Chapter 44
Jax was reading over the draft of his new business plan for HERO Force. Cowboy would take over Jax’s role, with Jax moving to a purely supervisory position.
Unless he really needed to blow something up.
“Jax?”
He lifted his head from the papers on his desk to find Jessa standing in the doorway. “Hey. What are you doing here?” He knew how much she hated this office, how much it reminded her of the past. “Everything okay?”
She nodded, closing the door behind her and walking toward him. “Everything’s perfect. I gave Sylvia Cortez the good news.”
“Oh, yeah? That must have been fun.”
“It was. And then I stopped by to tell Maria it was all taken care of. I think she was happy.”
He grinned at her assignation of moods to the dearly departed. “I’m sure she was.”
“But I realized, there’s one more thing I have to do before I can move on with my life.” She walked around his desk, perching her hip on the edge, and he stroked her leg from her ankle to her knee.
“What’s that?”
“I have to tell you how much I love you.”
He sucked in a breath and held it. He knew it. Of course he knew it, but to hear the words after so much time was like getting a gift he hadn’t expected to receive.
She bit her lip, and her eyes shone brightly. “I’ve thought it a thousand times. I’m sorry it took me so long to say.”
He stood up, hope swelling in his chest, and put his arms on her waist. “Does this mean you’ll marry me?”
“Let me finish. I love you, and I accept that HERO Force is just as important to you as I am.”
“No, it’s not.”
She kept talking. “You do incredible things here. Yes, they’re dangerous, and yes, that drives me absolutely insane, but they’re incredible nonetheless. I don’t want you to stop.”
“I said, it’s not as important to me as you are, Jessa.”
“It’s not?”
“I’m cutting back my hours at HERO Force. Putting Cowboy in charge. He’s earned it, and I want to make sure I see my daughter grow up. I want to be there for you.” He’d already let his obsession with HERO Force destroy one marriage. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
Her face lit up. “You’re sure?”
“I’m positive. I love you, Jessa.” He let his hand trace her face from her temple to her jaw, and kissed her. He was swamped with gratitude.
Her kisses were grew more passionate, and he smiled at his very pregnant, very horny, soon-to-be-wife.
She yanked her face away from his. “Uh oh.” Her eyes were wide. “My water just broke.”
Adrenaline shot into his bloodstream. “That’s not supposed to happen yet. Are you sure?”
“Oh, I’m sure all right.” She came to a stand, looking behind her. “Oh, God, I’m sorry about your desk.”
“That’s not my desk. That’s Cowboy’s desk. You ready to have a baby?”
“What if it’s too early?”
“It’s only twenty days, honey, I think she’ll be fine.”
“Right. You’re right. It’s only twenty days.” She took a deep breath.
He’d never been happier in his whole life than he was in this moment. “Then let’s go have a baby.”