The only thing that could make it better would be if I knew this thing between us was real on his part. How did he feel about me? He was so caring and attentive, and wanted me to move in with him, for fuck’s sake. It seemed like he wanted me as much as I wanted him, but part of me struggled to accept it. I believed Jaxon when he said he wanted to help me adopt Liam, but would moving in with Jaxon really fix the problem with social services? I just didn’t know at this point, and my growing feelings for Jaxon complicated matters.

  Before the kids went out to start the next inning, Jaxon snuck out of the dugout and came over to stand beside me, reaching into the cooler for a bottle of water.

  “So, you enjoying the game so far?” he asked, wiping the sweat off his brow with his forearm.

  Looking up at him, I felt a little dizzy. God, how was he so damn sexy? He smirked when I didn’t respond, obviously noticing I was checking him out.

  “Yeah,” I managed to say. Then I grinned back at him. “Definitely enjoying the show.”

  Jaxon laughed, then leaned in when he set his water bottle back in the cooler. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  I had a feeling he was talking about more than just the game.

  The next few innings flew by, our team pretty much sweeping the game. Liam had done an excellent job. I started to push to my feet as the kids ran off the field, cheering and pumping their fists in victory. I was finding it easier to get around the last few days, but when I stood up, another wave of dizziness hit me, this time not just related to Jaxon’s proximity. I gripped the back of the chair, but it wasn’t that sturdy, and I felt myself losing my balance.

  Jaxon was there in a heartbeat. I didn’t even know how he made it to me so fast, but he had his arm around my waist holding me before I knew what was happening.

  “Whoa, there,” he said softly. “You okay?”

  I clutched my stomach, which was suddenly roiling. I felt lightheaded and my skin started to tingle uncomfortably. “I don’t know,” I said, gritting my teeth. “I feel a little woozy all of a sudden.”

  He watched me carefully, worried. “Maybe we just need to get you home.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I think this heat is starting to get to me.” That had to be it. “Oh, but we promised Liam we’d take him out to celebrate if he won.”

  Jaxon nodded quickly. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a better idea. Let’s just get you in the car first.”

  He helped me to the car and turned it on, blasting cool air. It helped my nausea a little, but not much. I watched as he helped the team gather their things and gave them an after-game congratulatory speech, then he and Liam headed toward the car, Jaxon’s arm slung over Liam’s shoulders again. They were talking, and Liam was grinning.

  When he opened the door and vaulted into the backseat, I didn’t even have to ask what he looked so happy about. “Jaxon said he wants to cook at our house instead of going somewhere to eat. Is that okay?”

  I smiled up at Jaxon, grateful he hadn’t let on to Liam that I wasn’t feeling well, and he just winked at me.

  “Of course, big man,” I said.

  Jaxon climbed into the driver’s seat and then pulled out onto the road. “Let’s hit up the grocery store, what do you say? Steak?”

  “Yeah!” Liam exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.

  We’d gone less than a mile when I felt the nausea back in full force.

  “Jaxon,” I bit out, gripping his arm with one hand and my stomach with the other. “Pull over.”

  He gave me a worried look and jerked the car to the shoulder of the road. Just in time too. I heaved the door open then got sick all over the grass. Jaxon was out of the car and around on my side in seconds flat, his hands soothing as he rubbed my back and brushed my hair off my forehead. My cheeks burned. I really didn’t want him seeing me this way, but it didn’t seem like I had much of a choice. Still, he took care of me like he wanted to. And I had to say I appreciated it. I felt like shit.

  “Do you want me to take you straight home and go back to the store?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

  I shook my head. “No. I think I’ll be okay now. I don’t know what that was about. Maybe the heat,” I said weakly, though it hadn’t been that hot.

  He studied me for a few more seconds, then nodded and got me settled in my seat before climbing back behind the wheel. I managed to keep myself together while I waited in the car at the grocery store, but Jaxon had to pull over one more time before we got back to my house. God, this was embarrassing.

