Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Everyone else at the table was just as chilled, and both families were mixing well. Ollie and Caelan were in a deep discussion about something. Sitting across from each other, Harri and Drey were chatting away. Dax’s parents, my mom, Marleigh, and Raven were laughing while reading aloud dirty Christmas cracker jokes to each other.
We’d all finished our dinner at this point and, God, I was beyond bloated. I honestly thought I’d burst if someone so much as touched my belly. Apparently, a to-die-for dessert awaited us all, courtesy of Kensey. I sure hoped the Davenports and Merciers banded together for more dinners in the future, because the food was ace and seeing everyone getting along so well warmed my heart.
Dax splayed his hand on my thigh, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Why are you puffing out your cheeks?”
“Because I’m stuffed,” I replied. “Hey, I noticed you and my dad were chatting like buds just now. And you said it wasn’t possible for him to be nice to you. Such a skeptic you are.”
“I didn’t say he wouldn’t be nice. I said he’d never like me. And he won’t.”
I flapped a hand. “Whatever. He’s not glaring and stuff. I’ll take that as a win.”
Leaning into me, Dax whispered, “Out of curiosity, are you going to make eye contact with my mom at some point?”
“No,” I said just as quietly. “I don’t trust myself not to blush and start gushing about her books in a creepy stalkerish way. Stop smiling. It isn’t funny.”
He didn’t bother to shrink his grin. “Where’s the closest bathroom?”
I gave him directions and then shamelessly ogled his ass as he walked out of the room. I couldn’t help but let out a somewhat dreamy sigh. Well, it was a positively epic butt.
Alicia softly snickered, watching me. “I’d give you shit for that girly sigh, but I’d probably be just as smug if I’d bagged a dude that hot. I love your necklace, by the way.”
I fingered it gently, feeling my mouth hitch up. “It’s a present from Dax.”
“Hmm, he sure has good taste when it comes to bling. What else did he get you?”
“A few things, including a gold compass like the one from that romcom I love.”
Alicia’s lips parted as realization of its meaning dawned on her. “Oh. Going by the glowing look on your face, I don’t think I need to ask if his feelings are returned.”
I beamed. “No, you don’t.”
Her expression went soft as she studied me. “You’re happy.”
“I am.” I bumped her shoulder with mine. “I want you to be this happy.”
“I don’t know if anyone could be as happy as you are right now.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you pregnant?”
“No. Not yet, anyway. But we’re going to start trying for a baby in a couple of months. That was the original plan.”
She lifted her champagne flute. “I don’t know if he’ll want to share you so soon. Don’t be surprised if he suggests altering the plan just a little. And here he comes now.”
I watched as he stalked back into the room, all slow and sexy.
Retaking his seat beside me, he gave me a faint, lopsided smile. “You good?”
“Couldn’t be better,” I replied. “You?”
He leaned in. “You love me?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Then I’m good.”
Epilogue
Daxton
A month later
Watching Addison sitting on their sofa cradling her nephew, Dax propped his hip against the doorjamb. Marleigh, Alicia, and Harri had turned up half an hour ago with ten-day-old baby Hudson, who every member of Addison’s family doted on and treated like a prince.
Seeing her cuddle the infant, her face awash with pure joy, Dax felt warmth flare in his chest. Before marrying her, he’d wanted children. But now it was a different kind of “want.” Because now it wasn’t merely about having kids, it was about having them with Addison. About the journey of the pregnancy, about seeing her belly swollen with his baby, about watching her hold them the way she now did Hudson.
“I don’t need to ask what’s going through your head right now,” said Jag beside him, pulling him out of his ruminations.
Dax spared him a quick glance. “I don’t need to ask what’s going through yours.” He’d caught Jag discreetly eyeing Alicia when her attention was elsewhere—and vice versa.
Jag’s jaw firmed. “Leave it.”
Dax shrugged. “You want to deprive yourself of what you want, that’s your business.” But that wasn’t Dax’s style—hence why he’d set out to convince Addison to marry him in the first place, unwilling to consider that he’d fail.
She wasn’t the type he usually went for, but she’d snatched his attention the first time he saw her over a decade ago. It was that indifferent, unattainable vibe she gave off. She didn’t enter a room and wonder if anyone was looking at her; didn’t make a single move that was designed to snare a man’s focus—there was no artifice, no mask, no vanity, no games.