Straight Up Love (The Boys of Jackson Harbor #2)(94)

“We’ll lock the door behind us,” Sydney calls.

Jake pulls away. “Thanks, Sydney! I always liked you.” Mischief is all over his face. He stills until the click of the back door echoes across the stage, then he pushes me against the wall and snakes his hand up my shirt.

I arch into his touch. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting distracted. I’m back here for a reason, but I’ve got you alone and want to touch.” His mouth trails slowly up my neck, then his breath is hot against my ear. “I have to make up for all those years I couldn’t.”

I flatten my palm to his chest and push. “Don’t be distracted.”

His nostrils flare as his gaze slips up and down my body again. “Maybe I’m trying to calm my nerves.”

“Nerves?”

He swallows hard and backs up a step. “I wanted to wait until the papers were signed and everything was in place for your new theater program. I wanted to let you get that part of your life in order first.”

A chill races up my skin. “First? Like before you did something else?”

“Yeah.” He nods and lowers himself to one knee.

“Jake . . . Are you . . . Is this?”

Apparently, my stumbling puts him at ease, because he grins and reaches into his pocket. “You said you wanted to give me something.” He rubs his thumb over the velvet box, and I want to scream for him to open it, but I bite my lip instead. “You said I give you more than you give me. I know that’s not true, because I get to wake up with you next to me every morning. I know I’m the one getting the winning end of this deal every time you laugh with me or prove how deep your love goes.”

“You give me everything,” I whisper. “Everything that matters.”

“Then give me your forever.” He slowly opens the box to reveal a sparkling diamond solitaire inside. “If you want to give me more, give me your tomorrows. I want your laughter and tears. I want your good days and the bad.” He takes the ring from the box and reaches for my hand. “Because there’s nothing else I want, Ava.”

I feel the tears on my cheeks as I nod. “Yes. Of course, yes, Jake.” He slides the ring onto my finger, and I can only stare at it in wonder. Jake’s been my everything even when he didn’t have to be. He was my always even when I pushed him away. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He stands and presses me against the wall again as he lowers his smiling mouth to mine. His hand tugs at the hem of my dress.

“What are you doing now?” I ask against his mouth.

“I’m fucking my bride-to-be backstage.”

A shiver of pleasure races up my spine and down my arms. “Oh.”

He slides his hand between my legs. “I love you, Ava.”

I gasp as he tugs my panties to the side. “Love you too,” I say, breathless. “But I actually need to talk to you about something.”

He tugs my panties down until they fall at my feet. “I saw the trash in the bathroom,” he says. “Don’t you dare apologize about it.” He sucks at my neck and rubs between my legs, and I struggle to form words. “We aren’t in any hurry, and if I have to fuck you every day for the rest of our lives to try to give you a baby, that’s just my cross to bear.”

“The test was positive.”

He freezes. His hand, his mouth, maybe even his heart. Slowly, he pulls away. “Seriously?”

Swallowing hard, I nod. “Seriously.” He searches my face, and my heart is so damn full. “I’m pregnant.”

“Are you happy?”

I nod, tears spilling onto my cheeks. “So happy.”

“I didn’t . . .” He swallows and shakes his head. “I didn’t think I could be any happier. I was wrong.”

“I never expected it would happen so fast. I’m sorry if—”

He crushes his mouth down on mine. “No apologies. This is amazing.” His lips quirk as he pulls back. “You’re going to need to plan that wedding pretty fast. You up for that? You have to marry me before our baby’s born.”

“It’s not a have to. I get to marry Jake Jackson.”

“And have his baby,” he says, his voice gruff.

I nod. “Exactly. I’m the luckiest girl I know.”