Page 47 of The Sacrifice

“Stop.” He puts a finger to my lips. “The first night, I told you to keep an open mind about not leaving, and I meant it. I don’t want to jump too far ahead until I have Hadley’s future solidified, but being a family is what I want.” He lowers his lips to mine and gives me a whisper-soft kiss.

When he leans up, he brushes his thumb over the same spot. “Mia?”

“Yes?” The air around us crackles with emotion.

“I–”

Ding. Dong.The doorbell breaks through the surround sound.

“Great,” he groans and shakes his head. “Hold that thought. Whoever it is, has impeccably bad timing. I was going to follow through on my promise, but now we have to handle some traveling salesman before I can get my hands on you.” He spins on his heel and stops on the threshold of the living room and glances over his shoulder. “By the way, Mia, I love you.”

Hadley’s cries blast over the speaker system drowning out the doorbell and music I was dancing to not ten minutes ago, and none of it matters.He said he loves me.I can’t stop the smile from curving up to my cheeks.

Before I can return the words, he winks. “Turn off the stove, grab Hadley, and let’s get rid of whoever is at the door. By the way….” He tilts his head and eyes me up and down. “I look good on you.”

“Of course, you do.”

Ding. Dong.

“Seriously,” he growls. “I’m going to knock whoever it is out. I’d much rather find out what you have on under my jersey.”

“Oh….” I glance down and pull on the edge, exposing my bare pussy and my flat belly. “You mean this little thing?”

“Yes.” His eyes go straight to my crotch and stay there.

Ding. Dong.Hadley’s cries intensify, signaling her growing frustration with the annoying noise.Sweetheart, that makes three of us.

“For the love of God, stop already,” Jackson mutters, marches through the living room, and grabs the doorknob.

“I love you, too.” I race to the stairs to retrieve Hadley and put on some pants.

He yanks open the door, and my brother’s voice sends a shiver along my spine. “It’s about fucking time you answered the door.”

When I reach the top step, I stop dead in my tracks.Shit.I clutch the edge of the jersey to keep my ass from hanging out and tiptoe down the hallway.

“Mia,” Andrew calls out.

Double shit.I spin on my heel and peer over the stair rail. “Hey, Andrew.”

His eyes narrow into slits. “Why are you wearing Jackson’s jersey and nothing else?”

“Oh, no reason.” I shrug and bite my bottom lip to keep from giggling. “I just need to do the laundry.”

Jackson coughs, and my face turns the same shade of red as the shirt. “I’ve got to get Hadley.”

I slip into her room, slam the door shut, and fall against it. The lamp on the dresser tips sideways. I lurch forward and grab it before it hits the floor. “Oops.” I shove it back on the hard surface as Hadley whimpers.

“Hey, there, little girl.” I walk over to her crib and snatch her into my arms. “I’m sorry, baby. I should have gotten to you sooner.” Her bottom lip pokes out, and she clutches at me as she lays her head on my chest. “I love you, too, baby girl.” I kiss her forehead and consider the possibility of hiding out in her bedroom until Andrew leaves.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jackson

Andrew crosses his arms and glares. “What are you doing?”

“I thought it was obvious. I opened the door and let you into my house because you pressed the doorbell. Like I’ve done hundreds of times.”

“Asshole.” His eyes narrow into slits. “I didn’t encourage my sister to help your dumbass out so you could bone her.”