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There’s just one little thing I have to do first, though. A score to settle, so to speak. So, with a fire in my gut, I head back to the place this shit started. The Mills’ residence.

I don’t knock on the door. I pound on it, and when their butler answers, I skip the pleasantries. “Tell Taylor to come down.” He doesn’t put up any fight. He simply presses the button on the intercom and summons Taylor. Smart man.

“What are you doing here?” Taylor seethes when he sees me.

“We need to talk.” I step into his space, forcing him back against the front door. “You leave Myla Rose alone, you hear me? Ask me how many fucks I give about your old money and fancy lawyers. None. I give none. That girl’s never done a thing to you, and your tormenting her endsnow.” I’d love nothingmore than to knock the smug look off his face, but I reel it in. He’s not worth the jail time, not with Myla on the line.

“You may have been dumb enough to let her go, and that’s on you, but she’s mine now. Mine to worry about. That baby’s mine too. Know that. He’ll never so much as know your name.”

“You’re gonna raise my bastard?”

“Not. A. Bastard,” I grit out. “My blood may not run through him, but my love does, and that’s more than your sorry ass will ever be able to say. You stay. The. Fuck. Away.”

“Whatever. I’m over this little soap opera anyway.” He shoves me away from him and scurries back into his house, which is okay because I’m so done here.

CHAPTER 45

MYLA ROSE

Today’s my baby shower,and this small, itsy-bitsy, teensy-tiny part of me is scared Cash won’t show. Crazy talk, I know. It’s been a week since Cash and I sat down and talked at Drake’s, and a lot has changed. All for the better, too. We see each other most days, and we text and talk every day. It may’ve only been four days, but we had a lot of making up to do.

I even joined him at his mom’s for Family Dinner Night. I’m now the designated bread bringer. The only thing better than Sandra’s cooking is her ability to wrap you up so good in her love that you never wanna leave. She’s everything a mama should be, and I know with one hundred percent certainty that Grams would approve of this family I’ve found myself a part of.

Though we haven’t made upthatway. Not from lack of trying on my part either. My hormones have me wanting him like never before. I’m damn near insatiable, but Cash puts the brakes on every damn time.

We haven’t even spent the night together again, and it’s literally killing me. Like for real. I’m ninety-nine percent sure Cash is planning something special for us, and I have a feeling that the waiting will be oh, so worth it.

Another upside to our patching things up is that I finally felt little man move! Even better, Cash was there for it. It was damn near magical, and while I was a sobbing mess, Cash just smiled and smiled like he’d won the damn lottery.

He’s convinced that the baby waited for him and me to get right before landing any big kicks, though countless people have tried telling him that sometimes, first-time moms take longer to feel it. He’s not having any of that, though.

“Myles,do you want me to curl your hair?” Azalea asks as she plugs in my curling wand.

“God, yes. I’m not even thirty weeks, and getting ready makes me feel like I’ve run a damn marathon.”

“Well, sit down, sister-girl. Your shower is in less than two hours!”

Thirty minutes later, I’m primped and fluffed to Azalea’s liking. My long red locks float down my back in soft waves, and my makeup is light and tasteful, nothing more than a little eyeliner and lip gloss. Azalea says I glow enough all on my own, God love her.

“All right, time to go!” Azalea chirps as she shuffles me down the stairs and into Bertha. I swear, I think she’s more excited about my shower than I am. “I’ll follow you there. Drive safe!”

I walk in to Drake’s, and I’m immediately surrounded by all the people I hold near and dear, though as I make the rounds, I can’t help but notice Cash’s absence.

Knowing me just as well as she knows herself, AzzyJo pulls into the kitchen with Seraphine and Magnolia. “Myles, he’ll be here.”

“Why isn’t he already here?” My voice comes out high and screechy, even to my ears.

Seraphine wraps me in a hug, “Hun, chill. Your shower started like ten minutes ago. Give the man some time.”

While Mags doesn’t have much to add to the conversation, she clutches my hand in hers, giving it a quick, reassuring squeeze.

Twenty more minutes pass, and still, no Cash. Feeling dejected and miserable, I excuse myself to the washroom. “Get a grip, Myla Rose.” After splashing some cool water on my face, I make my way back out to the party.

I’m stopped in my tracks by the sight of Cash, dressed in a crisp gray button-down and dark-wash jeans, with his hair combed and gelled away from his face, standing next to my dream crib. It’s everything I could’ve ever imagined and then some. Instinctually, I know he built it, and damn if that doesn’t make me swoon.

With no hesitation, I rush to him, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight. “I love you, Cash Carson. I’m not sure what I did to deserve you, but my Lord, I’m not gonna question it.”

He drops a kiss to my forehead and steps out of my embrace. “Speaking of questions, darlin’, I got one for you.” I gasp when he drops down to one knee. “Myla Rose McGraw, you are far and wide the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the reason the sun rises and sets in my universe, and I need to know, darlin’ . . . will you do me the honor of allowing me to be your husband and that sweet little boy’s daddy?”