Page 86 of The Rules We Broke
“If I have to, yes. I love you. I want you to be my wife.”
I leaned my forehead against his, heart thudding.
“I love you too . . . but I’m scared. I don’t want a repeat of the last ten years.”
He cupped my face in his hands, gently brushing my hair back. His eyes held nothing but love.
“Ellie, ten years from now, you and I will be covered in children—ourchildren.” A wicked grin tugged at his lips. “And I’ll be trying to get them into bed and fast asleep . . . so I can seduce their momma.”
“Brady Jackson,” I playfully said.
“Ellie Eaton,” he whispered.
My name never sounded so good.
I leaned back against him, exhausted, thinking about what it would truly be like to be seduced by Brady Jackson. A shiver went through me. We’d always walked a line when we were growing up. A fine line sometimes. It was a miracle we’d never crossed it. But there were rules. And that was one we hadn’t broken.
I was so tired, I fell asleep even though I didn’t want to miss a moment with Brady. I awoke sometime late in the night to him kissing me.
“As much as I want to stay, I think I better go home. I don’t want to start any rumors,” he teased.
“You don’t think people aren’t already talking about us?” I said sleepily.
He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m sure they are, darlin’,”
I bit my lip. “You could stay.”
“Don’t tempt me, Ellie. I don’t want you to think I only want you so we can sleep together.”
Could he be any better?“I think I may love you.”
“That’s good, because I know I love you. And honestly, that’s the only thing that is making me leave you right now.”
“Goodnight, Ellie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“I dare anyone to try to keep me away from you.”
With that, he got up and left. I sat on the couch for several more minutes, reveling in the fact that Brady loved me. I finally convinced myself I should sleep in my bed and maybe put on pajamas instead of sleeping in my clothes. As I walked up the stairs, I felt like I was floating above them. A week ago I couldn’t imagine that I would be back in Kaysville and just a word away from being engaged to Brady.
Chapter Fifteen
Ispentthenextday at the hospital. Aunt Lu was looking better—stronger—but restless. She wanted to be home. The plan was for her to come back Sunday, and I was counting down the hours. Even though the house was decorated, it didn’t feel like Christmas without her in it. She’d always been the heartbeat of the holidays.
We spent the afternoon working on storyboards for my new book. No mention of the Jacksons. She didn’t ask about Brady, and I didn’t offer. But I was sure she knew how I’d been spending my evenings.
Still, I hoped. Hoped Brady could charm her. Hoped we could all be a happy family someday.
I wasn’t as optimistic about his side. But I would at least have Benjamin and Kendra—and little Miss Caroline. Brady and I planned to take her to the movies the next night. Apparently, they’d had a standing Friday night date for over a year.
When he asked if I minded, I told him the truth: If I had to share Brady with someone, Caroline was my first choice. My only choice.
He hadn’t told her yet that we were a couple, and I was anxious to see her reaction. I kept thinking about her sweet prayer on Sunday and how much that little girl already meant to me.
Brady came over again that night, and we had another perfect, low-key evening.It was the kind of night that made you feel like home wasn’t a place—it was a person.
We tried to wrap the gifts we’d bought the weekend before. Well—Itried. Brady mostly kept me company and very, very distracted.
