Page 52 of Jaxon

"Hmm, let's see. A few children's hospitals are probably celebrating right now and then, of course, there are some of my favorite animal rescues, cancer research, homeless charities. All good causes, I promise. Oh, and I made some investments, but since they're all in my own name I don't think I need to fill you in. I did leave a few million in there so you can take that back and—I don't know—find another place to hide it, I guess. Maybe under your mattress. A million is easier to hide than 80 million." As I said it everyone looked my direction. I shrugged. "Lots of happy charities today."

"You can't do that." Spittle was flying out of Dad's mouth. He looked positively rabid.

"It was in my account, so I found that it was all amazingly easy."

"You'll be hearing from my lawyers, and don't bother to come home."

"Bye bye, daddy dearest," I called to him.

Dad tried to march away with a great deal of self-importance, but it wasn't easy in fancy shoes and a suit and after such a devastating defeat.

"I think my dad just got the dose of bad karma that's been waiting to hit him when the timing was right." I looked up at Jaxon and winced. "You need some first aid." I reached up and tenderly touched his bruised face.

"I don't know exactly what just happened there between you and your dad, but I think I've underestimated just how fucking awesome you are, which is saying a lot because I already had you up on a hundred story pedestal." Jaxon pulled me into his arms. A few groans of pain followed.

His mom came up to us. "Well, I'm going to leave you in Bridget's care. I'm going home. Crusoe is there, waiting for the get-well cookies he's asked for. I guess I'll take your dad home, too, for somefirst aid."

"No, Mom, I told you I don't want to hear about that kind of shit between you guys."

His mom laughed. "Relax, I was talking about actual first aid." She winked at me and walked away still laughing.

I lifted a brow at Jaxon.

He shook his head. "No, seriously, if you knew what I had to listen to all day. I'm gonna have to start looking for a therapist."

I reached up and wiped some blood off his chin. "Well, I'm not a therapist, but I'm a great listener. You can tell me all your woes as I clean up these cuts and bruises."

He tightened his arms around me. "To hell with the cuts and bruises. I'm talking real first aid and not the kind my mom was talking about."

"Hey, Jax!" It was his cousin Griffin. "We're all going out for pizza tonight and to celebrate the brainy brilliance of my baby sister. Can we count on you two?"

Jaxon looked at me. "Sounds fun," I said. "And I agree, she's brilliant."

"We'll be there, but first I'm gonna need some private time with my nurse." Jaxon lowered his mouth to kiss me but paused. "Fucking asshole with the big ring on his finger. I'm going to have to save my kisses for a few days, but after that, you better watch out cuz I'll be making up for lost time."

I kissed his jaw, about the only place that wasn't bruised or cut. "I'll be waiting for that."

EPILOGUE

JAXON

2 months later

Bridget's small hands were over my eyes. "Keep them closed until I say so," she said. She was on tiptoes, and she struggled to keep her hands over my eyes as we walked up a road. She'd made me stop the bike a hundred yards back, so she could keep her surprise.

I tripped and almost accidentally flipped her over my shoulder. "Shit, this is getting dangerous," she laughed. "All right. It's fine. We're there." She dropped her hands, and I opened my eyes. She came up next to me and wrapped her arm around mine.

"It's the old Monroe place," I said. The beach house was a cool mid-century home with a lot of windows, though most of them were cracked and covered with wood or dirt at the moment. "It's been empty since Frank Monroe died of a heart attack while driving up north to see his kids. The kids never had time to come down and sell the place, and so it's been sitting here decaying for a few years."

"Yep, the family finally got their act together and put it on the market and I bought it. It has a great view of Croft Beach, so I thought it would be perfect."

I looked at her cautiously. "Perfect?"

"For us. I know you've been talking about us getting a place, and I should have asked, but I figured you could put your stamp on it by fixing it up. You're mad, aren't you? I should have asked you first."

I pulled her into my arms. "You fucking kidding me? It's awesome. And yeah, can't wait to get my hands dirty with it."

Bridget breathed a sigh of relief. "I know you'll be sad to leave the Shack."

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