Only You (A Second Chance Romance), page 28
“To go home.”
“But your work. Actually, you don’t have a job.”
“I don’t need one. We don’t need one. Open your gift.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s the perfect time. It’s our anniversary, right?”
He was right. It was the perfect time and the perfect day.
I gently peeled the frail paper away from its box, then opened the top. Inside were pictures from our first date and the first note I’d slipped him in high school. I gasped when I saw a gently pressed and dried tulip between two sheets of paper. It still held some of its color.
“It’s from the same field where we got the tulips for your bouquet.”
“From our wedding?” It was more difficult to see through my glassy eyes.
He nodded.
I gently placed each item aside before I saw a newspaper article from the day we were supposed to get married. It was about the potential future of some IT company. Then there were certificates and more certificates of that company and other ones as well.
“I took a shot. I didn’t know whether they were going to be successful when I bought the stocks. There are three companies. Two of them are worth… a lot. I want to go back to painting.”
“That’s why you were quitting.”
“Yes. And this Christmas, I guess last Christmas, I wanted to ask you to move in with me. You and the kids.”
“What?”
“There will be obstacles, but I want us together. I need us together.”
“We’ll fight.”
“And then we’ll make up.”
“We’ll disagree on how to raise the kids.”
“We’ll compromise.”
“What about life decisions? Where will we live?”
“Wherever we want to. It can be my house, your house, or a brand new house altogether. Alex, if all these years couldn’t keep us apart, then nothing will. We’re strong enough. Our love is strong enough. There’s nothing in this world that can ever stand between us. That includes, Maria.”
“Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes, because I love you. Only you.”
I leaned in and kissed him. When I opened my eyes, I saw the purest look of joy I’d ever seen in my life, brighter than any tulip I’d held. Little did I realize that tulip was about to have its petals torn apart.
Chapter 32
“Welcome back!” The cheer boomed through the hall at Jackson’s mansion. A colorful banner, with dozens of bright, hand-painted tulips, hung from the top of the staircase – Aidan, Max, and Sophie’s work, and perhaps a little bit of Lou’s as well. It had been a week since Jackson woke up. He had no neurological damage but would require some physical rehabilitation. I let go of his arm once Aidan and the twins slammed into him.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Max squeezed him. His cheeks puffed with happiness against Jackson’s side, and I did a double-take.
“Jackson, you’re the best. Thank you! I love him. I love him so much.” Sophie clung to Jackson’s other side.
I turned to Lou. “Okay, what did I miss?”
That’s when I heard a low bark from around the corner, and it wasn’t Scotty’s. Four tiny pug paws trotted across the hall. The puppy held his head high, like this house was his.
“Mommy, he’s ours. If you agree. Mommy, please agree. Kirk loves us.”
“Kirk?”
“Captain Kirk. Doesn’t he look like a captain, Mommy?”
With a button for his nose and two shiny black eyes, he looked more like a plush toy I wanted to squeeze.
“He does,” I agreed.
“So we can keep him?”
I peeked over to Jackson’s awaiting gaze and smiled. “Yes, we can. Welcome to the family, Captain Kirk.”
The twins lifted the pup off the floor and kissed him, and then sat down by Scotty, who seemed to be taking on quite a fatherly role.
“I hope you’re okay with this,” Jackson said from the side.
“How can I not be? Look at their happy faces.”
My mood couldn’t have been better; that was, until Betty Boop strolled out of the kitchen. Her hips dented the air as she sauntered toward Jackson, her gaze fixed on her prey.
“I’m so happy you’re back home. It’s been a nightmare without you.” She snaked her arms around his neck and glued her body to his. “They’re making me do therapy.”
Nick allowed Maria to join us for the party today – if she promised to behave. I had a feeling Maria didn’t hear a word her brother had said.
“Lay off, Betty,” Lou growled, and I couldn’t help but agree.
