Page 113 of The Maxwell Brothers
"Yes, together. I love you, Tate. Of course I want you in my life. I want to be next to you for each of those moments. For all of them. And enjoy them with you."
I sensed relief coursing through him. His heartbeat intensified, but his muscles loosened. He tipped my head back, sealing his lips over mine. His mouth was soft and determined at the same time, his kiss deep and full of emotion and need for me.
Joy thrummed through my veins. I could feel it in every inch of my body, mixed with relief. He loved me, and he did want me in his life. He saw us together.
"I love you," he whispered against my cheek. "So damn much."
"I can’t believe you brought us here. With champagne." My voice was full of emotion.
He kissed my temple before straightening up and looking me straight in the eyes.
"I wanted tonight to be special, Lexi, so we both remember it."
“I’m sure we will.” I kneeled on the blanket, picking up the bottle of champagne.
He effortlessly popped open the cork and poured two glasses. Then he growled, kissing me. I laughed against his mouth,struggling to keep the glass upright so it wouldn't spill all over. But damn, the way this man kissed always made me forget my head and my manners and my decency. He always made everything else blur excepthim.
When we paused to breathe, I said, "You know, I always come here alone. I just came once with Paisley."
"And now with me." He sounded deliciously possessive.
"You look pretty satisfied too." I guess that tickled his Neanderthal bone somewhere. Well, that was fine with me.
We clinked glasses, and I took a sip of the bubbly, letting it course through me. Tate held my other hand, fingers interlaced with mine like he didn't want to let go of me. I flexed my fingers against his, smiling at him.
“I love you, Lexi. I told you once that you made me want. You made me feel. I want more of everything and you. Every damn day, I’m going to love you and prove to you how much you mean to me.”
“Tate Maxwell. You brought me to my favorite spot and have my favorite bubbly. What else do you have up your sleeve?"
He winked. “I’m not going to give away all my aces in one evening.”
“Hmm… pacing yourself. I like it. Besides, there isn’t anything more you could do. This evening is amazing.”
This evening was so magical that I knew I'd remember it for the rest of my life. Us here in my favorite spot under the moonlight, listening to the most romantic song with the man I loved. Life couldn't get better than this. It was perfect.
"I'd do anything for you, Lexi. Always."
CHAPTER 30
LEXI
Two weeks later
"That was amazing,"I said as we stepped inside the house with trash bags. Paisley's birthday party was a total success. It was six o'clock in the evening, and finally, all the guests were gone. We’d been cleaning for the past thirty minutes.
"I loved it. It was the best party ever," Paisley exclaimed, running a hand through her wavy hair. I’d painted pink strands in her braid today, and I’d caught her checking her appearance in every reflective surface possible all day long. She was so cute that I barely resisted hugging her all the time. If I’d learned one thing in all my years of teaching, it was that kids liked to play it cool in front of their friends.
After dropping the bags in the garbage, we went to the living room, where another pile of trash awaited us. Paisley opened all her presents in here, and there was paper everywhere and one unopened gift, a flat rectangular box wrapped in pink paper with a pink ribbon on the couch.
“Hey, where did that come from?” I asked.
“I want to open it,” Paisley exclaimed.
"Don't you want to go back in the yard and help your grandparents finish?" We were almost done cleaning the yard of balloons, toys, and discarded paper cups. Lena and Emmett volunteered to help with the cleanup before taking Paisley to their place for a sleepover.
"After I look inside. Pleaaaaase," she said.
Turning my head to her, I noticed that she exchanged a glance with Tate, who had joined us in the living room. Asuspiciousglance.