  “Whose car is that?” Jaxon asked, slowing as we reached my driveway. He pulled up next to the car in question, and I groaned when I saw Mrs. Pinder sitting inside. Could she have any worse timing? She already thought I was barely capable of caring for Liam as it was. Seeing me even weaker than normal wasn’t a good look for proving her wrong.

  “Is that the social worker?” he asked quietly, and when I nodded he reached over and squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

  He climbed out of the car, waving at Mrs. Pinder like they were old friends as he circled around to open my door. He said something to her as she opened her door, but her eyes were on me as Jaxon assisted me out of the car.

  She frowned. “Is everything okay?”

  I grimaced. “Just feeling a little under the weather, that’s all.”

  She nodded quickly. “I won’t stay long then. I just needed to talk to you about the case. The adoption proceedings are coming up soon, and there are a few more things we need to discuss now I’ve got your financials.”

  I’d sent them over earlier in the week. Of course she’d want to talk about that while Jaxon was here.

  I took a step forward, leaning against Jaxon for support. My legs still felt weak, and my stomach was still roiling. Mrs. Pinder’s sharp eyes didn’t miss the way he had his arm around me, his touch very familiar.

  “And I don’t believe I caught your name when I saw you last,” she said primly. “You’re…close with Mr. Baldwin?”

  I opened my mouth to answer her, but Jaxon jumped right in, not missing a beat. “I’m Jaxon Parsons, Bryce’s fiancé.”

  I wondered if my face mirrored Mrs. Pinder’s shocked expression, but I couldn’t exactly contradict him in front of her. After all, this was part of the plan—or at least a portion of it. We were supposed to convince her we were in a relationship. But engaged?

  Jaxon smiled smoothly, bending to kiss the top of my head. “Isn’t that right, Bryce?” He turned a disarming grin on her. “We’ve just gone public with our relationship, but I plan on marrying this man as soon possible. In fact, I’m moving him and Liam into my house even sooner. That way I can look after them both better. Believe me, I plan on taking good care of these two.”

  He looked back at me, adoration plain on his face, and my heart stuttered. I smiled back, leaning closer to him and resting my head on his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around him. “That’s right, baby.”

  “Let’s go inside,” Jaxon suggested.”

  “I won’t stay long at all,” Mrs. Pinder promised, a complete change in her demeanor now. “I can see you don’t feel well.”

  We went in, and Jaxon and I sat on the couch. “Liam, why don’t you go get a shower, buddy?” I asked him.

  As soon as he was out of the room, Mrs. Pinder got right to the point. “Really, the only things that would keep this adoption from going smoothly are your financial and physical limitation when it comes to caring for Liam, but if what you’re saying is true, this does change things. In your favor, I might add.”

  For the first time, I saw Mrs. Pinder as possibly not being the bad guy here. She really did just want to make sure Liam was well cared for, and I had the opportunity here, thanks to Jaxon, to prove to her that Liam would be. So I played right along, needing to do my part to make sure this adoption was approved.

  “Jaxon is really wonderful with Liam,” I told her, though that was every bit the truth. “And Liam loves him.”

  “And I love Liam,” Jaxon added. He was right there saying all the right things, everything she needed to hear, and I wanted too much to believe it was all true.

  I sat there and listened as he told Mrs. Pinder how much Liam and I meant to him. That I was an amazing uncle to Liam, everything he needed, and how being in our lives was the best thing that had ever happened to him. I was almost shocked by the level of sincerity in his voice. Either he was an amazing actor, or he meant the things he was saying. God, how I wanted it to be the latter.

  Within just a few minutes, Jaxon seemed to have satisfied Mrs. Pinder to the point that she stood up and gave me a genuine smile. “Mr. Baldwin, I have to say, this is all wonderful news. I can honestly say that I can pretty much guarantee the adoption being granted in light of this new information.”

  Jaxon squeezed my hand. “Well, I’m happy to hear that. Because there’s truly nothing to worry about as far as finances or Bryce’s ability to care for Liam are concerned. I’ll be right there every step of the way, supporting them both in any way I can.”

