Reaching For Emeralds

by Lacee Hightower

  “I need it to be special. The most unique ring you have.”

  The old gentleman’s eyebrows rose. “I think you might like this one.” He walked down a little further and opened up a closed drawer and returned with a small velvet bag. Twisting open the blue pouch, he slipped out what he called a 4.64 carat rare, Asscher-cut diamond engagement ring with micro-pave border and shank. No idea what any of that meant, I knew this was the one. It wasn’t too big for her delicate hands, but enough to be noticed.

  Another ten minutes, I wrapped up my purchase and called Hartley back, telling her everything was a go.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Layla

  God, I was such a coward.

  I didn’t know why this was all so frightening. I’d met both Hartley and Justin. They were both perfectly nice and friendly toward me. But they’d recently lost a baby. I felt uneasy about this. Plus, Justin made me skittish, though I didn’t know exactly why.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Justin stood in the kitchen, seasoning up four enormous rib-eye steaks, wearing an apron with My Mommy Kisses the Cook plastered across the front.

  “Nice apron,” Jackson said, an unsmiling Justin flipping him the bird.

  “Wouldn’t be wearing it if my sons hadn’t given it to me. Your day will come, asshole.” Jackson looked at me, winking.

  “I’ve got beer, wine, and pretty much anything you want. What’s your specialty, Layla?” Justin asked, his alluring blue eyes still a little sad.

  “I’ll just have whatever you’re having,” I shrugged.

  Jackson wrapped his arm around my waist, giving me the bit of courage I needed. “They’re just family, sweetheart,” he whispered in my ear. “No reason for all the nerves.” He brushed his lips against my ear. “However, you’re sexy as hell when you’re all worked up. I’d love to take you out back and see how quick I can make you come.”

  “Jackson!” I giggled.

  Justin appeared, carrying two dark Heinekens and a Blue Moon. “This is Hartley’s favorite, so I figured you might like it, too.”

  “Thanks,” I uttered. “It’s perfect.”

  Justin’s gaze returned to Jackson. “And I’m not deaf, Jackson. The backdoor is right there. Make it quick though. I’ve got two very nosy young sons I’m not quite ready to have the talk with just yet.” He winked at me, walking out of the kitchen with a second Blue Moon in hand.

  I nudged Jackson in his side. “Stop that,” I teased. He gave me a soft kiss, pulling me against his chest. “I should take you across my knee for that,” he said, his lips spreading into a wicked grin.

  Justin made me so nervous. Maybe even more than Jackson had in the beginning. Or maybe because I knew who he was. Or who he used to be. Joslyn told me all about his ‘Master J’ days. The thought made me shudder, even though the only two times I’d seen him, he only seemed like a distraught man who loved his family more than anything else. Funny thing was, Joslyn remembered Hartley from Venture a few years back, too. She didn’t think she’d ever been a member, but remembered seeing Justin escorting her to the famous Mystery Room. My mind was spiraling a million directions. Did Justin and Hartley still live a Dom/submissive lifestyle?

  The twins ran into the room with Justin behind them, both carrying toy swords as they headed for no other than Jackson.

  “Whoa, guys. Slow down. Uncle Jacks has company tonight. Think you two can hold off on stabbing him?” Justin grabbed the two boys by the shoulders, leaning over and nudging them both in their sides. “Let’s not scare the pretty lady off before she’s had her dinner. Okay?”

  The two boys nodded as Jackson laughed.

  “Come here my two favorite hooligans.” The two boys ran to Jackson, each taking one of his legs.

  “Do you guys remember Layla?” The two blue-eyed boys both nodded.

  “She gived us Cheetos,” Noah said. “And muffins, too,” the quieter Derek added.

  “Say hi to Layla,” Justin said, his face stern.

  I waved at the two boys, whispering a quiet ‘hi’ and turning back to Jackson.

