Chapter 5
Chapter Five
JULIE
I sit at the long mahogany dining table, my mind spinning as I try to process the whirlwind of events that have brought me to this moment.
It’s surreal.
Just days ago, Josie, Maddie, and I were barely scraping by in that dingy shack I optimistically called a house. Now, we’re staying in Blake’s sprawling mansion.
Josie laughs beside me as she chats with Willow. Maddie gurgles happily in Blake’s arms, oblivious to the significance of this family dinner.
How did my life flip upside down so fast?
My eyes drift to Blake. He’s cradling our daughter and pressing a tender kiss to her wispy blonde curls. “Daddy loves you so much, princess,” he murmurs. “I’m never letting you go.”
Maddie coos and reaches up a chubby hand to pat Blake’s chiseled jaw. The pure adoration shining in his eyes takes my breath away. I’ve never seen a man look at his child like that before.
Memories of my own childhood flash through my mind. Mom passed out drunk on the couch. Strange men filtering in and out of whatever craphole we were renting that month while Josie and I cowered in the bedroom.
No one ever looked at us the way Blake is looking at Maddie now. Like we were precious. Cherished.
Loved.
A lump forms in my throat, and I blink rapidly against the sting of tears.
Watching Blake with Maddie, I feel something stir deep inside me. It’s more than just the sizzling physical attraction that’s been simmering between us since the moment we met. This is different. Stronger.
Blake isn’t just a smoking-hot billionaire with a body built for sin. He’s a man who stepped up without hesitation to be a father to a daughter he never knew existed. A man who opened his home and his heart to a woman he barely knows, simply because she’s Maddie’s aunt.
Blake is kind. Generous. Loyal. The type of man who would move heaven and earth for the people he loves. The type of man I never thought I’d find.
As if sensing my thoughts, Blake’s family draws me into the conversation and peppers me with questions about my life, my interests, and my dreams for the future. They listen intently to my answers, nodding and smiling like they actually care.
Josie jumps in, regaling them with embarrassing stories from our childhood. Instead of judging, they just laugh and share their own tales of youthful misadventures.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong.
Like I’m part of a real family.
I catch Blake watching me with a soft smile playing on his sensual lips.
“You okay?” he mouths silently.
In that moment, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like if this wasn’t just temporary. If Blake, Maddie, Josie, and I could be a family for real.
I swallow hard and force a smile. “I’m great,” I whisper back.
And for the first time in forever, I actually mean it.
A few hours later, Blake’s family has left and the house is quiet once more. I’m holding a snoring Maddie, who’s been sufficiently tired out from the day’s activities. Her little head rests heavily on my shoulder, her soft puffs of breath warming my neck.
Josie walks over, a soft smile on her face. “Why don’t I put Maddie to bed? Give you and Blake some time to talk.”
Gratitude floods me at her thoughtfulness. “Thanks, sis. I’d really appreciate that.”
Blake approaches and gently runs a finger down Maddie’s cheek. “Sweet dreams, princess. Daddy loves you.” He presses a tender kiss to her forehead.
I pass Maddie carefully to Josie. “Love you, sis. You’re the best.” I enfold her in a warm hug and drop a quick peck on her cheek.
Josie grins. “Love you too. Now go.” She nods meaningfully in Blake’s direction before heading upstairs with Maddie.
And then it’s just me and Blake. Alone.
He turns to me, a sexy grin playing about his lips. “So, would you like some dessert?”
I swallow hard, suddenly overwhelmed by his nearness. “Um, what kind of dessert?”
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Blake chuckles. “The food kind.” He threads his fingers through mine, and it sends sparks of awareness up my arm. “I thought we could sit by the fire outside. Make some s’mores.”
My heart hammers against my ribs as I let him lead me toward the kitchen, anticipation simmering low in my belly.
Once there, I settle into one of the plush patio chairs while Blake gets the fire going.
The night air is cool against my flushed skin.
I take a moment to absorb my surroundings—the elegant patio furniture, the twinkling stars above, the distant sound of crickets. It’s like something out of a dream.
“This is really nice,” I murmur as Blake returns with the s’mores ingredients and a bottle of wine.
He flashes me a heart-stopping smile. “Only the best for my girl.”
My breath hitches. His girl. I like the sound of that.
A lot.
We make s’mores in companionable silence for a few minutes. The crackling of the fire and the chirping of crickets is a soothing soundtrack. I take a sip of my wine, and the rich, smooth liquid warms me from the inside out.
“I have to say, I make a mean s’more,” Blake declares, holding up his perfectly toasted marshmallow.
I can’t help but laugh. “Is that so? Well, I happen to be a s’more connoisseur. Let me be the judge of that.”
Grinning, he assembles his s’more and holds it out to me. I lean in to take a bite... and get melted chocolate and marshmallow all over my face.
