by Tess Summers
In addition to her mother and aunts already being there, a stunning dark-haired woman named Quinn joined them. She seemed to work for Bella’s company and, judging by all the teasing she was getting, was maybe dating John—Madison’s godfather, who also appeared to be the woman’s boss.
Apparently, there was also a whole gaggle of men—her father and uncles included, golfing with Dante, John, and Edward and staying nearby. They were joining the ladies in the morning for a day of planned activities. There was no mention of Jake being with them, and she was afraid to ask if he was there.
Maria and Rosa sat down briefly and presented her with gifts, although they seemed happiest when they were serving food rather than sitting and eating it, and disappeared to the kitchen once she’d opened their beautiful, thoughtful presents—a handmade, crocheted blanket and a delicate lace baptismal gown.
The women were served an elegant dinner and made their way onto the patio afterward. It wasn’t long before they decided to take advantage of the pool and hot tub, and quickly disappeared to change into their suits.
Taren had opened a ridiculous amount of gifts earlier, then they had played some silly games while laughing and drinking. Well, everyone but Taren drank—she stuck with sparkling cider. It had been a really fun day, but she was getting tired—especially once the sun went down. The time difference catching up to her.
“I think I’m going to turn in,” she told Bella with a smile. “Thank you so much for today. I really needed it. I can’t believe how generous you’ve been.”
“It was my pleasure.” The redhead smiled, then paused, her face turning somber. “Have you talked to Jacob?”
“No, why? Is he here?”
Bella gave a sly smile. “That’s the rumor.”
“Here? Like, here-here?”
“No, not at the estate. But in Ensenada. A little birdy told me his plane landed about an hour ago. I’d be willing to bet money he’ll be at breakfast.”
Taren fought back a smile.
“Well, goodnight, then. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Bright and early, I’m sure,” Bella teased before heading back to the patio.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jacob
He was staying at a nearby villa in Ensenada. The same one Edward and Reagan had stayed in when Edward was recovering from being shot in Cartagena. The rest of the men were also staying in the same gated complex, only in smaller casitas. Jake thought Edward and Dante would more than likely return to their wives tonight at the estate.
If all went according to plan, he’d be spending tomorrow night here with Tinkerbell before flying her to Bora Bora for their honeymoon on Sunday.
He’d paid for her parents and aunts and uncle to fly in, under the guise that it was her baby shower, and the men were tagging along for some golf and sightseeing. He knew it was a risk, but his family was also arriving tomorrow.
Once he got her to listen and agree to trust him to keep their baby safe, he wasn’t taking any chances—he was marrying her tomorrow night come hell or high water. He’d even enlisted Bella and Reagan’s help buying her a dress and planning the ceremony.
“What if she doesn’t want to be with you?” Bella bluntly asked.
“She has to. Because I can’t fucking live without her.”
Their time apart had been nothing short of hell for him. Worse than when he’d broken up with her seven years ago—and that had felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. But this was ten times worse because he had so much more to lose.
His phone dinged with a text from Bella.
I think if you came for breakfast tomorrow, you wouldn’t be thrown out. LOL
Can I come right now?
Probably not a good idea—she just went to bed.
Not the answer he wanted but he didn’t feel he needed to say so. Okay. See you in the morning.
Still, he decided to at least try to engage Taren tonight. If nothing else, so she’d know he was thinking of her.
He fired off a brief text.
Hope you’re enjoying your time with everyone in Mexico.
To his surprise, the little dots indicating she was replying showed up right away.
I am. Everyone is having a blast. Bella and Dante have been incredibly generous. Yet…
Yet?
Yet, I can’t help but wish you were here.
What if I were?
The dots started and stopped several times, like she was writing a text, then deleting it. Finally:
I would be glad.
That was all he fucking needed to be out the front door and in his rented sedan. At this time of night, he was at the estate in eight minutes, and through security, walking up the front steps in five. He could hear a party in the backyard—maybe he could slip in a back door so he wouldn’t have to ring the doorbell and announce his presence. He really didn’t need a lecture from Bella tonight.
Jacob knew which room she was staying in—all he needed to do was get inside undetected.
He’d kept her texting on the drive over. Luckily, the streets were deserted so there was no one to honk at him if he took too long at the red light tapping out his reply. And he’d continued once he’d gotten inside the house.
Yeah?
Seeing Bella today in the ER today with her companions… that blew me away. And she said some things that made sense.
Like what?
That I should hear you out.
Nodding, his fingers flew to agree. Bella is a wise woman. You should listen to her.
Maybe we can talk sometime soon.
Why not now?
He waited until he heard the ding on the other side of the door before knocking softly.
That’s you at my bedroom door, isn’t it?
It is.
What if I’m not ready to talk?
Then I’ll leave.
Jake, it’s late.
He leaned his forehead against the mahogany door and closed his eyes. She was so close… Yet, he knew better than to push her too hard. She was just starting to respond to him; he didn’t want her pulling away because he came on too strong.
