“Hey, I’m right here,” Damon says, looking over at the horrified look on her dad’s face as well.
Maddie waves him off but gives her dad a sheepish grin. “It was amazing just to be able to drop everything and go wherever we wanted, when we wanted. I’m glad to be home, though. We missed you guys.”
Jazz looks up at Damon. “We should do that. Take a vacation before I’m too pregnant to do anything.”
Damon nods his head. “Okay, sounds good to me. Where do you want to go?”
“Hey, why don’t you talk Mom and Dad into keeping Gavin and we’ll all go out on the yacht for a couple of weeks.”
Everyone laughs.
“Last time you said a couple of weeks, you were gone for three months, Maddie,” Jazz says. “I can’t be away from Gavin that long. Can I?” she asks, holding him up and kissing his cheek.
Maddie rolls her eyes. “I wouldn’t do that if you guys were with us. It’ll be fun. We can lounge around and get a tan; we can find some cool shops and beaches, get drunk every night… Well, you can’t, but I can.” She laughs.
Jazz hugs the baby. “I’ll think about it.”
Maddie leans closer and whispers in my ear. “Come with me.” She stands up and walks into the house.
I set my beer down and stand up; everyone looks at me. “Um, I’ll be right back. Maddie wants to show me something.”
None of them say anything as I walk into the house to find Maddie waiting in the kitchen.
“What’s up?”
“I want to show you my childhood bedroom. Come on.” She grabs my hand and pulls me up the stairs and into a small, freshly painted yellow room.
She scrunches up her nose. “It used to be pink. And my bed was right here.” She motions with her arms.
I nod. “Cool.”
She laughs. “You’re not getting it, are you?”
“Getting what?” I ask, confused.
“I want to have sex.” She flashes me a wide smile.
“Right now?” I ask, pointing at the floor.
She nods. “I never had sex in this room. The first time should be with you—before they fill it up with another baby.” She reaches over and grabs my belt, pulling me closer.
I laugh. “I fuckin’ love you,” I say, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her against me as I lower us both to the floor.
“Hey, your sister is here,” Jazz says the moment we walk down the stairs. “She’s out back.” She picks up the birthday cake and leads us out.
Everyone starts singing happy birthday, and I come to a stop next to Val. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll take it,” she admits.
“You’ll take what?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest and watching everyone gather around Gavin.
“The job. I’ll take the job. Okay?” She crosses her arms over her chest, and her face is a little puckered.
My head jerks in her direction. “You’ll take the job?”
She nods. “At this point, I have to. I lost my apartment and had to move back in with Mom. All my credit cards are maxed out. I’m finally selling out.” She hangs her head, defeated.
I bump her shoulder with mine. “You’re not selling out. You’re being strong and doing what you have to do to survive. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
She looks up, and her bloodshot eyes meet mine. The corners of her mouth turn up slightly. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her to my side. “See there; things are looking up already.”
“Val, come get a piece of cake,” Maddie says.
I release her as she joins the rest of the family.
Standing back alone, looking over this amazing family I now have, I feel my heart inside my chest nearly double. My life used to consist of just me, working and going to the gym—sleeping with whatever random woman I could find. And at the time, I thought I had it all. But now, I see how much I was missing. I have a woman that loves me wholeheartedly—so much so, she doesn’t want to share our time with anyone else. I have a great job and a wonderful family. I have people close to me now, people to share my life with. It’s funny how looking back, you can see all the little things that got you to where you are now. But back then, looking forward, none of it made sense. I thank God every day that Maddie was the one that got under my skin. I’m thankful for every look, every touch, every time she whispers, “I love you.” I’m thankful that we get to spend every day together, that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want. I love that she’s wild and free, but my favorite part is that she is her own person. She doesn’t bend to what society says she should be.
She looks up and waves me over with a smile. Her icy eyes are lit up, and her ivory skin is glowing from our lovemaking. Her lips are a little swollen from our kisses. Just seeing her happy like this, it makes my heart double its pace. She steals the air from my lungs and makes my muscles tighten. I walk over and place my hand on the small of her back, pulling her in for a kiss. She presses her lips to mine and looks into my eyes.
“Isn’t this perfect?” she asks quietly. “All of us together, happy and growing.”
I smile and nod.
Now, I know that I have it all.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE SERIES HERE
Make Her Mine Series
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My Best Friend’s Brother
My Boss’s Sister (Coming this November)
My Best Friend’s Ex (Coming this January)
The Friend Agreement (Coming this March)
Also by Alexis Winter
Hate That I Love You: Castille Hotel Series Prequel
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Castille Hotel Series
Business & Pleasure: Castille Hotel Series Book 1
Baby Mistake: Castille Hotel Series Book 2
Fake It: Castille Hotel Series Book 3
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South Side Boys Series
Damaged-Book 1
Broken-Book 2
Wrecked-Book 3 (Coming December)
Redemption-Book 4 (Coming February)
* * *
Mountain Ridge Series
Just Friends: Mountain Ridge Book 1
Protect Me: Mountain Ridge Book 2
Baby Shock: Mountain Ridge Book 3
* * *
Claimed by Him: A Contemporary Romance 6 Book Collection
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**ALL BOOKS CAN BE READ AS STAND-ALONE READS WITHIN THESE SERIES**
About the Author
Alexis Winter is a contemporary romance author who loves to share her steamy stories with the world. She specializes in billionaires, alpha males and the women they love.
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If you love to curl up with a good romance book you will certainly enjoy her work. Whether it's a story about an innocent young woman learning about the world or a sassy and fierce heroin who knows what she wants you,'re sure to enjoy the happily ever afters she provides.
When Alexis isn't writing away furiously, you can find her exploring the Rocky Mountains, traveling, enjoying a glass of wine or petting a cat.
You can find her books on Amazon or at https://www.alexiswinterauthor.com/
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Billionaire With Benefits: Make Her Mine-Book 2 Page 20