“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?” I scrunch my nose at him as he chuckles.
“Here, let me.” Blake leans in and gently wipes the sticky mess from my cheek. My skin tingles where he touches me, and suddenly roasting marshmallows is the last thing on my mind.
Neither of us says a word as he finishes cleaning my face, the air between us electric. Then he pulls back and pops the rest of the s’more into his mouth.
“Delicious,” he declares with a wink.
Holy hell. This man will be the death of me...
We settle back into the cushions, our bodies angled toward each other. Blake tugs me against his chest, and I can’t help but sink into him, reveling in his warmth.
“I had such an amazing time with your family tonight,” I tell him softly. “They’re wonderful.”
Blake’s chest rumbles with a chuckle. “They’re pretty crazy about you too.”
Emotion clogs my throat. After the way I grew up, I’m not used to feeling so... accepted. Welcomed.
“But why? They don’t even know me,” I whisper. Doubt creeps in, threatening my newfound happiness. “Not really.”
Blake tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his steady gaze. “They know everything they need to. That you’re kind, smart, hardworking. An incredible mother.” He slides his hand to my cheek, his touch tender. “And that I’m crazy about you.”
Tears prick my eyes. No one has ever said such beautiful things to me. I’m usually the one taking care of everyone else, making sure Josie and Maddie have what they need. I’m not used to someone looking out for me.
“I’m crazy about you too,” I breathe, my voice wavering. “So crazy it scares me a little.”
“Don’t be scared, baby.”
Blake strokes my cheekbone with his thumb, his eyes filled with so much affection it takes my breath away. “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”
And with that, he leans in and kisses me, soft and sweet and achingly tender. He puts every ounce of his feelings behind it. I cling to him, losing myself in the feel of his lips on mine, in the overwhelming rightness of it all.
This right here? Wrapped up in Blake’s arms under a canopy of stars? It’s everything.
It’s perfect.
Blake pulls back, but only far enough to rest his forehead against mine. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” I run my fingers through his hair, savoring the silky texture.
“What happened that night in Vegas? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”
I sigh, my heart clenching. I knew this question was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to answer. Still, Blake deserves the truth.
“I had a challenging childhood,” I begin. “My father left when I was seven and Josie was just a baby. Our mom... She struggled with alcoholism and keeping a job. We moved around a lot. I had to take responsibility for Josie from a young age.”
Blake’s eyes soften with understanding, and he rubs his thumb in soothing circles on my hip. “I’m so sorry, Julie. That must have been so hard.”
I nod. “It was. But we had each other. And thanks to Josie’s guardian ad litem, Melissa, I was able to get custody of her right before I started college.”
“You’re amazing,” Blake murmurs, then presses a kiss to my forehead. “So strong. I’m in awe of you, you know that?”
A wobbly smile lifts my lips. “I don’t feel very strong sometimes. Especially not that night in Vegas.”
Blake’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Here goes nothing.
“It was my twenty-first birthday. My senior year of college. My friends and I scraped together enough money to go to Vegas for one night. Just one night of fun, you know? I’d spent so much of my life working hard, taking care of Josie... I thought I deserved to let loose for once.”
Understanding dawns in Blake’s eyes. “And then you met me.”
“And then I met you,” I confirm with a nod. “And then we had sex and it was... It was incredible. Mind-blowing. But afterward, I panicked.”
Blake frowns. “Why?”
“I’d spent my whole life being in control. I had to be, for Josie’s sake. But that night, between Josie getting in that car accident and it being my first time...” I shake my head, a self-deprecating laugh escaping. “I didn’t know how to process any of it. So I ran.”
Blake’s eyes widen. “Wait, did you just say... that was your first time having sex?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “It was my only time.”
Mortification churns in my gut. He had to have known I was a virgin that night, right? I feel so inexperienced and inadequate compared to him.
Peeking up at him, I whisper, “Are you mad?”
Blake gazes down at me, his blue eyes smoldering with intensity. “Mad? No, Julie. I’m not mad.” He cups my face in his big hands. “I’m honored.”
Then his mouth crashes against mine in a possessive kiss that steals my breath.
“Honored to be your first,” he rasps against my lips. He kisses me again, deeper, with a thorough sweep of his tongue. When he pulls back, he growls, “Honored to be your last.”
I blink up at him, dazed and dizzy. “My last?”
His expression turns resolute, and his jaw clenches. “You’re mine, Julie. You’ve always been my girl. No other man will ever touch you except me.”
Suddenly, Blake scoops me up and tosses me over his shoulder. A startled giggle bursts out of me. “Blake! Put me down! I’m too heavy!”
Smacking my ass, he rumbles, “Not a chance, baby. I’m taking you upstairs so we can finish what we started.”