17. Logan
We were goingto be late. Jaxon had surprised me last night, and again this morning, with his response to me and the baby. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would want us.
Quickly braiding my hair back, I flattened my palms down the soft, navy dress. It hid my bump while enhancing my other features, and I was pleased with the way it softened my features.
Jax knocked on the bathroom door, reminding me we were ten minutes late already. Since he was part of the wedding party, we had to be early.
“Just one more minute.” I squirted some of my favorite perfume on my neck, swiped some pink gloss on my lips, and then checked my hair one last time.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I wasn’t expecting Jaxon to be leaning against the frame, looking ever-so-dashing in a black tux. He caught me as I crashed into him, and then, his beautiful, caramel eyes swept over me, darkening.
“Wow, sweetheart.” He pressed the softest kiss to my cheek, his beard rubbing against my skin in the most delicious way.
“It hides the baby.” I showed him, proud of the hours Scarlett and I spent searching.
“You shouldn’t have to hide our baby.” His hands cupped my belly as he stared into my eyes. “I don’t need you to hide. I don’t want you to hide either. Now that I know, I want the entire world to know, Logan.”
If only he knew that one request for everyone to know would nearly break us.
* * *
At the receptiona few hours later, I waited for Jaxon at our designated table, scrolling through Instagram while the family posed for pictures.
“Logan, where are you?” Kenna’s southern drawl pulled me out of my daze, and suddenly, she was right in front of me. “Why aren’t you with us?” She extended a hand to help me stand, and I wondered if she knew.
“Family pictures. Didn’t think I should be there,” I told her as she led me to where everyone was posing.
“Honey, you are family now. Come stand with your man and smile. We want you here.” Her kindness was overwhelming, and I had to blink away tears. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell someone else that I was carrying his child, but I was scared of it ruining any chance of me being included in this beautiful family.
Jaxon spotted me immediately and walked over, pulling me into his arms and pressing a kiss to my temple. He then led me back to his spot, where he put me in front of him. “You’re part of my family, Logan. You belong here with me,” he whispered. Chills skated down my spine as his hands wrapped around my belly.
With him pulling the material tight on the dress, everyone would see, but he didn’t care.
The photographer told us to smile. He complimented the bride and groom, who were glowing with happiness from what I could see out the corner of my eye.
“Oh, my God!” Brooklyn, who was to my right, squealed, and I turned to look at her. Then, I saw exactly where her eyes were laser-focused. “You’re pregnant!”
Everyone in the wedding party was looking at me now.
Jaxon’s brothers immediately left their positions to tackle their youngest brother in congratulations, acting like teenage boys rather than grown men, their laughter infectious. The women quickly circled me.
“Congratulations, Logan!”
“Is it boy or girl?”
“How far along are you?”
“Are you gettin’ married?”
The questions flew at me from all directions, but all I seemed to notice was the immense happiness coming from everyone. I was accepted in this family. I was wanted.
I’m going to be okay, Mom.
Jaxon was at my back again, and his arms wrapped around me. I stole a glance up at him, catching the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face.
I made this beautiful man smile.
“We’re pregnant,” he tells everyone, like they didn’t already know, and I sank into his hold, letting him answer the questions.
Would we get married?
I thought about my checklist for the hundredth time since finding out I was pregnant.
Find love. Check.
Get married.
Buy a house, preferably on the water, with lots of land for all the kids and dogs I want.
Rescue a dog.
Fall pregnant with the man of my dreams. Check.
Raise a beautiful family. Soon-to-be check.
I had the most important things checked off, and it didn’t matter that they weren’t in order. I found love in Jaxon. Sure, it was in the most unconventional way. I wasn’t supposed to fall pregnant first, but didn’t everything happen for a reason?
What would my mom say?
Did it really matter?
“Where are you, sweetheart?” Jaxon whispered, his lips brushing my ear, setting my skin on fire.
“Just thinking,” I told him as I partially listened to the family gush about our news, like it was more exciting than the wedding we were here for. What was more interesting was the excitement coming from Carter when we just stole her entire show.
“Let me into that pretty mind of yours.” Jaxon’s focus was on me and nobody else.
“Just thinking about my list,” I admitted, worried he might be tired of hearing about my damn list.
“What about it? Are you worried it’s not goin’ to come true?” There was a hint of fear in his voice, so I turned in his arms, looping my arms around his neck so I could look into his eyes.
“Not at all. It’s all coming true. Not in order, but it’s slowly becoming my reality,” I told him, and he nodded in understanding, relaxing a little.
“I’ll make it all come true, sweetheart. I will marry you. I will find you a house with lots of land and water. We will rescue a dog. And Logan, we are going to raise a beautiful family.” My heart might just beat out of my chest from his words.
How was it possible for one man to be so perfect?
“You have my word that I will be checkin’ every damn thin’ off that list.”
Jaxon Dexter was, in fact, a total swoon boat.
* * *
On Sunday,we were supposed to go home, but Jaxon wanted to show me around his hometown, so we started the day in a tiny café called Mel’s Café, where they had the best chocolate chip cookies I had ever tasted.
Then, he showed me where his older brother, Dante, worked training horses. Dante was busy giving Alice a lesson when we arrived but promised to give me some after the baby was born. He also told us about the trail rides he and Brook went on, which he swore made her fall in love with him.
We walked through Main Street, where Jaxon pointed out the places he used to hang with friends before leaving Honey Magnolia.
It was a quaint town that I had easily fallen in love with. We finished the night at his parents’ house, where his mother showed me every baby picture she had of Jaxon and whipped up the best homemade mac and cheese I had ever eaten.
After dinner, we packed up the cabin, Jaxon loaded his truck, and I looked around the small space where my life had changed.
“What are you lookin’ at?” he asked, coming to stand behind me, his arms wrapping around my middle.
“This place is where everything changed for the better.” He chuckled, kissing my neck.
“Actually, sweetheart, that would be the hotel room.” A giggle bubbled up my chest, and I slapped my hand over my mouth.
I was twenty-six years old—a grown woman giggling.
“I like it when you laugh,” he whispered, his lips at my ear, nibbling on the sensitive skin.
“I like it when you kiss me.” I turned in his arms.
“Like this?” He pecked my cheek. “Or like this?” He pressed his lips to mine, his teeth biting down on my bottom lip, begging for entrance, tongue swiping away at the sting.
When he pulled away, my fingers were curled into his hair, my chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. “That—like that,” I whispered.
“Time to go home, sweetheart.” He kissed my temple and then led me to the truck, where we talked about our future for the next two hours, and then fell into his bed, completely and utterly exhausted and happy.