Black Jack (Advantage Play #5) - Kelsie Rae Page 0,76
life. I’m used to handling curveballs and adapting to new situations. But I need to know you’re okay with getting your hands dirty if the occasion calls for it. Tell me, Jack.”
“Isn’t that what life is? Using your own moral compass instead of the one society has put into place for you? They still have their rules, Bianca. The Romanos aren’t bad guys.”
“You’re right. And neither are you, Jack. You’re the best man I’ve ever met.”
“I’m far from perfect,” I argue.
“You’re perfect for me. And honestly, I kind of think the people downstairs are perfect for you too.”
I smile and pull her tighter while trying to keep my anticipation in check. “What are you saying, Bianca?”
“I’m saying that I trust you and that I know what it’s like to have your family ripped away from you. Even though I wasn’t close with Dom, it still hurt. I don’t ever want to be the reason that your family downstairs is ripped away.”
“You know I’d choose you over them in an instant.”
“I’m not asking you to. It was…nice, down there. To feel like a person instead of an object. Instead of a pawn. I….” she exhales slowly. “I think I’m okay with this if you are.”
I keep my arms around her waist but pull away a few inches and force her to look me in the eye while searching for any hesitation or indecision.
“You sure?” I demand.
She smiles. “Yes. On one condition.”
“And what’s that?”
“We have our own place.”
I laugh and squeeze her a little tighter. “You don’t wanna do the whole Brady Bunch under one roof kind of thing?”
“Maybe every once in a while, but I don’t think they’d appreciate a baby waking them up in the middle of the night.”
I freeze, convinced I’m jumping to a conclusion that’s way off base. “What did you just say, Bianca?”
Peeking up at me, she smiles. And it’s the most genuine slice of happiness I’ve ever seen.
“Congratulations, Mr. Connelly. You’re gonna be a dad.”
My heart pounds against my ribcage like a jackhammer.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I feel like I’ve been thrown into an alternate reality as I attempt to register her words, but they all feel jumbled and out of place. How the hell am I going to be a dad?
I never wanted kids, but the idea of a child growing in Bianca’s stomach nearly brings me to my knees.
I want that. I want that more than anything else in the world.
“You serious?” I ask in a hollow voice.
“Mmhmm. And I want our baby to have aunts and uncles and tradition and family and pasta––”
My laugh loosens the noose around my chest. “Carbs? You?”
Her button nose scrunches. “Within reason, of course. But only if I can have an entire bottle of wine once this baby is born.”
Another laugh escapes me. “Deal.”
“Yeah?” she breathes, her gaze bouncing around my face while committing my reaction to memory. “You’re not mad or anything? I didn’t plan––”
“I couldn’t be happier, Bianca.” I cup her cheek, then kiss her slowly. Softly. And with the reverence she deserves. When I pull away, I take in her beauty like a fine wine. One sip at a time.
“You’re going to be a great mom,” I breathe.
She licks her lips, trying to hold back her tears as she gives me a nod.
But now isn’t the time for crying, it’s a time to celebrate, and I know the perfect way to do it. “Now, we gotta go shopping for teddy bears.”
“That sounds absolutely perfect,” she admits with a watery grin. “But first, we gotta go tell your family downstairs that we’re staying. Well, not literally, since I just said I’m gonna need a little house or something, but––”
“I love you, Bianca Connelly.”
“I love you too, Jacky Boy.”
And it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.
The End
For Now. ;)
Interested in reading more by Kelsie Rae?
Signature Sweethearts Series
(Contemporary Romance Standalones)
Liv
Luke
Breezy
Jude
Rhett
Sophie
Marcus
Anthony
Skye
Saylor
Advantage Play Series
(Romantic Suspense/Mafia Series)
Wild Card
Dark King
Little Bird
Bitter Queen
Black Jack
Wrecked Roommates Series
(Steamy Contemporary Romance Series)
The Model
The Musician
The Artist
The Scholar
Stand Alones
Fifty-Fifty
Drowning in Love
Hired Hottie
Crush
Bartered Souls Duet
(Urban Fantasy Series)
Gambled Soul
Wager Won
Sign up for Kelsie’s newsletter to receive exclusive content, including the first two chapters of every new book two weeks before its release date!
Interested in a free book?
Interested in reading a sexy short story about Stephan and his soon-to-be wife, Emilia?
Click this link to join my newsletter and download for free:
I hope you love their story as much as I do! :)
Dear Reader,
I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for taking a chance on Black Jack, and for giving me the opportunity to share this story with you. I couldn’t do this without you!
I would also be very grateful if you could take the time to leave a review. It’s amazing how such a little thing like a review can be such a huge help to an author!
Thank you so much!!!
-Kelsie
Also by Kelsie Rae
The End
Interested in reading more by Kelsie Rae?
Signature Sweethearts Series
(Contemporary Romance Standalones)
Liv
Luke
Breezy
Jude
Rhett
Sophie
Marcus
Anthony
Skye
Saylor
Advantage Play Series
(Romantic Suspense/Mafia Series)
Wild Card
Dark King
Little Bird
Bitter Queen
Black Jack
Wrecked Roommates Series
(Steamy Contemporary Romance Series)
The Model
The Musician
The Artist
The Scholar
Stand Alones
Fifty-Fifty
Drowning in Love
Hired Hottie
Crush
Bartered Souls Duet
(Urban Fantasy Series)
Gambled Soul
Wager Won
Sign up for Kelsie’s newsletter to receive exclusive content, including the first two chapters of every new book two weeks before its release date!
About the Author
Kelsie is a sucker for a love story with all the feels. When she's not chasing words for her next book, you will probably find her reading or, more likely, hanging out with her husband and playing with her three kiddos who love to drive her crazy.
She adores photography, baking, her two pups, and her cat who thinks she’s a dog. Now that she's actively pursuing her writing dreams, she's set her sights on someday finding the self-discipline to not binge-watch an entire series on Netflix in one sitting.
If you’d like to connect with Kelsie, follow her on Facebook, sign up for her newsletter, or join Kelsie Rae's Reader Group to stay up to date on new releases, exclusive content, giveaways, and her crazy publishing journey.