I Want You Back (Want You #1)(114)

“See? Even Mimi’s on board with the baby project,” he whispered.

Then why haven’t you asked me to marry you?

Maybe in this day and age it seemed silly to want that piece of paper and a ring, but I did, even when I had the promise of forever from Jax every time he told me he loved me.

After we ate breakfast, a delicious overnight French toast that Jax and Mimi had prepared the night before, Mimi wanted to open the other gifts.

Jax and I had agreed to buy only one thing for each other, so I had a serious case of present anxiety at seeing his lone present from me beneath the tree.

We waited until Mimi had opened all of hers before she handed us the last two boxes.

“Mommy should go last,” Mimi said slyly and tossed the wrapped box to her father.

Jax shook the present. “Hmm. Whatever could it be?”

“Open it!” Mimi said, bouncing on the couch with excitement.

He tore the paper like the Hulk, sending Mimi into a fit of giggles.

That sound. The huge grin on Jax’s face. This was how our family was supposed to be, cuddled up together in our robes and laughing. This was the best Christmas present ever. Did I really need a ring to make it better? No. I sent a silent thank-you to the universe that we’d finally ended up here.

“Uh, Luce?”

I glanced over at Jax’s very handsome, very confused face as he dangled a key between us.

“My gift to you requires us to take a little field trip. No, you don’t have to get dressed.” I stood and took Jax’s left hand. “Help him up, Meems.”

Linking hands, the three of us took the elevator down to the eleventh floor in silence, which was a feat for our daughter. We stopped in front of our old apartment and I said, “Go on in.”

“I’m scared.”

“Don’t be silly, Daddy.”

“Yeah, Daddy-o, don’t be silly.”

Jax gave me a smacking kiss before he opened the door.

The apartment had been emptied.

But I’d brought two items into the empty space.

Jax looked at the Borderlands sign sitting on the plain metal desk, and then back at me. “What’s this?”

“Your new office. Or it will be once it’s designed to your specs. I’ve already talked to Walker. He’s eager to make up for mishandling the bar remodel, and he’s agreed to finish this in a timely fashion.” I moved in and wrapped my arms around his waist. “You need an office of your own, Jax. But it doesn’t need to be in the bar, or at the ice rink, or at the bowling alley, or even next to your manager’s. This apartment is empty, and the elevator is coded to this floor. If you feel like you need to work in the evening, you don’t have to go far. There’s space for a small conference room if you want one, and you’ll have a dedicated area to display your sports accolades. You can even have video camera surveillance routed here once the computer system is running, so you can keep an eye on your businesses and employees without having to be right there. Plus, you’ll have a private bathroom, just like all the bigwig Lund executives at LI do.” I pointed to the sign. “All you have to do is look at that and you’ll know you’re in your happy place. And if you need further assurance, hop on the elevator and you’re home with us.”

“Lucy. I . . .”

I’d never seen him at such a loss for words.

Mimi started skipping around with her doll, chattering away to it, giving us privacy.

“Did I overstep my bounds?”

“Never. I’m just so floored that I don’t know what to say. This is the perfect solution. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

“Because you’ve already got enough going on. And Walker is giving me the discount he promised you, which is the only way I can afford to do this for you.”

“Thank you.” He rested his forehead to mine. “You really knocked my Christmas gift outta the park. Now my gift to you seems lame in comparison.”

“I’m sure—” was all I got out before Jax’s mouth landed on mine.

He kissed me with the mix of sweetness and passion that lit me up like a Christmas tree.

This was one of his I’m-in-charge kisses, forcing me to be patient.

This was one of his seduce-you-now, conquer-you-later kisses.

This kiss filled me with his love until I was overflowing with it.

I poured it right back into him.

“Are you still kissing?” Mimi said with a put-upon sigh. “Come on. Mommy still needs to open her present.”

“Okay, kiddo, let’s go.”

My gift from Jax was a gorgeous necklace, five different-colored sapphires in five different shapes—an orange rectangle, a green circle, a pink diamond, a purple square and a blue oval—spaced on a platinum chain.

“I helped pick it out,” Mimi said proudly.

“You did great, because it’s perfect. I love it. Thank you.”

“You’re sure?” he asked anxiously.

“The presents are just icing. Us being together, that’s the real gift, Jax.”

“You always say the perfect thing.”



* * *



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    Hours later, after we’d made the rounds to family and friends, Jax and I were sprawled in our bed, naked and panting after he’d “gifted” me with two orgasms to cap off my perfect Christmas.