Before I even open my eyes my lips inch up into a smile as I realize his warm body is spooning me. I never knew that sex would make me feel this happy. Maybe it’s because we actually made love last night. It wasn’t only the physical part that has me feeling as if I’m floating in the clouds but the emotional connection that we shared. I’ve never felt so close to someone in my whole life. I scoot myself back to be as near to him as I possibly can. I feel him smile against my neck as I rub myself against him, wanting more. I don’t care if my body has small aches all over. I still want to do it over and over again.

  “None of that. You need breakfast.” He lightly kisses my neck. I turn to face him. His fingers skim down my face before he kisses my lips. I try to deepen the kiss but he pulls back and scoots out of bed before I can seduce him further. “I’ll be back.”

  I pout as I watch him get dressed. “Gotta walk Bear and get my woman food,” he says as he pulls a shirt over his head. He comes back over toward the bed, leaning down to kiss me. I start to cling to him but when I hear Bear bark I let go, knowing he has to take him out. I hear the door open and the two of them head downstairs.

  I let my head fall back to the pillow and enjoy the lingering scent of Jax in my bed. My body is sore in the best way. I stretch out and think of all the wonderful things he did to me last night as I wait for him to bring me breakfast in bed. It feels good to have someone taking care of me. I get lost in my thoughts of all the ways Jax has been taking care of me until I hear banging and voices coming from what sounds like next door. I sit up, wondering why they are still working over there. Jax assured me that he wouldn’t be opening his coffee shop.

  I quickly get out of bed and toss on whatever I can find. I race around, not even bothering with shoes. My heart starts to race because I’m scared of what I might find. I open the door, heading straight down the stairs towards the back door, intent on finding out what is going on. I swing it open but freeze when I hear what sounds like Andrea’s and Jax’s voices coming from next door. I know I shouldn’t but I stand quietly in the doorway and stretch my ear as far as I can, wanting to know if it’s me they are talking about. I’m sure it is.

  “Are you sure this is what you want, Jax? I think you should really think about what you are about to do.” I swallow, pretty sure that they are talking about me. “Bailey seems lovely but you can’t give up everything you’ve worked so hard for because you find her interesting,” Andrea says, confirming they are talking about me. My heart crumbles into a million pieces as I realize that maybe she’s right. I can’t allow him to give up his business when he’s only just met me. What if he regrets it? I want to go over and yell at his sister to mind her own business but she’s doing the same thing I’d be doing if I were in her shoes.

  A van pulls up, full of more workers. A hint of betrayal creeps into me as I realize that Jax has never stopped his work next door. He’s still proceeding with the construction even though he told me he wouldn’t. A tear slips from my eye as reality dawns on me. I’m so naïve. I’m not hurt that he wants to keep growing his business. I can get that. I’m hurt that he lied to me about it.

  I don’t even listen for Jax’s response, not wanting to hear it. It will only hurt more. I turn to creep back inside Millie’s shop, but Bear barks and runs toward me, pushing open the door. My eyes lock with Jax’s for a moment before the door closes back on its own.

  “Bear!” I hiss. “You busted me, you traitor.” His tongue falls out of the side of his mouth and I can’t stay mad at him.

  Jax opens the door. I scream, slamming mine closed.

  “Why are you screaming?” Mille asks as I flip the lock on the backdoor. “Fire code. We’re open,” she reminds me, pointing to the lock I clicked into place. Jax bangs on the door. Millie’s lips form an O, Jax having answered her question for me.

  “Open the door, Bailey.” Jax’s voice is strong.

  “No!” I shout through the door. Bear barks from the other side. “Stop using Bear against me!” I add in.

  “What did he do?” Millie asks, creeping closer. She’s weirdly been team Jax this entire time. He’s the one trying to put her out of business so I’m not sure why she keeps rooting for him.

  “He’s a liar,” I tell her loud enough for Jax to hear.

  “You lied to her?” I hear his sister Andrea ask from the other side of the door. Followed by a thump that I’m guessing is her hitting him.

