Page 61 of The Sacrifice
“What’s wrong?” Andrew steps into the living room. “It got quiet.”
“I had a nanny placement come up, and I was reading through the information.’
“You aren’t going, are you?” My mom’s grip on Hadley increases. My mom has wanted a grandchild for four years. Hadley’s eyes fille with tears, and her bottom lip quivers. “It sounds like you and Jackson have a good thing here. And the baby, you don’t want to leave her. Do you?”
“No, mom. I’m not going anywhere.” After setting my cellphone on the end table, I walk over to them and sweep Hadley into my arms. “I already told Jackson that I’m staying in Kansas City. Not that the place sounds bad. I’ve always wanted to visit Wyoming.”
Andrew lowers the beer from his lips. “Jackson can take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Yes, he can.” I lift Hadley into the air and play with her until she’s smiling. We can go to a horse ranch on our honeymoon. Or on vacation. There’s plenty of time for traveling after the DNA results come back.
“Sweetheart, you look happy.” My mom studies the two of us together. “I’m so happy for you. I know how badly you wanted a child and how devastated you were when the doctor said it would be difficult, if not impossible. It’s like Hadley is your own little miracle.”
Andrew’s fingers clasp the beer bottle. “Does Jackson know that?”
“Yes, he does. I’m not trying to trick him into a relationship to get his kid. I love Jackson, so don’t get your boxers into a bunch.”
“Good.”
Jackson breezes through the kitchen doorway and drops a white package on the dining room table. “There are all of my favorite ladies in one place.”
He waltzes over to my mom and kisses her cheek. “Hello, Angela. It’s good to see you. It’s been forever.” He steps back and studies her. “That color looks fantastic on you.”
“Thank you, dear.” She’s wearing jeans and a lavender T-shirt and beams as she basks under his attention. I see why she always loved him. He treated her like a queen.
Jackson nods at Andrew. “Hey, bud. Thanks for having my back from your crazy baby-starved sister. She latched onto me, and I can’t get rid of her.”
“Asshole.” I glare at him.
He walks over to us with a cocky grin on his face. “Did you miss me?”
“No.” I kiss the top of Hadley’s head. “I had your baby. I didn’t need you.”
“Yes, you do.” He brushes his lips over my ear. “You crave my cock too much to walk away.” The deep baritone of his voice causes my nipples to tent against my bra. “And those toys you forgot to put away last night after coming all over them and screaming my name.”
“Stop.” Heat floods my face until I’m afraid I’m going to spontaneously combust.
“Baby, you don’t ever want me to stop.” He grazes his lips along my jaw and kisses my lips. “I love you.”
I fist his T-shirt, not caring that it’s going to wrinkle, and pull him closer. “I love you, too.”
My mom clears her throat. “Andrew.” She claps her hands together. “I think we should go. I need to go to the store.”
“Sure, mom. I told you it wasn’t a good idea to stop here unannounced.”
“Well, you should have told me they were a couple and still in the honeymoon phase and I would have known to call ahead.”
“It’s fine, Mrs. Bennett.” Jackson wraps his arm around me and turns to face them as they walk toward the door. “You aren’t an imposition.”
“No, we’ll come back later.” My mom shakes her head. “Now that I know you’re together, and you aren’t traipsing off to Wyoming.” Her brow knits together. “It was Wyoming, right?”
“Yes, mom, it was Wyoming.”
“What’s in Wyoming?” Jackson tenses next to me.
“She was going to let a cowboy lasso her, but she found you first.” Andrew chuckles and twists the doorknob. “But mom is right. It’s good to see the two of you together. It’s cringy but good. I love you both and seeing you happy is nice.”
“Thank you.” I rest my head against Jackson’s chest. It does feel good.