Chapter 31 Jaxon #2
“I found something, like…a putty substance, on my key once. He must’ve made a copy. I didn’t realize until the article came out. He’d been snooping.”
“Fucker,” I grit out. “Row, babe… none of that is your fault.”
“I had the key. I should have protected it.”
“No.” My voice is firm, absolute. “You are not carrying this. Not anymore. Not tonight.”
A shaky breath. “I can’t work somewhere that encourages their employees to do whatever it takes to get the story, Jaxon.”
“You’re quitting?” My mind races. “What will you do?”
“Follow my dreams,” she whispers.
Before I can ask what those dreams are—if I’m still part of them—bright lights bloom at the end of her street. A large firetruck rolls quietly into her driveway.
I step back from the door. “Go upstairs, Rowyn. To your bedroom.”
“Jaxon, what’s—”
“You’ll see.” I force a smile she can’t even see and jog through the downpour toward my buddy, Owen.
“Thank you for coming,” I say, breathless. “I know this isn’t an actual emergency but—”
He grins. “It’s absolutely an emergency, Jaxon.” He winks. “Love is always an emergency.”
He turns to his crew. Orders fly. The ladder extends, reaching toward her window like it’s been waiting its whole life for this exact moment.
Seconds later, I’m climbing, rain streaking across my face, adrenaline burning through my veins. I reach the window and spot her sitting on the edge of her bed, hands wringing, lip trembling.
I tap gently. Her eyes fly wide.
She rushes over and slides the window open. “Jaxon. What are you doing?” She glances at the truck below. “You called the fire department?”
“Owen owed me a favor,” I say with a shrug. “Can I come in?”
“Yes,” She starts to step back, then pauses, eyes widening. “Wait! What if I blind you? That’s what happened in the original Rapunzel when the prince climbed the tower.”
Her voice is less fearful and holds more hope, and I laugh softly, rain pouring off me. “I was blind until I met you, Rowyn.” My gaze locks on hers. “I’m coming in.”
And then I step through the window—into the room, into whatever comes next.
She steps back, rainwater streaming from me, pooling at my feet. I turn and give the guys a grateful wave. They nod once before lowering the ladder and driving away. The moment the window shuts, it’s just us—silence, tension, breath.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly, arms wrapped around herself like she’s holding in the pieces. “I know your private life is private. I wanted to tell you about the baby, I really did. I pictured it a thousand times…but then the article came out, and I panicked, and I thought—”
I gently place my hands on her shoulders. “Tell me about your dreams.”
She blinks, surprise flickering, then something else.
Hope. “I want to follow my dreams,” she says, voice trembling with equal parts nerves and excitement.
“I don’t want to live the life my mother thinks I should.
I don’t want to carry guilt I never asked for.
” A breath. “I want to write children’s books, and illustrate them. ”
Emotion swells in my chest. “Rowyn, that’s perfect. That’s you. And you’ll be incredible.”
Her gaze drops to her stomach, hand pressing gently there. “I want children. A family.” I lift her chin with my fingers, her eyes meeting mine and she continues, “I want that with you, but—”
“No buts, Row.” My voice is steady, certain. “Never again. I want all of it. With you.”
She hesitates, searching my face. “I know you’re the kind of man who’ll always do the right thing. But I don’t want you staying because I’m pregnant.”
“Rowyn.” I cradle her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing away the stray tears. “I’m not staying because of the baby. I’m choosing this. I’m running toward it. Toward you. I’ve wanted all of it for longer than I knew how to admit. I was just…” My voice catches.
“Scared,” she whispers, finishing the sentence for me.
I nod. “Yeah. But not because I didn’t trust you.
I trust you more than anyone. I was scared of losing you if you didn’t feel the same way.
I didn’t know what you really wanted. This…
” I gesture between us. “It started as a pretend thing so you could get hot coffee guy’s attention.
But then suddenly, you were all I could see.
And I didn’t know if I was good enough for you.
I was still stuck in old hurts and broken trust.” I swallow hard.
“But being with you…every moment…it healed something in me. You healed something in me.”
Her eyes soften, a small smile pulling at her lips. “Can I make a confession?”
“I want nothing but the truth between us.”
“I fell in love with you the day you carried me off the playground.”
A stunned laugh escapes me, full of relief and love. “God, I love you, Rowyn. I want us to be a family. I should have told you weeks ago.” I take a breath. “I want you to be my wife.”
Her eyes shine, a smile breaking across her face. “I love you too, Jaxon.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her with everything I am—every fear, every hope, every shattered piece reassembled in this one moment. When I finally rest my forehead against hers, her eyes are still closed. Peaceful. Glowing.
“What happened after the prince saved Rapunzel?” I ask quietly.
Her lashes lift, and she gives me a wicked smile. “Why don’t we get you out of those wet clothes…and I’ll show you.”