Page 17 of Jake

“I’m going to miss you, too.” I hear the sadness in her voice, but there’s no reason for it because my woman doesn’t need to suffer needlessly.

“Love, I was thinking about that. I could sell the property and get my license here. Practicing in Illinois won’t be a big deal to me if that’s what you’d prefer.”

“Really?”

“Sure. If that’s what you want. I’ll do anything to make you happy, Lea.” She throws herself into my arms. I catch her and spin her around just as her parents come outside.

“Wow, what’s going on?” her father asks.

“Jake just told Lea they’ll move back here instead of living in New York.”

Her mother squeals with excitement as well. Lea climbs off me and the women hug like crazy, walking off while her father shakes my hand. “I appreciate that more than you know.”

I’m starting to realize he’d do anything to make his wife happy, which is always what I’d had in mind for my sweet Lea.

Epilogue

Lea

I rub the swell of my newest baby bump while smiling at my spectacularly handsome husband in the pool with our son, Dean. My father was shocked when we chose to name our son after him. It wasn’t my idea, but Jake said that no matter how mad he’d been about everything, he owed my father for doing the right thing.

He's chuckling as he tries to tackle him in the water, but he can't muster the strength to take him on. He’s only two, even though he’s like every man in my family—chock-full of testosterone.

Lecherously, I ogle my husband, feeling needy. I could stare at that man for a lifetime. I'm not sure if it's a byproduct of having lost so much time with him or because I'm just so addicted to him. When he feels my eyes on him, he stops goofing around in the water and smiles up at me. “Hey, beautiful, you planning to join us?”

I shake my head at him. “Nope. It’s time for Dean’s nap.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Is it time for your nap?” he asks, tossing me a wink while our son lets out a yawn.

“That’s a good boy,” Daddy whispers to him. I wrap the towel around Dean and cradle him, taking him out of Jake’s arms so he can dry off with his own towel.

“We have dinner at my parents’ tonight.” I stare at him, giving him a silent warning that he’s clearly ignoring. “That means you behave.”

“I know. I know.” None of us are looking forward to it because Rachael has gotten out of jail on good behavior. It’s unfair, and the men are ready for war to protect our family.

“I doubt Rachael will be stupid enough to come anywhere near us. She’s probably already back in New York. Isn’t that where they’re letting her serve her probation?”

“Yes.”

“Good. It will keep her far away from us.”

“If she even went.”

“I’m sure she went.” His aunt quickly divorced his uncle when she learned about the affair and everything. She’d been completely destroyed by the matter but found solace in an old friend and they married last year.

“I’m not. I have to be sure. Nothing can happen to you, Lea. You are my world. My entire existence is because of you. Without you, I’m nothing.”

“I need you too, Jake, so don’t go doing anything dumb.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Good. Now, it’s time to lie down your son.”

“You shouldn’t be carrying him in the first place. You’re about to pop with our second little one.” I want to say he’s wrong, but I let out a grunt when a cramp hits. “Oh, no.”

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