“Why do you always have to be right?” Slapping his chest, I lay my head against his heart. The steady beat always grounds me when I’m feeling crazy.
“Because you enjoy arguing.” His deadpan response has me looking at him with his handsome straight face, watching our sweet girls.
“I love you, Jaxson.” Every once in a while—meaning almost daily—I get the urge to make sure he knows it.
His face softens as he peers down at me. “I love you more, sunshine.” His lips are soft as they meet mine, and I sigh into the kiss. Close to a year ago, we almost lost this. My body went into shock when the blast from one of Sergei’s guys went off early, killing himself and nearly me.
Jax suffered nightmares for months from seeing me dead. Sometimes, I still find him watching over me at night, staring at the rise and fall of my chest. It’s been a growing experience for us.
He barely waited long enough for me to get out of the hospital before arranging for us to be married. It was a small ceremony—well, as small as can be with my family—but that’s all it was. Just our families. And it was perfect.
And now we’re expanding. The paperwork for me to adopt Bethany and Bellamy went through a few months ago, and we’ve been living in bliss ever since. With the baby coming in just a couple of weeks now, everyone is excited. Especially my mom and all the aunts. Gracin and I have grown close, too, and I’m so grateful to have her in my life. She became a light at the end of an exceedingly long and dark tunnel that I didn’t know I needed.
I never dreamed a blind date could lead me to the love of my life, but Libby was right; I’d never know unless I tried. I miss her so much; it’s painful some days. But I know if she were here, she’d tell me to get over my grief and remember the good times we shared.
I haven’t been able to perform or even think of performing again. And I’ve decided that with our growing family, I’m going to teach. I’m opening a ballet studio in Baltimore. And next door to that, Jax and his family will have a storefront for their private investigating business. He says it’s so we can always be close, but I think it’s because he’s worried that something will happen to me if he’s not around.
Either way, I’m pleased with the idea. Jax and the girls were more than I bargained for when we went on that date, but they’re everything my heart desires, and now, I have it all.
The End!
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Next in the Adair Legacy
Dark Knight
Adair Legacy Book 5
Unedited/subject to change.
Chapter One
Nolan
“This pole?” Sawyer pops up over the half-raised tent with the tiny pole for the awning above the door and I shake my head. Why the fuck I thought I could do this on my own is beyond me. But my best friend Holden and his wife Noelle needed some time alone before the baby comes.
So here I am, helpful Uncle Nolan to the rescue. Only camping is a fucking disaster. I should have rented an RV or a cabin at least.
“This one?” His arm raises triumphantly when I nod my head. Watching the kid come out of his shell over the past several months has been nothing short of a miracle.
“You’re really nailing this camping thing bud.” His boyish grin is the only reason we continue to try and figure this shit out.
“It’s cause Dad and me camp out back all the time.” He says it like he forgets I’m there half the time too. We have a boys night nearly every weekend.
Getting the last pole in place, I hammer in the pegs as Sawyer sits back and watches. “Looks good, yeah?” I glance over at him to see he’s holding the bag of marshmallows with a sly grin on his face.Damn, kid.“Dinner first.” I tell him.
Noelle made me promise to feed him more than just sugar all weekend. We have hotdogs, burgers, some pre-made breakfasts she put together for us, and enough sandwiches to last a lifetime. I don’t think Noelle believed I’d bring anything other than marshmallows, water, and beer. “Burgers or hot dogs tonight?”
Popping open the cooler, I begin pulling out the condiments and placing them on the picnic table when he finally answers. “Hot dogs. We can roast everything tonight!” His excitement is contagious.