Jackson slowly uncoiled her long arms, but not before she had one more chance to brush her chest against him.
“If she keeps this up, I’m going to pour bleach down her throat.”
I shushed Lou. If there was anything Jackson could do, it was handle Maria. The self-proclaimed queen of the day looped her arm into Jackson’s and led him toward the back yard, where we’d prepared a grill for the entire family. Jackson’s parents were waiting in the back and he didn’t even know it. I couldn’t wait to see the surprised look on his face.
“I’ve been so worried Jackson. I don’t think I could go on if Aidan ever lost you. You’re the most important man in our son’s life. Having his parents together is the best thing that could have happened.”
“What?” I asked Lou as we followed them. Maria peeked back with a satisfied grin, like she had the upper hand, and I wondered what that was all about. She definitely looked like she took one too many happy pills, but maybe that was a good thing at the moment.
Lou shrugged and threw Maria a stink eye. I was already regretting her being here and it’d only been a few minutes.
“Your parents have been worried sick.”
Don’t you dare, I thought.
By then, Jackson had stepped outside, and she led him straight to the table with our guests. “I knew this day wouldn’t be the same without the entire family.” She rose up on her toes and kissed Jackson’s cheek, taking the credit.
“I hope she likes it hot because she’s about to go to hell.”
“Lou, don’t!” I grabbed my friend’s arm before she could slam into Maria like a linebacker and take her over the patio rail, right into the mud. It had been raining hard the past two days, and today was the first sunny afternoon, which allowed us to celebrate Jackson’s release from the hospital outside. The ground hadn’t soaked in all the water yet, but the yellow tulips outlining every curve of Jackson’s backyard were thriving.
“Don’t let her take credit for your work.” Lou frowned.
“I’m not worried, Lou. They know me, and I’m pretty sure they know Maria as well.”
“It’s not fair,” she pouted. “And she’s still after Jackson.”
“I can’t worry about the small things anymore, Lou. And that’s what Maria is to me. She’s a little bump in the road and apparently the meds she’s taking are making her better. Besides, I have Jackson, I love him, and he loves me. He’s healthy, and that’s all I could ever ask for. I think I’d die if another man I loved was taken from me.”
“Well, you have much more poise than I do.”
“There’s my firecracker.” Nick grasped Lou around her waist, pulled her to him, and dipping her back, planted a wet one on her lips while I stood there with my mouth wide open. When she came up for air, she had to wipe the slobber off her mouth.
“When were you going to tell me this?” I asked.
“Like you didn’t know this was going to happen?”
She was right. I expected those two to hook up the moment I met Nick at the fundraiser.
Jackson said hello to his and my parents, and then sat down at the table. It was still difficult for him to stand for too long. The doctor said that his recovery could take a few weeks. We had our barbecue, and the kids wouldn’t leave Scotty and Captain Kirk alone. Aidan took care of the twins as if they were his siblings. The afternoon reminded me of old times. Shivers covered my arms. I didn’t recall the last time I’d been this happy, and I couldn’t help but feel that the good aura would somehow fade.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Maria asked from the side. She was staring up to the patio at Jackson.
I swirled the wine in my glass and took a sip. “Of course it is. Jackson’s a strong man. I knew he’d make it,” I replied.
“No, I mean our family. Isn’t our family just wonderful? I feel like we can finally move on.”
Where was she going with this? The over-confidence in her voice made me feel uneasy.
“Look, Maria. You can take your empty threats and shove them up your ass. Jackson doesn’t love you. He never did and he never will.”
“Oh yeah? Is that why Jackson asked me to move into the house? Didn’t he tell you? I’ll be living here.”
She would?
But I had no chance to ask for the details. A scream tore from the birdbath in the garden as Lou rushed away from Nick, right at Maria, and slammed into her body. It was a good thing that she wasn’t standing on top of the patio. Lou took her down in one swift tackle, both of them landing in the mud.
“Lou, stop it!” I screamed.
