Page 157 of The Last Second Chance
Jax whooped and picked her up around the waist, spinning her in a circle. Joey laughed as he let her slide down his body inch by inch until her toes touched the ground. He was hard before her lips met his, sealing the deal. When he pulled her against his hard-on, she put a hand on his chest. “Gimmie the ring, Ace. And then take me home and make love to me.”
He slid it on her finger and pressed a kiss to her palm.
“It’s freaking beautiful,” Joey said admiring the glint and glitter. The platinum band sat snugly against her finger and despite the fact that the diamond was the size of a car tire, it sat low enough in the setting that she might actually be able to wear it and not snag it on a horse.
“Beautiful and practical, just like my girl,” he told her.
On the drive home, Joey made Jax promise he wouldn’t say anything to anyone yet. She didn’t want to deal with Summer and Gia showing up with their Pinterest wedding boards. If anyone asked her opinion on tablecloths and invitations she’d tell them exactly where they could shove said tablecloths and invitations.
When she said as much to Jax as they pulled up to the house, he laughed. “I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”
She pulled him out of the car. “Come on, let’s find out if engaged sex is different from dating sex.” She planted a hot, fast kiss on his mouth and he wrapped her legs around his waist carrying her up the porch steps.
“Door’s open,” she said, dipping her fingers into his hair and tugging just hard enough to elicit a groan from him.
“Wait, wait, wait, Jojo. Shit,” he murmured against her mouth.
She bit his lower lip and he growled.
“Wait?”
“We don’t have time to find out what engaged sex is like.”
“Why the hell not?” she demanded, squeezing him with her thighs.
“Because we’re getting married in an hour.”
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Jax wasn’t kidding. One hour later, Joey walked down the grassy aisle on her father’s arm in her Brigid Winston dress. All the pieces of her heart were there. There on the ridge where John Pierce’s ashes were scattered.
The Pierces, Franklin, Evan, and Aurora, her parents, even her sister’s family.
Jax waited for her at the end of the aisle looking model perfect in one of his tuxes. And as she walked toward him, he laid his hand over his heart.
“I’m still not going to apologize for wanting what’s best for you,” Forrest whispered gruffly.
“I wouldn’t expect you to, Dad.”
“Maybe I wasn’t entirely right when it came to Jax. He’s not so bad, I guess. But if you ever need someone to set him straight or come down to the police station with bail money, you call me, okay?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Ten minutes later, after Beckett officiated them through a short and sweet ceremony, Joey wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck and they swayed from side to side in the meadow to Louis Armstrong crooning about the wonderful world.
“I can’t believe you did this,” she laughed as Jax dipped her low.
“No backing out now,” Jax warned. “You legally belong to me.”
“I’m not sure that’s how marriage works.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Jax said spinning her around in a dizzying circle before reeling her back in.
“I can’t believe we’re married. How did you know I wouldn’t have wanted to plan a wedding?”
“Because I’m not an idiot,” Jax teased. “I think we’ve all heard your napkin ring-seating chart rant before.”
“Your deep knowledge and acceptance of me is very much appreciated,” Joey told him, slipping a hand between their bodies to cup his crotch.