His fingers were far slower tapping out his response. Okay. Maybe tomorrow?
But whispered out loud, “Please, Tinkerbell.”
She must have padded to the door without him hearing because, clearly, she was just on the other side of it when he uttered the words and immediately opened the door.
Standing before him in a white cotton with red cherries pajama set, she looked fragile, and he clenched his fist, feeling his nails dig into his palms as he kept himself from reaching out to her. Her eyes were filled with a sadness he’d only seen in the photographs from when her marriage to David was imploding. The skin peeking out from under her shirt almost killed him. That was his baby in her belly, and he couldn’t fucking hold her, or talk to her stomach like he’d been dreaming of doing.
“Hi, Tink.”
She offered a polite smile. “Hi.”
“May I come in?”
With a small sigh, like it was against her better judgment, she moved to the side so he could pass through the doorway, then closed it behind him—her arms immediately wrapping around her body as she walked toward the sitting area.
Once she was seated on the couch, he tried to start talking, only to realize he didn’t even know where to begin. As if on instinct, he dropped to his knees in front of her and reached for her hand—staring her in the eye as he pledged, “I love you, Tinkerbell. And that little pumpkin seed you’re growing inside of you.”
“But—”
“No, buts, baby. We need to be a family.”
“What if something happens, like Madi?”
“Madi’s safe.”
“But she wouldn’t have been if…” Tears started streaming down her face. “If you hadn’t saved her.”
He stroked her arm cautiously. “I’d never let anything happen to you or our child. You have my word.”
“I don’
t know, Jake. If you’re still traveling for work, we’ll be alone.”
“I’ll quit.”
She started laughing even as she kept crying.
“I’m guessing you can’t just quit.”
He shrugged. “I’ll bring a partner on and phase out.”
The corner of her mouth turned up.
“You really do have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
Jake winked. “It’s why they pay me the big bucks.”
They could hear laughter and yelling from the balcony, and she stood to close the door. Apparently she wasn’t expecting him to follow her, because she turned around and ran straight into his chest. His arms came around her instinctively.
The pulse in her neck started to flutter, and a small blush crept up her chest and neck, while neither of them moved.
Finally, he motioned with his head toward the pool area where the noise was coming from.
“Why aren’t you out there?”
“I was tired. Besides, I have no desire to be in a bathing suit right now. I feel puffy.”
He smirked. “You don’t look puffy.” Then he ran his hands along her waist over her pajamas, relishing how she felt. “You don’t feel puffy.”
“Trust me, I’m puffy.”
“You might have to prove that to me.”
She stared at him for a beat before muttering, “How?”
Boldly, he started unbuttoning her cotton top. Taking his time, he savored the feel of her warm body as his fingers grazed her skin, all the while maintaining eye contact with her. Finally unfastening the last button, he pulled her shirt open and glanced down, smiling softly when he saw her skin pebbled in goosebumps.
She was so fucking beautiful. Her soft stomach as his baby grew inside her, her breasts visibly heavier than they were just a few weeks ago, and her nipples standing at attention once he pulled the fabric from her skin.
“Not puffy,” he whispered, as he traced the backs of his fingertips along the outline of her tits. It was her move—would she pull away?
His gaze left her delicious tits and sought her eyes.
“I love you. You are my fucking world—I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes and threatened to spill onto her cheeks, but she still hadn’t pulled away from his touch. Emboldened, he slowly began to move his index finger past her cleavage and down her stomach, stopping just at the waistband of her pajama shorts.
She didn’t flinch while returning his gaze. Cautiously, Jacob dipped his head until his mouth found hers. Warmth spread from his stomach to the rest of his body as the sensation of her lips on his filled him, and he deepened the kiss—unleashing the pent up fear that he’d never have the opportunity to do this again.
Her arms went around his neck while her fingers dug frantically into his hair, holding him close.
He held her back with one hand as his entire other hand splayed over her boob and began kneading her creamy flesh in his palm.
Dragging his lips against hers, he murmured, “I’ve missed you so much. God, baby, I’ve been dying inside without you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she panted back. Her fingertips skimmed the hem of his shirt until she gripped it and tugged it over his head.
Their bare flesh met, and he pulled her tighter to him while running one hand through her hair then tugging, his lips dragging across her exposed neck as he muttered, “You’re never allowed to leave me again—do you understand?”
Her hands clawed at his back while she tilted her head and gasped, “I don’t ever want to leave you again.”
He stopped kissing her neck and stood up straight, his expression sober as he looked down at her.
“I will keep you safe, Tink.” He put his hand on her stomach. “And him. Or her.”
“Do you want a boy?”
“I just want my fucking family.”
A tear rolled down her cheek, then another. He caught them with his fingertip.
“Don’t cry.”