  “No. I don’t lie,” Jax growls. For once he doesn’t sound like his cool, collected self.

  “Now that’s a lie,” Andrea snips back. “Remember that time—“

  “Don’t start about the Christmas of 1995 or I’ll lose my mind,” Jax half yells at his sister.

  “I’m just saying.”

  I fight a smirk at the two of them bickering. I have to remind myself I’m mad at them. Even if I think I’d really like Andrea.

  “Baby. Open the door.” He softens his voice. I don’t respond. I also don’t move away from the door to run and hide in my place.

  “You’re really upset,” I hear Andrea say. Her voice actually sounds a touch shocked and remorseful. “You're in love with her,” she gasps a moment later.

  “Shut it,” Jax tells her. My heart gives a funny flutter. Millie stands there still looking shocked. Her eyebrows are all the way up.

  “Open it,” she mouths. I debate it. I really want to open it and demand the truth from him. I’m not sure which I want more. The truth about the coffee shop or the answer to if he’s in love with me. All of it is scary. I want to run but I’m not a runner. I fight for what I want but this feels so much scarier than anything I’ve come up against before.

  “Don’t tell me to shut it,” Andrea yells at Jax. Another thud sounds and I’m guessing she whacked him again.

  “I think I should be the one to tell her I love her first. Not my freaking sister.”

  I pull the door open. Jax has his hands braced on both sides of the door. “You love—“

  He grabs me, cutting me off. His mouth comes crashing down onto mine. I can’t fight him. It’s my normal reaction to always cling to him. The man really is my kryptonite. One touch from him and I am done for.

  “Don’t fucking lock doors on me. I was two seconds from kicking it down. I didn’t because I was scared you’d be standing there and get hurt.”

  “He must really be in love because my normally smart brother could have just gone around to the front. I mean, the shop is open,” Andrea chimes in. She has a point. I hadn’t really thought about that either. I can’t stop the small laugh that comes from me even though I’m still mad.

  “Didn’t lie to you.” He drops his forehead to mine.

  “And you love me?”

  He nods his head and I smile wide. Now that I’m back in his arms I feel silly thinking he had lied. Maybe I am one of those girls who loses all common sense when they fall in love. I have no doubt that’s what this is. I am in love with the enemy but I’m not so sure he’s the enemy anymore. I don’t know what Jax is doing next door but it can’t be a coffee shop. He promised me that.

  Still, my happiness is short lived when I realize Millie is watching me. I need to explain to her that while I may be sleeping with the enemy that my loyalty still remains with her. That I might have fallen in love but I will always still be loyal to our friendship.

  I turn to Millie and give her a somber look. “I’m sorry,” I say as I give her a hug. “I know I’m letting you down because he’s the competitor and now I’ve gone and fallen in love with him.” A tear slips from my eye. Millie reaches out and hugs me. Her warm embrace causes me to cry into her. She means the world to me and I don’t want her to be disappointed.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Bailey. Although I appreciate your loyalty and determination, I’m so happy that your little protesting gig is up.” She smiles wide. “I love you and want nothing but for you to be happy. Don’t worry about us. Everything happens for a reason. I believe all of this happened so that Jax could come into your life.” She’s the best friend that anyone could ever ask for. “Besides,” she whispers into my ear, “he looks at you like Mike looks at me. No way he’s putting in a coffee shop over there if he thinks it will upset you.”

  16

  Jax

  I watch as Bailey hugs Millie and it just about kills me to see the tears that streamed down her face. I can’t hear whatever Millie is whispering in her ear. Either way I need to put a stop to her unnecessary sadness. She needs to know the truth about next door.

  “I didn’t lie,” I blurt out, causing both her and Millie to look at me. “What have I ever done to make you think differently?” My heart still pounds in my chest from the look I saw on her face. I knew she’d heard what my sister said. It was written all over her sweet face. Betrayal.

