Page 133 of Maximus

He’d never be happy he and Zoey had almost died, but something great had come from that, and Bubba had decided to concentrate on that and that alone.

The silver lining.

So I was taking a page out of Bubba’s playbook and focusing on what had come from Eva’s abduction—my boys.

Mine.

That day we sat on the bed together and shared our fear, we forged an unbreakable bond. And in the week since Eva had been home, it had only grown stronger.

I was surprised how quickly Liam and Eli had bounced back from the ordeal. Eva wasn’t surprised and had told me it was because while she was gone I’d made them feel safe and loved. I didn’t think that was the case. I figured the boys were just happy their mom was home and that was all they cared about.

Either way, the kids were good. Liam was excited about starting school soon and Elijah was looking forward to Eva starting her new job and getting to play with Mikey all day.

And if they were happy, I was happy, even though the team was gearing up to leave on a mission. Eva had refused to let me tell Zane to pull up one of the guys from the Blue Team to take my place.

I was still on the fence but I knew if I stayed behind, I would be in danger of Eva’s wrath and from what I’d heard from Owen and Myles, my woman had one helluva right hook. Gabe had proudly sported her mark for days and even joked he was going to ask her to be his new sparring partner.

That would happen never.

“Yeah, Liam, we’re pulling up now.”

Eva’s hand on my thigh tightened and I glanced over at her.

Damn, she was beautiful.

But more than that, she was tough. Strong and smart and resilient.

“Excited?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.

“Yes. I can’t wait to meet him. Melody and their kids, too.”

I pulled to a stop in Tex’s driveway and told the boys to wait in the car until I got Eva out. They met my request with groans but I knew that even as excited as they were, they’d do as I asked.

I grabbed my cell and got out of my truck and rounded the hood. There was something I needed to tell her before I lost another opportunity.

I opened Eva’s door and she looked up at me with curiosity as I helped her out.

“Before we go in, I need to tell you something. I should’ve found time before now, but the week’s been crazy.”

“Everything all right?”

“We started to have a conversation the day you were taken. We never got to finish it.”

“Max—”

“I want kids. I didn’t think I did. Even after I met you and the boys, I didn’t want more. I thought the boys would be enough—and they are. So if you don’t want more, you have to know, Liam and Elijah are—”

“You want kids?” she cut me off.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“I want girls,” I told her.