Page 125 of Can't Get Over You
When he did, he drew in a deep breath. “Yeah. I get it.” He looked her right in the eyes. “I’m sorry. I blew up everything, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
His remorse softened her. “I think we’re both going to be okay.”
He lowered his gaze to her ring finger, and a bolt of fear sizzled through her.
Until she remembered. Jude had taken it off.Oh, thank God. Can you imagine if I’d still been wearing it?
On the other hand, what would he make of a bare ring finger? If he said anything to his well-connected mom, it could surely get back to the judge. She really needed to get out of there.
“Daddy, look.” Chloe raised both her chocolate-smeared hands and grinned with her muffin-covered teeth. “I’m a monster.”
“Yeah, punkin’.” He grabbed a napkin and made a useless attempt to wipe her mouth. “A cute one.” When he turned back to Finlay, he was smiling. “I guess we both got what we wanted—just not the way we’d expected it to go.”
That might be true for Matt. He had a daughter.
But for me? Right now, I’m just playing house.
Chapter Twenty-Six
On Christmas morning,everyone got to the house early, and Jude appreciated that. His brothers weren’t used to small kids, but they’d jumped right in to give Cody the best possible holiday.
Ava had her own family events, so she couldn’t come, but she’d stopped by the night before with her famous strata.“This way, you can just pop it into the oven and not worry about breakfast. Just enjoy being together and opening presents.”
He pulled out his phone to text her.
Jude: An easy breakfast was a great idea. Thanks for the strata. Hope you have a great Christmas.
After sending her a picture of the family gathered around the tree and taking turns opening presents, he pocketed his phone.
“Mister, look what I got.” Cody raced over, his whole body vibrating with excitement.
It was a Lego Emergency Responder set. “That’s cool.” He gave his firefighter brother a chin nod. “Good one.”
“Come on,” Boone said, waving Cody over. “Let’s get started.”
“Can I?” The boy looked up at Jude with anticipation.
Warmth spread through him. This was the moment it happened, and he mentally recorded it. It wasn’t the baths or reading before bed. It wasn’t making Cody brush his teeth or even holding his hand as they walked across the park to join their team for Snowfest.
No, the moment he felt like a dad was when his boy asked permission, exactly as he would’ve done with a parent.
And you know, it’s a pretty good feeling.At once, it held the weight of responsibility and the joy of being the one who got to give this boy a beautiful life. “You bet.” As Cody ran off, Jude pulled on his shoulder. “Make sure you thank your uncle Boone.”
“I will.” He ran the obstacle course around presents, boxes, and balled up wrapping paper to get to his uncle.
As the two of them settled on the rug near the huge, twinkling tree, Jude watched the scene with an unbelievably full heart. Christmas carols played on the speakers, a fire crackled and snapped in the hearth, and his family—except for Decker, who had a game—sat around his living room.
This moment erased the uncomfortable feelings of his childhood and replaced them with love. Love for his brothers, his dad, this little boy who drank up every drop of his family’s attention. And her.
Finlay.
I love her. With all my heart.
She was busy opening gifts, so he didn’t want to bother her, but he couldn’t keep it all inside. So he sent a text instead.
Jude: You’re so beautiful. I’m watching you talk to Wyatt, and the heat from the fire’s making your cheeks rosy. And all I can think is I want this forever. Us. You and me.
She clutched the gift certificate his dad gave her to a high-end soap-making supplier and got up to hug him. Her curls tumbled down her back, one lock dipping into her cleavage. When she smiled, his heart thundered, sending a rush of blood through his body.