  “Look Unca Jacks.” We got new swores,” Derek said. I chewed on my lip hiding my laugher at the adorable kid-talk, glancing at a proud, beaming Justin.

  “They’re so cute,” I whispered, Justin’s eyes brightening at the compliment.

  “Wow, dude. These are so cool,” Jackson said, rubbing both heads of messy hair with his palms.

  “Oh, my Gosh! Hi!” Hartley walked in, a smile on her face along with two quarter-sized wet spots in the middle of her red tank top. “Layla.” She hugged me tight. “I’m so happy you’re here. My brother finally met his match. I can’t tell you how happy I am.”

  Hartley and I stayed in the kitchen while she worked on a salad and I mixed up my version of mustard balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Jackson had gone out by the pool with Justin and the twins to grill the steaks and hotdogs. Once the salad was finished, Hartley covered a loaf of store-bought French bread in foil, topping it with butter and sticking it in a low-heated oven to warm.

  “I know this won’t compare to your homemade bread, but I can’t cook worth a shit.” She shrugged, her eyebrows raising. “But my hot husband’s steaks fucking rock,” she said, her small smile growing at the mere mention of him.

  “Maybe next time you’ll can come over to our place and I’ll do the cooking.”

  Her eyes filled with tears as she sat down and swallowed a long swig of Blue Moon. “I’m so happy Jacks found you. I’ve been telling him for years he needed a woman. And I’m glad it’s you. I have a good feeling about you two.” Watching her swipe away tears, my own eyes started to fill.

  “He’s a good man, Hartley. I’m definitely the lucky one.”

  A little after 9:00 PM, we all said our goodbyes at the front door. Hartley and Justin’s two sleepy boys were fighting to stay awake to get in every minute they possibly could with their uncle, while the four of them waited for us to leave.

  After all my worries, there had been no awkwardness. Just normal people living normal day-to-day lives. I hoped for that one day.

  When Jackson opened the front door, a shiny black Audi S5 coupe sat in the circular drive beside Jackson’s Mercedes.

  “Happy birthday, beautiful,” he said, handing me the shiny set of new keys. Hartley and Justin were still standing at the door with their two boys between them, a three-year-old version of Happy Birthday suddenly being belted out as I burst into tears.

  “I didn’t tell you it was my birthday. How did you know?” Unlike me, Jackson was laughing. “Venture paperwork is very thorough,” he whispered. “Now get inside your new car and see if meets your standards.”

  “I’ve always wanted an Audi,” I said, wiping away the embarrassing unstoppable tears.

  “Hmm,” he said. “A little bird somewhere may have told me you liked the S5 coupe.” The little bird had to be Jana, although I wasn’t sure how, or when, she’d told him. I turned back to a sullen-faced Justin easing the front door shut. He was a man of few words for sure.

  “Jackson, this is too much.”

  “Nothing’s too much for you. Now get in, sweetheart. Before I take you across my knee in my sister’s driveway. On your birthday.”

  “Jackson,” I whispered, my heart racing as he opened the door, helping me into the dark leather seat. “Thank you,” I said, reaching for the seatbelt.

  Jackson’s eyebrows lifted. “I think you might have missed something.”

  He blinked up toward the mirror. When I turned back, a small silver chain was hanging from the rearview mirror. A big, shiny, diamond ring was dangling from the necklace.

  “Oh, my God,” I whispered, turning back toward Jackson.

  On one knee, he was beside the Audi, his gaze clear and full of tenderness, while tears flooded my eyes.

  “Layla Michelle Richardson.” He lifted my hand to his lips, holding it there for long seconds. “You took me at the darkest time of my life. Offering me something I’d
never had. A heart … you gave me a heart. You opened me up to every possibility. You made everything okay, when in fact it wasn’t.” His lips touched my hand again, kissing the top of my ring finger. His clear gaze stared into mine.

  “Share the light and the dark with me Layla. Be by my side every waking minute. Marry me, sweetheart. Be my forever, baby.”

