Page 149 of Renewal After Dark

“Everything.”

“That’s a lot of thinking.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Look what I found sitting on the side of the road today.” He gestured to a high chair in the corner that she hadn’t noticed. “Cleaned it up and tightened the screws so it’s safe for Jax.”

McKenzie was so shocked, she could barely think, let alone speak.

“What do you say we give it a whirl, Mr. Jax?” Duke settled her son into the chair and put a couple of animal crackers on the tray that immediately grabbed the baby’s attention.

With Jax occupied, he came over to McKenzie, singing along to Chris singing “Think I’m In Love With You.” He held out his arms, inviting her to dance with him, and her heart was completely and absolutely lost to this dream of a man.

He held her close as he sang and moved her around the kitchen. “Whatever you’re thinking or stressing about, knock it off. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere as long as you and Jax want to be with me. I hope you want to be with me for a very long time, because I’ve never felt better than I do when you’re in my arms.”

McKenzie melted into him, swept away by his words, the song lyrics, the way they moved together like they’d been dancing forever rather than this being the first time. The high chair had been the kicker, she would decide later. The absolute send-her-over-the-edge kicker.

“How did you bring a high chair home on a motorcycle?”

“Carefully.”

“You’re too much.”

“I saw the one from the cabin in the dumpster, so I thought it might help to grab that one.”

“It’s a huge help. Thank you for doing that and for cleaning it up and making it safe for him.”

“I loved doing it.” He pulled her in even closer to him, letting her feel what her nearness had done to him. “Tell me what you’re worried about.”

“I don’t want to make another bad decision.”

“Does this feel like a bad decision to you?”

She shook her head. “Not even kinda.”

“And that’s a problem?”

“Everything is perfect until it isn’t.”

“I can’t promise it’ll be perfect. Hell, what fun would that be? All I can tell you is I’m as into you as I’ve ever been with anyone. And yes, I know you and Jax are a package deal. If you’d asked me a few weeks ago if I was ready to be a dad, I would’ve laughed. What the hell do I know about being anyone’s father? But now… Today, I saw a high chair by the side of the road and grabbed it for Jax because he needs one, and I’m sure they don’t sell ’em on the island anywhere.”

McKenzie looked up at him with the start of tears in her eyes. “That’s literally the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for us.”

“No way.”

“Other than giving us a place to live, that is.”

“Aw, that was nothing.”

“It was everything to us.”

He kissed away her tears. “I don’t want you to worry about anything where I’m concerned. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere as long as you want me around.”

“I want you around.”

“Is it scary to admit that?”

“Not as scary as it would be with anyone other than you.”

---