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Dropping into a crouching position, I scratch behind his ears. “Hello, boy,” I giggle. “I’ve missed you.”
“I hope it’s what you wanted?” Harvey says as he comes into view. “I followed all of your instructions to the letter.”
I stand again and Blue rubs his head on my legs. “You did this, Harvey?” I blink at him.
“No,” he shakes his head softly. “I just told the expensive contractors that Jax paid for what to do, is all.”
“Go see it, baby,” Jax whispers, giving me a gentle nudge in the direction of the house. “It’s all yours.”
I smile at him before I walk a few steps ahead and step up onto the porch. The huge double doors lead to an open plan living area, with the biggest couch I have ever seen in my life. It’s full of pale pink and gray cushions — just like I talked about.
I spin on my heel and run back to Jax, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face there. “This is the best thing anyone… I can’t believe…” I choke out the words as the emotion of the whole day overwhelms me. Every second of it has been entirely perfect, but this has completely blown me away.
He brushes his lips over my ear. “Anything for you, baby. Go sit on the porch and wait for me, okay?”
I step back from him and stare at his face, but he’s unreadable right now. His jaw ticks as he tries to keep a lid on his emotions. Eager to explore further inside, I turn around to do as he asks, but not before I walk over to Harvey and throw my arms around him too.
“Thank you, Harvey. You took Jax’s instructions and turned my dream house into a reality.”
He pats my back gently and cautiously and my heart breaks for him. I know that he’s trying not to be overly familiar because Jax is glaring at him right now, and he has warned him before that Matthias and I are off limits. I wish that we weren’t though. I know that Harvey let Jax down badly, but I see how desperately he wants to make up for that and be a part of his son’s life.
“It was the least I could do,” Harvey says softly.
I kiss his cheek before I look back at Jax and then walk to the house. Taking a seat on the huge rocking chair, I watch my husband and his father intently.
Jax gives Blue a scratch on the head before he walks over to his father and I strain to hear their conversation. It’s not eavesdropping if they’re only standing a few yards away, right?
“I didn’t expect it to look like this,” Jax says.
“I followed your instructions to the letter.”
“I know,” Jax nods. “It’s just…” He rubs a hand over his jaw.
“Is it not what you wanted?” Harvey asks. “If I got something wrong, I can call the contractors back and have them fix it. Out of my own pocket, of course.”
I brush away a tear as it rolls down my cheek. Harvey doesn’t have any money — well not a lot. He drank it all away. I will my stubborn husband to give his father something as he stands there waiting for some validation.
“It’s… perfect.” Jax finally admits and the way Harvey’s face lights up makes my heart swell in my chest. “Thank you.”
“It was my absolute pleasure,” Harvey says, his voice cracking with emotion.
Jax stuffs his hands into his pockets and they both stand in awkward silence for a few seconds until Harvey clears his throat. “I’d better get back to the house and leave you and your new wife be.”
“Yeah,” Jax agrees and Harvey turns away.
“Molly will be back tomorrow afternoon,” Jax says, stopping his father in his tracks. I did offer his aunt a ride with us, but she insisted on flying back coach, although I know that Jax bumped her up to first class. “Lucia and I might come to the house for dinner. If you’re around?”
“I’ll look forward to it,” he says with a soft smile before he calls Blue and the two of them walk back to the house, disappearing into the darkness.
Jax’s boots make a satisfying clunking sound on the wooden porch as he climbs the two small steps and makes his way over to me. We both changed from our wedding outfits on the plane and now he’s dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt and boots — my LA cowboy. I smile at him. I’m so proud of him for allowing Harvey in a little, because I know how much it cost him.
“Hey, cowboy,” I purr, kicking off my sandals onto the porch.
“Hello, Mrs. Decker,” he growls, bending down and scooping me into his arms.
I giggle as I snake one arm around his neck, fingering the buttons of his shirt with the other as he carries me over the threshold. Once we’re inside, he sets me on my feet.
“I love this house, Jax,” I whisper. “It’s the best surprise ever.”