  He stood up, lifting me from the black leather as he cupped my face.

  “Will you marry me, Layla?” he uttered against my mouth.

  “Yes, Jackson. I’d be so very honored to be your wife.”

  Reaching for the dangling chain, he unhooked the clasp, sliding the ring and easing it onto my finger.

  “I’m the one that’s honored, Layla.”

  After a long kiss and another showering of emotional tears, we left the circular driveway of Justin and Hartley, me being given direct orders to follow Jackson to the second part of my birthday celebration.

  The new location for my lifelong wish, which I already had a name picked out for.

  Name That Bread.

  Epilogue

  Layla

  Since the explosion, Jackson was a new man. Less wound up. Way fewer nights of me waking to him staring at the blank ceiling.

  More protective of me than ever before.

  He’d never told me, but I knew damn well he had someone following me. If the large man with the long, pointed nose in his blacked-out Dodge Charger wasn’t in fact following me, then I had one hell of a stalker on my hands. But all in all, the principle of the matter was that all this overprotective behavior in Jackson only made me want him ten times more.

  Jackson was strong.

  A controller in everything he did.

  And even though I didn’t see the need for good ole Mr. Schnozolla, every time I caught a glimpse of the man watching over me, the little tingle deep in my belly for Jackson only grew larger.

  I’d hated Jackson and his arrogance when I first saw just how strong and powerful he could be in front of a jury. Though, every single aspect of his strong, baritone voice laying out each perfected bit of evidence was smoking hot from the very minute he opened his mouthwatering lips.

  And the comment he’d once made about having no semblance of a heart?

  Was complete, utter, false bullshit.

  Jackson Shipman was a controller in his courtroom as well as his bedroom, but deep down my man’s heart was filled with the purest 24 karat gold. And for me to think for even one second that I’d be lost without him?

  Was the deepest of all truthfulness.

  I was going to marry Jackson, the man who sent my father to prison and ultimately his death. Was it sick and demented that I could love a man who’d taken the one person most important to me? The one that not only gave me life, but loved me through all my faults and downfalls?

  Maybe.

  Be that as it may, the heart didn’t lie. Jackson was my Prince Charming. My Romeo. The man who turned my life into the perfect, happy book ending.

  After spending the last four hours at Name That Bread, cleaning, unsealing the large box of the three individual signs reading Bread, Rolls, and Muffins, I finished up hanging the rectangular chalkboard on the wall meant for handwritten menu choices for the day. Locking up, I grabbed my purse and headed for my sexy new Audi.

  Parked four spaces down, just as every other day I’d been here, Mr. Schnozzola sat in his shiny black car, his gaze appearing to look straight ahead, even though I knew he was watching my every step.

  I smiled, waving at my own personal, totally unnecessary watch dog. Of course, his eyes stayed right where they were—straight ahead—ignoring my act of congeniality. Pressing my key fob to unlock the door, Jackson’s silver Mercedes pulled up beside me.

  “Hi. I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you making sure Mr. Schnozzola down there is doing his job properly?” I smiled at a frowning Jackson.

  “Mr. who?”

  I shook my head teasingly, knowing he knew just exactly who I was referring to. “The long-nosed dude you’ve had following me for months, Jackson.”

  He glanced over at the stone-faced guy for a quick second. “No. That’s not why I’m here. However, I’m glad to see Mr. Schnoz, or whatever the fuck you just called him, seems to be doing his job quite well.”

  I reached for Jackson’s face, pulling him down for a much-needed kiss.

  “I simply wanted to see what my beautiful girl got done today. Come on. Let’s take this debate inside. Show me what all you did.”

  “Umm, Show and Tell sounds perfect, Mr. DA.”

  God, I’d show him anything he wanted. Slipping a hand through his, my kinky District Attorney looked hot as hell in his sharp, slim-cut, black suit. Something about wearing a black suit with matching shirt and tie, followed by rust-colored dress shoes, got my pulse racing. Then again, when it came to Jackson, he could be wearing a scroungy pair of holey sweats and still rock the freaking socks off me.

