“I will be a good husband to you from this day forward. No games. No manipulation.”
“No lies, Daxton. I can’t—”
“No lies. I promise. I want us to be together without you threatening to leave me.” I stroke her cheek. “I’ve always wanted you. Since the moment I realized you were following me. You became everything.” I kiss her hands again. “Beautiful, sexy, smart, ambitious, and just the right amount of toxic.” She lets out a giggle. “You keep me on my toes. I never wanted to takeyour power because I love you the way you are, even the toxic part.”
“You are a good husband. You have been since the beginning, but I don’t know, Daxton. Maybe it’s best if we go our separate ways.”
“That won’t work for me,” Mom snaps from a few feet away. “Do you think good husbands grow on trees? They don’t. Do you know the amount of work it took for me to raise him to be a good man?”
I pull her out of her seat and put her on my lap. My arms wrap around her waist.
“That won’t work for me either. Will you be my wife, Bella?” When she remains silent, I ask, “Will you choose to marry me this time? I’ll be your husband, your protector, your best friend and—”
“The best friend role is already taken.”
“I’m serious. No more games or one-upmanship. Just you and me, together, doing all we can for each other. I promise to be the best man you can ever ask for. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll be there for you, loving you through everything. All you have to do is let me.”
She closes her eyes, and I imagine she’s either fighting or accepting my words.
“Let him, sweetheart,” Haddie orders.
“I want to. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m scared. Each time I'm on the edge of getting what I want, the rug gets pulled from under me, leaving me with nothing.”
“I won’t let that happen. It’s my mission to give you everything you want. Be my wife. Let me love you. All you have to do is let me. Put the armor down, sweetheart. You don’t need it anymore. I promise to be the barrier between you and the world.”
Her eyes fly open, and they lock with mine. The uncertainty is still there, but it’s not as strong as it was moments ago. There are unshed tears in her eyes.
“Let me,” I repeat.
“I think I can do that.” A single tear slides down her smooth cheek. “I’m tired of fighting, and when I was pretending to be your wife, I fell in love with you, too.” My hands cradle her cheeks, and I put my lips to hers. She offers no resistance and kisses me back. She wraps her arms around my neck and pours everything into our kiss.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” I whisper the question in her ear so my mother won’t hear.
“Do you forgive me for trying to manipulate you? It was wrong, and I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry you found out.”
“He forgives you, honey,” Mom answers on my behalf.
“What my mom said. And?”
“And I’m sorry for giving away that stupid dog, but that was my idea. Don’t blame Selene for that.”
“Finch is the smartest dog in the world. She’s smarter than most humans. I forgive you, but your cousin is not innocent. I don’t want to talk about her. Tell me what you want.”
“I want to be your priority.”
“Sweetheart, you are. You’ve always been.”
“I want to be a spoiled wife.”
“Done.”
“And I don’t just mean I want things. I want you to listen to me. I want you to side with me, even when you think I’m wrong. You can tell me I’m wrong in private, but defend me in public. Can you do those things?”
“Without question.”
“Now, what do you want?”
“Babies.”