  “I’ll be in touch before long,” she said, gathering her things. We started to get up, but she waved her hand. “I can show myself out. Have a nice evening.”

  Then she was gone.

  I slumped on the sofa, still feeling queasy, but also feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Jaxon’s plan had worked. Mrs. Pinder had all but assured me the adoption would be approved now.

  “How are you feeling?” Jaxon asked, still holding my hand.

  “Tired,” I admitted.

  “How about you just take a nap, and I’ll take care of everything else. By the time you wake up, I’ll have dinner ready.”

  “That sounds…amazing.”

  Jaxon smiled, then helped me to my feet and toward my bedroom. The shower was still running, and I could hear Liam singing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’, his little voice echoing off the bathroom walls.

  I chuckled. “He had an amazing day today.”

  “I had an amazing day. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to be part of your lives,” Jaxon said, echoing what he’d said to Mrs. Pinder.

  As I sank down on the bed, Jaxon beside me, his arm still around me, I wondered again how much of what he said was the real truth. Turning to him, my brows furrowed, I just put it out there.

  “Jaxon, did you really mean what you said to Mrs. Pinder?”

  “Every word,” he said without hesitation, his gaze piercing mine. I searched his eyes and found nothing there but raw honesty.

  “But… I thought this was just about Liam.”

  “How many times do I have to tell you I really want to be with you, Bryce? Truly with you. In every way.”

  I gave him a small smile. “I guess one more time wouldn’t hurt.”

  He laughed lightly, but then became serious again. He shifted to face me fully on the bed and framed my face with his hands.

  “Bryce Baldwin, I want you. I want to spend every day with you at my side, and every night with you in my bed. Having Liam is just icing on the cake. But even if that weren’t a factor, I’d still want you. How could I not? You’re everything I could possibly want. I love you, Bryce.”

  I sucked in a deep breath at his confession, shock and ecstasy mingling together and leaving me speechless.

  He loved me? After only a couple of weeks? But his confession forced me to acknowledge what I was feeling. I hadn’t been able to put a name to it before, but I knew what it was now, without a doubt. Love. I wasn’t just falling for Jaxon Parsons. I was already in love with him. My eyes pricked and my throat tightened as I swallowed back tears of sheer joy. Then I found my voice again.

  “I love you too, Jaxon.”

  I could feel his relief as if it were palpable. His shoulders sagged as if he’d been carrying a huge weight, but the grin that covered his face was nothing but delighted.

  I swallowed again and shook my head slightly. “Are you sure this isn’t too soon?” I couldn’t help but ask. “I mean, we’ve barely just gotten to know each other.”

  He shook his head adamantly. “It’s not too soon. When you know, you know. And I’ve known from the first minute I set eyes on you that you were meant to be mine. We’re fated mates, remember?”

  My brow furrowed again. I wanted to ask him what he meant by that phrase. That was the second time he’d used it. Maybe it was just his way of saying he loved me. I didn’t want to question it, not when he was saying everything I could ever hope to hear; that he cared for me—really and truly cared, and that he wanted to be with me. I gazed at him in wonder, marveling over how I could be so lucky.

  His face softened, and he leaned in, pulling me close as he settled his lips over mine in a long, slow, sensual kiss that had my entire body feeling weak.

  “Get some rest,” he whispered when he finally pulled away. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

  He got me all tucked into bed, then gave me another sweet kiss before drawing my curtains and walking out, tossing one more affectionate grin over his shoulder as he shut the door gently behind him.

  I drifted off, feeling more content and at ease than I had in a long time.

  11

  Jaxon

  “Nothing like a lazy Sunday, am I right?” I grinned at Liam, who was curled up on the couch between Bryce and me, still in his pajamas even though it was almost noon.

