Page 83 of Broken Skulls

Jacob would make an excellent father. He deserves that.

The one thing I can never give him.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jacob

“We’re going to be late, ladies!” I yell down the hall for the third time.

Lexie steps out first. The way she slides past me with a huge smile on her face should have been the first indicator that I should have prepared myself.

I’m about to yell again when Elizabeth joins us in the hallway.

Holy shit.

She’s … well, not to sound crude, but she’s a fucking smoke show.

Her hair looks so goddamn soft, falling in shiny waves over her shoulders. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in makeup. She looks like she stepped right out of a fucking magazine.

She turns to go back into the bedroom, but I rush forward and snag her by the belt loop. “Oh no you don’t.”

Her red lips part and a little whoosh of air leaves her lungs.

“Fuck, baby, everyone’s going to be so fucking jealous of me tonight.”

“That’s not what I want,” she grumbles.

I laugh loudly. “I sure as fuck do. I’m not afraid to show them what a lucky fucker I am.”

Her brows pull together, and I see there is more going on behind those soulful brown eyes than she’s letting on. But we’re going to be late, and there’s something I want to bid on at the auction. Whatever is bothering her will have to wait until we get back.

I usher the women outside and then hold the truck door open for them. Elizabeth slides in first, Lexie following reluctantly.

“Quit dragging your feet.”

She gets in and crosses her arms, but I swear I catch a small smile as she settles in. I close the door and round the vehicle, shaking my head at how much my life has changed in a short time.

The scent of Elizabeth’s perfume when I sit beside her makes me want to groan out loud. I’m so attracted to this woman every way to Sunday. I don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off her.

As soon as we get to the warehouse, Elizabeth looks at me with trepidation in her eyes.

“I know it’s a lot of people, but you can do this.”

I give her knee a squeeze after shifting into park. Lexie starts to open her door, but I reach over them and hold it closed. “You stay with me until I talk to Jackson.”

“Fine,” she whines.

“Also, when you’re with a real man, he will open the door for you. Sit tight.”

I hop out and round the truck, opening the door for her.

Her cheeks redden, but she mumbles a thank you as she waits for Elizabeth to follow her out.

“It looks like the auction is about to start, but I think we have time to find Charlotte.” I drape my arm across both of their shoulders and lead them around the corner of the warehouse.

Petey and Katie are sitting at a picnic table with all three of their girls. It twists the knife in my chest. I wish I didn’t have the commonality with them of seeing our fathers off our mothers. Hopefully they’re so little they won’t remember the way I do.

Lexie starts to drag her feet when Katie looks up and spots us.

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