Page 69 of Loved By You

“Mommy, Jack got me a present.” She doesn’t stop, running into the house. I swear that girl never stops running.

“What do we say to Jack?” I call.

“Thank yooouuuuu,” she shouts, her voice fading as she heads to the backyard, no doubt showing Ali and Gabby her present. I turn back around to see the three men walking towards me. Brad and Harry greet me first and I direct them towards the backyard.

Then it's just us. I haven't seen him all week and those familiar flutters in my stomach and tingles in my fingers work their way into my body and I can’t help but look at him and smile.

He takes a step towards me and sets the gift down on the porch, removing his sunglasses before hooking them into the collar of his shirt. Cupping my face, he presses his lips to mine, and I melt into his touch.

Breaking our kiss, he licks his lips and doesn't take his eyes off mine. “Hey, sweetheart. I’ve missed you.”

And suddenly everything I was worrying about felt so insignificant. He`s here, he showed up, he came, and that was all I needed.

“You didn’t need to get them gifts. You being here is enough. What did you buy her?” I gesture to the box that has Elle’s name on it, which is almost as big as me.

“Not a chance I was turning up at my baby girl’s birthday party and not getting her a gift.”

My baby girl. My heart flutters at the idea of her, of us being his.

“I asked the assistant to help me pick something for a one-year-girl who loved Minnie Mouse, so now Elle is the proud owner of her very own Minnie Mouse Club House.”

My mouth falls open. “A what? You got her a playhouse?”

“Yeah.” He shrugs like it is no big deal.

“Jack, those things are like hundreds of dollars. That's too much, she—” He presses his index finger to my lips to stop my talking and I still.

“It’s not too much, and I’d buy her five of them if it made her smile.”

I peak my tongue out and lick the pad of his finger, not sure how else to react to his generosity.

Heat flashing in his eyes. “Fuck,” he groans under his breath before he adjusts himself in his pants and swipes a hand through his hair.

“I've got plans for that tongue later, sweetheart,” he whispers against the shell of my ear.

“Can’t wait,” I whisper back, excitement coursing through me.

We head to the backyard, and I see Gabby and Brad sitting with Lexi, helping her build her princess castle Jack brought her. God, he really has spoiled them. Brad furrows his brow as hereads the instructions, as Gabby helps Lexi click together what looks like the towers of the castle.

I glance over to find Harry and Ali blowing up pink and white balloons at the end of the yard. I can’t quite hear what they are saying, but Harry deflates the balloon he was blowing up in Ali’s face and she smacks him with her inflated balloon. It bursts with a loud bang, making everyone jump.

“That’s his fault,” she shouts, pointing at Harry and I roll my eyes.

I'm not getting involved.

“Guess who’s here?” I turn to find Alex’s parents standing by my back gate.

“Grandma, Grandpa,” Lexi squeals, heading towards them, jumping into Steve’s waiting arms.

“Thank you for coming” I greet them both with a hug, relaxing a little when I feel their familiar warmth wrap around me. They are the best people I know. This will be fine.

I let out a breath. “Steve, Anne, this is my friend, Jack,” I say, anxiously wringing my hands together as they meet Jack, who is hovering close behind me.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Jack.” Anne smiles, before giving him a hug. It seems to take Jack by surprise, but he returns the hug.

“It’s lovely to meet you both,” he says, extending a hand to Steve, who takes it with a friendly grip.

“Pleasure to meet you too, Jack. Any friend of Ria’s is a friend of ours.”

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