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“What are you doing?” I smile. “Aunt Claire?”
“I don’t know what to do,” she declares, her voice brimming with emotion. “I just want to run. I want to cheer. Oh, Jessie, this is so exciting. A new life.”
“A new what?”
We turn to find Jaxon filling the doorframe. He’s still wearing his suit from work, his hair neatly styled. He holds a moving box in his hand, as his sharp eyes land on me.
How much did he hear?
“A new life?”
Oh.
He puts the box down slowly and walks into the room, looking at me with fascination, a look that makes me feel like the only woman in the world.
“I think I need to powder my nose,” Claire murmurs, inching toward the door. “Not that I have any clue what powdering my nose entails. But yes, okay. I’m saying much too much now, aren’t I?”
Jaxon chuckles, aiming a smile at Aunt Claire. He’s so kind and friendly with her, such a gentleman. Knowing the two of them get along has been like a balm to any concerns I might’ve had.
“If this is what I think it is, you can stay, Claire. If Jessie doesn’t mind. You’re part of this family too.”
I take shaky steps forward, reach out and wrap my hands around his. He squeezes hard, his desire for this to be true filling me, telling me with his touch he’s always going to be there to hold me tight.
“I’m pregnant, Jax. I did three tests yesterday at work… I got them on my lunch break. I wanted to tell you last night but you were so tired and…”
“I don’t care when you tell me,” he says, his voice rising, giddiness entering it as a broad smile stretches across his face. “I’m just so, so, so happy. Jessie, my sweet Jessie… we’re going to have a family.”
“Yes. And you’re going to be the best dad.”
“And you’re going to be the best mom. And you’re going to be the best aunt.” He grins at Claire before kneeling and smoothing his hands over my belly, bringing his face close enough to kiss. “And you, little lady or man, are going to be the most loved kid in the whole world.”
He stands and wraps his arms around me, his fingers splayed across my back, as though he wants to be in contact with me as much as possible. I pull him into an embrace, cuddling tighter.
“Forever, Jessie,” he whispers in my ear. “Always. Me and you.”
“Forever,” I whisper, as a light rain starts pattering against the window, keeping time with the beat of my love filled heart.
Extended Epilogue
One Year Later
Jaxon
I stand on the back porch of our new six-bedroom home, the sun peeking through the autumn clouds and spearing down into the garden. I’ve recently cut the grass and installed some flowerbeds, and Jessie has been doing some research into gardening, wanting to grow this little piece of us into something magnificent.
This past year has been the best of my life. No competition. Nothing even comes close.
As I sip my coffee, a smile touches my lips as my thoughts dance over the past twelve months.
I think about the scene in Claire’s apartment when Jessie gave me the best news she possibly could. And then the wedding, how beautiful my woman looked beneath the altar, her belly round with our first child.
I don’t feel any pity when I think about Tyrone and the long stint he’s doing in prison. That bastard can rot for threatening my family.
I think about the way Jessie has fallen in love with her aunt’s new business. Claire, being the nose-down-don’t-complain woman she is, rarely mentioned her love of baking. She never had the money or the time to do it properly, but when she and Jessie came to me saying they wanted to open a bakery – with my adorable businesswoman handling the nuts and bolts – of course, I said yes.
Sure, I miss having her around the office. But it’s probably best for my productivity. Even now, I can’t focus when I’m around her, my body roaring at me to claim her.
She’s right there, my seed yells at me, even on our wedding day. Why aren’t you fucking her raw? Why aren’t you taking advantage of that curvy-as-hell body?
But I’m a civilized beast now, able to put those concerns aside… for a little while, at least, before the pressure builds too much and I maul her.
Turning, I look through the porch glass into the kitchen. Jessie sits with little Anna on her knee.
After a three week long vacation we took in Maine so Jessie could get to know my parents, Jessie revealed that she wanted to name our first child after them, whether it was a boy or a girl.
My mother wept tears of pure joy, pulling Jessie in for a hug, looking at me as if to say, Never let her go.