“I was so scared, Jake.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you thought Madi was killed. I hope Bella explained why I couldn’t tell you over the phone—and you were gone when I got to your apartment to explain. Then I found out you were lying about the baby, and I was beside myself. I needed to hold you. Protect you. Keep you safe.” He slid her shirt off her, letting it drop to the floor, murmuring, “I’m never letting you go.”
With that, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed that she’d already turned down, depositing her carefully before going back and shutting the light off. She switched the bedside lamp on and watched with a shy smile as he approached the four poster bed.
“You have quite the punishment coming, baby. But not tonight. Tonight, I need to love you all night long.”
“I love the sound of that.”
He tugged his pants off and lie next to her, still clad in his grey boxer briefs while she wore only her cotton shorts. When their bare chests met, he closed his eyes and whispered, “Never letting you go,” then tugged her closer to him as if to emphasize the point.
“Good,” she said as her lips caressed his neck. “I love you, Jacob Preston Smith.”
“I love you, too, Taren Scarlett Fairchild-Smith.”
He felt her giggle. “That’s not my name.”
“Just trying it on for size.”
He’d talk to her later about getting married tomorrow. Right now, he needed to worship her body.
****
Taren
Words couldn’t begin to describe how happy she felt as she nestled closer to Jacob in the early morning hours. He’d been true to his word and had loved her, literally, all night long. There were periods of rest, recovery, and pillow talk between rounds, but they didn’t go to sleep until four in the morning, both exhausted. She fell asleep on top of him with a smile on her face, while he was still inside her.
Jacob’s phone started ringing at nine thirty, and his voice was soft when he answered it.
“Hey, Bella.”
Chuckling, he said, “How did you know?”
Taren nudged him and mouthed, put it on speaker.
“Because there are cameras throughout my house,” came her hostess’s scolding voice.
They both looked up at the ceiling for cameras. “Did you watch us—”
Bella started laughing. “Not in your room. But in the hallway outside your room. So, unless you went out the window last night—I knew you were still here. Not to mention, your car is still in the driveway.”
“Good morning, Bella,” Taren said softly.
“Good morning. Everyone has already had breakfast, and I sent Reagan and Edward to take them sightseeing so you two lovebirds could take your time getting around this morning. I wasn’t sure how late you stayed up last night.”
“Pretty late,” Taren confessed, smiling at Jake as she did.
“It sounds like you two worked things out?”
“We did. Thanks,” Jacob said.
“Just go to the kitchen when you get up, no rush. Maria will be happy to make you a late breakfast or early lunch—depending on what time you get there. Dante and John are in his den working, and I think Quinn and I are going to go catch up with the others downtown. Call me when you’re up and around.”
“Thank you, Bella. For everything.”
“I’ll call you in a little while,” Jacob said then hung up the phone, setting it on the nightstand before wrapping his arms around her.
With her head on his chest, she murmured, “I can’t believe you’re here. How did you know?”
“I may have been in cahoots with Bella and Reagan about the baby shower and bringing everyone here. My family should be here later this afternoon.”
Taren lifted her head and smiled. “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad our families are going to meet.”
“Think you might want to get married while we have everyone here together?”
She bit her bottom lip. “Really? Tomorrow?”
“I was thinking tonight, but we could wait until tomorrow if that’s what you want. I was just hoping when I spanked your ass tonight, instead of calling me Sir, you’d call me Husband.”
She bit back a giggle. “No. Husband is for when you’re making love to me. Sir is when I’m being punished.”
He smiled and nodded. “Fair enough. So… what do you say? Will you marry me this weekend?”
Tears started streaming down her face as she nodded vigorously, squeaking out, “I would love to marry you.”
He leaned over the edge of the bed and stretched his arm out, his fingertips grasping his grey pants, and he pulled them onto the bed to fish through the front pocket. Pulling out a black velvet box, he opened it so it was facing her. The oval shaped diamond had to be at least three carats and was set in a platinum band with a sparkling row of petite pavé diamonds.
“Oh my god,” she whispered with her fingertips against her lips. “It’s so beautiful.”
Jake took the ring from the box and slid it on her finger. “Perfect fit.”
Taren wiggled her fingers, admiring her engagement ring as it sparkled in the light, when a thought hit her.
“You just happened to have the ring in your pocket?”
He tugged her on top of him, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Tinkerbell, you should have known I wouldn’t leave you alone until my ring was on your finger. I told you, baby, I’m never letting you go again.”
“Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“Not a chance, my little fairy.”
She studied his face a while longer before nuzzling into his chest, his arms instinctively tightening around her.
“I love you, Jacob Preston Smith. You’re going to be a great dad.”
“And husband,” he murmured and kissed her hair.
She couldn’t disagree.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Taren
“What are you smiling about?” Bella asked as she sat down at the patio table with a fresh mimosa. Taren’s family were on a new sightseeing tour while Jacob and Edward went to pick up Jacob’s parents, his brother, Jack and Jack’s kids.