Bourne to Love Emma (RED-Stone Operatives Book 1)
Page 21
“Got it, boss. I’ll call you at the end of the week.”
When I tossed my phone on my desk, I saw Emma standing in the doorway.
“Mia down for the night?”
“Yep. She only needed two books and one drink and begged for a third story, but I told her two was my limit.”
“Monkey,” I chuckled. She could have gotten that third story from me. I can’t say no to that sweet face. Mia has already figured that out, too. Barely two years old and I’m already in trouble, finding myself wrapped around her tiny little finger. Emma keeps telling me that I have to put my foot down with her now or she’ll walk all over me as she gets older – but she’s two. I’ve got plenty of time to be the mean dad. Right now, I just want to revel in being a family – cherish how she looks at me when I walk in the door….
“So, no luck on your case?” she asked.
“I am seriously searching for a fucking needle in the king of all haystacks, baby. It’s damn near impossible but, even if I can find this fucker, it’s going to take forever.” I ran my hands down my face and shut off my computer. I still had a lot to do, but Emma and I agreed that 12 hour days are the limit now that I have a family. Plus, I definitely find better ways to spend my time when I’m not at my desk.
She walked around the desk and turned my chair toward her so she could climb into my lap. She looped her right around my neck and ran her left down my chest before resting it over my heart. I can’t help but stare at the ring glinting on her hand and feeling my heart expand. White gold melded with diamonds and sapphires, it makes me think of her beautiful blue eyes. That ring sends a message loud and clear. Unavailable. Taken. Loved. Back the fuck off. MINE.
I’ve got one, too. Emma picked a tungsten ring for me. No matter what I do, it’s supposed to be impossible to scratch it up. I love it because she picked it out just for me – but I also liked that it’s uncommon.
We talked about having a traditional ceremony. I told her we could do whatever she wanted as long as she and Mia shared my last name in the next six months. She told me she didn’t want to wait. Within a few weeks, we met Heather, John, Tex and Rio at the courthouse and got married in front of a Justice of the Peace. The same day, John’s attorney helped us get started on the paperwork to officially adopt Mia. Last month, we went before a judge for the court’s approval of the adoption. Now we’re just waiting on the final approval by the State and Mia will be mine, too.
I leaned down to kiss Em but she pulled back too soon. Instead, she wiggled and stood up.
“Stay here. I have something for you.”
I knew the smile on my face had to come across as a leer. I just bet she’s got something for me. She had steadily ditched her inhibitions since I’ve known her. I don’t know what the fuck her ex-husband pulled while they were married, but it’s taken her a while to grow into the confident, sexy woman I love today. I plan on encouraging that for the rest of her life.
The week before we got married, I got a phone call from John. He had received a courtesy call since RED-Stone was listed as the initial contact in the case against Dan Brock. He was murdered in county lockup. Apparently, the guys he was moving money for were not fond of someone who runs off with anything of theirs and they used a contact inside the jail to take care of the final loose end. When I told Emma, she was really quiet for a while before finally asking if it made her a bad person to feel relieved. We never talked about it again after that day. I know we’ll have to explain parts of it to Mia when she gets older, but I don’t want to waste another minute thinking about that asshole. And I don’t want Emma to, either.
A few minutes later, Emma walked back into the room – still fully dressed – with her hands behind her back. Her cheeks were flushed and she was trying to hold back a smile. She came around the desk and pulled a legal sized envelope from behind her back and handed it to me.
Part of me already knew what it was. My hands shook as I ripped it open and pulled out a sheaf of papers with an official colored document on top. It was a birth certificate for Mia Kathryn Davies – Father’s Name: Jason Michael Davies. I dropped my chin to my chest and took a shaky breath. Holy God, it’s real. Mia is mine, too. My daughter. I have a daughter – WE have a daughter.
Emma made a place for herself on my lap again and held me close when I pressed my face to her neck. She stroked my neck and kissed the top of my head. I reveled in it. We had worked for this and been waiting for months for it to finally be REAL. When I lifted my head and looked into her eyes, she reached up and wiped the tears off my cheeks and kissed me sweetly. I held her against me and kissed her back, sliding my tongue along her bottom lip before pulling it gently with my teeth.
Emma pulled away from me after a moment and stroked my face with her hands.
“Jason….”
“Yeah, babe?”
“You think you can finish digging through RED-Stone in the next 8 months or so?”
“Uh, probably, it depends…. Why?”
She hugged me tighter and rested her head on my shoulder, kissing my jawline.
“I don’t want to worry about you being out of the country on some mission when I go into labor.”
“When you go into la-“ my breath froze in my chest and time slowed to a crawl as I leaned back and shifted her so I could see her face.
She had tears running down her cheeks and a huge smile on her face. I stared at her in shock for several seconds.
“Emma. You’re pregnant?” my voice came out in a whisper.
She smiled and nodded, her eyes shining bright.
I slid my hand to her belly, still flat. I could already picture her round and glowing in my mind, big with my child, her belly hard. I imagine feeling him kicking from the inside. My child.
A small voice from the hallway called, “Daddy?” just before Mia walked inside.
“Come here, baby girl,” my voice was gruff as my throat squeezed tight with emotion.
I pulled her into my lap with Emma and hugged them tight.
I never knew it was possible to hold the whole world in my arms before tonight.
THE END
About the Author
This is the first novel published by MacKenzie K. Paxton. She has written pieces of books for decades but never sat still long enough to actually finish writing one. A strange combination of free time and unemployment allowed this one to make it from start to finish and the completion of it has been a revelation. Book 2 of the RED-Stone Operatives series is already underway – it will tell Heather and John’s story.
MacKenzie has spent the majority of her employed years working for large companies analyzing, editing and creating contracts and leases. She has two incredibly bright children in elementary school and a French bulldog her family loves to hate. He is a hot mess. Her husband encouraged the completion of this book and has supported her throughout the creative process – even when reading some parts of the book made him a tiny bit uncomfortable.
Please feel free to drop MacKenzie a note. She loves feedback and thoughts on her work!
Email: mackenziekpaxton@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacKenzieKPaxton
If you liked this book, please PLEASE take a moment to post a review on Amazon. MacKenzie knows from her own reading tendencies that a book with good reviews will catch her attention before one with no reviews. Your reviews are the very best way to encourage MacKenzie to spend more time writing!
Thanks for reading Emma and Jason’s story! Keep an eye out for Heather and John’s story in the months to come!
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