Page 50 of The Billionaire's Secret Heir

He planted a kiss in her hair. “Me too. Maybe we both should work on enjoying the moments we have instead of being afraid of losing them?”

His words struck a chord in Madi. After all that she had lost, she expected it. Loss was her norm. And the harder she loved, the more deeply she felt the loss. There was that word again—love. Though she had been the one voicing fears about speed just moments ago, if she was truly being honest, she did love Beckett. She didn’t know everything about him—yet. They hadn’t made it through a serious argument—yet. But she had seen enough of his character in the last twenty-nine days that she knew with certainty that she did love this man.

She wasn’t going to tell him—yet. But neither was she going to let her fear of losing him or of moving too fast or any of the other worries make her lose these precious moments.

“You’re right. Thank you, Beckett. For everything.”

“Anytime. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m missing the other leading lady in my life. Let’s get inside.”

An hour later, Madi relaxed at the kitchen island, again feeling like this was all some kind of dream. In the big room just off the kitchen, Selena and Logan had music playing and were dancing with Becka while the dog bounded around them. Sander, Beckett and Graham’s father, relaxed in a nearby chair, laughing at the children. Becka had taken to him the same way that she did Beckett. Every few minutes, she clambered up onto his lap, only to leap back into the fray with her cousins. Beckett had warned her that his father’s health was failing and she could see the way he winced every so often, but his face was lined with joy.

Madi loved the chaos and noise of their house, especially after so many years without it. Even growing up, her house had been a little quieter, everyone a little more reserved or less connected. The house practically glowed with happiness. Madi’s own contentment made it easier to ignore the dull headache forming behind her eyes. When she looked around Graham and Courtney’s vibrant, full, loud house, she could only hope for something similar in her life.

“They both want a little brother or sister.” Courtney nodded toward the kids as she dried dishes on the other side of the island. Madi glanced at her face, reading a sadness there. Courtney met her eyes. “We’ve been trying for a while, but it doesn’t seem like I can get pregnant again. Even with medical help.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks. I should be okay. I mean, we have two amazing, healthy kids already. Maybe I’m being ungrateful to feel so sad about it.”

Madi touched her hand. “Wanting another baby doesn’t mean that you aren’t grateful for the children you have. It’s not an either-or thing. You can love your kids and also be really sad about not getting pregnant.”

“Thank you. I know you’re right. But sometimes it’s hard to feel the things you may believe to be true.” She gave a small laugh. “Sorry, this is a little heavy for a first-time dinner conversation.”

“I don’t mind,” Madi said. “It’s not like we’re strangers. Though I still can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots when Beckett was talking about you and Graham.”

“No, I can’t believe I didn’t know. I mean, your name is hardly as common as mine. And I knew about your sister and how you were taking care of Becka from the prayer requests at Bible study. Sometimes that thing is like a gossip chain more than a prayer list.” Courtney shook her head. “But I love that I was praying for you and now here you are. It feels perfect.”

“I know what you mean. I couldn’t have imagined a month ago that I’d be here. I keep feeling like this is a dream or a fairy tale or just not my life.”

Courtney grinned. “I never would have imagined Beckett swooping in to be someone’s Prince Charming though. I have to tell you—all the years I have known that man and I have never seen anything like this. It’s like you unlocked some door in him and let out the very best of him.”

Madi turned slightly to study Beckett. He and Graham were having some kind of theological debate by the dining room table. He seemed so much more at ease than the man she had met almost a month ago in the conference room at VDKI.

“Should I be scared that he’s going to change back or something? Or that it’s not really him?”

Courtney set down her dish with a bang. “Oh, no—I didn’t mean to scare you that it wasn’t real or genuine. It’s more like this is Beckett … expanded. I feel like he was holding back for so long, keeping himself locked up tight. He was married to his work. No relationships. He barely made time to come over for dinner. Now look.” Courtney nodded her chin toward Beckett and Graham.

Madi turned in time to see Becka pulling at Beckett’s khaki pants. Without taking his eyes off Graham and whatever he was saying, Beckett leaned down and scooped Becka up like he had been doing it her whole life, not just a few weeks. She rested her tiny head on his shoulder, rubbing her hand over the stubble on his jaw. Madi could only see the back of Beckett’s head, but she hadn’t seen a more beautiful sight.

“You see that?” Courtney said. “That right there is a miracle. I couldn’t be happier for you guys.”

Madi beamed. “You should see Beckett in a tiara.”

Courtney laughed, throwing her head back. Her curls bounced around her face. “Did you get a picture? Tell me you got a picture.”

Madi bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. “He doesn’t know. Don’t get me in trouble.”

She pulled out her phone and scrolled until she found a photo of Beckett she had taken while he was playing with Becka on the floor of her house. It was now the screensaver on her phone.

Courtney smiled at the picture, then pulled the phone to her chest. “Oh, that is adorable. My kids adore him too. I don’t think he realizes how good he is with kids. Seeing him with Becka really melts my heart.”

Madi turned again to look. Beckett had turned slightly, so she could see his strong profile. Becka was climbing up his side like a monkey, pressing her small fingers into his cheeks. He puffed them up and as Becka poked them, he let the air out with a sputtering sound, sending her into a fit of giggles. Beckett grinned, then puffed up his cheeks to start the game again.

It was hard to control the longing she felt watching the two of them. As though he perceived her thoughts, he swung toward her, meeting Madi’s eyes. A brilliant smile lit up his face and he whispered something in Becka’s ear. She waved to Madi, then turned her attention back to Beckett.

Feeling heat in her cheeks, Madi turned back around to Courtney. She hoped that all of her feelings were completely obvious on her face, but Courtney gave her a small, knowing smile.

“I don’t think I would have fallen so fast if I hadn’t seen him with her.”

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