  “The best,” he agreed, grabbing the remote to click ‘continue’ on the screen. We’d been binge watching his favorite cartoons all morning, just hanging out and laughing and taking it easy, and I had to say, it was shaping up to be one of the best days of my life. Just being with these two made me feel whole, and not only had I admitted the truth of my feelings to Bryce—he felt the same way.

  I rested my arm along the back of the couch, brushing my fingers through the ends of Bryce’s hair and teasing his neck. He shot me a look, full of heat, and I smiled. Last night had been another incredible round of sex. Every time I was with Bryce, it felt impossibly better than the last.

  As Liam stared at the television, transfixed, I winked at Bryce then stood up. “I think I’ll just clean up from breakfast.”

  “I’ll help you,” he said quickly, pushing to his feet. Liam barely seemed to notice as we gathered the dishes littering the coffee table and carried them into the kitchen.

  Bryce still seemed to be doing well physically. He’d had that bout of sickness yesterday, but he’d seemed more or less back to normal today. Though he had turned his nose up at my attempt at breakfast.

  “That looks disgusting,” he’d said, eyeing the stack of jellybean pancakes I’d made. It had ended up like more of an ice cream sundae with all the trimmings I’d scrounged up. Whipped cream—some of which I’d saved for later—chocolate syrup, sprinkles and chocolate chips, and to top it all off, cherries.

  I’d just laughed and offered him plain toast. He’d jumped at that idea without hesitating. Maybe his stomach was still bothering him, but he seemed to be doing great right now as we cleaned up the dishes together.

  “We make a good team,” I remarked as he dried off the last pan and handed it to me to put away. I reached up to put it in the cabinet, noticing some cobwebs near the ceiling as I did. “Hey, where are your cleaning supplies?”

  “Jaxon,” he protested “I’m not going to have you cleaning my house now too. You’ve done enough.”

  “I want to do it, Bryce,” I replied, brushing a quick kiss on his lips. “Now sit your ass down and tell me where your cleaning stuff is.”

  “Only if I get to watch you do it shirtless,” he said, and I laughed. I loved it when this more playful side of Bryce came out.

  I grabbed him and pulled him against me, then leaned down and nipped at his bottom lip. “Deal.”

  He grinned, then pointed out the utility closet before sitting down at the kitchen table. Not to go back on an agreement, I stripped my shirt off and gave him another wink before getting down to business.

  I spent the next hour cleaning all the hard to reach spots in Bryce’s kitchen, feeling his gaze boring into me the entire time. We laughed and joked as well, and I relaxed into the intimacy of just sharing these small things with him. All this domesticity might seem dull to some people, but to me it just made my chest swell with happiness. This was exactly what I’d always wanted. To just enjoy being with the man I loved and everything that came along with it.

  I opened the windows as I cleaned, letting in the fresh air. It was a gorgeous day outside, and it seemed like spring was in full bloom. The scent of honeysuckle drifted in, mingling with the citrus cleaners I’d used.

  Just then Liam came dashing into the room. He must have been tired of watching cartoons because he looked out the window then back at me with a hopeful smile on his face. “Can we go outside and play?”

  “I think that’s a great idea. Want to play catch?”

  Liam’s eyes shone brightly. “Yeah!” Then he was darting off, presumably to grab some equipment.

  “Jaxon, you don’t have to—”

  “Will you stop saying that? I want to do all this for you guys. Maybe you’ll start to see that soon enough. I enjoy this,” I added, crossing to him and running my knuckles along his cheek. He smiled at me, still somewhat in awe. I got that. I was feeling the same thing. Awe, gratitude that I’d found my mate, and excitement about what the future held for us. I couldn’t wait to move him into my place. There was just one thing keeping me from doing that, though—letting him in on my little secret.

  I had to tell him I was a shifter. Before, that thought had terrified me. I’d worried he might ostracize me and even cause some difficulties for the pack. But after this weekend, after what we’d shared, and knowing he loved me, I was no longer concerned.

  It was time to tell my mate I was a shifter. Then we could really move forward into the bright future I was certain we had waiting for us.

 

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