Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
“Jaxon,” she says softly, the hand that was holding up her head now reaching around my neck.
“When my father was home, it was the best. They never did things with me together. It was always me and my dad. I didn’t even care that she wasn’t around. I just knew that with my dad, he would take care of me. It’s strange, I can’t explain it, but I knew he loved me more than he loved himself. That’s the kind of dad I want to be.” I turn my hand over to hold hers. “When I said I was in this, I meant I was in this.” I bring our hands to my mouth, kissing her hand. “I’m not as smart as my dad”—I smile at her—“but whatever I have, I’m going to give to you and our child.”
“My mom,” she starts to say. “Candace,” she says her name, “she’s not really my mom. I mean she’s my mother, there is no mistaking that. But she didn’t give birth to me. My mother died in childbirth.” My mouth opens in shock. “Yeah, but no one knows. I mean, people know but it’s not like it’s a big deal. I’ve never in my life felt she loved me any less than she loved my sister and brother. Not one day did I ever feel like she favored them over me.”
“I don’t know about you.” I move to have her in my lap, needing to touch her. She sits in my lap and I wrap one arm around her waist, while I place the other one at her stomach. “But we have some pretty big shoes to fill.” She smiles and I see the tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to be a vacation dad,” I admit to her, and she inhales. “Yeah. You live in New York.”
“I do, and you live here.”
“I have to live here,” I correct her statement. “I’d do anything to make this whole situation easier on you,” I say softly, “but I can’t leave California. I’m locked into a contract.”
“The big man throwing out the law,” she tries to joke. “I’m not going to lie. That was the first thing I thought about.”
“I promise that I’d do anything for you and the baby and I’ll do anything to make the both of you feel at home here. Do you think you could think about moving here?” I ask her, trying not to get my hopes up.
“I mean, if anyone would have to move, it would be me. Legally that is.” She uses my words and I don’t waste a minute more without kissing her. She inhales deeply before hugging me and it’s not a soft hug, no, she gives it all to me. Tightening just enough for me to feel her heat on my body. She puts her head on my shoulder and buries her face in my neck. “I broke our promise,” she murmurs softly as she adjusts in my lap and straddles me, not moving her face from my neck. My arms wrap around her, hoping she likes my hugs as much as I like hers.
I inhale the smell of her, loving that she smells like me and my body wash from the shower mixed with her citrus. “How so?”
“We said we wouldn’t tell anyone about that night,” she reminds me softly. “I told Zoey.” I close my eyes and roll my lips. “I’m sorry, it was just seeing you at the restaurant and then with Spencer.”
“That guy is a tool, by the way,” I quickly tell her, trying not to be bothered by his name but secretly hating him.
She laughs and then kisses my neck softly. “He is,” she agrees. “I was freaked, so I blurted it out.”
I rub her back. “It’s okay.” I let her off the hook. “I’m pretty sure the fact you’re having my baby—” I move my hand to her stomach now, holding her and our child.
“Our baby.” She sits up. “It’s not just yours.”
“Baby,” I say softly as she glares at me.
“Don’t say it,” she warns me.
“But it’s my baby.” I try not to laugh. “I put it there.”
“Jaxon Stevenson,” she growls my name between clenched teeth.
“It’s biology, baby.” I shrug. “I put it in there.” The sound of the doorbell ringing has her looking that way.
“Saved by the bell.” She gets off my lap. “That better be my food and not your crazy ex again.” She stands up and I grip her hip, pulling her to me and kissing her. She melts in my arms, and if the knock at the door would stop, I’d be fucking her on the couch.
“I should get that.”
“You should,” she pushes, “then you should do me.”
I look over my shoulder. “I did you this morning.” I wink at her. “It’s time for you to do me.”