Chapter 40
Kate
Whatanight.Tonight was the opening of the gallery. It still feels just so surreal to me that not only was all of my art hanging in there, but Jaxon was behind all of it. My entire family and group of friends were in attendance.
I’d spent the past two weeks preparing new pieces and gathering old pieces from storage. We filled the entire gallery with Kate Lawson originals.
Andy has long since passed out upstairs in his bed. No surprise he fell asleep on the ride home. He was the life of the party, schmoozing many folks.
Jaxon walks into the living room and hands me a glass of red wine before taking a seat beside me. He extends his arm along the back of the couch and pulls me closer. I sink back against his chest and take a long exhale.
As I take a long swig of my drink, I feel Jax’s lips against my temple.
“I am so proud of you, baby.” The amount of elation in his voice makes my heart swell. I feel like there’s nothing I couldn’t do with Jaxon by my side.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Hey.” He leans forward and takes my wineglass and sets both our drinks on the coffee table. Jaxon tilts my chin to his face. His blue eyes stare directly into my soul. “Let’s get one thing straight. You are the reason behind this—those people were there to see your art, your talent, your passion. I just helped acquire the space. So, get that through your pretty little head.” He presses his lips against my forehead, and I close my eyes, relishing in the moment.
When he pulls back, I lift my gaze to him. It’s hard to believe that the same man who looked at me with such hatred the moment we met is the same man who is looking at me with such love and pride. I spin in his arms and throw my leg over his, now straddling him.
I run my finger through his hair and grind my hips against his. “Well, I don’t know that I’ve fully shown my appreciation for you doing that, have I.” His cock hardens underneath me as I play with the buttons on his dress shirt.
“You know, I don’t think you have.” His voice is straining to keep composure as he pushes his erection against my clothed pussy.
“Then please allow me to show you, Mr. McAdams.” I kiss my way down his neck.
Before things can escalate more, there is a knock at the door. We both quickly turn to look at the door as if making sure there was actually someone there.
“Expecting someone?” I ask, looking back at him.
He shakes his head. He double taps my thigh to hop off him, and I do. I pull my feet under me on the couch and laugh as Jax stands as he adjusts his erection.
My laughter causes him to look over his shoulder at me with a glare. There is a second knock at the door, and Jax yells, “I’m coming!”
“Well, not anymore,” I mutter loud enough for him to hear me but hide my smile behind the wineglass.
“You’re killing me,” he breathes as he looks out the peephole and swings open the front door.
“Hey, sorry for showing up so late and unannounced. I hope we aren’t interrupting anything.” I recognize my sister’s voice, and I turn to see Lauren and Finn standing in the doorway.
Jax and I share a knowing look before he steps to the side and grunts.
He grunts. “No, it’s fine. Come on in.” He ushers them inside.
I jump off the couch and run my hands down my dress. “Is everything okay?” My gaze bounces between my sister and brother-in-law.
“Yeah, everything is fine.” Lauren waves her hand for me to take a seat, and I do, curling my legs underneath me.
“Can we get you guys something to drink?” Jaxon offers as he approaches.
Finn shakes his hand. “Nah, we’re good. Thank you.”
Jaxon takes his seat back beside me and rests his hand on my knee while Lauren and Finn settle on the love seat across from us. “So what’s going on?”
Lauren looks up at Finn, and he nods. Okay, I’m confused. She turns her attention back to me, gentle smile on her lips. “I know this is still very early, but Finn and I have talked this over, and I want to give you something.”
I expect her to pull a present out of her purse, but she remains still, so my confusion only increases. “I don’t understand.”
“We’re identical twins,” she states matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I kind of know that,” I respond sarcastically. What does that have to do with anything?
“Which means our DNA is the same. When the time is right, and you’re ready…” Her gaze bounces between Jaxon and me. “I want to donate my eggs to you and even be your surrogate.”
“What?” I shriek. “Lauren, I can’t ask you to do that.” She can’t be serious right now.
“You didn’t. I want to. I know it’s obviously still early, and you two still have lots to work out and all, but when the time comes, I want to give you the life you always dreamed of. The life we stayed up late talking about as kids.”
“We’re so not ready for kids right now. We haven’t even been back together all that long, and we still have so much to talk about.” I glance over at Jaxon, who has remained silent. Does this completely freak him out? Is he ready to run for the hills? He must be able to sense my racing thoughts because he places his hand over mine reassuringly.
“I know. That’s why I said one day.”She and Finn share a sweet secretive look, as if they’re having a nonverbal conversation. “Plus, there is one condition to me agreeing to this, anyway. I have to wait at least nine months.”
I fly off the couch, bringing my hands to cover my mouth in shock. “Oh my God, are you—”
I don’t get the chance to say pregnant before Lauren nods with the biggest smile on her face. I jump over Jax’s feet and can’t get to my sister fast enough to pull her into my arms and hold her tightly. “I am so happy for you.” My voice cracks.
I can hear Finn and Jaxon talking and doing their manly hug with back slapping behind me, but I continue holding on to my sister. When I pull back, we both have to wipe tears from our eyes.
“Hey, you know I was there, too,” Finn teases. I crinkle my nose, cringing before I let a giggle slip. I might know where babies come from, but I don’t need the visual of how it happened.
“You’re so needy, you know that?” I turn to Finn and wrap my arms around his shoulders. “But I’m so happy for you guys.”
We all settle back in our seats, and a memory from this evening comes to the forefront of my mind. “That’s why you turned down a glass of champagne tonight.”
Lauren’s hands rest on her flat stomach, and she nods.