I saw Jackson making his way down the stairs as Nick rushed to my side. “I think you should let them hash this one out,” he grinned.
“You just want to see Lou wrestling in the mud,” I accused.
“Is that a bad thing?”
“What if she gets hurt?” I asked.
He frowned for a moment, then smirked. “I don’t think you know your friend as well as you think you do.” He then pointed to Lou, who was straddling Maria, pinning her in the mud. If it weren’t for the few clean patches on Lou’s bright tank top, I wasn’t sure if I could have told the two of them apart.
“What happened?” Jackson asked.
“I mentioned my sister’s comment about Lou being a disappointment as a girlfriend.”
“You were asking for it,” Jackson shook his head.
“Hey, it was worth it.” Nick couldn’t wipe the satisfaction off his face as he watched Lou, all smothered in mud, grip Maria’s hands and threaten to spit at her from the top.
Gross.
“You know she’ll get you back, don’t you?” I said, then pulled Jackson to the side. I didn’t think Nick heard me. He was too lost in the unfolding mud fight. “Is it true that you asked Maria to move into your house?” I asked.
“Yes, that’s true.”
“You know, I’m all for this new happiness in our lives, but do you really think that’s a wise decision?”
“You mean you don’t want to live with her if we choose to stay in this house?” He pulled on the loop of my jeans, bringing me closer to him.
“Why am I getting the feeling that you’re mocking me?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” His voice lowered, and I felt my heart drum harder in my chest.
“Jackson…”
“Alexandra. Take a ride with me.”
“Now? Your family—”
“Is relaxing after dinner. It won’t take long, and they won’t even notice.”
“All right.”
He took my hand and we went to his car. Ten minutes later, at the outskirts of the city, Jackson pulled up to a bungalow. Yellow tulips filled the front yard and made the picture perfect landscaping. It reminded me of the smaller family home we’d always talked about before our wedding. It was the house of my dreams, and I couldn’t control the butterflies in my stomach as I stepped out of the car. Jackson came up behind me and weaved his arms around me, resting his hands on my stomach. I leaned back against him.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
He lowered his lips to my ear, his breath tickling me. “I was wondering if you’d help me plant more tulips in the back.”
“What?”
“Would you like to live here with me and the kids? This house is in both their school districts.”
“You bought us a house?”
“Not yet. The sellers are waiting for your word, though.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Would you like to see the inside?”
“No.” My throat tightened. I felt a confused shift behind me, and so I turned around, wrapped my hands around him, and lifted up on my toes so that I could kiss him.
“Is that a stream I hear in the back?” I asked against his lips.
“Yes, I was hoping we could catch our own dinner sometimes.”
“My answer is yes. A thousand times yes. But just me, you, and the kids, right?”
It was perfect, and I didn’t need to see the inside to know that we’d be happy here, because I already felt it. I’d felt it the moment we pulled up.
“You forgot the dogs.”
“Okay. Me, you, our kids, and the dogs.”
“Yes. I asked Maria to move into the mansion so that she could be close to Aidan. That home is already familiar to him, and I don’t think she’ll mind hosting her parties there.”
I bet she wouldn’t mind.
“It should keep her out of our lives for a few good years. Keep your friends close and enemies closer, right?”
I nodded.
“You’re thinking it’s too much, aren’t you?” he asked.
“I’m thinking how happy I am that we won’t be in the same house. Does Maria know about this yet?” I asked.
“She doesn’t.”
“Can I be the one to tell her?”
He chuckled. “Anything you want, baby. Anything you want.”
“Is it mean that I don’t want to share my space with her?”
“You’re not the only one, Alex.”
I smiled and closed my eyes, inhaling the fresh aroma of spring. “A puppy and a house in one week? How did you manage?” I asked.
“Let’s just say I have many talents. I’m sure you forgot how good I am at some things.”
