Get married.
Buy a house, preferably on the water, with lots of land for all the kids and dogs I want.
Rescue a dog.
Fall pregnant with the man of my dreams.Check.
Raise a beautiful family.Soon-to-be check.
I had the most important things checked off, and it didn’t matter that they weren’t in order. I found love in Jaxon. Sure, it was in the most unconventional way. I wasn’t supposed to fall pregnant first, but didn’t everything happen for a reason?
What would my mom say?
Did it really matter?
“Where are you, sweetheart?” Jaxon whispered, his lips brushing my ear, setting my skin on fire.
“Just thinking,” I told him as I partially listened to the family gush about our news, like it was more exciting than the wedding we were here for. What was more interesting was the excitement coming from Carter when we just stole her entire show.
“Let me into that pretty mind of yours.” Jaxon’s focus was on me and nobody else.
“Just thinking about my list,” I admitted, worried he might be tired of hearing about my damn list.
“What about it? Are you worried it’s not goin’ to come true?” There was a hint of fear in his voice, so I turned in his arms, looping my arms around his neck so I could look into his eyes.
“Not at all. It’s all coming true. Not in order, but it’s slowly becoming my reality,” I told him, and he nodded in understanding, relaxing a little.
“I’ll make it all come true, sweetheart. I will marry you. I will find you a house with lots of land and water. We will rescue a dog. And Logan, we are going to raise a beautiful family.” My heart might just beat out of my chest from his words.
How was it possible for one man to be so perfect?
“You have my word that I will be checkin’ every damn thin’ off that list.”
Jaxon Dexter was, in fact, a total swoon boat.
* * *
On Sunday,we were supposed to go home, but Jaxon wanted to show me around his hometown, so we started the day in a tiny café called Mel’s Café, where they had the best chocolate chip cookies I had ever tasted.
Then, he showed me where his older brother, Dante, worked training horses. Dante was busy giving Alice a lesson when we arrived but promised to give me some after the baby was born. He also told us about the trail rides he and Brook went on, which he swore made her fall in love with him.
We walked through Main Street, where Jaxon pointed out the places he used to hang with friends before leaving Honey Magnolia.
It was a quaint town that I had easily fallen in love with. We finished the night at his parents’ house, where his mother showed me every baby picture she had of Jaxon and whipped up the best homemade mac and cheese I had ever eaten.
After dinner, we packed up the cabin, Jaxon loaded his truck, and I looked around the small space where my life had changed.
“What are you lookin’ at?” he asked, coming to stand behind me, his arms wrapping around my middle.
“This place is where everything changed for the better.” He chuckled, kissing my neck.
“Actually, sweetheart, that would be the hotel room.” A giggle bubbled up my chest, and I slapped my hand over my mouth.
I was twenty-six years old—a grown woman giggling.
“I like it when you laugh,” he whispered, his lips at my ear, nibbling on the sensitive skin.
“I like it when you kiss me.” I turned in his arms.