and Sue go to put the girls to bed, Cade and I take a walk along the shore.

"Do you remember the first time we watched the sunset on the beach together?" I ask him.

"Yes, of course. That was the first time you let me drive your car," He replies.

"THAT'S the thing you remember most? Not that it was our first not-a-date date, or the skinny-dipping or even how you tried to fuck me in a classroom at school that day. What am I going to do with you?" I say laughing.

"Whatever you want to, baby," he says, pulling me into his chest.

"Oh yeah?" I look around and see that we've wandered far enough that there's nobody near us and start stripping as I run towards the water. I don't need to turn around to check if he's following me. I wade in up to my shoulders and when he reaches me, I place my hands on his chest and say, "We are going to make a new memory so that my car is not what you will be thinking about next time we discuss sunsets on beaches." I jump up and wrap my legs around his waist.

As we collect our clothes I ask, "So, did I succeed? Was that better than driving my car?"

"Hmm, I dunno, we might have to go try again," he says with a wink. "Jackass," I say laughing and hit him with my t-shirt before sliding it over my head.

"Come on, let's go," I grab his hand and we go back to our room and fall asleep quickly.

Once again, I'm awake much before Cade so I go check out the resort's gym to squeeze in leg day. After my shower, I wrap myself in a silk bath robe and grab the envelope with Cade's name on it from my suitcase. I plop down onto the bed and then sit cross legged facing Cade. He opens one eye slowly and I say, "Merry Christmas sleepy head,"

He rolls himself onto his back and then drags himself up so that he's sitting against the headboard and says, "You woke me up on Christmas? You monster!" He says with a lazy grin.

I crawl over and sit on his lap, straddling his legs, "Yes. But you'll forgive me as soon as you open your present," I say, handing him the envelope.

"You got me a present?"

"Of course I did. Now open it!"

"Alright, alright. So bossy this morning." He tear open the envelope and as sees the picture of the Ferrari printed out on the paper and gives me a confused look, "Alright, I know you did not buy me a Ferrari, so do you wanna help me out here?"

"No you're right, I did not buy you a Ferrari. I did however rent out a racetrack in San Francisco and that Ferrari for an afternoon."

"Are you serious?!"

"I don't joke about Ferraris Cade," I say in my best serious voice.

He hugs me tight and starts kissing all over my face, causing me to giggle uncontrollably.

He pulls back and says, "Seriously, thank you. I love it. And now, your gift." He leans over and pulls out a small wrapped box from the night stand.

I look at the dark purple wrapping paper and the little silver bow tied neatly on top. "Wow, who knew wrapping things was a skill of yours. I'm impressed."

He rolls his eyes and says, "I did not wrap that. The lady at the store did."

"Ah that makes much more sense," I say with a smirk and start untying the bow. When I open the box I find a little rose gold bracelet that has a flat plate connected by two delicate chains. I can see there's something engraved on it so I bring it closer to my face to read it.

"Forever my baby girl," with a little heart at the end. My heart flutters and I think I've forgotten how to breathe. In that moment a realization smacks me in the face like a ton of bricks: I think I'm in love with him. Well, Fuck. I choke down the words that threaten to come out.

I can't bring myself to say it out loud because the feeling in my gut is warning me that saying them could ruin everything. When I realize I should probably say something, I look him in the eye and say, "It's perfect, thank you so much," and then kiss him, hoping to convey my emotions without actually verbalizing them. When I pull back, I take the little bracelet out of its box and he helps me put it on.

"Alright, should we head down for breakfast?" We get dressed and I pack the two envelopes for Sue and Ben in my bag. After eating, we head out to the pool and when the girls run off, I reach into the bag for the envelopes and say, "So I got you guys something, as a sort of Christmas slash thank you gift."

"Oh that's so sweet. You really didn't have to do that," Sue says, taking her envelope.

"I know, but I wanted to."

Sue goes first and reads out the email confirmation notice I printed for the all-inclusive overnight stay at a spa and I say, "I felt like you could probably use a night away."

"You are absolutely correct, thank you so much," she says and gives me a hug.

Ben opens his and he reads out, "1 year subscription to the Spirits and Cigars club."

"Once a month they'll deliver a box to your house that contains cigars and little bottles of liquor from a different country. I think the first one is supposed to be Spain. It should arrive at the beginning of January."

"Wow that's awesome, I didn't know things like that existed. Thank you."

"No, thank you for bringing me to Cuba," I say with a smile. "I also got something for the girls but I'll give it to them when we get back."

Sue then points to my wrist and says, "I see you guys exchanged gifts already." I nod a smile, looking back down at the little chain.

"Yeah, I got her a bracelet and she got me a Ferrari."

"Excuse me?!" Sue bolts up and I say, "No, no, no! I did NOT buy him a Ferrari. Just an afternoon in one at a racetrack!"

I glare at him and he says, "Oh come on, that reaction was so worth it," he says laughing.

I roll my eyes and lie back down, sipping my drink.

The rest of the vacation passes by way too fast. We did manage to get in some snorkeling and wakeboarding but we spent most of the time by the pool or the beach with drinks in our hands or in bed, not sleeping. That's what vacation is all about anyway right?