Page 131 of Merging Wright

Jane shifts, glancing over her shoulder. Her eyes tease me. “I’ve never known you to be so full of surprises.”

“I’m trying to be romantic.”

Jane presses up and kisses me, sweet and soft but long and loving. She loves me. Being with her is nothing I could have dreamed while everything I imagined it would be.

Breaking the kiss, I keep my eyes on her and tilt my head at the dollhouse. “Is that an envelope in the attic of that dollhouse?”

Jane’s brows pinch. Cautiously, she follows my gaze and narrows her eyes. I pat her side. “Take a look.”

Scrambling forward, Jane reaches for the flat envelope slipped into the top space of the dollhouse, then comes back to rest between my legs. With hesitation, she opens the envelope and pulls out a set of papers.

“What is this?” A tremor fills her voice.

“There’s a little girl who needs a snowman family.”

“Mach.” Jane’s voice cracks on my name, and I press a kiss to her shoulder.

“So, I have another proposition for you.”

Jane shifts, her side to my chest. “Do not tease me.” Her smoky voice reminds me of days back in our office at Impact when Jane was fierce and a force. She’s still both those things but softened around the edges.

“I had Landon draw up adoption papers for Willow. It won’t be as easy as just taking her in. We need to undergo interviews and visitations, but I think we have a good chance of making Willow ours, if you want her.”

“What about Theo?” Jane looks up at me, her eyes a storm of questions.

I swipe my thumb over her lower lip before her teeth get ahold of her kiss-swollen mouth. “I spoke to Theo. Explained what we wanted. What he could still have with Willow. I want them to have a relationship. Maybe more like grandfather to granddaughter, though.”

Jane’s eyes widen.

“He agreed. It’s one reason he’s bringing her here on Christmas morning. I thought we could spend the day together.”

“We need to ask her if she’d even want us as her parents.” Jane’s voice hesitates.

“Who wouldn’t want you as a mother?”

Her eyes fill again. So many tears lately, but I’m confident the ones from last night’s proposal and the ones currently glistening in her eyes are from joy.

“This is more than I’d hoped for,” Jane whispers.

“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t give you, if I could.” No more empty promises to Jane. Only the truth. Only what I can give to her. My heart. My love. And hopefully, a little girl.

“Mr. Wright, don’t you dare tease me with this.” Jane shakes the adoption papers in her hand. Then she narrows her eyes. “You didn’t bribe Theo, did you?”

I should be insulted, but instead I laugh. “Ye of little faith.” I flatten my palm over her chest. My acushla. “I simply promised we’d love her. We can do that, right?”

Tears streak down her cheeks again. “That’s a promise I can keep.”

“Me too.” I smile large, emphasizing the truth in my declaration. I promise to love Jane . . . and Willow.

“What do you think Willow will think of all this?” Jane pauses. “She’s gone through so much already.”

“She knows she’s up for adoption and what that means for her. A new family. I thought we could ask her together. Ask her to be part of our snowman family If Willow agrees, if she wants us, we’ll work everything out through Landon with Theo, making it official and legal. Then, we will be her parents.”

“She’ll be ours,” Jane whispers but stiffens before me, shifting even more to face me full on. “What about Chicago? And Impact?”

“I’m not ready to give up Impact.”

“I’d never ask you to do that.” Jane places a hand on my chest. My heart hammers under her touch.