  I know I have to tell her everything. That keeping this secret will end up hurting her more. I wanted it to be a surprise but now I need to let everyone know what’s going on next door. I don’t want it to affect Bailey and Millie’s relationship. There is no reason for either of them to worry.

  “I’m giving Millie the shop next door.” I watch as both girls’ faces turn in shock. I’m sure Bailey knew I was up to something once she realized I wasn’t doing a coffee shop, but not that.

  “I can’t take that,” Millie says. She’s shaking her head no as she says the words.

  “Like I said. I don’t lie. As much as I love how good you are to my girl, I’m doing this for her.” I shrug. I might as well admit it all. “Also for myself. Bailey needs more room to work. You need a bigger staff. This way she isn’t working all the time.”

  Millie laughs. “So she has more time for you.”

  “Yep.”

  My sister lets out a snort. She hates when she does it but can’t help it when she finds something extra amusing.

  “Really?” Bailey steps closer to me, out of her friend’s hold. I pull her in. She clings to me like a little koala bear and I wonder if I should change my nickname for her.

  “Yeah, my little protester. Really.” She peppers those sweet kisses all over my face as she easily climbs my body. There is no shyness to her action. She does what she wants and doesn’t care who sees it.

  “Where’s my breakfast?” she asks after a beat, making us all laugh.

  “Go put more clothes on and I’ll show you next door and get you some food.” I give her ass a small squeeze before I let her go. I know I can’t go with her or we’ll never get out of her place. I’ll have her pinned to the bed again. I need to let her rest. I took her long and hard last night. She needs time to heal. My control all but shattered when I had her. I think I might have broken her headboard too. I didn’t need her roaming around next door in tiny sleep shorts and my shirt she’s wearing that barely covers them. I need her to go change. Alone. As much as it kills me to miss her doing it.

  “You really love her.” My sister lets out a long, happy sigh. I thought she’d be good with this but she is a little happier than I thought she’d be. I know she came down to check on me but she is taking this a little far. She is the one that kept telling me to get a life.

  “Yeah.” I nod.

  “When you know you know,” both Millie and Andrea say at the same time. Their eyes snap to meet each other’s. Clearly on the same page. Both of them obviously know the feeling already.

  “You can’t be in love. You're a workaholic,” I remind my sister. She has been out here for more than twenty-four hours now. Things might be changing for her too. Not to mention she is again dressed down. I am liking the idea of her not working so much either. Soon she’ll be an aunt and I want my sister to be a part of all this. We have always been close. My life is changing and I’d be a liar if I didn’t want her to change some too. I see what love is now and I want her to have it too. I want her to realize like I have that not everything has to be about work.

  “Looks like things are changing for everyone,” Millie chimes in. “I’m going to get you a table out front reserved.” She slips out the back kitchen doors to leave my sister and me alone.

  “You know I was only checking on you, right?” She slides in next to me. I wrap an arm around her, kissing her on top of her head. I did know that and I think my girl got that too once she thought on it. She’d do the same for Millie. Make sure her head was on straight. To me this is only a coffee shop. I don’t need one here. Hell, I don’t need any of them as long as I can have Bailey. She is all I need. My eyes have been opened to a new way of life and I want to enjoy every second with her.

  “You know you don’t have to work like crazy. You have a good team around you and I’m willing to help you set it up so you can be a little bit more like me.”

  “A bum?” she teases.

  “A bum for now but a husband and father soon enough.” For the first time Andrea doesn’t shudder at the idea of babies and marriage.

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurts out. My hold on her tightens for a moment. “Can’t let you beat me at something,” she teases again but I know she’s a little scared. I can tell by the waver in her voice. I tighten my hold around her, letting her know that she has my support.

  “You’re a smart woman, Andrea. If you got pregnant you knew what you were doing.” She licks her lips before she nods in agreement.

  “Mom and Dad are going to be over the moon when they get back.” Andrea turns in my arms so I can give her a better hug. “We can do this.” It’s something we always said together growing up.

  “We can and we will,” I agree.

