THE BILLIONAIRE'S DANCE(Billionaire Bachelors #2)(25)

She stepped into the den and found Alex on his back, with Jacob balancing on his knees like he was flying through the air. He let out another giggle. Jacob spotted his mom and started wiggling to be let down.

Alex looked up to see what caught his son’s attention, then gave Jessica one of his killer smiles.

Setting Jacob on the floor, the baby crawled as fast as his chubby legs would allow to his mother.

Jessica scooped him up in her arms. “How’s my handsome young man?” she spoke to her son, as she nuzzled his neck, causing more giggles.

“He’s doing great. How was your first day at work?” Alex seemed genuinely interested, which surprised Jessica.

“It was actually great. I know it’s not a big time paper and my name isn’t going to go up in lights or anything but I like the people down there and it’s nice to be working again,” Jessica said, almost defensively.

“Hey, I’m not judging you,” Alex said, while holding his hands out. “Seriously, I really want to know how your day went and what you did,” he finished.

Jessica eyed him suspiciously for a few moments and then decided to tell him about her article and the people she’d met.

“I need to go in tomorrow for a couple of hours and then I thought I would go to the salon. I haven’t had my hair or nails done since before Jacob was born and it would feel heavenly,” she said with a little guilt for leaving her son while she pampered herself.

“You deserve to take some time for yourself. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Jacob is fine. He knows you love him and he won’t be scarred for life because his mother got her nails done. Stop being so hard on yourself,” he stated, as if he could read her mind.

“I know you’re right but I promised myself I wouldn’t be one of those mothers who left her child in someone else’s care while she ran all over the place. It feels wrong, especially with him still being a baby.” She headed over to the bar and poured herself a half glass of wine.

Jacob was happily playing with some of his toys on the floor. Jessica and Alex sat on the couch and watched him amuse himself.

“You’re a great mother. If you take care of your own need as well as his, you’ll always be a great mother. Women who sacrifice everything for their husbands or children end up resentful. You don’t want that to happen do you?”

Jessica looked at Alex, slightly puzzled. This was one of the most real conversations they’d ever had.

It was nice to come home and voice her concerns with the man she loved. Her world stopped as she realized she really did love Alex. She’d tried to avoid it but she loved her time with him. She loved how he was with their son and she loved what he stood for.

She was so afraid her face would somehow show her newfound feelings so she stood up, under the pretense of checking a toy Jacob was playing with. She composed her features, then turned back towards Alex.

“Thanks Alex. I needed to hear that. I’ll take a little me time and not feel guilty about it. I’m going to wash up and change for dinner.” She didn’t give him time to answer her. She quickly slipped from the room and headed to her shower, where she could wash her worries away.

By the time Jessica came back downstairs, dinner was ready and Jacob was seated in his high chair. He was happily stuffing creamed food into his own mouth. More food was on him than in him but he enjoyed himself so it was okay.

“I hope you had a great first day at work,” Julia said.

“It was very nice. How did the day go with Jacob?”

“He was his usual happy self. He took only a short nap this afternoon though, so I think he’ll be ready for bed early tonight. He’s almost finished with his supper so I’ll take him up for a bath while you eat.” Jessica was happy they’d found Julia. She knew Julia loved Jacob as much as Alex and she did.

She was certainly an invaluable member of their family now.

“Thank you Julia. I know I don’t say it enough but I’m grateful you’re a part of our family. I could’ve never spent the afternoon away from my son if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure he was in capable hands.” Jessica got up and gave Julia a hug.

“The honor’s all mine. You have a beautiful family and I’m very happy to be a part of it,” Julia said before heading off to bathe Jacob.

Alex and Jessica finished their supper in an almost uncomfortable silence. When they were talking about Jacob or making love they were in perfect harmony. In any other situation the silence was awkward.

“I’ll be going to my brother’s ranch tomorrow,” Alex finally broke the silence.

“That’s good. You haven’t taken a day off in a while,” Jessica replied.

“He has a roundup that needs done and then we’re all going to meet for a barbeque afterwards,” he continued.

Jessica was nervous. She hadn’t been around his family since the wedding. Joseph and Katherine came over regularly to play with Jacob and Alex had taken the baby over to his siblings a couple of times but there hadn’t been any family gatherings. She was nervous to face them all as a group.

It was especially nerve wracking to be around Lucas and Amy. They were so obviously in love with each other and she herself felt like such a fraud. Jessica knew each day she spent with Alex she fell a little bit more in love but she also knew he didn’t return the feelings. If they didn’t have Jacob together they wouldn’t have a marriage at all.