Black Jack (Advantage Play #5) - Kelsie Rae Page 0,69

for me, Bianca. And even though I know jewelry isn’t your guilty pleasure, and that it won’t make up for the way I reacted, I still want to give this to you.”

Rounding the table, I slide onto one knee then grab the box off the counter.

“You don’t need to show me the earrings again. I already told you I loved them, I just….” her voice trails off, replaced by a soft whimper as her eyes gather with tears.

Tucked inside is a simple gold band. It’s nothing like the flashy ring she’d purchased for herself or the pair of diamond earrings I’d bought to apologize the first time I screwed up.

But it means so much more.

“This was my grandmother’s,” I tell her. “It’s been passed down for three generations. My dad skipped out on me before I was born. Honestly, I’m not even sure he knows I exist, and I’m okay with that. But my mother kept it tucked away in her underwear drawer.” She laughs as a single tear slips down her cheek. I wipe it away with my thumb.

“She told me that I should give it to a woman who deserved her baby boy. When she died, I dug it out and kept it in my own underwear drawer. But I’m not gonna lie, Bianca. I never really thought I’d find a woman worth giving it to. But I did. A woman more selfless than I could’ve ever imagined, more beautiful than I could’ve ever dreamed, and more forgiving than I’ll ever deserve. Will you give me another shot? For real this time?”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she whispers, “You don’t have to, Jack. You know that right?”

“Will you stop it?” I growl. “Don’t be stubborn this time, Bianca. I’m begging you. I love you. You. The most stubborn, irritating, beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Regardless of Dominic, or Reed, or my job, or anything else in this world, I just want you. Will you please say yes and give me another chance?”

She sniffs before giving me a watery smile that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. “Yes––”

I swallow the rest of her response with a kiss, our mouths clashing together in relief, lust, and acceptance. For our pasts. Our flaws. And the life we want to build together. I commit her taste to memory, savoring it like a fine wine that’s full of far too many calories, yet worth it all the same. Because that’s what life is. Accepting that things might not always be perfect but are worth it, nonetheless. Without them, life is just getting through the day. But it isn’t living. And I want to live with Bianca.

When I pull away, her cheeks are flushed, but the smile on her face wrecks me. “I love you, Jack.”

“I love you too, Bianca.”

She licks her lips. “It’s because I love you that I’m still going to testify against Reed.”

“Bianca, it isn’t safe––”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Let’s just….” My gaze darts over to the kitchen to confirm Embry is still giving us privacy. It’s empty but still doesn’t make me comfortable enough to tell her about the favor Kingston and I discussed. I turn back to Bianca. “Let’s talk about it later, okay? Can you do that for me? Let us enjoy the rest of the night together, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

I can see the indecision in her eyes. The hint of hesitation.

“Okay, Jacky Boy,” she decides, giving in. “We’ll worry about it tomorrow.”

“Good.” I rub my thumb along her birthmark one more time before dropping my hand to my side. “I also wanted to give you something.”

“You’ve already given me something,” she points out with a smirk.

Ignoring her, I stand up, then head back to the banister where the plastic bag I’d brought is still hanging. It sways back and forth as I carry it to a curious Bianca.

“What is it?” she asks.

Sliding it across the table, it bumps into the little black velvet box, then falls on its side. A soft, brown teddy bear rolls out of it. It might not be an exact replica of the one Dominic had given her the day of her mother’s funeral, but it’s close enough. Bianca’s dainty little hands cover her mouth as she whimpers before picking it up.

“You got me a teddy bear?”

“Yeah. I think Dominic would’ve wanted you to have it.”

“Thank you,” she chokes out, stroking the bear’s ears softly while the tears fall freely from her swollen eyes. “I think a small part