A Measure of Love
Page 28
Riley kissed Noah’s hair and chuckled to himself.
It was more than a little crazy. If he’d been told three years ago that his life would be this way, he’d have laughed in someone’s face. He sighed as Noah’s finger traced the lines of ink on his shoulder. It was a habit he’d developed when he was most tired. Most nights Noah would fall asleep on Riley, one finger in Riley’s beard and one finger circling the tattoo patterns on his skin. Those were the best times.
Riley’s most precious times.
Noah lifted his head and looked toward the bench they were approaching. “Can I have some more ice cream?”
Riley paused. “Wait. You had ice cream? Without me?”
He shook his head. “Mommy had it. She shared it with me.” He lifted his chocolate-stained hands as evidence.
“Mommy did?” he laughed. “I bet. She likes ice cream a lot now, huh?”
“Who likes ice cream?”
Riley looked from his son to Lexie, who was seated on their favorite bench, bowl of ice cream in one hand and a spoon in the other. Dressed in a floor-length, strapless white dress that was almost transparent, she’d never looked so fucking good. It had been a hot summer in Traverse City.
“You do,” Riley said with a smile as he placed Noah next to her.
“Have you been telling on me?” Lexie scowled lovingly at their son, who shrugged and laughed. Lexie tickled him, making him giggle more, and Riley’s lungs gave a familiar squeeze as he looked between the two of them.
Christ, it still hurt to think he so nearly lost all of this.
He tried not to think about the past too much, but the memories would come back every so often, and Riley would swear to every deity he could think of that he would spend every day being thankful and deserving of what he had.
After stealing two large spoonfuls of ice cream, Noah took off back down to the water. Riley dropped down next to Lexie and wrapped his arm around her, placing his other hand on her beautifully rounded stomach. It was an amazing feeling, knowing there was a new life growing inside of her. A new life that Riley would be there for every step of the way. Finding out about Noah was an amazing yet terrifying experience, but this time Riley felt calmer. He’d played Daddy pretty fucking well. And, truthfully, he’d loved every minute.
Obviously, it helped that Lexie was the most incredible partner, friend, and mother. He rubbed his palm lovingly across her bump and she hummed into his neck. He smiled down at his hand, reading the word “Noah” that was tattooed around his wrist. “Are you okay?” Riley asked as she rubbed her belly and winced.
“I’m great,” Lexie replied, kissing his jaw. “Baby just keeps pressing on my bladder.”
“She does?”
Lexie nodded, and Riley took the opportunity to kiss her soundly.
And it was just like the first time—all fireworks, heat, and fucking golden.
He pulled back to look at her. “You’re beautiful.”
“You too.” She smiled, holding out a spoon filled with ice cream, which Riley took into his mouth.
“Could you get any more flavors in there?”
Lexie elbowed him in the ribs. “Shush! I like it. And so does your daughter.”
Riley laughed and kissed her hair. He pulled her to his side and sat back, looking out to the water to where their son leaped and jumped, sang, and laughed in the hot sun.
Can't get enough of Sophie Jackson's Pound of Flesh Series?
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A Pound of Flesh
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Kat and Carter’s story continues as they share the news of their engagement—which doesn’t go over quite so well with everyone . . . On sale now!
Love and Always
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An Ounce of Hope
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When Kat met her brooding, dangerously tempting student Wesley Carter behind bars, she never dreamed she'd one day be excitedly planning for their wedding. Carter's not sure how he feels about having children, but he'd better figure it out quickly because Kat just told him she needs to take a pregnancy test.
Fate and Forever
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SOPHIE JACKSON, a schoolteacher from northwest England, writes fan fiction under the handle Jaxon22. Her first novel was the award-winning A Pound of Flesh.
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ALSO BY SOPHIE JACKSON
A Pound of Flesh
Love and Always
An Ounce of Hope
Fate and Forever
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Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by Sophie Louise Jackson
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition June 2016
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Cover design by Damonza
Cover image © Aleshyn_Andrei/Shutterstock
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Jackson, Sophie (Novelist), author.
Title: A measure of love / Sophie Jackson.
Description: First Gallery Books trade paperback edition. | New York : Gallery Books, 2016. | Series: Pound of flesh ; 3
Identifiers: LCCN 2015049808 (print) | LCCN 2016004505 (ebook) | ISBN 9781476795614 (paperback : acid-free paper) | ISBN 9781476795645 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Secrets—Fiction. | Man-woman relationships—Fiction. |
BISAC: FICTION / Romance / Contemporary. | FICTION / Contemporary Women. | FICTION / Romance / General. | GSAFD: Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3610.A35524 M43 2016 (print) | LCC PS3610.A35524 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015049808
ISBN 978-1-4767-9561-4
ISBN 978-1-4767-9564-5 (ebook)
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