  Jackson walked toward my tiny office, totally ignoring the small amount of work I’d accomplished. I smiled to myself. He hadn’t seen my office yet. It was nothing in comparison to the chic surroundings he worked in, but it was mine.

  And I couldn’t be more proud.

  “I love the sign, beautiful.” He eyed the metal door sign with Layla Richardson etched in fancy lettering that he’d bought for me. “You’re the main cheese here. That’s hot. Although, that sign will be history in a few short weeks. I’ve already ordered a new one with your permanent last name.”

  I closed the door to the small office and pulled Jackson against me, brushing his chest with mine. “You’re the only main cheese I see around here and I cannot wait to take my permanent name.” I ran my hand down his chest and over the semi-hard bulge hidden by his zipper.

  “Now that’s the way I like to be greeted by my very beautiful bride-to-be.”

  Not uttering another word, I pulled my simple tank top over my head and lowered my ankle jeans, Jackson’s hands immediately on my back and unsnapping my bra as I eased out of my panties.

  “Jesus, I love your tits,” he muttered, slipping a nipple between his lips.

  “Your turn,” I whispered, reaching for the zipper of his slacks and easing it down over his gloriously-endowed erection. He reached for the top button and started to push down his pants. I wagged a finger in his face.

  “Not today, Mr. Shipman. We’re not in your courtroom. This,” I held out my hand, gesturing to the tiny office, “is my domain and I make the rules. That includes getting rid of your pants so I can get a long, good glimpse of that stellar, huge cock of yours.” I licked at my bottom lip, leaning over and freeing his hard erection, giving him a small push toward the simple chair in front of my desk.

  As many times as I’d seen Jackson naked, every time was like the first. Gawking at his spectacular thick length, he raised his eyebrows, giving me a devilish grin and patting his lap.

  “Wanna take a seat?” He looked down at his bobbing erection.

  “Umm. So nice and hard, Mr. District Attorney. I think I’d like to take that seat right about now,” I whispered, straddling him and opening up nice and wide to tease him a little with my newly waxed body.

  “My God, you’re so beautiful.” He gripped his heavy erection and touched the pink opening of my sex, his jaw clenching. I lowered my hand, sliding a finger between my swollen slick peak, then lifted it to Jackson’s lips.

  “Ahh… Jesus Christ,” he moaned, licking my finger as his eyes darkened. “You’re killing me, baby. I need inside you.”

  Gripping both hips, I dropped my head into his neck, trying to mute my overly loud gasp as he guided me down on top of him.

  “Fast and hard, Sir.” I whispered in his ear.

  “My pleasure, sweetheart.”

  I kissed him hard and rode him even harder as he twisted and tugged at my nipples. My body was quaking in mere seconds, my lower muscles gripping him with all my strength as I continued stroking his tongue with mine.

&nbs
p; “Fuck, Lay.” His warm release flooded my body, his erection deep, jerking and spasming as I reached my own climax.

  “I love you with every cell of my body, Jackson Shipman.” I took his perfectly squared jaw in my hands, fighting emotional tears, his softening erection still lodged inside me as I wondered if now was the right time to tell him he was going to be a father.

  “And I love you, Layla Richardson. More than you’ll ever know, baby.”

  Jackson was a different man than he’d been when he was involved with Joslyn. Still dominant and sexy as hell? Check.

  Still controlling and domineering? Abso-freaking-lutely.

  Still ruthless and unforgiving in his courtroom? Hell to the yes.

  Would I want him any other way? My God…no.

  I didn’t know what the future had in store for the two, or now the three, of us. All I knew for sure was that I loved Jackson Shipman and this new growth in my belly more than anything in this world. And Jackson loved me right back. The two of us could do anything we chose.

  As long as it was … together.

  The End

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