Reckless (Mason Family #3) - Adriana Locke Page 0,84

is strong and sturdy, reliable and trustworthy—all the things I know him to be.

I close the distance between us and take his face in my hands.

Tears drip down my chin and onto my shirt. I vaguely wonder what I look like right now.

But I don’t care. All I care about is making sure this man knows that I love him for the rest of his life.

“Um, yes or no, Jaxi. I’m dying here,” he whispers.

I laugh. “Yes. I would love to be your wife.”

He slips a ring out of the pink box. It’s a cushion-cut yellow diamond in a yellow gold band.

“My mom designed this. I saw it in her shop and knew I had to have it,” he says as he slips it on my finger. “When I saw it, it reminded me of how you make me feel.” He pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my head.

“I love you,” I tell him.

“I know.”

He bends his face to kiss me when a little voice shouts from below.

“Hey! What ’bout me?” Rosie asks.

Boone laughs and picks her up in his other arm.

“That’s better,” Rosie says.

Boone and I laugh.

I have so many questions, so many things to ask. There’s so much to wrap my head around and to plan.

But, for right now, I’m content with standing in this office with the two people I love most in the world.

My family.

“What do you two want to do today? We need to celebrate,” Boone says.

Before I can say anything, Rosie chimes in.

“Cake!” she says.

“Sounds good to me,” I say.

Boone guides us toward the door.

“And Wade!” Rosie says.

Boone scowls.

I laugh.

And we head out the door.

Twenty-Seven

Jaxi

My legs are stretched over Boone’s as we lie on the sofa. The television is off. The Kindle is put away. There’s nothing happening.

Only, everything is happening.

Boone and I sit together and watch Rosie on the floor. She has her Glo Worm on one side and two dolls on the other. In front of her is her school book for learning how to write.

Her tongue sticks out as she traces the letters.

I hold my finger up in the air and admire my new engagement ring.

“So,” Boone says. “Have you given any thought to whether you want to manage the complex or just hire it out?”

“This is so pretty,” I say, shoving the ring in his face and ignoring his question. “Don’t you love it?”

“I do.” He takes my hand and kisses the top of it. “Almost as much as the woman wearing it.”

My cheeks ache from smiling so much.

I pull my leg up and rest my foot on his groin. His eyes go wide. He grabs my ankle and pushes my foot down gently, but just enough to really make contact with his cock.

“Maybe,” I say softly, “someone will go to sleep early, and I can show you how much I love you tonight.”

He smirks. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

I furrow my brow but don’t have time to ask him why.

Knock! Knock!

Boone shouts, “Come in!”

The front door bursts open, and a parade of people come streaming through. There’s Siggy, who gives us a big wave, followed by Holt and Blaire, Coy and Bellamy, a younger couple that are so attractive it takes my breath away, and Oliver.

Rosie springs to her feet. “Hi, Iggy!”

“Hi, sweetheart.” She scoops Rosie up and kisses her cheek. “How are you?”

“Good. Where’s Wade?”

Boone growls, making everyone laugh.

I get to my feet. “Hi, everyone. What’s going on?” I ask with a laugh of bewilderment.

“We’re here to celebrate your engagement,” Blaire says. “I hope you’re ready to eat.”

“I’d love to be eating at our wedding,” Holt says dryly. “Has that thought ever crossed your mind?”

Blaire sticks an elbow in his side. “Stop it. I’ll pick a day soon.”

“When?” Siggy asks. “I mean, do you have a season in mind because I’d like to start thinking about venues and things—in case you need my help, of course.”

Bellamy puts her hand on her belly. “Can you wait until he’s born?” Her eyes go wide. “Oh, crap.”

“It’s a boy?” Siggy asks. “I thought you didn’t know?”

Coy grins. “We were going to keep it a secret. Looks like that went well.”

“Sorry,” Bellamy says sheepishly. “I’m just so hungry that I can’t think.”

“To the kitchen,” Siggy says, herding everyone into the other room.

I start to follow them, but Boone pulls me back. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the tip of my nose.

“I was worried we weren’t going to be okay,” I admit. “Thank you for having