Page 26 of His for the Taking

Afterward, I toss the trailer keys to Matthew, and I hit the road to head home, right where I’m meant to be.

32

JAMESON

“Jameson?” Kody’s eyes pop open as I slide into bed next to Josephine, who’s currently cuddled in the crook of her body. The two of them slept since I’ve walked through the door, they didn’t budge with me unlocking the door, walking in, locking it back up, and walking around the house doing a quick check to make sure everything was locked for the night. I’m sure Kody did the same before bed. Still, I’m gonna double-check just in case. Everything was as it should be, and the house was picked up except for the usual places, the coffee and kitchen tables. Once I was done walking through the house, I made my way to the master bedroom, where my two girls were sleeping peacefully. I dropped a kiss on Josephine’s forehead, moved a piece of hair out of Kody’s face, and she slept through the entire process, even as I showered. They must be worn out. From the handful of times we’ve talked, the pictures Kody has sent, she’s been keeping Josephine as busy as possible, and it must have finally caught up with her.

“Shhh, I’m going to move JoJo to her own bed,” I tell Kody as I slide in on the other side of the bed, moving the pillow that was hanging over half of my side. Josephine must have moved a lot in the couple of hours she’s been sleeping.

“Don’t. She’ll be happy to see you’re home in the morning.” Kody clears her throat from sleep. Josephine is cuddled into her side, face buried in her neck and softly snoring. It’s her legs that have me scratching my head. The top half of her body is on Kody, the bottom half is spread-eagled.

“You sure? We’re probably going to get beat to hell tonight.” She nods, the sleepiness dissipating with every moment she’s awake.

“Yeah, she’s had a rough couple of days.” I slide into bed, the sheets a rumpled mess from the acrobatics Josephine does all the time. My daughter will be sandwiched between the two of us. I’d have liked to talk to her without JoJo in our bed. That’s okay. Kody knew what our girl needed, and that’s what matters. Though, I’d be lying if I said it’s not the best scenario when I could really use Kody’s body on mine.

“Same. Not doing this ever again, babe. Not leaving you and Josephine while I work. You two will either go with me, or I’m not taking another contract like this.” An idea forms, one where it could work out for the entirety of the Evans family. I could buy a motorhome, use it for work when necessary, then my parents can take it on one of their vacations. That way, it’s not sitting all the damn time. Man, why the hell didn’t I think of this before? It’d be tight, but even Matthew and Lacey could bunk, too. Shaun would be the odd man out, but I bet he wouldn’t care either. No one likes hotel living or eating out three times a day.

“Is everything okay?” I move closer, hand sliding beneath the pillow, so I have both of them as close as possible without squishing JoJo.

“Yeah, you sent me that picture, and I couldn’t stand it. There’s no amount of money worth earning to leave my two girls here. Josephine isn’t taking this well, it’s a lot on you, and worst, it’s hard on me. The two people I love more than life itself shouldn’t be left for work. Life is too damn short, and I’ve worked too damn hard not to see what’s right in front of me.” Kody’s eyes fill with tears, and fuck me, there’s not much I can do about it right now.

“You love me, Jameson? Really?”

“Yeah, babe, I really fucking do. It’s impossible not to love you, Kody.” She’s incredible. It’s in everything she does. Her love, her devotion, her encouragement. She adds a light to my life I didn’t know existed or that I ever knew I needed. Kody is who makes me want to be a better man for her, for Josephine, and for any of our future kids. “One day soon, my baby will be growing inside your belly, and you’ll have my ring on your finger, Kody Goodwin, mark my words. I don’t care what others think. All that matters is you and Josephine.”

“I love you, Jameson Evans, you and Josephine. I love you both so much.” She no sooner gets her words out than JoJo’s eyes open, she sits straight up, and lunges her little body at me.

“Daddy! You home!” I wrap my arm around her back. Kody sits up as well, hand going to her mouth, watching with pure love and adoration written all over her face.

“I’m home, princess. Daddy missed you and Kody a lot.” I kiss the side of my daughter’s head while my hand reaches out for Kody, pulling her close until I’ve got them both in my arms and hugging the shit out of them.

“Me missed you wots. Kody too. Never weave us again.” Kody shakes her head and mouths, “We were okay,” trying to calm the storm inside of me for feeling guilty. Fuck, this woman knows where my head is going before I can voice my thoughts.

“Princess, I’m not leaving, not for a long, long time.” Josephine lifts her head. There are no crocodile tears. Thank fuck.

“Otay. Me have snack?”

“Yep, you sure can. Fruit snack?” Kody laughs and moves away from my arms. A grunt leaves me because no fucking way was I ready for her to leave my arms. She lies on her back, giving off a view of her flat stomach when her shirt bunches up, and opens the drawer.

“When did you start keeping snacks in the nightstand?” I feel like I should have known about this little habit of hers.

“You da best!” Kody sits back up and opens the snack packet for Josephine.

“Ummm, since you went out of town. JoJo found my stash one night when I was in here snacking, so I added to the pile. There’s nothing with crumbs because eeww. It’s become our thing if she wakes up in the middle of a nap or when I’m in here winding down for bed.” She shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal. This, this right here, how she ebbs and flows with Josephine, it means Goddamn everything to me.

“Hand over the goods. It’s time to snack, settle down, and get some sleep.” I lean back, Josephine settles in beside me, Kody hands me a snack, and life is fucking good.

“Me wub you, Kody,” JoJo says, handing her the now empty wrapper, clearly devouring it before I can even start on the chocolate-covered almonds Kody hands me.

“I love you, too,” Kody replies without hesitation. Fuck yeah, she’s absolute perfection, and as soon as Josephine falls asleep, I’ll be moving her into her own bed and fucking my baby into Kody all damn night.

EPILOGUE

SIX WEEKS LATER

Kody

“Jameson Michael Evans, get back here right now!” I holler from the shower stall. We took a shower together, which led to more than washing each other, we both received mutual orgasms when we celebrated the news I gave him.

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