Jackson lowered his mouth to my neck. I tilted my head to the side, exposing my skin. The warm touch of his lips there sent shivers through my body. This was definitely a good reminder of his talents.
“I think I may need you to remind me a little more.”
A low growl rumbled through his chest. As much as I wished I could christen the house right then, we had to get back to the family. But our time would come. I’d waited long enough to be with Jackson again, and I wasn’t going to rush it. The good things in life were always worth waiting for, and Jackson was definitely a good thing.
Chapter 33
The twins and Aidan were at my Mom’s. It had been three weeks since Jackson had been released from the hospital, and this weekend we were both officially moving into our new home. My old house had already sold, and I’d used the money to invest in a larger unit for the salon. Lou almost cried from happiness when I told her the news.
Jackson had been painting for three days. He’d insisted on doing the job, and I joined in for the last few finishing touches downstairs. Tonight was our first night in the new house, and we had it all to ourselves.
I sat by the makeup dresser in our new bedroom and combed through my hair.
“Hey.” At the sound of Jackson’s voice, I turned away from the mirror. Wearing only his sweats, Jackson was leaning against the door frame. His hair was still wet, and his body was steaming from the shower he must have taken. I watched the sculpture of his torso. The muscles there were even and firm, probably much harder than I remembered from when we were young. It was as if he’d never been in a coma. And the muscles weren’t the only hard part of him that made my mouth water.
“Hey,” I replied, scanning him from the bottom up, then down again.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be able to hold myself back.”
I didn’t look away. Instead. I slipped the robe off my shoulders. It slid down to the floor and left me in a spaghetti strap tank top and a pair of skimpy panties I’d often used as pajamas. Needing a second to validate my decision, I turned around to face the mirror, and when I looked up, he was still standing by the door, his shoulders squared and determined, waiting for my permission.
I finally nodded and watched him approach me in the mirror’s reflection. It was a very focused and primal walk across the room, excruciatingly sexy, and I had a difficult time pulling my gaze away from him. The muscles of his naked torso twisted and tightened with each determined step. That look of need in his eyes took my breath away. I wasn’t sure how long he stood behind me, without touching me, but it felt like forever. He finally lowered his hands to my bare shoulders. Jackson collected my hair into a ponytail but didn’t tie it up. Instead, he just held it in his grip and lowered his mouth beneath it, right below my hairline, where he placed a searing kiss. I closed my eyes and held my breath, savoring the feel of his hungry lips that began exploring the skin on my nape, back and forth.
My heart picked up its rhythm. With the grip on my hair, he guided my head to the side and gently bit my left shoulder before his lips completely took over. He nipped my neck, then licked it, and then kissed it. And it wasn’t just a kiss. It was a full-blown kiss on my skin as if Jackson were making love to my body. Breathing became more difficult and I parted my lips. His left hand grasped the side of my arm and squeezed, hard, as if he were trying to tell me that he was enjoying this moment as much as I was. He was playing with my neck as if it were his personal toy, taming my body to be his with a few gentle nips, rousing all the sleeping hormones.
From the neck, his mouth skimmed higher, to my jawline. He dragged his lips toward my cheek, breathing heat onto my skin. Shivers of excitement rushed through me. Jackson must have shaved recently, because his face was smooth and a slight scent of his aftershave still lingered. I inhaled him deeply into my lungs just as I felt another tug on the ponytail. This time, he let the hair go, splaying his full palm over my head, the pads of his fingers gently pressing against my scalp to guide my head to the side so that my lips could meet his.
And they did.
Oh, God!
It was a kiss worth a million stolen breaths. His lips covered my mouth, taking in mine, maneuvering them with his tongue, gently biting. Each kiss sparked new desire. Passion steamed between us, and I felt my breasts swell. At the thought of my chest, his hand slowly slid off my shoulder and underneath my shirt. He cupped my breast and squeezed it, massaging it, then flicked my nipple with his thumb, all the while kissing and teasing me.