  “Hey,” Bailey says, getting our attention. We both look over as she slips down the stairs. My heart tugs when my sister opens one of her arms, motioning Bailey over to make it a group hug. She comes easily to join us.

  “He can be a brat but I can teach you how to handle him,” my sister whispers to Bailey, making her laugh. “Welcome to the family,” she adds in. I smile so fucking big I swear my face hurts. That feeling of being restless is long gone and I know I’m where I belong.

  “Come. Let me show you next door before my sister steals you from me.” Bailey is smiling so big now too.

  “Say it again,” she says when I take her hand in mind.

  “I love you, my little koala bear.”

  “She does cling to you. It’s kinda cute.” Andrea, like always, has to give her two cents.

  “Andrea. Go hold our table.” I motion to where Millie went. She rolls her eyes but does as I say. “And tell Jason to come.” She pauses for a moment before shaking her head in agreement.

  “Who’s Jason?” Bailey asks as I lead her out the back door.

  “The man she’s been seeing in secret.”

  “Oh. Like you and me?”

  I open the other door for her. “I was never seeing you in secret. You just hadn’t caught up to what was happening.”

  Her smile grows bigger. “So we're really doing this?” she asks as I hold the door open for her.

  “I had you last night, Bailey. Nothing between us. We’re more than doing this.”

  “I’ll need a ring,” she teases. I let out a half laugh as I pull her into the coffee shop next door. A wall still needs to be taken down to connect the places but we’ll get to that. Her eyes go round when she sees the giant kitchen. All shiny and new.

  I drop to my knees in front of her. “Got your ring.” Her mouth falls open as I slide it onto her finger. The band is made of diamonds that have been broken down to look like sparkles. The center one is a yellow canary stone. It fits her. Not just the size but her.

  She falls into my lap, peppering kisses all over my face again.

  “No protest?”

  “You still blackmailing me?” She tries to give me a hard look but her smile gives her away.

  “If I have to. When it comes to you I’ll do anything to have you.”

  “Then yes. I’ll marry you. I wouldn’t want a man who didn’t fight for what he wants.”

  “My little protester. I can promise you, whatever fight you want to have, Bear and I will be there front and center. Glitter and all.”

  “Gotta have a little shine,” she teases, her face beaming with a smile as it always should be.

  “I promise you, Bailey. You always shine. Glitter or not.”

  Epilogue

  Bailey

  2 years later

  “Do you want a taste?” I hold my finger out for my little munchkin. His little arms swing back and forth. “Don’t tell anyone,” I say before I give him the small drop of frosting I have on the end of my finger. He squeals in delight.

  His little cousin reaches over, grabbing his hand. “I’ve got you too, Abby.” I steal another bit of frosting from my bowl and give her a small taste too. She gives the same squeal as Jackson Jr. Andrea and I ended up pregnant weeks apart. I had a little boy and she had a little girl. Crazy thing is they look like twins. They act like it at times too. Nina, Andrea and Jax’s mom, says they act the same as Jax and Andrea did when they were little. They might be cousins but they are more like brother and sister. It’s why we’ve now settled into Smithville all together.

  I have a bigger family now. I went from having Millie’s family to becoming a Roberts and now we are one big happy family. I never imagined that this would be my life. It is an actual dream come true. I wish my grandma could see me now. She’d be so proud of the family I have. It’s because of her that I know how to love and be a good mom. Who knew a little glitter and a sign would get me this life? There isn’t a thing I need. My cup runneth over, as they say. Okay, maybe another baby but we already started working on that a few weeks ago.

  Andrea and I are in cahoots to get knocked up again together. When I first met her I liked her but I had no idea the two of us would become thick as thieves. At least that’s what Jason and Jax say about it. Being pregnant together helped grow our bond. We don’t exactly need to twist the arms of our men to have more babies. They are both more than willing to give them to us. Andrea and I are the ones that have to watch out for those two. They would keep us knocked up every second if we let them.

 

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